The incredible transformation of Justin Brooks Verlander

He will get in. The demographics of voters has changed. Greinke has more career WAR than Verlander the last time I looked. He has made 6 all star teams, 2 ERA titles, a Cy Young and finished in the top 5 a handful of times.

Only real comparable pitcher not in is Curt Schilling and that is because he is a jerk.

 

CC will undoubtedly get in. Maybe 50/50 first ballot. Greinke was better than him. Verlander will end up being better than Greinke though they are likely about equal at the moment as far as careers go.

 

Everyone was saying 300 was dead but I always expected JV to get there. I really think he’s pitching into his mid 40’s. but boy, after that there aren’t even a ton of sure bets for 250, hell even 200.

 

Hes going to end up with 250+ wins and well over 3000 Ks. Might win a third cy young this year and has thrown 3 no hitters, which is elite company. Further, he’s got a ring during an impressive post season career.

 

300 was dead the moment Verlander went down for TJ. He'd be at 255 at least by now if he got that season and a half back.

 

The Eli comp is pretty absurd, Eli was a mediocre/bad player most of his career, CC was at least a good pitcher

 

Joe Namath is in the HOF because of 1 game. Eli Manning is a HOFer. Different standards in different sports.

CC is pretty borderline to me, but I'm sure he'll get in.

 

I have no doubt eli will get in, because people are dumb, but he’s not even remotely worthy of consideration let alone getting in

 

CC isn't an above average hall of famer, but 62 WAR isn't horrendous at all.

Unlike Ortiz, he was never busted for juicing. He's a deserving hall of famer, albeit a below average one.

 

He can still get there if he pitches as long as I think he will. I think he’s got another 5 years in him after this year. If he sticks with good teams he can still get there.

 

Verlander not a HOF lock?

Homie, it’s time to pass the joint.

 

Baseball Reference's HoF Tracker has JV comfortably above the level of an average HoFer. He should be an absolute lock for the HoF. If he delivers another couple of seasons at an elite level, he's all but assured first ballot consideration.

 

I think his point was JV wasn’t a HOF lock when he came to the Astros. Which is probably correct. I think he might have gotten in but it was probably marginal. that’s why he was talking about things like 180 wins and 6 all star appearances and the like.
it was in response to someone else saying HOF lock before he came over.

 

Slam dunk. Mike Mussina is on a similar tier, and we've seen how the changing electorate helped him. Greinke then gets the extra boost of being the best pitcher in baseball for 2 seasons in his career.

CC isn't going in first ballot, but probably does make it. 250 wins + his 2009 WS run + Cy Young + 6 time allstar is going to be hard to deny. Slightly better resume than Andy Pettitte who isn't getting voted in, but better than some other guys who have managed to get in. Personally I see him as extremely borderline.

JV will be first ballot. He'll still have a shot at 300, but he'll have to play to 45 like Randy Johnson & Nolan Ryan

 

I think CC gets in but I don’t really think he should get in personally. I would rather have Roy Oswalt be my starter for 10 years instead of CC for 15 years. If CC is in then why isn’t David Cone? Tim Hudson? Andy Pettite won 5 WS and an ALCS MVP and finished in the top 5 Cy Young voting a handful of times.

It’s okay, maybe CC getting in will lead to some others getting in.

 

I would think 300 is out of reach but last year Keith Law told me that Verlander has told everyone that he plans to pitch until he is 45 years old or older (with an emphasis on older).

He will likely be at around 245 wins at the end of this season and will be 39 years old. If he finishes this year strong and slaps another 20 win season after that, then he is really close.

As far as warning signs, the only one I can find is his spin rate on his fastball is down. Now that can be age and recover from TJ or that could be on purpose.

What I know is that in the 4 baseball seasons with the Astros he has won 75% of his decisions and has an era of around 2.30.