Justin Verlander

                To say that Justin Verlander’s 2013 season was a disappointment in the eyes of Detroit fans would be putting it lightly. He went  13-12 with a 3.46 ERA, 217 strikeouts and a 1.31 WHIP. While these stats may be decent for other pitchers, this is not the Justin Verlander Detroit is used to seeing, especially in the last few years. This past season there were times where he lacked that confidence that constantly surrounds him. The one in where it is obvious that he thinks he can strike anyone in baseball out, and he usually does. There were times when he looked lost on the mound, and it left Detroit fans worried if they ever would see the Verlander of old.

Fast forward to the 2013 playoffs. In the 3 games that Verlander pitched, he only allowed 10 hits,  3 walks, one earned run, and had an ERA of .39. In the final game of the ALDS, Verlander had a no hitter going through the end of the 7^th inning. It seemed as though the Verlander of old was back, and just in time. Going into the offseason, there was no doubt that Verlander was turning a tide.

Fast forward to January. The Tigers announce that Justin Verlander underwent core muscle surgery for an injury sustained in the offseason. It is speculated that he should be ready to pitch by the beginning of the season, but there is a possibility that he could miss the start of the 2014 season. Honestly, this is not the end of the world. The injury that he sustained in the offseason could have started during last season, and been the reason that he was not his usual self. This surgery could be just the thing that brings the old Verlander back. Also, some rest wouldn’t hurt Justin. He has been the workhorse for the Tigers since he came up in 2006, and all of his innings pitched have no doubt taken a toll on his body.

What will hurt Justin is this. Not necessarily his relationship with Kate Upton, but constantly being seen out and about with her, and taking pictures at parties with her. If there are any setbacks in his rehab, it will all get blamed on his relationship with Upton. The press will eat him alive, and say that he’s not focused on baseball. Verlander prides himself on being the best, and the last thing that should happen to him is something similar to Alex Rodriguez, where who he is dating, and his off-the-field accolades overshadow what he does on the field. Justin has already seen the effects of this in the 2012 All-Star game. He pitched horribly in the first inning, and the press blamed it on his alleged romance with Upton. The best thing that Verlander can do is keep his head down, and focus on baseball.  There is no doubt that he is still one of the best pitchers in baseball.