Remember when many fans thought former Detroit Tigers star starter Justin Verlander was ‘finished’ after about a year and a half of battling through a core injury? Well, since then he’s been a vital part of a Houston Astros team that won a World Series, oh, and he’s starting the All-Star game tonight.
Former beloved Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander is set to start the 90th midsummer classic tonight in Cleveland, Ohio. It will be the second time Justin Verlander starts the MLB’s All-Star game for the American League. The veteran dominate right-hander is hoping to have better results tonight than his first appearance.
Verlander started the 2012 MLB All-Star game in Kansas City, he surrendered five runs in just one inning of work. He credits former Detroit Tigers slugger Prince Fielder for the downfall of his first appearance. Verlander noted Prince was egging him on from first base to throw a pitch 100-MPH; he says he just went out there trying to throw gas by the All-Star caliber players; it didn’t work.
Verlander did joke before the home run derby last night that he doesn’t have that type of velocity in the tank anymore, but maybe he’d try and reach back once to see if he could turn back the clock. I’m sure Houston Astros manager A.J Hinch and owner Jim Crane will hold their breath, hoping their ace doesn’t get to carried away, risking an injury.
Justin Verlander is the oldest player that will partake in the game this evening. Wow, time flies. The 36-year old is having himself another Cy Young type of season anchoring the Astros rotation alongside Gerrit Cole. Verlander owns a 10-4 record with 2.98 ERA on the season, but we all remember how competitive the future Hall of Famer is, he leads the league in home runs allowed (26) on the season. Being the worst at something especially with how firey Verlander is must knaw at him steadily, leading to his ‘ball being juiced’ rant.
In an article published by the Associated Press Justin Verlander used the All-Star nod as an opportunity to once again vent about the baseballs being ‘juiced.’
"“It’s a f—-ing joke,” said Verlander, an eight-time all-star who is starting his second all-star game on Tuesday. “Major League Baseball’s turning this game into a joke. They own Rawlings, and you’ve got (commissioner Rob) Manfred up here saying it might be the way they centre the pill.“They own the f—-ing company,” he said. “If any other $40 billion company bought out a $400 million company and the product changed dramatically, it’s not a guess as to what happened. We all know what happened. Manfred the first time he came in, what’d he say? He said we want more offence. All of a sudden he comes in, the balls are juiced? It’s not coincidence. We’re not idiots.”"
Strong words here by Verlander, he may have a point, but he’s walking a fine line here, in my opinion. He’s bold calling out the MLB commissioner Rob Manfred. Verlander may have a point but the playing field, the baseball’s are the same for every pitcher.
Maybe Major League Baseball is instructing the people at Rawlings to wind the balls a bit tighter hoping they will fly. I’ve always been fascinated by a baseball; I know it’s the simple things in life. I am just intrigued because every baseball is handcrafted. Also when something is handcrafted, there is always the potential for tampering, but you’d think if that were a case one of the disgruntled employees would leak that news wouldn’t you?
Also, one final thought, if the balls are ‘juiced,’ it certainly hasn’t helped the Detroit Tigers who own an American League worse 77 total home runs, the only team throughout the league with less is the dismal Miami Marlines with 68. To compare, the league-leading Minnesota Twins have bombed 166 home runs thus far this season.
The game is set to air on Fox tonight at 8 pm Est. The lone Detroit Tigers representative is closer Shane Greene who owns a remarkable 1.09 era; he also ranks sixth in MLB, third in the A.L with 22 saves on the season.