How much is Verlander worth? Most people understand the economics of modern sports. In an economically-depressed town like Detroit, an $80million contract will still raise some eyebrows. This is a town with a 30% unemployment rate! So, when an athlete inks a multi-million, unfathomable deal, the disparity of the haves vs have-nots hits home.
When they announced Verlander's deal, there were a lot of bitter callers. It's only natural - people venting their frustrations and calling out a society that would pay $80million to a guy for throwing a baseball. Yet, that's not the whole story. Baseball is Verlander's profession, and he happens to be in the top 0.01% of that profession. If any of us are the top 0.01% - regardless of our profession - we're likely to be millionaires. We could be the top writer, the top IT guy, or the top scientist. Even the top nurses make six figures. So, it's about being elite. Verlander is elite, and now he's paid appropriately.
From a fan perspective, the signing of Verlander was crucial. After a summer of ditching popular talent, Dombrowski made a firm commitment to the team's best player. It's small consolation, but, to put things in perspective, consider fans of the Cleveland Indians. They had to watch the team sell off Cy Young winners CC Sabathia and Cliff Lee over the past two years. How would a fan believe that team had any desire to challenge for a title? At the very least, Dombrowski wants to stay competitive. Gone is Curtis Granderson. Gone is Edwin Jackson. But the top pitcher and hitter (Cabrera) remain. They also replaced Jackson with a comparable righty in Scherzer, and they inked a competent closer in Valverde, so the pitching may not miss a beat. The loss of Lyon does sting, but perhaps the heterochromic eyes of Scherzer may put American League batters off balance! Pretty funky, isn't it?
As for Cabrera, I haven't brought him up since the end of the season, and for good reason. The young man wisely stepped out of the limelight. After his very-public arrest and poor showing in the weekend series against the White Sox, Cabrera did deliver some clutch hits in the one-game playoff. That eased some of the tensions, but the announcement that he spent the offseason in alcohol counseling demonstrated his sincerity to change. He did not make a big show of it (like some big name golfer) nor did he draw any attention at all. He simply made the change.
Personally, I don't care if the guy stays on or off the wagon. I just hope he has it under control. He's only 25, and, with the fan base behind him, he could rip the cover off the ball this year.
So, all is not lost in Tigerville. The Curtis Granderson trade will sting for years to come, but the recent signings show a continued commitment to at least remain relevant. And, hey, if they ink Johnny Damon, they might find the fans buying season tickets once again.
When I look back now, the pennant race of 2009 was quite a thrill. The Tigers were a maddening team, but they produced their fair share of incredible moments. For a glimpse of summer, check out this cell phone-shot video of a Clete Thomas walk-off hit. The roar of the crowd is palpable.
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