Justin Verlander has never been shy about speaking out about the state of Major League Baseball, and he was happy to hold court again Saturday ahead of Game 1 of the ALCS.
Verlander suggested that the characteristics of the baseball aren’t a major concern to him this postseason, but did admit his displeasure with the game in general. He called the current state of baseball an “ADD version,” suggesting he’d like to see fewer teams chase the home run.
Justin Verlander on type of baseball he’d prefer to see.
“I would like to see some of that small ball come back into play. Everybody thinks of small ball, they think of bunting. I think of the little things: taking the extra bases, using athleticism as a team to get extra runs.” pic.twitter.com/jBwcUtEBIp— Brian T. Smith (@ChronBrianSmith) October 12, 2019
Verlander has openly ripped MLB for its alleged use of juiced baseballs this season. Home run records fell across the league as well, which has only added fuel to the fire. It’s ultimately the result of the increased emphasis on launch angles and the realization that the risk tends to be worth the reward in terms of prioritizing home runs, and MLB seems to be leaning into that.
