Justin Verlander – Once In A Generation

Originally published on October 24, 2012 at Fansided Radio:

Justin Verlander is going to bring home a World Series ring. It might be this year or it might not. One thing is for sure, baseball fans will be hearing about him for some time to come.

At 29 years old, he is the youngest active pitcher with over 100 wins in his career. Drafted out of Old Dominion University in 2004, Verlander made his debut in July 2005 and would go on to win the American League Rookie of the Year Award in 2006. With 2 no-hitters, The American League MVP, and a Cy Young Award in 2011 under his belt, Verlander is very much in the mix for another Cy Young Award for his performance in 2012.

Bryan Gordon remembers coaching the Tiger pitcher at Goochland High School in Virginia, where Verlander graduated in 2002.

“After his last high school game, I told him that he was going to get even better because everyone around him would be better and that is what has happened,” Gordon told me. “I knew that he would be playing on TV one day because he had the talent and the attitude to work hard on his game.”

Richmond Baseball Academy founder Bob Smith coached Verlander from the time he was 12 until he turned 18. Smith told me that he “gave him opportunities for a 15 year old to play on an 18 year old team.”

Smith praised Verlander’s baseball mind, telling me, “He doesn’t forget…things that were 5-6 years ago, the little things burn them up inside, they don’t forget!”

Baseball Tonight analyst Curt Schilling had praise for Verlander.

“But at the end of the day from a home‑field advantage perspective, home field is inherent to your starting pitcher,” Schilling said. “Justin Verlander has home‑field advantage wherever he takes the ball. He has home‑field advantage over whoever he is pitching against, and whatever the opposing pitcher is.”

In 8 seasons, Verlander has racked up 124 wins and 1,454 strikeouts. He has been selected to represent the Detroit Tigers in 5 All-Star games. Not yet 30 years old, Verlander could easily go another 7 years in baseball.

“I think he’s going to keep defining it,” Schilling said of Verlander’s legacy if the Tigers win the World Series. “It’s something we’re going to be watching written over the next five to seven years. This guy, when you hear that term once in a generation, we’re watching it right now. This is just another chapter in it.

“I said it to Karl (Ravech) last week, that my belief was at Game 5 of the Division Series to get the start that he made. The light switch went on for him before that game. He understands what it is now and how to do it. I think that and I remember it for me and remember watching Randy Johnson do it, and watching him turn that light switch on. I think he hit that point.

“I think going forward that you’re looking at a guy who eight innings and 12 punch outs will be his expectation regardless of the day that it starts.”

Baseball Tonight anchor Karl Ravech chimed in with his own thoughts about Verlander and his legacy.

“I think in order to establish a legacy in baseball in this country, you really need to win World Series,” Ravech said. “And until Justin does that, his legacy will not be what it should very well be if he wins the World Series. Obviously, he’s positioned himself and his team, and the owner has done enough to surround him with players to make that happen.”

“It’s not enough to want it,” Schilling added. “You have to understand how to do it and execute on it. We so rarely see that. To see it for me as a pitcher, listen, I love it. His starts are a must‑see TV because you have a chance. I thought this year you had a chance to see something every time he took the ball. Now in October, I think it’s the same.”

Before Game 3 of the ALCS, Jack Morris addressed the media with his thoughts on the star pitcher.

“Well, it seems like in the last two years, every time Justin’s game comes out, he’s at a new level, a new plateau,” Morris said. “And I wouldn’t doubt that that continues as we go through the rest of this postseason and beyond.

“I think a few years back, I saw a young kid with more God-given ability than 99.9 percent of the world ever sees and I wanted to make sure that he knew that I recognized that, No. 1 and No. 2, that I am on his side.”

Morris added that he told Verlander that he “needs to take it to the next level.”

I asked the world of sports media in Detroit for some of their thoughts.

“I think he is carving out a place in the world of once in a generation pitchers but I think it is always more difficult to do without having a championship moment or moments,” said WJBK sports director Dan Miller. I think the other part of the equation is longevity. His story is still being written. There is no sign that he is doing anything other than getting better. His efforts so far in this postseason have only added to the way people regard him in relation to the games greats.

“I would say he is a once in a generation talent and what he does from here in terms of completing his resume will dictate whether or not he puts together a once in a generation career.”

“He’s the best I’ve covered – every bit as competitive with Jack Morris, but with more pitches – and more velocity,” said Tom Gage of the Detroit News. “He dominates much more often than Morris did.”

Gage agreed with Schilling that Verlander is a once in a generation pitcher but added that “he does need a ring on his resume.”

“If his career ended today, he would not be an HOF’er,” Gage said. “But he’s headed in that direction.”