A Clubhouse Dustup?

After Justin Verlander finished the seventh inning of last night's game Jim Leyland waited at the steps of the dugout to shake Verlander's hand, a sign that the pitcher's night is done.  To every fan's amusement, Verlander went to the far stairwell to walk down wanting to continue to pitch in the game. Leyland met him in the dugout, still got the hand shake, and it was done.  The dugout was full of smiles and high fives and some laughter.  In the post game interviews, Verlander joked about it saying he wanted to go back out.  The media then went to Leyland and he sounded pissed.  Here is a direct quote from the skipper:

'You might think that was comical, but I don't think that was comical at all.'

 So where do we go from here?  Is this something serious or is Leyland just being old and grouchy?  How about we take a look at it from both sides, shall we?

Justin Verlander was solid throughout the game.  Going seven strong, seven hits, three earned runs, six strikeouts, one hundred and eight pitches.  If needed, he can throw another twenty pitches and still be good to go five games later.  He is one of the best pitchers in baseball over the past three years and a workhorse.  There are games when he struggles to get through five innings and there are games when he could seemingly pitch into the twelfth inning if need be.  After last night's start he is averaging six and a third innings this year.  He is at trusted starter and the apple of everyone's eye.  He is also one of the most competitive players on the team.  When things are going great, he's all smiles and laughing with guys in the dugout.  When things are not going his way, he can act like a little kid.  Angry at the world and just short of kicking the dirt on the mound if the opponents get to him.  Last night, he was the happy Verlander and wanted to pitch more.  He wanted to avoid the hand shake from Leyland and go back out.  The lead was comfortable at four runs.  Most people would think he could go out for at least one more inning.  Most people are not Jim Leyland.

I think that Jim Leyland knows how long he is going to let his starting pitchers go regardless of how the game is going.  He starts out with a game plan of letting them go seven innings and will manage from there.  Take them out early if they struggle or let them go if they are cruising.  I would also think that most managers have this mindset.  You then have your set up man and the closer.  I think that to everyone's surprise he was ready to take Verlander out after the seventh.  There were no indicators that he was struggling to get guys out, his pitch count was not high enough to warrant getting pulled, the game was in hand.  So what was going through Leyland's head when he decided to pull him?  Who knows.  I am not one to sit around and question the manager's moves.  Very often at least.  Just like everyone else, I have a tendency to yell at him for leaving pitchers in too long or pinch hitting or (god forbid) calling for a bunt.  But that's all I do.  I also feel that the players should back their manager unless they do something crazy.  If he wants you out of the game, you go sit on the bench and cheer on your teammates.  If he pulls you in the seventh, you shake his hand like a good little player and sit on the bench and cheer on your teammates.

You never want to show up your manager.  Even if you are one of the best pitchers in the game right now.  He is your boss and has the best of the ball club in mind.  Leyland wanted to pull Verlander after the seventh inning because that seemed to be his game plan.  Verlander did not appear to be mad about it after the hand shake and during the post game interview, but I would think that deep down he was a little upset about it.  Again, someone like him who wants to throw a complete game every single start, it has to be hard to not have complete control over the situation.

So who was right in this situation?  Did Leyland overreact to Verlander's actions?  No.  Should Verlander have avoided Leyland and his hand shake?  No.  Should Verlander apologize to Leyland?  Yes.  Leyland is too old school to let his players show him up and Verlander should know that.  Shake his hand and be done with it.  Nothing more should come of this unless the media lets it.