Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
I know that I’m going to wow you folks with some groundbreaking, and some mind-shattering information right now. Are you ready for it? Justin Verlander is really good. I really don’t know how else to put it. He’s the best pitcher in the game today, and could possibly go down as one of the best of all-time. That unfortunately did him no good on Thursday against the Seattle Mariners.
Although Verlander pitched well, it wasn’t enough to get him the W for the Detroit Tigers over the Mariners in the series finale at Safeco Field in Seattle. He went seven innings giving up nine hits and two earned runs, a very respectable outing for any pitcher, but in the end he still ended up with the loss.
Verlander held the Mariners scoreless through six innings, but then gave up the two runs in the seventh. From there on, the Tigers never scored and lost the game. Verlander held Seattle to two runs, but if your team can’t even score one, you will lose 100 percent of the time. It’s rough luck for Detroit’s ace, who now has a record of 2-2.
Verlander will live off his fastball, which is one of the best in Major League Baseball. It will actually gain velocity as the game goes on, but there is no doubt that his most dangerous pitch is his curveball. The thing is devastating when it drops out of the zone at the last minute, and makes the hitter look like a fool.
I’ve seen so many times when he throws it and it starts off at a batters head, but then dives into the dirt as the batter is turning his head because he thinks he’s going to get smashed in the head.
I can go on and on about how great this man is. He’s the best pitcher I’ve had the privilege to see in person, and it just so happened to be today that the Tigers decided not to hit. Verlander’s next matchup will be against the Kansas City Royals back in Detroit. I would be willing to bet that he will get a different outcome. Of course, everyone would bet on that.
Eric Carlisle is a Detroit Tigers writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @EricCarlizle810, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google
