Lets talk Verlander

[High Heater]

alot of people seriously questioned his ace potential even though he established a lights out but short minor league career with as high a K/per 9 as lirano. his fade in the 2nd half last year brought on doubts and rightfully so.

here we are again and he's pitching even more lights-out then last year. he's uped his K's significantly from last year. due to not having blister problems from the effects of his knuckle-curve he threw as his out-pitch.

this year he switched or might i say got comfotable throwing the traditional 12-6 and it's been as effective as his knuckler.

his stat line as of now is:

97IP 76H 30ER 34BB and 85K

thats one hell of a line if you ask me his K's are starting to crteep up on par with what he's done in college and the minors along with his incredible stuff.

anyone want to make some predictions to this point? he certainly could fade and tire out like last year so that will always be there till the end of the season or the concerns atleast.

[SirDunkALot]

He's probably going to tire down the stretch *dude's still young* but overtime.. man. Going to be nasty.

[dclark0699]

I traded him preseason for Matt Holliday....not really a trade I regret...but man my staff would be nasty with him.

I think the most impressive thing about him is that he doesn't tire within a game...Last year he had a game throwing 100 in the 9th....and during his no-hitter he was doing the same thing...one word for that....impressive.

[Yoda]

Once he puts it together for an entire year, he will be a perenial top 10 pitcher. His stuff is ridiculously good and he obviously knows how to pitch already. THe lack of Ks in the past is what concered me but not anymore.

[moochman]

He had blister problems that kept him from throwing his curve last season. This year he change from a knuckle curve to a more conventional curve and hasn't had a problem with blisters. When he can throw his curve for strikes hitters are at his mercy. His fluid motion and even but cocky demeanor should make him an upper echelon pitcher for years.

[tinfoilxtouch]

I didn't draft him because my K/9 ratio was a concern... now I wish that I'd paid better attention to his minor league stats and believed he'd get to this point.

[Ender]

Sell high. Low BABIP, high LOB%. He hasn't pitched much better than last year he just has a much lower ERA. He has also been abused over the last year and a half and another second half fade is more likely than not.

[High Heater]

Sell high. Low BABIP, high LOB%. He hasn't pitched much better than last year he just has a much lower ERA. He has also been abused over the last year and a half and another second half fade is more likely than not.

um a discrepancy of 21 IP/H is looking consistent to me. the abuse part i could agree with which is definetly somethign to spark conversation on

[FalcoAtL]

alot of people seriously questioned his ace potential even though he established a lights out but short minor league career with as high a K/per 9 as lirano. his fade in the 2nd half last year brought on doubts and rightfully so.

I think they questioned more his ability to pitch at the same level this year as he did last year. His wearing down last year hinted that might struggle this year, but that certainly hasn't been the case. No one really ever questioned his potential to be the Tiger's ace since he's is obviously better than Bonderman.

In the 2nd year I would say he gets about 7 more wins and ends with 17 (I think he'll get one more before the break). I think he'll again wear down, but I don't think it will be nearly as bad this year. The kid obviously trained in the offseason based on his struggles with fatigue.

[J35J]

Sell high. Low BABIP, high LOB%. He hasn't pitched much better than last year he just has a much lower ERA. He has also been abused over the last year and a half and another second half fade is more likely than not.

He'll be fine. He isn't getting hit nearly as hard as he did last year. And I'd say he is pitching better than last year... Pretty much everything he's done this year is better than last year except his BB/9