GOAT TALK Athlete of the Week: Justin Verlander




Goat Talk Athlete of the Week:

Justin Verlander
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Get to Know Verlander:
Currently Justin Verlander is a starting pitcher for the Houston Astros. The Astros are currently tied up 3 games a piece against the New York Yankees in the ALCS. He is Goat’s Talk’s Athlete of the week. He is from Goochland Virginia; he was born on February 20 1983; he is 34 years of age. He pitched at his local high school; in Goochland, Virginia. He left Goochland High School throwing 87 mph on his fastball.
Verlander who was  6′ 5", 200 pounds; who was a right-handed pitcher with velocity and movement on his pitches ; he got some D1 looks. He went to Old Dominion University in Norfolk Virginia; D1 baseball program. He went to ODU for 3 years. Where he had the most strikeouts in school history with 427; also in a game against James Madison University; he had the most strikeouts in a game with 17. Verlander was drafted 2nd by the Detroit Tigers in the 2004 MLB Draft. He was first sent to the Tigers Minor League AA team in Lakeland Florida. After Verlander posted a 9–2 record and a 1.67 ERA in 13 starts for Lakeland, Verlander joined the Tigers AAA Minor League team called the SeaWolves on June 20 2005. He did not stay to long on the Erie Seawolves. In the seven starts he had with the team, he was 2–0 and his ERA was 0.28.Verlander made his Major League debut on July 4, 2005.
His first Major League Season was not fun. He went 0–2 with a 7.15 ERA in his only 2 starts of the season. Then they ended his season with right shoulder tightness. Verlander however never went back to the Minors; he stayed on the Detroit Tigers. With 13 seasons with the Tigers he has been named to the All Star game 6 times; and also led the league in strikeouts 4 times. In 2006 after being sidelined for the rest of the 2005 year; in 2006 Justin Verlander won the Rookie of the Year award. On June 12, 2007 he pitched a no hitter against the Brewers. The first time ever at COmerica Park (Tigers Home Field).  In the amazing year of 2011 for Verlander; he pitched a no hitter against the Blue Jays on May 11th, 2011. By the end of the season Verlander was the obvious CY Young and AL MVP; with capturing the pitcher's Triple Crown. On July 31st, 2017 Verlander's 13 seasons with the Tigers was over; he was traded to the Houston Astros; because the Astros needed a good pitcher down the stretch; and the Tigers were not going to make or even sniff the playoffs this year.
Why The Athlete of the Week
Justin Verlander has pitched 2 well pitched ALCS  games in the last week. How could he not be GOAT Talk’s first Athlete of the week? The Astros at the trade deadline knew they had to get someone to start for them. Dallas Keuchel was pitching well but he wasn’t his CY Young candidate self. Charlie Morton and Lance Mccullers were pitching well this season; but the Astros needed a veteran thrower. Who better than Justin Verlander? Dominant stuff and has pitched in the postseason before. Something this young Astros team experienced...Playoff Baseball. In 2015; before Royals came back on them in Game 4 and Game 5 of the ALDS to send them packing. Justin Verlander who has pitched in 16 playoff games with the Tigers with an ERA just over 3. He was the guy to get and the Astros did.
In 2017 with the Tigers, he was pitching with a 10-8 record, 3.82 ERA, 67 Walks, and 176 strikeouts. Which is a pretty decent season considering he was the only asset the Tigers really had. When Verlander got traded to the Astros at the trade deadline on July 31st; he has turnt up the heat. He has been the horse the Astros needed as a starter down the stretch in the regular and in the Postseason. Including the Postseason since joining the Astros Verlander has the stat line of 9-0, a 1.23 ERA, with allowing 11 walks, with 67 strikeouts. He has been more than the Astros has asked for.
After these two starts in the ALCS this is why he is our Athlete of the Week. In these two games this week in the ALCS; Verlander has only allowed 1 earned run so his ERA is. 0.56 for the ALCS. When the Astros batters couldn’t hit Verlander held it down for them until they found a spark in both games 2 and 6. With that 0.56 ERA he has also pitched 16 innings this ALCS; with only allowing 2 walks in those 2 games. He has been throwing the Yankees in the strike zone, and pumping that fastball by the Yankee batters this ALCS. He had 13 K’s in Game 2 and had 8 tonight in Game 6.
The best way to get Athlete of the week GOAT Talk style; you have to be clutch. That is exactly what Verlander has been. His command is absolutely ridiculous. Not just only walking 2 players in the series; it took him to the 4th inning to have a 2 ball count in anyway. He has also pitched 24 straight shutout innings in elimination games. That is exactly what the Astros needed; a veteran pitcher to get them going, and they have him in Verlander. Hats off to Justin Verlander for giving us sports fan the best game; Game 7. That is why Justin Verlander is GOAT TALK’S Athlete of the Week.


By

Matthew Doherty


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