This is Verlander's seventh full season at the age of 29.
Verlander is the reigning American League Most Valuable Player and Cy Young Award winner. That is a rare double crown earned just 10 times. Don Newcombe (1956), Sandy Koufax (1963), Bob Gibson (1968), Denny McClain (1968), Vida Blue (1971), Rollie Fingers (1981), Guillermo Hernandez (1984), Roger Clemons (1986) and Dennis Eckersly (1992) were the others.
He won the Rookie of the Year in 2006. He's been an All-Star five times in six seasons and oh by the way, Verlander has thrown two no-hitters. He no-hit the Milwaukee Brewers on June 12, 2007 and the Toronto Blue Jays on May 7, 2011.
Dusty Baker looked forward to seeing him as soon as he saw the schedule. Baker admitted wishing he could face Verlander after a career facing Tom Seaver, J.R Richard and Nolan Ryan.
"This is a day when you're as a player, you're thinking about this guy," Baker said. "I was thinking about this guy when I saw the schedule. You think about this guy last week. You think about this guy last night and on the way to the ballpark. This is like playoff and World Series challenge. Rarely do I think about playing but if I was young enough, I'd like the challenge of today. You always want to match yourself. You just can't look at them with too much awe. You respect them but you can't give them too much. You have to think they aren't better than you."
A writer in the office quoted Alan Trammel on Roger Clemons, "I take it as a personal challenge."
"I couldn't put it better myself," Baker responded.
The thought of facing Verlander reminded Baker of all the aces he faced in his playing days.
"I remember facing J.R. and Seaver or Nolan Ryan at this time it was very, very, difficult. I remember one time with Seaver, we had a twighlight double header. Seaver threw me a ball. I heard it hit the catcher's glove but I didn't see it. We new everyone of Nolan's pitches. He only grunted on his fastballs but the ball got there before the grunt did. It's the truth," Baker said. "Hank Aaron told me if you're hurt, you limp out there and take your beating. You can't skip them. I don't care how. You will never hit them if you skip them. You have to limp out there or they will think they're better the next start or the next start."
Baker's had not talked to his players about Verlander yet but offered advice and considered the late afternoon start, in which seeing the ball is a factor.
"You got to get on that fastball and not let him get too far ahead," Baker said. "Because if he gets ahead of you, boy, he's got some weapons to put you away with. Hopefully we get to him early before the sight lines come. You see half of it's in the shade, half of it's in the sun. You hear our guys complain. They can't really see. You see how Leake, Latos and everybody is really pitching up to about the fourth inning. Then its hey boys we can see now. The balls looking white instead of gray. Twilight is a tough time for anything. My brother is in the insurance business. He told me that's when most accidents happen. The sun doesn't help and there's not enough light to help you. It's tough to see the stitches on the ball. I like playing at night because the light will reflect off the white part, therefore, it illuminates the red seams and you can pick up the stitches. You're swinging at movement rather than swinging at the ball. You have to get to Verlander before he gets locked in."
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| Professionally edited by ML Schirmer For proof reading services Call 513-240-3120 |
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