OT - Verlander or Scherzer?

Submitted by Cold War on

There's a growing debate over who will be the Game 1 starter. In my mind, you simply go with your best pitcher and that's Scherzer. Verlander hasn't been particularly good in the postseason. Thoughts?

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Danwillhor

August 25th, 2013 at 12:14 PM ^

If not a millionaire baseball player JV doesn't come close to a female like Kate. As a straight man I'm comfortable claiming that he is just an average dude looks wise, like most of us but he is just a millionaire athlete. If not for that he doesn't get close. Forget that she likely won't age well as right now she is seen as pretty much the most desired woman on the planet. She isn't perfect and people will debate but, c'mon. Anyway, as a hot female it wouldn't matter if she was "discovered" or worked at McDonald's or was a secretary somewhere as even wealthy and famous men would be lining up to try to get at her. Dudes don't care about a hot woman's status in life. JV's fame allowed him to get it for a bit (again, a harder and more prestigious feat due to her status as opposed to being ordinary/unknown) when a lack of his fame doesn't get him anywhere near her. So, it's no different than an average dude having what is generally seen as the world's most desired woman and then.....not..lol. No way his head is not fuuuuuuuuu'd up. Sure, he can get other hot women but none that the entire planet is currently lusting over. I bet he's on the mound thinking about that kind of loss and taking it like any one of us would in our office, dorm or parents basement. His mind is ruined. He has to pitch when all he wants to do is mope and get drunk. JV needs time off after a conquest loss like that. Dude needs the mentally/sexually disabled list for a bit ha. (again, mostly joking but I think it's the elephant in the room when debating his decline and timing of it)

Joined: 12/02/2008

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Magnum P.I.

August 25th, 2013 at 11:29 AM ^

We have the best rotation and best lineup in baseball. The Detroit Tigers! If (a) Miggy were in the National League or (b) Chris Davis weren't the roidiest hgh flukehead in baseball history, Miggy would already have wrapped up the triple crown in mid-August. No one has ever won it in consecutive years. Not Ted Williams. Not Rogers Hornsby. Not nobody.

Joined: 07/16/2009

MGoPoints: 30660

Romeo50

August 25th, 2013 at 12:20 PM ^

Sanchez second and then JV barely pver Fister. JV reminds me of Tiger Woods struggles right now. All mental overthink and way too tight. JV has to command and use his off speed better and re-learn tp paint the corners since his fastball if not thrown above 97 and has no movement and is batting practice this time of year to ML hitters.

Joined: 03/09/2013

MGoPoints: 16432

allintime23

August 25th, 2013 at 12:51 PM ^

With the way this year has played out you have to go with scherzer. How couldn't you? The guys control is unreal. Also, this can take pressure of Verlander to avoid some of the problems he's had in the past once he hit the playoffs. I may even go with Sanchez as the number two guy and have verlander in the three spot. It's not a bad problem to have at all.

Joined: 09/21/2009

MGoPoints: 15225

bronxblue

August 25th, 2013 at 1:46 PM ^

At this point, look at the match up and see if Verlander feels like the right play, but in general I'd go with Sherzer.  He's just been the better pitcher, and while Verlander has been a dominant player for years, he's having a down season and there's no reason to believe he'd be able to turn it around in the postseason.  Plus, his postseason numbers are not stupendous - 6-4, 4.22 ERA, okay advanced stats and BaBIP, but not nearly as dominant save for Oakland last year.  He's a great #2 or #3 depending on the matchup, and I'd honestly rather have him available for a big game 6 than running on fumes for game 7.

Joined: 11/22/2008

MGoPoints: 171424

jdon

August 25th, 2013 at 6:00 PM ^

1.) by growing debate do you mean  Valenti and Foster are trolling you?

 

2.) does it really matter since no one on this staff needs to pitch 1,4,7? betweem Sanchez, Scherzer, and Verlander you ahve three guys to pitch two games and porcello to roll out in the middle.

 

 

Joined: 09/28/2009

MGoPoints: 5906

School 4 the Gifted

August 25th, 2013 at 7:03 PM ^

who say it's too early.  If the season ended now, it's definitely Scherzer, without a question.

The 2011 or 2012 Verlander? No question, it's JV.  2013 Verlander even if you give him some extra credit for long term resume, JV is #2.

And I also agree that he's not a lock for the #2 right now.  T

Guess the post-season ERA/WHIP:

4.22 ERA/1.24 WHIP

1.77 ERA/0.98 WHIP

Sanchez is the latter although in fewer starts plus JV was rocked in 2006 as a rookie so the stats are misleading but still.....

 

Joined: 12/04/2011

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MGoBender

August 25th, 2013 at 7:08 PM ^

Couple things:

Tigers are 1.5 ahead of Boston for HFA throughout the playoffs.

Tigers are 1 GB Atlanta for best record overall (which means nothing thanks to crazy Uncle Bud).

6 Games up on Cleveland basically makes the division over at this point.  If the Tigers go .500 the rest of the way out, the Tribe would have to go 22-10.  It's OVA.

Will Castellanos get major ABs in September???

Joined: 03/26/2010

MGoPoints: 15128

WMUgoblue

August 25th, 2013 at 7:29 PM ^

While I'd love to see Nick C get a chance to show what he has I wonder what good it will do to start his service time now in a platoon. If Dirks can build off what he's done this week then I can't really see a scenario where Castellanos gets called up instead of being sent to winterball. Since he's not on the 40 man they'd have to designate somebody to clear room, unless the rules are different for September??

Joined: 12/06/2009

MGoPoints: 12422

ikestoys

August 25th, 2013 at 10:21 PM ^

Tigers pitchers rankings:

 

1) Sanchez - Better FIP and xFIP. Would have higher WAR if not for time lost due to injury

2) Scherzer - Pretty damn close to Sanchez, but if you're using wins to measure his season you're doing it wrong. Scherzer is getting a crazy amount of run support, and he's only responsible for a few of those. Would be fine with either of these guys starting game 1.

T3) Verlander/Fister - Unless Verlander has been chillin all year waiting to amp it up in the playoffs, he's obviously a tier below Scherzer and Sanchez, and about even with Fister. Verlander's rate stats (xFIP, FIP, etc) are a bit lower than Fister but Verlander goes deeper into games. Now, maybe the Tigers managment know Verlander has been cruising this year and will amp it up for the playoffs, but he's definitely not a game 1 or 2 starter at this point.

Joined: 09/26/2009

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