Justin Verlander: The Last of a Dying Breed
A Legacy Etched in Stone
Justin Verlander, a living legend in the realm of baseball, stands on the precipice of an unprecedented milestone: becoming the first pitcher in over a decade to achieve 300 wins. His journey has been marked by countless accolades, including three Cy Young awards, an MVP trophy, two World Series championships, two ERA titles, and nine All-Star appearances. His induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame is all but assured, a testament to his extraordinary career.
A Defiant Spirit
Despite his unparalleled success, Verlander remains driven by a burning desire to achieve greatness. He dismisses the notion that wins are overrated for starting pitchers, arguing that they are the ultimate measure of a pitcher’s worth. "Obviously, you want to win every game you pitch," says Verlander. "You’re going out there trying to win. You’re not going out there to get a no-decision."
The Devaluation of Wins
Verlander laments the growing tendency to devalue wins in the modern era of baseball, fueled by the rise of analytics. "There are times you end up being lucky or unlucky loss-wise," says Verlander, "but devaluing the win is just another way that analytics are trying to not value something that they have a hard type qualifying."
A Call for Change
Verlander believes that Major League Baseball must intervene to stem the tide of this trend. He proposes implementing rules that enforce a minimum pitch count or innings requirement for starting pitchers. "You want to have some marquee pitchers who last more than five years," says Verlander. "You’re going to have to change the rules. You got to make the teams adjust or it’s going to get worse."
The Art of Pitching
Verlander highlights the importance of pitching deep into games, arguing that it benefits not only the pitcher but also the bullpen and the team as a whole. "It was a whole different game when Verlander broke into the big leagues in 2005 with Hall of Fame manager Jim Leyland, who gave Verlander slack and let him work out of jams, pitch deep into games, and win an awful lot of them," writes Nightengale.
A Mentor and a Pied Piper
Verlander’s presence on the San Francisco Giants has had a profound impact on the team’s young pitchers. "I still can’t believe he’s here," says Giants catcher Patrick Bailey. "He’s just really raised the expectations for the whole pitching staff, coming in and doing what he’s doing." And if Verlander gets to 300, maybe it will wake up a new generation to the old-school philosophy."
A Symbol of the Old Guard
Verlander’s pursuit of 300 wins is more than just a personal goal; it is a symbol of a dying breed. He represents an era where starting pitchers were expected to go deep into games and win regularly. His success would serve as a reminder of the importance of preserving the art of pitching and the significance of wins in the annals of baseball history.
