Verlander Dominates
By Blake VandeBunte • Sep 13th, 2008 • Category: 2008 season, Justin Verlander
As Tiger fans we haven’t had a game to watch or comment on for a few days now. Today’s doubleheader with the White Sox was postponed due to rain. The two teams will try to get two in tomorrow and make up the third who-knows-when. The Tigers and Sox may end up playing a game after the “final” game of the season. I decided to take a trip down memory lane since I felt like writing about something here as the season comes to a close.
Whenever I need to get an idea for something to write about I head on over to Baseball Reference and mess around until I find something that tickles my fancy. Tonight I looked around until I decided to see who has made the best start of the season for the Tigers this season. I figured the best way to sort it all out was to sort all starts by game score and see what popped up.
Here are the top 10 starts by Tigers starters this season:
- Justin Verlander - 78
- Armando Galarraga - 75
- Justin Verlander - 74
- Nate Robertson - 74
- Zach Miner - 73
- Armando Galarraga - 73
- Kenny Rogers - 72
- Nate Robertson - 71
- Justin Verlander - 71
- Armando Galarraga - 70
Even though Justin Verlander has had a really rough season he has three of the top starts this season for the club, including two of the top three. The number one start of the season occurred back on June 11th against the Chicago White Sox. Also, just for a reference point, the best start of the season was by Jon Lester of the Red Sox. His no-hitter got him a game score of 94. As a matter of fact, there have been 98 starts this season that have ended with the starting pitcher having a game score of higher than 80.
Also, just for kicks, the best start (game score) by a Tigers pitcher since 1956 was a Jim Bunning’s no-hitter way back in 1958 with a game score of 97. Verlander’s no-hitter is number two on the list at 95.
Blake VandeBunte is a posting fiend.
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That no hitter by Bunning was saved by a great catch by who else, Kaline, off the bat of ted williams. Good stuff Blake.
I did not know that. I looked back at the play by play from that game. It says that Williams flew out to right to end the game, was that the catch you’re talking about or was it earlier in the game?
I wish I could remember if it was during the game or the last out of the no hitter. The years make the minutaie in game details difficult to remember. If you have the play by play, did ted williams fly to Kaline earlier in the game also?
Here’s what Williams did in that game:
1st inning: Fly out to right.
4th inning: Fly out to center.
6th inning: Gounded into FC.
9th inning: Fly out to right.
Kaline played in right and not center so the play you’re talking about was either in the 1st inning or the 9th inning.