Man, what a wild start to the season, right? You blink, and suddenly you're hit with news that truly changes how you look at the game. While we're all still trying to figure out what's up with our M's after that frustrating 6-5 loss to the Marlins, the big news ripping through the league is that Justin Verlander is calling it a career. And let's be real, he's going out as the best pitcher of a generation absolutely stacked with talent.
Verlander Just Blew Past Everyone, Even Kershaw
We hear "generational talent" thrown around so much, it's almost meaningless, but for Verlander? It fits perfectly. This dude is a certified Hall of Famer, plain and simple. Think about it: he pitched alongside legends like CC Sabathia, Johan Santana, and even Gerrit Cole. Later in his career, he was still throwing fire alongside guys like Paul Skenes and Chris Sale. He crossed paths with Maddux, Clemens, Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, all the way down to deGrom. That's some serious company, but Verlander still found a way to stand out. You always hear Verlander's name, along with Clayton Kershaw, Max Scherzer, and Zack Greinke, in those "all-time great" debates. And for good reason, their primes overlapped, and they all hit Hall of Fame standards. But Verlander? He's the top dog among them. Check the numbers: Verlander' clocks in with an insane 82.3 WAR, dwarfing Kershaw's 78.1, Scherzer's 73.8, and Greinke's 72.4. Kershaw might've had slightly better rate stats, but Verlander's durability and pure longevity just meant he racked up way more production. That combo of sheer dominance and just being out there for so long makes him special, putting him above Kershaw in my book.The All-Time Great Discussion? Yeah, He's In It
Forget just his generation, Verlander's got a legit case as one of the greatest pitchers of all time. He's 24th in pitcher WAR, but when you adjust for how many innings those old-school guys threw back in the 19th and early 20th centuries, he jumps all the way to 12th! We're talking behind legends like Walter Johnson, Clemens, and Randy Johnson. Seriously, only Clemens finished in the top five of Cy Young voting more often. Verlander has three Cy Youngs, trailing only Clemens, Randy Johnson, Maddux, and Steve Carlton. And let's not even get started on 2016, when he totally got robbed and Rick Porcello somehow won by five points despite Verlander having six more first-place votes and a way better season. Plus, he's one of only 25 pitchers ever to win an MVP. His 266 wins in this era are just staggering. Scherzer is second among active players, way back at 222. So, while we're still shaking off that M's loss, it's worth taking a minute to appreciate what we've witnessed with Verlander. This is a guy who pushed the limits every single time he stepped on the mound. It's a tough pill to swallow watching such a legend hang it up, but his impact on the game is undeniable. We've got a long season ahead for our Mariners, and hopefully, they can start putting together some wins to match the kind of legacy Verlander is leaving behind. Here's to hoping our guys can channel some of that competitive fire!This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.