Tigers' Verlander shows his poker face
"It's Spring Training," Verlander said, "so you have to let things roll off your back a little easier. But I need to work on things I need to work on."
Verlander gave up two runs in as many innings of his first outing of the spring Friday against the Reds, but it could have been worse. Twice, in as many innings, Verlander was a hit away from big trouble. Twice, Verlander kept his composure and escaped.
The two runs allowed came from the first two batters Verlander faced in the third inning. Back-to-back singles from Tony Womack and Felipe Lopez preceded back-to-back wild pitches, the second of which bounced about six feet in front of home plate and past catcher Vance Wilson to allow Womack to score.
That pitch, Verlander said, was a changeup that he didn't grip right. "It's a wonder it even made it halfway there," he said.
Those are the times Leyland spoke of when he talked about observing a pitcher's demeanor. He'll judge his pitchers on stuff and mechanics, he said before the game, but he'll also be gauging their facial expressions.
"If somebody bloops a hit in or something like that, you kind of watch the body language," Leyland said. "That's important. A pitcher gives up a cheap hit or a cheap home run, then all of a sudden they compound the problem because they're upset. They don't regain their composure and then they don't close the inning out. They compound the problem. You can't have that kind of stuff. That just won't work. You have to back off, take a deep breath and close the inning out."
Verlander managed to do that with some good fortune and mixing pitches. Adam Dunn turned on a pitch but broke his bat doing it, allowing Chris Shelton to make a leaping catch for the first out. After Rich Aurilia singled in Lopez, Verlander regrouped, setting up his fastball for back-to-back strikeouts on Austin Kearns and Jason LaRue.
Trouble returned in the fourth, when Verlander hit Earl Snyder in the shoulder and gave up a Dewayne Wise single past Shelton. Ryan Freel's fly ball to the warning track in center field put runners at the corners with one out. Verlander escaped with an inning-ending double-play grounder from the speedy Womack.
Verlander's introduction to the Major Leagues came a year ago here at Ed Smith Stadium. At one point, with Verlander clinging to a one-run lead with the potential tying run in scoring position, Verlander stepped to the mound and realized he was pitching to Ken Griffey Jr.
Verlander struck him out. The Tigers lost the split-squad game, but Verlander made an impression. Friday, he said, might've actually been tougher on him.
"Last year, I was trying to make an impression," he said, "but in the back of my mind I knew that unless some miracle [happened], that I wasn't going to make the team. This year's a little different situation. I have some goals to work for, and some realistic goals, hopefully. So it does make it a little bit tougher."
To Leyland, though, this isn't yet the time for impressions. "If he had given up five runs, it wouldn't have meant anything," he said. "If he had struck out six guys, it wouldn't have meant anything. It was his first outing, and he was a little young and a little nervous."
Young is how Leyland sums up Verlander in one word. It's probably not an easy label to wear. Leyland spent part of his pregame media session discussing how there's too much in-game teaching in the Majors today, in part because some organizations have rushed players to the big leagues. He wants pitchers after an inning or hitters after an at-bat to sit down, grab a drink of water and watch the game. He doesn't want them working on mechanics or going to the video room.
"You're almost handed a job when you really haven't done a lot," Leyland said. "You really don't have a track record. But for whatever reason -- market size, finances, whatever -- these guys are being rushed to the big leagues and they really aren't ready. So there's more teaching going on at the Major League level than before. ... I'm not saying it's wrong. I'm just saying I like guys to do something."
Leyland was speaking in general, but his philosophy hammers home the idea that neither Verlander nor Joel Zumaya, who pitches Saturday, will win a job on potential.
"I'm going to take the best guy in our situation," Leyland said. "I'm going to take who I feel is the best pitcher. Hopefully it won't come down to a coin toss."
Coming up: The Tigers have their first split-squad set of Spring Training on Saturday. Kenny Rogers will make his first start in a Detroit uniform at Joker Marchant Stadium as the Tigers take on Team Italy. Franklyn German, Colby Lewis, Lee Gardner and Jamie Walker will also pitch.
Meanwhile, in nearby Winter Haven, Wilfredo Ledezma will make the start in the first of four Spring Training outings against the Cleveland Indians. Zumaya will also make his spring debut, followed by Mark Woodyard, Kevin Hodge and Matt Mantei. Paul Byrd, Bob Wickman, Scott Sauerbeck, Jason Davis, Jeremy Sowers and Rafael Perez are scheduled to pitch for Cleveland. Vance Wilson, Brandon Inge, Carlos Pena and Marcus Thames are among slated to make the road trip.
Both games start at 1:05 p.m. ET.
Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com.