Justin Verlander had an issue with the fans on Friday night for booing manager Brad Ausmus for pulling him with two outs in the ninth inning.
Verlander had just given up a hard two-out single to right field and Salvador Perez was coming to the plate. With Verlander’s pitch count up and Perez’s record of success against the former Cy Young winner, Ausmus decided to pull his starter. As Ausmus made his way out to the mound, the fans booed the decision to lift the starter. They also booed as he returned to the dugout.
Verlander didn’t like what the fans were doing and even stepped out of the dugout to tell them to pump it up for Ausmus.
“There were a lot of positives tonight, and I’m a big believer in positive energy, positive vibes. And I don’t think that was a good situation to boo,” Verlander said after the game. “We’ve got a lot of good things going; here comes our reliever in to a bunch of boos. Obviously, granted, it’s not for him, but I just didn’t think that was the right situation.
“I wished they were a little more positive in that situation. Granted, I’ve been booed, everybody’s been booed. It happens. But I’m a firm believer in positive energy.”
The fans booing almost seemed warranted after Perez hit a two-run home run off reliever Alex Wilson to tie the game and send it to extra innings, where the Tigers won 5-4. But Verlander is right here. The manager was doing what he thought was best for the club by making the change, so it’s hard to blame him.
This is not the first time that Verlander has reacted with sensitivity towards the fans. Apparently that sort of thing can bother players a lot more than they let on.
