Even before he no-hit the Brewers Tuesday night, Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander was something to behold. He broke onto the scene last year as a 23-year old phenom, winning 17 games and claiming the AL Rookie of the Year Award. But just as fast as the nonentity came, it left entering this season, taking a backseat to other storylines around baseball (like the return of Roger Clemens for example). It’s amazing to think at 24 and entering only his second year, that everyone already expects him to win 15-plus games. That’s how special a pitcher he is and I’m looking forward to watching his career take off from here.
Also on the Verlander-no hitter front, the guys at SPORTSbyBROOKS.com note that he threw the no-no on the same day of baseball’s first perfect game. John Lee Richmond of the Worcester Ruby Legs (nice name by the way) blanked the Cleveland Blues at the Agricultural Fairgrounds June 12, 1880. Trivia Pursuit question anyone?
