Showing posts with label Justin Verlander. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Justin Verlander. Show all posts
Monday, November 21, 2011
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Justin-credible
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| Verlander's 2011 season will go down as one of the best in baseball history. |
In the finest year of his brief, but bright seven-year career, Verlander stated his case as the best pitcher in the game, posting career-bests in wins (24), winning percentage (.828), earned run average (2.40), innings (251), WHIP (0.92) and now has the hardware to prove it.
Verlander becomes only the third pitcher in history to win the award while wearing the Tiger uniform. Right-hander Denny McLain was the first Detroit pitcher to take home the honor way back in 1968. McLain would repeat and win his second the following season in 1969, but had to share the honor with Baltimore's Mike Cuellar.
Fifteen years later, Willie Hernandez became not only the second Tiger in history to be recognized, but the second relief pitcher in history to receive the trophy, going 9-3 with 32 saves and a 1.92 ERA in 1984.
To go along with their Cy Young awards, both McLain and Hernandez are part of a limited class, receiving the AL Most Valuable Player Award in the same season, a feat Verlander hopes to accomplish as well.
Since the award was established in 1956, only nine pitchers in Major League history have been both honored with the Cy Young and MVP in the same season. Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley was the last pitcher to earn both honors as a member of the Oakland Athletics in 1992.
The 28-year-old Verlander becomes only the ninth AL pitcher to win the award by unanimous decision and the 21st overall. Now-New York Mets left-hander Johan Santana was the last AL pitcher to receive a unanimous selection, while pitching for the Minnesota Twins in 2006, oddly enough Verlander's rookie campaign.
Verlander's 24 wins, 2.40 ERA, and 250 strikeouts led the AL this season, becoming the 16th pitcher in AL history to win the pitching Triple Crown and with that, history held true.
The four-time All-Star is the 12th pitcher in Major League history to win the pitching Triple Crown and receive a unanimous selection in the Cy Young voting. Roger Clemens is the only pitcher to win the award and not have his selection unanimous after winning the Triple Crown. That came in 1997, when Clemens was pitching for the last-place Toronto Blue Jays.
Hall of Famer Hal Newhouser was the last Detroit pitcher to earn the Triple Crown. That coming in his 1945 MVP season.
It's a fitting end to a year that didn't start in the right direction. Verlander started off the season rather slow, going 2-3 in his first 7 starts, but after throwing his second career no-hitter on May 7, north of the border, the right-hander went 22-2 in his final 27 starts of the season, helping the Tiger capture their first AL Central division title in franchise history.
With Verlander totaling his maximum 160 points in the voting, Angels pitcher Jered Weaver finished second, tallying 97 points. Tampa Bay's James Shields and New York's CC Sabathia finished third and fourth, respectively.
With his first career Cy Young in the bag, Verlander puts his sights on the MVP, an award announced on Nov. 21.
Monday, October 31, 2011
CC Ya Next Year
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| Sabathia had many Yankee fans worried the top of their rotation would be headed by someone other than the 290-pounder in 2012. |
With four years and $92 million remaining on Sabathia's seven-year $161 million deal he signed prior to the 2009 season, New York has added an extra year to the contract worth $25 million, including a vesting option worth the same mount in '17 with a $5 million buyout.
The extension now brings the 31-year-old's deal to five-years $122 million, still the highest paid pitcher in Major League Baseball.
Sabathia, who reportedly lost 25 pounds last offseason after cutting his beloved Cap' n Crunch out of his diet, is coming off another All-Star year in the Bronx, going 19-8 with a 3.00 earned run average in 237.1 innings. Although, the 2007 Cy Young Award winner struggled in the season's final two months with a 3-3 recorded, 4.30 ERA and opponents hit at a .314 clip against him. That continued in the postseason as Sabathia allowed 6 earned runs in his 8.2 innings, accumulating to a 6.30 ERA.
Despite that, the California native has enjoyed three fantastic seasons under the bright lights of Yankee Stadium that includes being named the '09 ALCS MVP and his first World Series title.
Last season Sabathia became a 20-game winner for the first time in his career, winning 21 games in an American League leading 34 starts. His 59 wins since becoming a Yankee are the second only the Detroit Justin Verlander's 61 in that three-year span.
Sabathia recently built a home in Alpine, New Jersey and has said numerous times he loves pitching in New York, a love that ultimately meant him dawning the pinstripes for the long haul.
It's a decision that the organization and fans alike have been waiting for all season long. With their already thin starting rotation, New York could ill afford to lose an ace and workhorse like Sabathia, who has tossed plus innings each of the last five seasons.
With this deal, left-hander C.J. Wilson is thought to be the best free-agent starting pitcher on the market this winter, along with Mark Buehrle, Roy Oswalt and Japanese import Yu Darvish.
All whom could slide right into the No. 2 slot in the rotation behind Sabathia.
The five-time All-Star will be 36 when his contract expires and has an outside chance of becoming one of the next or the final 300-game winner in baseball. Sabathia currently ranks fourth on the active wins list with 176, but is the youngest of the bunch as the top three are all 34 or older.
Now, with Sabathia looking to continue etching his name in Yankee lore, their unsigned general manager can look to get his ace some help
The extension now brings the 31-year-old's deal to five-years $122 million, still the highest paid pitcher in Major League Baseball.
Sabathia, who reportedly lost 25 pounds last offseason after cutting his beloved Cap' n Crunch out of his diet, is coming off another All-Star year in the Bronx, going 19-8 with a 3.00 earned run average in 237.1 innings. Although, the 2007 Cy Young Award winner struggled in the season's final two months with a 3-3 recorded, 4.30 ERA and opponents hit at a .314 clip against him. That continued in the postseason as Sabathia allowed 6 earned runs in his 8.2 innings, accumulating to a 6.30 ERA.
Despite that, the California native has enjoyed three fantastic seasons under the bright lights of Yankee Stadium that includes being named the '09 ALCS MVP and his first World Series title.
Last season Sabathia became a 20-game winner for the first time in his career, winning 21 games in an American League leading 34 starts. His 59 wins since becoming a Yankee are the second only the Detroit Justin Verlander's 61 in that three-year span.
Sabathia recently built a home in Alpine, New Jersey and has said numerous times he loves pitching in New York, a love that ultimately meant him dawning the pinstripes for the long haul.
It's a decision that the organization and fans alike have been waiting for all season long. With their already thin starting rotation, New York could ill afford to lose an ace and workhorse like Sabathia, who has tossed plus innings each of the last five seasons.
With this deal, left-hander C.J. Wilson is thought to be the best free-agent starting pitcher on the market this winter, along with Mark Buehrle, Roy Oswalt and Japanese import Yu Darvish.
All whom could slide right into the No. 2 slot in the rotation behind Sabathia.
The five-time All-Star will be 36 when his contract expires and has an outside chance of becoming one of the next or the final 300-game winner in baseball. Sabathia currently ranks fourth on the active wins list with 176, but is the youngest of the bunch as the top three are all 34 or older.
Now, with Sabathia looking to continue etching his name in Yankee lore, their unsigned general manager can look to get his ace some help
Friday, October 14, 2011
And the Award Goes To: American League Predictions
The 2011 Major League Baseball season saw so many great players elevate their game to the next level, making handing out this year's major awards all the more difficult.
American League Most Valuable Player: Jacoby Ellsbury, BOS
In what should be one of the closest votes in the Award's eighty-year history, Boston Red Sox center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury should be this year's AL MVP. After missing most of the 2010 season due to an injury and playing only in 18 games, Ellsbury came back with vengeance. The 28-year-old outfielder not only became the most productive and best all around player in the Boston lineup, but one of the best in majors.
Playing his usual Gold Glove caliber defense, Ellsbury's bat swung to new heights. The speedy leadoff hitter turned into a prolific power threat, hitting a career-high 32 home runs, nearly quadrupling his previous career high. Prior to the '11 season, Ellsbury had only totaled as many as 9 home runs in a single-season, that coming back in 2008.
In only 349 career games before '11, Ellsbury had only hit 20 career home runs, a number he nearly doubled this season.
To go along with his power, the center fielder lead the majors in total bases (364) and extra-base hits (83). He also was in the top five in hits (212), doubles (46) and runs (119). Not to mention the fact Ellsbury climbed into the top ten in RBIs (105), steals (39), average (.321), slugging percentage (.552) and on-base plus slugging (.928).
Ellsbury looked to be the clear cut favorite for this year's honor after it was a toss up most of the season, that was until his team took a nose dive in the season's final month. The Red Sox completed the worst September collapse in baseball history, blowing a nine-game wild card lead over the Tampa Bay Rays, missing the postseason for the second straight season. Despite his Sox finishing 7-20 record in September and completely floundering, Ellsbury flourished in the season's final weeks.
He hit .358 in September with 8 home runs and 21 RBIs, three of those home runs coming in a doubleheader against the New York Yankees, Sept. 26. He also recorded 43 hits that month, the most he had recorded of any month during the season.
There has been much speculation that Detroit's Justin Verlander, who is the favorite to win his first Cy Young Award, might become the 11th pitcher in major league history to win both the MVP and Cy Young in the same season. No pitcher has accomplished that feat since Oakland Athletics' closer, Dennis Eckersley, took home both honors in 1992 and don't expect it too happen again anytime soon.
Verlander started 34 game for the Tigers this season, which means he only had a hand in 34 of the 162 games Detroit played in during the regular season. There's no question if you take away Verlander's 24 wins from the Tigers' 95, they are not a playoff team. However, how can a pitcher be more valuable to a team than an everyday player, such as Miguel Cabrera, who won the AL batting title at a .344 clip, or Victor Martinez, who led the majors with a .394 average with RISP.
How can a player be deemed the most valuable player in the AL, if he might not be the most valuable to his team?
Toronto's Jose Bautista put together a case of his own after leading the majors in home runs (43) for the second straight year, also leading in slugging percentage (.608), on-base plus slugging (1.056) and base-on-balls (138). New York's Curtis Granderson and Boston's Adrian Gonzalez also put up fantastic campaigns, but don't edge out Ellsbury. Despite Granderson hitting a career-high 41 home runs, driving in an AL best 119 runs and leading the majors in runs scored with 136, his .262 average and opportunity to hit in arguably the best lineup in baseball hurts his chances.
With his 32 home runs and 39 stolen bases, Ellsbury joined the 30-30 club this season and was honored with the AL Comeback Player of the Year Award Thursday. He could add another trophy to his rapidly growing cabinet when the AL MVP is announced Monday, Nov. 21.
American League Cy Young: Justin Verlander, DET
There have been a total of 21 unanimous Cy Young Award winners since the award's inception in 1956, 13 from the National League and 8 from the American League. The last pitcher to win the award unanimously in either league came as recent as last year when Philadelphia Phillies ace Roy Halladay won in his first year in the National League. He also become the fifth pitcher in major league history to win the award both in the AL and NL.
Detroit's Justin Verlander should become the 22nd pitcher in baseball history to be named the Cy Young Award winner unanimously. The four-time All-Star went 24-5 for Jim Leyland's Tigers and tossed his second career no-hitter in '11. Verlander is the first pitcher to win 24 games in a single-season since five-time Cy Young Award winner, Randy Johnson, won 24 back in 2002 while pitching for the then-defending World Series champion Arizona Diamondbacks and went on to win what would be his final Cy Young.
Verlander started the off rather slow, going 2-3 in his first 7 starts, but after throwing his no-hitter on May 7 against the Blue Jays, the right-hander went 22-2 in his final 27 starts of the season and almost inevitably ensuring his first career Cy Young.
Along with his major league best 24 wins, the Tiger's ace lead the AL in strikeouts (250) and ERA (2.40), winning the AL pitching Triple Crown. All that being said many believe Verlander is the front-runner to also come away with the AL MVP honors as well, but that simply should not be the case.
Not even the spectacular season of that Verlander put together deserves that honor. Johnson's '02 season couldn't even capture him both honors and believe it or not his numbers were even better than Verlander's. That season to go along with his 24-5 record, Johnson threw 260 innings, the second most of his career, and posted a career-low 2.32 ERA. He led the majors in strikeouts with 334 and tossed 8 complete games, four of those were shutouts.
Not to mention the fact Johnson pitched in the midst of the steroid era while playing in the same league as slugger Barry Bonds, who was fresh off his record-breaking 73 home run season.
Compare those to Verlander's '11 numbers, that also consisted of 251 innings with 4 complete games and 2 shutouts. Johnson would not finish the top five in the NL MVP voting, finishing seventh, that season.
There is no question Verlander should this year's unanimous selection for the AL Cy Young, but as for the MVP, not so much.
American League Rookie of the Year: Jeremy Hellickson, TB
In another tough decision, the Rays Jeremy Hellickson seemed to stand out the most of any other first-year AL player. Hellickson helped orchestrate Tampa Bay's improbable September comeback, going 13-10 with a 2.95 ERA in his 29 starts this season. The rookie right-hander got his first taste of the big leagues last season, tossing 36.1 innings in 4 starts and 10 total appearances.
Still eligible for the award, Hellickson could be the second Rays player to win the honor in the last four years. All-Star Evan Longoria was the first, being named the AL ROY in 2008.
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim first baseman Mark Trumbo was a close second. The 25-year-old slugger batted .254, but his pop and overwhelming offensive contributions are what drove this Angels offense most of the regular season.
Trumbo's 29 home runs and 87 RBIs led the team, becoming the first rookie in franchise history to lead in both those categories.
The Anaheim native also came two home runs shy of tying Tim Salmon's rookie franchise record of 31 set back in 1993. Trumbo also added two crucial walk-off home runs during the season to keep Los Angeles in contention. Without the welcoming surprise of his bat, the Angels could have been playing meaningless games as early as July.
New York's Ivan Nova also gave a later surge, winning 16 games and posting a 3.70 ERA. If not for being sent down in early July to make room for Phil Hughes in the rotation, Nova might have won a lot more games. That being said, his ERA was a bit high and benefited from some of the best run support in the majors.
Another one of Joe Maddon's rookies burst onto the scene and played a pivotal part to their late season surge. Desmond Jennings played in only 63 games this season, but filled in nicely for the departed Carl Crawford. Jennings hit .259 with 10 home runs and stole 20 bases for the Rays and if he would have been called up sooner, we might be talking about him instead of his fellow teammate.
Despite Hellickson having a record hovering around .500, the right-hander saw his offense average only 6.43 runs per game in his starts. That's nothing compared to Nova's 8.82 per game which was second in the majors.
American League Manager of the Year: Joe Maddon, TB
Three months ago if you would have said the Tampa Bay Rays were headed to the postseason, you would have been called crazy. Manager Joe Maddon didn't think so, with his unorthodox methods and never say die attitude, he lead his team to their second straight playoff appearance and third in four years.
Nine games back of the wild card as late as Sept. 3, the Rays came all the way back and capped off their magical run with an unbelievable walk-off win in the final game of the regular season that launched them into the postseason. Maddon was the architect of this club and with the departures Crawford, Carlos Pena, Rafael Soriano, and Joaquin Benoit, he saw his team win 91 games, good enough for second in the AL East, after they were pronounced dead before the season even started.
Cleveland's Manny Acta had the Indians in first-place most of the first half, but the Tribe trailed off after the All-Star break and settled for second in the division at 80-82, 15 games behind the AL Central champion Tigers.
Mike Scioscia kept the Angels in contention most of the season and may be the best manager he baseball when it comes to getting the most out of his players.
Maddon, who at one time was Scioscia's bench coach, is a close second in that regard, but should be this year's AL Manager of the Year.
American League Most Valuable Player: Jacoby Ellsbury, BOS
In what should be one of the closest votes in the Award's eighty-year history, Boston Red Sox center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury should be this year's AL MVP. After missing most of the 2010 season due to an injury and playing only in 18 games, Ellsbury came back with vengeance. The 28-year-old outfielder not only became the most productive and best all around player in the Boston lineup, but one of the best in majors.
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| Ellsbury turned into a superstar center fielder in 2011. |
In only 349 career games before '11, Ellsbury had only hit 20 career home runs, a number he nearly doubled this season.
To go along with his power, the center fielder lead the majors in total bases (364) and extra-base hits (83). He also was in the top five in hits (212), doubles (46) and runs (119). Not to mention the fact Ellsbury climbed into the top ten in RBIs (105), steals (39), average (.321), slugging percentage (.552) and on-base plus slugging (.928).
Ellsbury looked to be the clear cut favorite for this year's honor after it was a toss up most of the season, that was until his team took a nose dive in the season's final month. The Red Sox completed the worst September collapse in baseball history, blowing a nine-game wild card lead over the Tampa Bay Rays, missing the postseason for the second straight season. Despite his Sox finishing 7-20 record in September and completely floundering, Ellsbury flourished in the season's final weeks.
He hit .358 in September with 8 home runs and 21 RBIs, three of those home runs coming in a doubleheader against the New York Yankees, Sept. 26. He also recorded 43 hits that month, the most he had recorded of any month during the season.
There has been much speculation that Detroit's Justin Verlander, who is the favorite to win his first Cy Young Award, might become the 11th pitcher in major league history to win both the MVP and Cy Young in the same season. No pitcher has accomplished that feat since Oakland Athletics' closer, Dennis Eckersley, took home both honors in 1992 and don't expect it too happen again anytime soon.
Verlander started 34 game for the Tigers this season, which means he only had a hand in 34 of the 162 games Detroit played in during the regular season. There's no question if you take away Verlander's 24 wins from the Tigers' 95, they are not a playoff team. However, how can a pitcher be more valuable to a team than an everyday player, such as Miguel Cabrera, who won the AL batting title at a .344 clip, or Victor Martinez, who led the majors with a .394 average with RISP.
How can a player be deemed the most valuable player in the AL, if he might not be the most valuable to his team?
Toronto's Jose Bautista put together a case of his own after leading the majors in home runs (43) for the second straight year, also leading in slugging percentage (.608), on-base plus slugging (1.056) and base-on-balls (138). New York's Curtis Granderson and Boston's Adrian Gonzalez also put up fantastic campaigns, but don't edge out Ellsbury. Despite Granderson hitting a career-high 41 home runs, driving in an AL best 119 runs and leading the majors in runs scored with 136, his .262 average and opportunity to hit in arguably the best lineup in baseball hurts his chances.
With his 32 home runs and 39 stolen bases, Ellsbury joined the 30-30 club this season and was honored with the AL Comeback Player of the Year Award Thursday. He could add another trophy to his rapidly growing cabinet when the AL MVP is announced Monday, Nov. 21.
American League Cy Young: Justin Verlander, DET
There have been a total of 21 unanimous Cy Young Award winners since the award's inception in 1956, 13 from the National League and 8 from the American League. The last pitcher to win the award unanimously in either league came as recent as last year when Philadelphia Phillies ace Roy Halladay won in his first year in the National League. He also become the fifth pitcher in major league history to win the award both in the AL and NL.
Detroit's Justin Verlander should become the 22nd pitcher in baseball history to be named the Cy Young Award winner unanimously. The four-time All-Star went 24-5 for Jim Leyland's Tigers and tossed his second career no-hitter in '11. Verlander is the first pitcher to win 24 games in a single-season since five-time Cy Young Award winner, Randy Johnson, won 24 back in 2002 while pitching for the then-defending World Series champion Arizona Diamondbacks and went on to win what would be his final Cy Young.
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| Verlander drenched by his teammates after his no-hitter May 3 in Toronto. |
Along with his major league best 24 wins, the Tiger's ace lead the AL in strikeouts (250) and ERA (2.40), winning the AL pitching Triple Crown. All that being said many believe Verlander is the front-runner to also come away with the AL MVP honors as well, but that simply should not be the case.
Not even the spectacular season of that Verlander put together deserves that honor. Johnson's '02 season couldn't even capture him both honors and believe it or not his numbers were even better than Verlander's. That season to go along with his 24-5 record, Johnson threw 260 innings, the second most of his career, and posted a career-low 2.32 ERA. He led the majors in strikeouts with 334 and tossed 8 complete games, four of those were shutouts.
Not to mention the fact Johnson pitched in the midst of the steroid era while playing in the same league as slugger Barry Bonds, who was fresh off his record-breaking 73 home run season.
Compare those to Verlander's '11 numbers, that also consisted of 251 innings with 4 complete games and 2 shutouts. Johnson would not finish the top five in the NL MVP voting, finishing seventh, that season.
There is no question Verlander should this year's unanimous selection for the AL Cy Young, but as for the MVP, not so much.
American League Rookie of the Year: Jeremy Hellickson, TB
In another tough decision, the Rays Jeremy Hellickson seemed to stand out the most of any other first-year AL player. Hellickson helped orchestrate Tampa Bay's improbable September comeback, going 13-10 with a 2.95 ERA in his 29 starts this season. The rookie right-hander got his first taste of the big leagues last season, tossing 36.1 innings in 4 starts and 10 total appearances.
Still eligible for the award, Hellickson could be the second Rays player to win the honor in the last four years. All-Star Evan Longoria was the first, being named the AL ROY in 2008.
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| Hellickson was among not only one of the best rookie pitchers, but best in the majors in '11. |
Trumbo's 29 home runs and 87 RBIs led the team, becoming the first rookie in franchise history to lead in both those categories.
The Anaheim native also came two home runs shy of tying Tim Salmon's rookie franchise record of 31 set back in 1993. Trumbo also added two crucial walk-off home runs during the season to keep Los Angeles in contention. Without the welcoming surprise of his bat, the Angels could have been playing meaningless games as early as July.
New York's Ivan Nova also gave a later surge, winning 16 games and posting a 3.70 ERA. If not for being sent down in early July to make room for Phil Hughes in the rotation, Nova might have won a lot more games. That being said, his ERA was a bit high and benefited from some of the best run support in the majors.
Another one of Joe Maddon's rookies burst onto the scene and played a pivotal part to their late season surge. Desmond Jennings played in only 63 games this season, but filled in nicely for the departed Carl Crawford. Jennings hit .259 with 10 home runs and stole 20 bases for the Rays and if he would have been called up sooner, we might be talking about him instead of his fellow teammate.
Despite Hellickson having a record hovering around .500, the right-hander saw his offense average only 6.43 runs per game in his starts. That's nothing compared to Nova's 8.82 per game which was second in the majors.
American League Manager of the Year: Joe Maddon, TB
Three months ago if you would have said the Tampa Bay Rays were headed to the postseason, you would have been called crazy. Manager Joe Maddon didn't think so, with his unorthodox methods and never say die attitude, he lead his team to their second straight playoff appearance and third in four years.
Nine games back of the wild card as late as Sept. 3, the Rays came all the way back and capped off their magical run with an unbelievable walk-off win in the final game of the regular season that launched them into the postseason. Maddon was the architect of this club and with the departures Crawford, Carlos Pena, Rafael Soriano, and Joaquin Benoit, he saw his team win 91 games, good enough for second in the AL East, after they were pronounced dead before the season even started.
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| Maddon never let his team quit and the end result was a wild card berth. |
Mike Scioscia kept the Angels in contention most of the season and may be the best manager he baseball when it comes to getting the most out of his players.
Maddon, who at one time was Scioscia's bench coach, is a close second in that regard, but should be this year's AL Manager of the Year.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Cycling Back To Arlington
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| Young, right, celebrates after his second home run of the game that completed a team inning cycle. |
Justin Verlander pumped his fist after inducing a groundball double-play off the broken bat of Texas Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler, escaping a one out base loaded jam in the sixth.
With the game still tied at two and inspired by Verlander's work in the top of the inning, Detroit's potent offense roared to life in the home half, that is with a little bit of luck.
Utility man Ryan Raburn, who has been filling in for the injured Magglio Ordonez, greeted Texas Rangers starter C.J. Wilson with a hard led off single to left followed by what would have normally been a routine 5-4-3 double-play, but for the first time in the series, the Tigers got the ball to bounce their way. Miguel Cabrera's ground ball hit the third base bag, shooting up and out of the reach of the Rangers' Adrian Beltre and down the left field line.
Cabrera cruised into second with an RBI double, seizing the lead back for the Tigers, 3-2.
Victor Martinez, much like he has all season for Detroit, delivered again with a triple into the right corner, scoring Cabrera. Following Martinez, Delmon Young answered the bell, blasting his second home run of the game and fifth of the postseason.
The Tigers had hit of the cycle in the inning, making that the first time it had been done in postseason history. If that weren't impressive enough, Detroit did it with with four consecutive hitters while hitting for the cycle the "natural" way.
Wilson escaped the inning alive, but the damage had already been done.
On the other side, Verlander trotted back out for his seventh inning of work, having a shut down inning, producing his first perfect 1-2-3 inning since the second and emphatically yelling, "It's about f-ing time".
Raburn added an insurance run in the bottom of the inning with a home run off Koji Uehara, increasing the lead to 7-2. Boy did they never need it. Nelson Cruz continued his unbelievable ALCS, hitting his fifth home run of the series and his second home run off Verlander in the series. This time a two-run shot, cutting into the Tigers' lead, 7-4.
Cruz is only the fifth player in major league history to have five homes in a postseason series, and the first to do so in a LCS. Surprisingly, Cruz had never hit five home runs over a a five game game span in his career, until now.
Manager Jim Leyland called upon left-hander Phil Coke to finish the game with the unavailability of set-up man Joaquin Benoit and closer Jose Valverde. Leyland made it clear prior to Game 5 that both Benoit and Valverde were not made available to pitch after extended work the last couple of games. The 66-year-old manager said he'd hope to get through the game using just Verlander and Coke and that's exactly what he did.
Despite the game becoming dicey with two outs in the ninth, Coke got the game's final five outs, sending the series back to Arlington for a Game 6 Saturday.
Bur the Rangers find themselves in a familiar spot. Last season Texas held a 3-1 series lead against the then-defending World Series champion New York Yankees. New York also won Game 5, only to have the Rangers close out the series at home in Game 6.
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| Verlander hasn't been sharp this postseason, but fought his way through Game 5. |
With their backs against the wall, Detroit will need to defy the odds once again like they have all season long.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
AL First Round Preview: Let The Games Begin
After an unbelievable and maybe the most exciting finish to an 162 game regular season in baseball history, October is upon us, setting the stage for an what could be an unforgettable postseason.
Tampa Bay Rays at Texas Rangers:
This series is a rematch of last years ALDS in which the road team won every game of the series and it needed all five games to determine a winner. Only this team Texas has the home-field advantage.
Tampa Bay comes into this year's postseason feeling as confident as ever and if they are to dethrone the defending American League champion Texas Rangers, they will have to use their outstanding pitching staff and defense to do so. As a whole the Rays recorded the second best ERA in the American League at 3.58 trailing only the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
Jeff Niemann, who is 0-2 with an ERA over 11 in his last two starts against Texas, looks to be getting the ball to open the series on the road. He will need to match C.J. Wilson pitch for pitch and keep his team in the game much like he did last year. In the 2010 ALDS, Niemann kept the Rangers off the score board for three innings, allowing only two base runners while punching out four.
Right-hander James Shields became a pitcher not a thrower after a terrible '10 campaign, posting a franchise record eleven complete games to go along with four shutouts. After an early trip to the disabled list All-Star Evan Longoria has recorded 87 RBIs since the month of June, by far the most in the majors. He will need to continue and carry the load much like he did Wednesday night at the Trop.
Also Rookie Matt Moore could be the 2011 version of David Price or Francisco Rodriguez.
In Arlington, the Rangers won the season series with the Rays 5 games to 4. Despite not having Cliff Lee, Texas has three above average left-handers going the first three games of this series with Wilson, Derek Holland, and Matt Harrison.
As for their bullpen, general manager Josh Daniels addressed that issue at the trading deadline, bringing in two of the games best set-up men with Koji Uehara and Mike Adams. Closer Neftali Feliz hasn't been what he was in his rookie season, but still gives Ron Washington a lethal weapon in the ninth inning.
The real strength of this club is their offense with Adrian Beltre and Mike Napoli adding 62 home runs and 180 RBIs to an already dangerous order. How could we forget Michael Young after another amazing season sharing the major league in hits with 213. Somehow reigning AL MVP Josh Hamilton is flying under the radar.
TB X-Factor: Jeremy Hellickson
TEX X-Factor: Mike Napoli
Tampa Bay in Five
Detroit Tigers at New York Yankees:
A rematch of the 2006 ALDS, in which the Tigers lost the first game of the series in the Bronx, but stunned the Yankees by winning the next three en route to their first World Series appearance since 1984. Game 1 will be a battle of aces that could decide who wins and who goes home.
Detroit heads into the Bronx as the hottest team in baseball after a 20-6 September run. The series rests in the hands of their ace Justin Verlander. The last time Verlander took the postseason stage he was a rookie and the losing pitcher in series-clinching Game 5 of the World Series. One thing is for sure Verlander is no longer a rookie and this years favorite to not only win the AL Cy Young Award, but the AL MVP as well after a 24 win season and winning the AL pitching triple crown.
Doug Fister has been anything short of spectacular since coming to the Motor City. In his 70 1/3 innings under Jim Leyland, Fister is 8-1 with a 1.79 ERA. Closer Jose Valverde was a perfect 49 for 49 in save opportunities in '11, but it will be the bridge to "Papa Grande" that will come into question.
We haven't even mentioned the Tigers offense that consists of some of the games best hitters. Miguel Cabrera is having yet another MVP caliber season while Victor Martinez looks to be the steal of the offseason. Not to mention the rejuvenated bat of Jhonny Peralta. This team can do it all.
In New York, the Yankees finished with the AL's best record for the the second time in three years, reaching the postseason for the 16th time in the last 17 years. The pitching behind C.C. Sabathia is still in question until they prove the regular season wasn't a fluke. Rookie Ivan Nova will get the ball in Game 2 in the Bronx despite his numbers being better on the road. Nova was 12-0 in his last 15 starts and is a rookie out to prove he belongs on the big stage.
If the Yankee starters can get the game to the bullpen, it could be game over. New York has developed a deadly three-headed monster with Soriano in 7th, Robertson in 8th, and of course Rivera in the 9th.
The health of Alex Rodriguez is a major concern for New York and a key if they want to continue their chase for No. 28. Rodriguez has only 68 at-bats since the All-Star break which could have him well rested for another monster postseason. These two teams have not seen one another since May 5 and that is when Derek Jeter was still not quite Derek Jeter. Since that time Jeter has found his stride batting .327 and will continue to be the table setter for this Yankee offense.
DET X-Factor: Justin Verlander
NYY X-Factor: Jorge Posada
New York in Four
Tampa Bay Rays at Texas Rangers:
This series is a rematch of last years ALDS in which the road team won every game of the series and it needed all five games to determine a winner. Only this team Texas has the home-field advantage.
Tampa Bay comes into this year's postseason feeling as confident as ever and if they are to dethrone the defending American League champion Texas Rangers, they will have to use their outstanding pitching staff and defense to do so. As a whole the Rays recorded the second best ERA in the American League at 3.58 trailing only the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
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| Hellickson is the favorite to land the AL ROY honors. |
Right-hander James Shields became a pitcher not a thrower after a terrible '10 campaign, posting a franchise record eleven complete games to go along with four shutouts. After an early trip to the disabled list All-Star Evan Longoria has recorded 87 RBIs since the month of June, by far the most in the majors. He will need to continue and carry the load much like he did Wednesday night at the Trop.
Also Rookie Matt Moore could be the 2011 version of David Price or Francisco Rodriguez.
In Arlington, the Rangers won the season series with the Rays 5 games to 4. Despite not having Cliff Lee, Texas has three above average left-handers going the first three games of this series with Wilson, Derek Holland, and Matt Harrison.
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| Napoli is batting .320 season with an OBP of .414. |
The real strength of this club is their offense with Adrian Beltre and Mike Napoli adding 62 home runs and 180 RBIs to an already dangerous order. How could we forget Michael Young after another amazing season sharing the major league in hits with 213. Somehow reigning AL MVP Josh Hamilton is flying under the radar.
TB X-Factor: Jeremy Hellickson
TEX X-Factor: Mike Napoli
Tampa Bay in Five
Detroit Tigers at New York Yankees:
A rematch of the 2006 ALDS, in which the Tigers lost the first game of the series in the Bronx, but stunned the Yankees by winning the next three en route to their first World Series appearance since 1984. Game 1 will be a battle of aces that could decide who wins and who goes home.
Detroit heads into the Bronx as the hottest team in baseball after a 20-6 September run. The series rests in the hands of their ace Justin Verlander. The last time Verlander took the postseason stage he was a rookie and the losing pitcher in series-clinching Game 5 of the World Series. One thing is for sure Verlander is no longer a rookie and this years favorite to not only win the AL Cy Young Award, but the AL MVP as well after a 24 win season and winning the AL pitching triple crown.
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| Verlander enjoyed the best season of his career while tossing his second no-hitter. |
We haven't even mentioned the Tigers offense that consists of some of the games best hitters. Miguel Cabrera is having yet another MVP caliber season while Victor Martinez looks to be the steal of the offseason. Not to mention the rejuvenated bat of Jhonny Peralta. This team can do it all.
In New York, the Yankees finished with the AL's best record for the the second time in three years, reaching the postseason for the 16th time in the last 17 years. The pitching behind C.C. Sabathia is still in question until they prove the regular season wasn't a fluke. Rookie Ivan Nova will get the ball in Game 2 in the Bronx despite his numbers being better on the road. Nova was 12-0 in his last 15 starts and is a rookie out to prove he belongs on the big stage.
If the Yankee starters can get the game to the bullpen, it could be game over. New York has developed a deadly three-headed monster with Soriano in 7th, Robertson in 8th, and of course Rivera in the 9th.
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| Posada could an erase a season full of pain with one last magical October run. |
DET X-Factor: Justin Verlander
NYY X-Factor: Jorge Posada
New York in Four
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Lighting Strikes Twice
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| Verlander tossed his second career no-hitter Saturday in Toronto. |
Saturday afternoon in Toronto marked yet another historic day in the young career of Detroit Tigers ace, Justin Verlander.
Verlander tossed his second career no-hitter in the Tigers' 9-0 win at Rogers Centre. It's the second no-hitter thrown of the 2011 season after division rival, Francisco Liriano, threw the first in Chicago Tuesday night for the Minnesota Twins.
After not having a no-hitter be changelled in the first month of the season, two come within less of a week of one another.
It's the seventh no-hitter in Tiger history, and Verlander becomes the 28th player in history to throw multiple no-hitters.
Verlander tossed his second career no-hitter in the Tigers' 9-0 win at Rogers Centre. It's the second no-hitter thrown of the 2011 season after division rival, Francisco Liriano, threw the first in Chicago Tuesday night for the Minnesota Twins.
After not having a no-hitter be changelled in the first month of the season, two come within less of a week of one another.
It's the seventh no-hitter in Tiger history, and Verlander becomes the 28th player in history to throw multiple no-hitters.
The last player to accomplish that feat, excluding the postseason, was Chicago White Sox left-hander Mark Buehrle. He would toss his first no-hitter in a 2007 game against the Texas Rangers and reached new heights by throwing a perfect game in 2009, capped off by one of the most memorable catches in baseball history by defensive replacement DeWayne Wise.
Verlander's first no-hitter also came back in '07, no-hitting the Milwaukee Brewers during Interleague play.
The three-time All-Star had been perfect through the first seven innings, but had it broken up by walking a Blue Jays rookie. Catcher J.P. Arencibia battled Verlander with an epic 12 pitch at-bat in the eighth inning -- an at-bat that saw the twelfth pitch sail outside at 100 mph.
That would be the only blunder of the day by Verlander.
The slender right-hander showed great command from the gecko, throwing 74 of his first 108 pitches for strikes. Verlander struck out only four batters Saturday compared to in his first no-no when he struck out 12 Brewers. It was his third of the young season bringing, his record to .500.
But if it wasn't known before, Verlander possesses the repertoire to throw a no-hitter every time out with his upper 90s fastball and 12-6 curveball.
The 28-year-old was the 2006 American League Rookie of the Year, winning 17 games for the Tigers. That same season, also in his rookie season in Detroit, manager Jim Leyland clinched the franchise's first wild card berth and helped the Tigers win their first AL Pennant in 22 years.
Verlander started Game 1 of that World Series and was opposed by fellow rookie Anthony Reyes of the St. Louis Cardinals. It was the first time in the series' 103-year existence that two rookies faced off to open the Fall Classic
After avoiding the dreadful sophomore slump in '07, it would come a year later for Verlander, losing a career-worst 17 games.
Since that time Verlander has become the horse of the Detroit staff, throwing 200 innings each of the last four years and striking out 200 batters in back-to back seasons, including leading the majors with 269 in 2009. He has won as many as 19 games in a season and finished as high as third in the AL Cy Young voting.
The final out was recorded by punching out right fielder Raja Davis on a 2-2, 87 mph breaking ball.
Detroit is currently two games under .500 and six and half games back of the division leading Indians, who are in Anaheim for a weekend series with the Angels.
Despite the slow start, with the trio of Venezuelans at the heart of their order and two power arms at the front of their rotation, Detroit will be in the hunt for their first AL Central title in franchise history. Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan holds the record for no-hitters thrown in a career with seven. The former first-round pick has a ways to go if he wants to reach that mark.
In the mean time, Motown will be rocking and waiting to congratulate their ace with maybe another on the horizon.
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