OT: What's up with Justin Verlander?
Plenty of non-UM sports going on and after reading the box score from last night's loss to KC, I'm curious what some Detroit area locals think about what's going on with JV. I don't live in the area, so I can't see the FSD broadcasts of the games. Can someone shed some light on what is going on with him? I recall a couple seasons ago he went through a tough period where he was supposedly tipping his pitches. Is he experiencing more of the same or is just getting rocked right now, lost his confidence?
He got paid son. He don't need to try no more.
It might be time for him to go the way of John Smoltz and become a closer in the near future. He still has some good stuff but the third time throught line up this year teams are batting over .300 against him. He is probably still too young for this line of thinking but watching him struggle is new for Tigers fans.
Just a thought.
but the few times I've seen him, he looks like he still has his velocity. And if what you think is true, then thats quite a drop off from the past two seasons. Its hard to imagine following up with his Cy Young season of 2012, last year wasn't quite as good, but he still had decent command. What we're seeing this year looks more than just a waning of production...but I do see what you're saying.
primarily because he was coming off Tommy John surgery. Some mistakenly believe his career was of two halves, the first as a starter the second as a reliever/closer. While he had his share of innings as a reliever, he did go back and forth, some seasons as a closer, others as a starter.
Yeah, I was just throwing it out there. I doubt he would like the idea and it may not make much sense but he would be a serious upgrade over Nathan at the very least.
If he was tipping his pitches, I would think it would have been corrected by now. Probably has something to do with the fact he got paid, he has a significant other outside of baseball now, and he's also 31 years old.
that changed the game last night wasn't off a tipped pitch, it was from a juicy belt high fastball that never had a chance of staying in the yard.
He had a significant other when he threw his first no-hitter, when the Tigers won the pennant.
He had his current significant other when he dominated the A's in the playoffs.
I could go on. Please lose the TMZ attitude.
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I think the problem is that opponents are finding his fastball a little too easily.
My bad... looks like the URL caught an extra space at the end of it in my link.
*multi-million dollar question
regressing since his peak in 2011. All up hill until then, all down hill since.
This thread is just begging for a slew of Kate Upton pics/gifs.
Because we care. And because its the off-season? I'm asking because its now two starts in a row with 7 earned runs given up.
I hasten to add that he stil has a good fastball--but he does not have a Justin Verlander fastball anymore. He is usally around 93-95 tops now, which is a significant difference from a couple of years back when he was hittibng 99-100 in the 7th and 8th innings when he needed it. He can't get up there anymore, and I think he's struggling because he's trying to adjust to life where he can't blow the fastball past guys. But his stuff is still very good, and a 94 fastball is also still good, so I think he will get it straightened out.
i can only track games on ESPN's website/gamecast, but it showed last week JV was throwing 95-96 mph heat on his 110th pitch, or thereabouts. not a lot of people on the planet can do that.
or attempted to--the difference you cite in still 5 mph, which in MLB is considerable. Two years ago he regularly hit 99 at the same point in games
According to fangraphs PitchF/X his average fastballs velocities in a given season are thus:
07: 94.1
08: 93.7
09: 95.6
10: 95.5
11: 95.0
12: 94.7
13: 94.0
14: 93.4
He can still run it up there but he has lost some velocity since his best years in '09-'12. This is probably a combo of everything people have cited so far: age, innings load, injury, motivation and work ethic. If he wants to be one of the best again he's gonna have to learn to pitch smarter not harder because his best stuff is probably behind him now.
It keeps giving and giving, day in and day out. New game each day. Its glorious.
SPOTTING: Verlander and Upton at somerset mall..life=made pic.twitter.com/XHvbbpHWaE
— Maggie McElroy (@Maggie_McElroy) June 16, 2014No guy puts that much thought into his sandals.
I think this does provide valuable information. He should be at the ball park at this time.
actually it shows that he could care less about game day and apparently he'd rather be at a mall 3 1/2 hrs before game time but that is just my MO
Thank you for this. It's not healthy how much it drives me nuts when people get that one wrong.
If he were not pitching that day, fine. But on a day where he's supposed to be starting, I'd think he should be elsewhere - at least where there are no distractions like a huge mall. I'm beginning to think his main problem is related to focus and concentration on and off the field - not some problem with his arm or shoulder. Just my opinion, nothing else.
God, please stop the stupid.
What the fuck is he going to do at the ballpark 3.5 hours before the game starts. Seriously, answer that question without the following:
1. Watch tape - He watches tape every non-start day for hours.
2. Stretch - He obviously is on a strict stretching routine.
3. Warm-up - See above.
What else? Why does he need to be at the park more than 3.5 hours before the game starts. Will he be a better pitcher if he sits in the dugout and takes a nap instead of having his normal night game routine? Would he pitch better if he played ping pong in the clubhouse for an hour before the game?
Where were the complaints about Verlander's game-day Taco Bell before he got to the park before this year?
Enough of this awful, logicless, TMZ/voyeur bullshit.
EDIT: Also, the picture was taken at 3:14 at the latest. That means he could have easily been at CoPa by 4pm, which is 3 hours before the game. Somerset to CoPa is a 30 min drive at most.
People are so f'ing stupid with their "players aren't focused because they weren't at the park 10 hours before the game" bullshit. The dude has been pitching his whole life. How many hours does he need to show up before the game to get locked in?
mick: i want you to lay off that pet shop dame
rocky: yo mick, i really like her
mick: then let her train ya!
rock: women weaken legs (repeated as he hits a heavy bag...)
Ausmus needs to pull him into his office and give him a vision test with a notepad and sharpie. Fixes everything.
You do know his offseason consisted of double groin surgery right? That might have altered exactly how much training he could do this winter.
His K's are down (6.4/9 vs career # of 8.4/9)
His BB are up (3.8/9 vs career # of 2.8/9)
This is typcial of a pitcher who doesn't have the same stuff.
Beyond that I can't say as I haven't seen a ton of him throwing, but I'd cast a suspicous gaze toward that 2011 season where he threw 251 innings plus another 20 in the post season. It was one of the best seasons seen in MLB in recent years. Then he followed it up in 2012 with 238 innings plus 28 more in the post season.
By 2013 his #'s look like a solid starter in a 2 or 3 spot, but not the ace he was previously. This year, he's stepped down another notch.
are you saying that he pumped out too many innings in 2011 and 2012 and he's getting worn out? If so, curious...I think you're onto it. Along with some other things folks are mentioning...