The Tigers' spring training complex has changed a little bit over the last nine years. Tarik Skubal was showing Justin Verlander around his new-old home this week in Lakeland when they turned a corner and came across a photo of one of the greatest pitchers in franchise history.
"Hey, there you are, on the wall," Skubal said.
On the wall and headed to the Hall, Verlander is back to help the Tigers conquer the fall. The one regret he harbors from his 13 years in Detroit is that they failed to deliver a World Series title to late owner Mike Ilitch, "somebody that I really admired," Verlander said.
"Talking to Chris this offseason and seeing how the torch got passed down and how he’s going for it again, like his Dad did, I had the opportunity to be back here and be on a World Series-caliber team where you come into spring training and you have that feeling, like, we can win it all," said Verlander. "That's not something to shy away from. I think that’s something to embrace. We have a great ball club, I embrace that, and want to win one."
Skubal feels the same way. The two-time defending Cy Young Award winner just might make it a three-peat this year, but "I’m not pitching for accolades," Skubal said. "I’m pitching to try and win a championship." With a rotation full of horses, the Tigers have as good a chance as any team to come out of the American League.
Baseball is business for Skubal, and he takes it seriously. It also a game that leaves him giddy. He's still trying to wrap his head around the fact that he's neighbors in the clubhouse with one of his idols growing up: "I don't know if that'll ever process with me," Skubal said. His first question to Verlander was "how he wants me to address him." (Justin, JV, Ver, any of them work.)
"Selfishly, I’m just like, he’s my f**king teammate now. I’m getting the goosebumps again," said Skubal, holding out his arm. "It’s a hero. When you look up to a guy, a guy that was playing when you were in high school and you’re watching Miggy win a Triple Crown and this guy win an MVP, you put them on a pedestal that is way higher than everybody else, and then you get to share a clubhouse, it’s like, this is really cool."
Skubal was eight years old when Verlander made his Tigers debut. He's 29 now, with Verlander closing in on 43. Verlander made a point to introduce himself to Skubal when the Tigers were in San Francisco for an exhibition game early last season and Verlander was pitching for the Giants. It felt like the natural thing to do, "with what he’s doing here in Detroit, our names were kind of always linked," Verlander said.
Verlander told Skubal that "I’m a fan." Skubal was a little starstruck. Now the stars have aligned.
"The thing I’m looking forward to most is just watching him pitch every five days," said Verlander. "Obviously his resume speaks for itself."
So does Verlander's, of course. They're trying to fill the same hole in Detroit.