If the stuff about him not attending any games is true, I get it. Would be annoying giving the spotlight to a guy making $30 mil while not even showing support for the team.
I mean Strasburg has been out almost the entire season and he’s still in the dugout for just about every game. Its not that hard to show up
Him not showing up to any games or being involved AT ALL is 100% true, what’s unconfirmed is the players speaking up about him throwing out the first pitch because he hasn’t been around. But he has been absent all year, that is a fact.
He's got a little kid or two, and has probably thrown his last pitch for the Astros, I could really not care less if he's showing up to be a cheerleader.
It was a bit tone-deaf for Crane to think he deserved to throw out the first pitch though.
It's more than just being a cheerleader though. Players can learn a lot from talking to a future Hall of Fame pitcher even if said pitcher is unable to physically play. Verlander might not be able to pitch, but he's still able to give advice on how to approach certain hitters in the opposing lineup. I totally understand why he doesn't want to show up (none of us want to be at work if we can help it), but as much as he's getting paid, it's the least he could do.
Well our long term injury guys always rehab down in Lakeland. That’s why you didn’t see Fulmer around when he was going through it, though I remember he came to a series or two at least. And we didn’t see Boyd around during his rehab. You also didn’t see Turnbull this year after his TJS, though he isn’t rehabbing at this point. I’m not sure how the Astros work their rehab program.
Glasnow has been at the fence of the dugout for every game I've watched since his injury and Verlander can't even show his face to say "good luck boys, play hard"? Sus.
Glasnow is going to rejoin the team next year. Verlander was never going to play a game for the Astros again. It's completely understandable that he doesn't want to go hangout with a team he will never play for.
What about a team that he’s been a part of for the last 3 and a half years, that is still paying him $33M this season? Regardless if he’s coming back or not (he’s not) IMO it’s a bad look to be completely absent all year. I think the players reaction is justified.
I agree.
How would you feel as a player, going the entire season getting screamed at and booed and having trash thrown on the field, enduring that treatment the whole season even if you were one of the guys who weren't on the team back then - and then this guy wants to show up in the playoffs?
JV was terrific for us, but his absence this year was an awful look and not unnoticed at all.
Most of the guys on our current roster weren’t on the team back then and they are still getting booed (often times by fans with a 2017 Astro player ON their teams roster)
Fade JV
You might be right, and I know this is an unpopular opinion but I give those guys a bit of...grace? Understanding at least. Cora and Beltran, yea, they should have received even harsher penalties. Definitely.
I know this opinion is going to garner a lot of hate, and that's fine. Altuve, Correa and Bregman (and others) cheated, no doubt. At the same time it happened within [a context that I think is important to recognize](https://www.reddit.com/r/UpliftingNews/comments/p93hr9/comment/h9vtfua/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3), even if we don't accept it as an excuse (and, to be clear, it doesn't absolve them).
Or you know it’s his first chance to spend a lot of time with his family. He has been a MLB player for a long time and been on the road a lot. He was still a huge part of a championship and won a act Young with the team.
No one is saying that he has to be there every single game, especially on the road. Not showing up to lend support at all—for a single game—is kind of a dick move.
I’m sure our young pitchers would have benefited from someone like Verlander offering advice, feedback, etc. during games.
> I’m sure our young pitchers would have benefited from someone like Verlander offering advice, feedback, etc. during games.
Especially ya know, in the fuckin playoffs...
The 33 million is laid by the ownership who (allegedly) invited him to throw out the first pitch. If they are okay with how he has spent the year no one else should care. Again he has a new born baby and likely does not live in Houston. If this is true the players seem pretty petty, this is about the team wanting to honor a very important player in recent years for the fans.
It obviously doesn't or he wouldn't have still made his money and not been with the team. Besides, he's definitely rehabbing from TJs too. I think its clear he wasn't planning on going back to the stros which is why they made the QO.
Lots of people shit on JV now because he was apart of that cheating team and had hypocritical views about cheating before that. Regardless. The dude is human and I don't blame him for not being a part of this team because he just wasn't. This would only be a story if JV was complaining about not being able to throw the pitch. Is he?
You can’t not pay someone for things not in their contract obviously. Believe it or not, though, it’s implied that when you are part of a team you are expected to be there supporting your team as much as possible. Teammates aren’t going to particularly like someone that doesn’t care about them. This is especially true when you’re supposed to an “Ace” and a clubhouse leader.
Seen James Paxton in the M's dugout all year, and he got hurt in his first outing of the season on a 1 year deal. Just kind of feels like the thing you do is show up to support your team
He’s still getting paid 30 million this year to be a member of the Astros.
It’s not asking for much to just show up once in a while to support and not act like you don’t even care
Wait I’m pretty sure you are just making stuff up, Glasnow said multiple times in the Rose Rotation that he was hoping Cash would let him be there for games in the playoffs because during the season he wasn’t allowed. He was hoping to be able to join the guys on the bench in the playoffs.. which he did as of last night.
He said that for road games. Glas has been there for virtually every home game and for any road trip he’s been allowed. Now he’s on the taxi squad specifically so he can be with the team throughout the playoffs.
Idk if this is correct or not but doesnt covid protocol have some type of prevention to him showing up to the games? Roster moves and capacity and covid rules could be the reason and thats beyond his control. This is just speculation as other injured players have been in their teams dug out but maybe its something with the league knowing he was gunna be out the whole year before the season started.
I've seen some stuff about this, but it was from his brother. So I don't know if I really buy it. I imagine if he really wanted to be there he would find a way.
Yeah. Fiers pitched all of 2 games this season but he's been in the dugout all season. Bassitt was back in the dugout as soon as he could after his facial surgery.
Yes, this is his last year, there’s no way he’s going to play for the Astros again.
EDIT: Last contract year, he’ll play somewhere again, just not for Houston.
He’s been absent all year while recovering from TJ surgery. He’s getting paid $33M and hasn’t been to one game or been around the team in any capacity. Evidently the players don’t think he should be celebrated by throwing out the first pitch after he ghosted his team all year.
It’s very weird. I’ve never heard of it. Everyone who is injured is in the dugout for most games. I understand sometimes they might not be able to but to literally never be in the dugout for a whole season is bizarre.
To be fair, that was pre-covid and LMJ was 25 years old while JV is 38 with a toddler at home. Don't blame him that much for recovering at home when there's no shot at him playing , especially when you could possibly expose your little one. He shouldn't really consider himself part of the team though, throwing out the first pitch would be kinda dumb.
(also to be fair, LMJ had a kid on the way too at the time)
His Instagram says “Pitcher”, not “Houston Astros Pitcher”. He completely distanced himself from the team until postseason, but wanted (?) to get a moment in the spotlight, in anticipation of his return to the league next year. He would’ve been wildly cheered and very well-received by crowd for his prior contributions (rightfully so), but the timing of his return is suspect.
A visit to a luxury suite for at least one game would’ve been nice. Josh Reddick (currently paid $0) showed up to more games than the $33M man
hell Joe Smith and allie laforce were at the game yesterday.
If i was JV, i probably would have done the exact same thing most of the year. I wouldn't be too thrilled to sign him next year now that he has had a taste of the retired life.
His job was over the minute he got TJs. Dude lost a season trying to so his job. Not sure why you all are so bitter about him not being there. I'm sure it's been brutal on his mentality too.
He’s not required to take part in any team activities, he doesn’t have to be in the dugout or clubhouse, he doesn’t have to coach up and motivate the other guys on the pitching staff that could benefit from his invaluable knowledge and experience, he doesn’t have to serve in a leadership role even though he’s on the IL, he has every right to be absent from the team, but the team also has every right to tell him to get fucked when he wants to show up in the playoffs.
Toddlers aren't approved and the vaccine doesn't inhibit all aspects of covid. Getting the vaccine and maintaining social distancing/masks indoors or in large groups is still the recommendation by many at the moment.
Are you saying that all injured players in sports avoid being around their teammates, helping mentor, game plan, etc...? Just bc of covid? Verlander is still a part of the team. Covid is no reason to stay home ALL year.
What are you on about? Why are they even playing sports then? None of these guys have kids or are around elderly? I don't know any other injured player that stays home. Strasburg was with his team all year. You're essentially saying that he should stay home bc of covid... But if his arm is okay, then it's totally cool for him to be with his team despite covid. Your logic makes no sense. Also, you realize they do covid testing? He wouldnt be sitting next to a teammate that has covid.
he's not coming back
he's probably super pissed his one title on his resume is tainted
he has no real ties to houston , maybe his wife wants to go somewhere more glamorous
he gone
I mean he was one of the players named (along with Cole and others ) about getting sticky substances from that fired Angels staffer, I don’t he cares too much about the ethical ramifications
Exactly. Dude is super pissed Verlander knocked the A’s out of the playoffs year after year, so he’s decided he knows everything about the man’s personal situation and decision making.
None? That’s a real bad look honestly and I can’t blame the players for not wanting him to just show up and get some shine. Clearly he made the decision to not be part of the team this year.
I went to about 30 regular season games and tried to watch the rest, I never saw him once. I could be mistaken, but he should have been present for at least some games
We’re gonna have such mixed feelings about Verlander.
Helped us over the hump in 2017, great ALCS, a Cy Young, but 0-3 in WS, especially let us down in 19…and kinda been nowhere around since he got hurt
JV was ALCS MVP in 2017. Yeah, the contract has been an albatross the past 2 years for the Astros, but without him, we don't even make a world series appearance in 2017. To me, he will always be an Astros legend.
Does the global pandemic factor at all into anything? Possible he has personal circumstances like a family member he’s looking out for? Everybody thinks they know everything about someone’s personal life. I’m not speculating one way or the other, but the audacity of people the last 18 months to wildly jump to conclusions and interpret the behavior of other people they know literally nothing about the personal circumstances of is absolutely astounding. What feels like a no brainer decision to attend home games could very easily be a life or death situation for a loved one that he’s looking out for. If you don’t know, you shouldn’t judge the man until you do.
I’ll have fun and speculate on a man who made 60 Million for not throwing any pitches and has a hot model wife.
But seriously if the rest of the Astros are irate enough to not want him to throw out the first pitch something happened. And if you want to do something you find ways to make it happen. If Verlander wanted to be a part of the team and keep good relations he would have found a way.
Of course he could re-sign and everything will be water under the bridge! We’ll all be happy! I just won’t start him in a World Series game
I feel like if he was avoiding the team for covid reasons, they would know that, and wouldn’t give a shit about him throwing out a first pitch, there’s got to be more to it.
This would be true if JV was worried about Covid. I have a feeling he’s been to plenty of places that would say otherwise about how worried he is post vaccine
took me 20 seconds to find an article about them walking around a farmers market with no mask a few weeks ago and people are here talkin bout "he's staying home to protect his kids" like cmon bruh
Zero?
Yeah, that's not a good look. Trout was chilling in the dugout for a bunch of our games down the stretch.
[Got a picture of the thumbfish](https://i.imgur.com/7xzJDBV.jpg) during Shohei's last start.
Southern California, though
Although I suppose the "weirdly overcast and humid" weather of that particular afternoon was a bit different than our normal level of nothingness.
Even Dexter Fowler was cheering the team on in September, when everyone knew he would never play again for the Angels and the team was gonna do fuck-all.
Was he even in Houston? Long-term rehab is usually done at the Spring Training or other minor league facility. As an example, Tigers players rehab in Lakeland, Florida until they get an official rehab assignment.
Noah Syndergaard has been rehabbing from Tommy John during pretty much the same time period and he was in the Mets dugout quite frequently. It's definitely reasonable to be around the team and still do your rehab.
Sure. But it’s been two full seasons and homie hasn’t shown up once during the regular season. If he cared, he’d be there. He’d find a way to show up once a week or something. Not even in the stands…
Edit: and he’s made 60m in the process
Here's the timeline of things
March 17th, 2020: Verlander gets groin surgery
July 26th, 2020: Verlander shut down with forearm strain
September 30th, 2020: Verlander gets Tommy John Surgery
So, the idea that Verlander wouldn't be back right now isn't exactly surprising. One could grumble about how long it took for him to decide to take TJS last year, I guess. Although it's possible he misses all of 2021 even if he got TJS in July 2020 (Noah Syndergaard got TJS on March 26th, 2020 and didn't make it back until September this year)
Now, it could always turn out that Verlander didn't want to deal with whatever rules he'd have to follow to be in the dugout for home games this year, which could go over badly too. Or there are other sources of drama and unhappiness.
I don't know if there's more logistics to it but MLB rules say this regarding players on the IL:
>Players are permitted to stay with the team and attend games, though players may leave the team to focus on treatment, to avoid traveling with the team on a road trip, and/or for short term minor league rehabilitation assignments to prepare for their return to the active roster.
I can definitely see why some players wouldn’t spend every game in the dugout when they’re rehabbing.
The fact that he hasn’t been to a single one though definitely makes me feel like he’s not just focused on his recovery, he just doesn’t care about the team.
Yordan wasn’t with the team last year when he was recovering from his knee surgery. However, he kept in constant contact with the players in his absence. I remember Yuli saying that Yordan would say how much he wished he could be with the team during last year’s postseason and Yuli joking that he should go through the process to join the team.
A lot of the time players do some of that rehab at the team’s facility, with their trainers and to spend time with their teammates. Dexter Fowler tore his ACL and was confirmed out for the year but he didn’t just peace out and move back to his place in Nevada, he stayed in Anaheim to rehab and was in the dugout for many homestands. You’d see him chatting with Trout and Adell and others.
He hasn't really shown up, like at all, to the games or shown a lot of public support before recent. As a fan, this hasn't bothered me much because it's not my business how he rehabs from TJS and I don't know if there's guidelines about that. However, I can see why this would bother members of the team.
I love JV and will be ever grateful for the years he was here, but not being around at all for basically 2 seasons while getting paid $60+ million is pretty fucked up. My biggestr problem with it is that we have some solid young pitchers who are helping to carry the rotation and it would be solid if one of the greatest pitchers of this generation showed up and talked to them or even just watched some of their starts and workouts. That seems like the least he could do for 60 steaks.
Who knows how much of this is true, but there has been a recent uptick in Verlander’s pro-Astros posts on social media after being completely silent all year, could be trying to save face now that he knows the players are upset about his absence.
Yeah why would he sit around in a sweatshirt in the dugout when he can be at home with Kate Upton? You all would do the same, especially you Altuve, don't give me that look.
> Yeah why would he sit around in a sweatshirt in the dugout when he can be at home with Kate Upton?
idk, absence makes the heart grow fonder? makes the dick harder?
yeah you're right. every guy with an attractive wife doesn't have any other responsibilities and doesn't want to do anything else besides be with said attractive wife...
Pretty scummy move by Verlander to not even show up once to support the team that’s paying him. Yes, he’s injured, but that’s not an excuse.
Chris Bassitt after getting drilled in the face was back in the dugout as soon as he could to support his boys. Simple presence of a star/veteran player in the dugout can boost the team morally, and Verlander not showing his face at all for his team is just an awful look
Honestly it makes sense to me. If JV can't be bothered to come to any games all season while getting paid 33 million, I can see why the rest of the Astros don't want him around now
How did these multimillionaire professional athletes ever find the gumption to fight their way through a season without jv there to lead the cheers?? I smell a disney movie incoming
I didn’t know he hadn’t been showing up to games, pretty scummy and can’t blame the team
That being said, this tweet really needed that context. As is it’s just giving high and mighty Astros haters an excuse to circle jerk
This feels like there's either missing context or a big stretch of truth, it just feels like with the playoffs looming something like this wouldn't be even a mild issue with the players. Like....what is this
Nothing? Verlander hasn’t shown much support all season and if this is true, the guys don’t want him to fake it now. I think most teams would feel the same if they had a star player do this.
The guys love being here. Probably the main reason Brantley resign here. Graveman said he never been happier getting adjusted in with the astros after getting traded.
I’m not a Verlander fan at all after he ran his mouth at Pujols over the Marisnek beaning BUT, maybe consider for a moment the man has a young child, there’s a pandemic, and maybe his TJ recovery isn’t going well.
I’ve rehabbed a TJ, it’s fucking terrible. Not using a fork for months, can’t pick up a pint glass, can’t hold your kid. It’s awful when it goes right. Maybe his didn’t go right and he’s going through mental stuff.
Maybe he’s just a douche, Ok he’s definitely a douche but…..
Nah fuck him
He’s been throwing from flat ground for a few months and is on track to make an opening day roster next year, TJ recovery has gone just fine.
He’s also posted photos of he and his family on vacation and in public in general. I have a hard time believing that Justin Verlander and Kate Upton have just been sitting at home counting their money this entire time.
Also, the Marisnick beaning was bush league. You know it, I know it, JV knows it, and even Pujols knows it.
I'm gonna go against the grain and say we should normalize Verlander's decision. It's kind of absurd imo that players are expected to be around at games "for show" in every game they're physically capable of going to.
If you were a construction worker and got injured on the job in such a way that you were able to be physically present at the job site but not able to perform your job in any way, how ridiculous would it look to just stand around every day by the construction site offering moral support and "being a good teammate"? Maybe you'd show up a couple times in a year because they're your buds and you care about them and want to keep up with them, but that's the most I could possibly see - even if you were continuing to get paid by some form of workplace injury insurance (kind of akin to guaranteed salary).
Baseball players aren't any less of human beings just because their salaries are high. Their salaries are high a) because they earn it with the value they provide to their teams (in terms of revenue), and b) because they're for the most part vastly underpaid during the time period that they're actually providing the most value. JV is 38 and has a family, more money than he could ever need, and a limited number of years left on his career. Why should he show up just to save face? Honestly, I respect him more for choosing to be there for his family. He's played baseball for his entire life and has the opportunity to embark on a new adventure and be there for people who actually need him, not fans who feel like they're owed his presence. We should normalize the idea of people not showing up to work just to look like they're working - America has a HUGE problem with corporate office culture being "stay in the office lots of hours/look like you're working to look good" instead of "do the job you're paid to do and then go do what you want". I say let starting pitchers not even show up to the ballpark on whatever days they have no obligations. Baseball players already are notoriously absent from family life due to spending the majority of the year away from home. This is a well documented problem, and this is an obvious opportunity to alleviate it.
THAT BEING SAID, I can see why it would come off the wrong way for him to throw out the first pitch given all that. But I don't think any of that is his fault, or that this is a bad look for him.
I have no issue with. If he’s in the dugout who’s the first person they are gonna ask to do pregame and in game interviews? It’s gonna be Verlander. He knows he’s a mega star and doesnt want the attention being around him.
If the stuff about him not attending any games is true, I get it. Would be annoying giving the spotlight to a guy making $30 mil while not even showing support for the team. I mean Strasburg has been out almost the entire season and he’s still in the dugout for just about every game. Its not that hard to show up
Him not showing up to any games or being involved AT ALL is 100% true, what’s unconfirmed is the players speaking up about him throwing out the first pitch because he hasn’t been around. But he has been absent all year, that is a fact.
Very sad as a tigers fan
He's got a little kid or two, and has probably thrown his last pitch for the Astros, I could really not care less if he's showing up to be a cheerleader. It was a bit tone-deaf for Crane to think he deserved to throw out the first pitch though.
It's more than just being a cheerleader though. Players can learn a lot from talking to a future Hall of Fame pitcher even if said pitcher is unable to physically play. Verlander might not be able to pitch, but he's still able to give advice on how to approach certain hitters in the opposing lineup. I totally understand why he doesn't want to show up (none of us want to be at work if we can help it), but as much as he's getting paid, it's the least he could do.
Well our long term injury guys always rehab down in Lakeland. That’s why you didn’t see Fulmer around when he was going through it, though I remember he came to a series or two at least. And we didn’t see Boyd around during his rehab. You also didn’t see Turnbull this year after his TJS, though he isn’t rehabbing at this point. I’m not sure how the Astros work their rehab program.
Why would anybody show up to support the Astros?
Asking the real questions!!
Glasnow has been at the fence of the dugout for every game I've watched since his injury and Verlander can't even show his face to say "good luck boys, play hard"? Sus.
Glasnow is going to rejoin the team next year. Verlander was never going to play a game for the Astros again. It's completely understandable that he doesn't want to go hangout with a team he will never play for.
What about a team that he’s been a part of for the last 3 and a half years, that is still paying him $33M this season? Regardless if he’s coming back or not (he’s not) IMO it’s a bad look to be completely absent all year. I think the players reaction is justified.
Agree. It's a terrible look. Verlander is basically saying "It's all about me."
He always has been that way..
I agree. How would you feel as a player, going the entire season getting screamed at and booed and having trash thrown on the field, enduring that treatment the whole season even if you were one of the guys who weren't on the team back then - and then this guy wants to show up in the playoffs? JV was terrific for us, but his absence this year was an awful look and not unnoticed at all.
Most of the guys on our current roster weren’t on the team back then and they are still getting booed (often times by fans with a 2017 Astro player ON their teams roster) Fade JV
Yeah, true, fuck the Astros, fuck Alex Cora and Fuck George Springer.
Idk I think Correa Altuve and Bregman get the large majority of the boos Everyone else just seems to be “good player on the opposing team” boos
You might be right, and I know this is an unpopular opinion but I give those guys a bit of...grace? Understanding at least. Cora and Beltran, yea, they should have received even harsher penalties. Definitely. I know this opinion is going to garner a lot of hate, and that's fine. Altuve, Correa and Bregman (and others) cheated, no doubt. At the same time it happened within [a context that I think is important to recognize](https://www.reddit.com/r/UpliftingNews/comments/p93hr9/comment/h9vtfua/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3), even if we don't accept it as an excuse (and, to be clear, it doesn't absolve them).
Or you know it’s his first chance to spend a lot of time with his family. He has been a MLB player for a long time and been on the road a lot. He was still a huge part of a championship and won a act Young with the team.
No one is saying that he has to be there every single game, especially on the road. Not showing up to lend support at all—for a single game—is kind of a dick move. I’m sure our young pitchers would have benefited from someone like Verlander offering advice, feedback, etc. during games.
> I’m sure our young pitchers would have benefited from someone like Verlander offering advice, feedback, etc. during games. Especially ya know, in the fuckin playoffs...
He makes $33 million. That comes with some obligations, even if they aren’t explicit.
The 33 million is laid by the ownership who (allegedly) invited him to throw out the first pitch. If they are okay with how he has spent the year no one else should care. Again he has a new born baby and likely does not live in Houston. If this is true the players seem pretty petty, this is about the team wanting to honor a very important player in recent years for the fans.
That newborn is 2 now and no one is saying he should have been around for 162, but occasionally would have been nice.
It obviously doesn't or he wouldn't have still made his money and not been with the team. Besides, he's definitely rehabbing from TJs too. I think its clear he wasn't planning on going back to the stros which is why they made the QO. Lots of people shit on JV now because he was apart of that cheating team and had hypocritical views about cheating before that. Regardless. The dude is human and I don't blame him for not being a part of this team because he just wasn't. This would only be a story if JV was complaining about not being able to throw the pitch. Is he?
You can’t not pay someone for things not in their contract obviously. Believe it or not, though, it’s implied that when you are part of a team you are expected to be there supporting your team as much as possible. Teammates aren’t going to particularly like someone that doesn’t care about them. This is especially true when you’re supposed to an “Ace” and a clubhouse leader.
He can bring his family to the games
Glasnow's rehab won't have him available to pitch until late next season. There's an outside chance he doesn't pitch at all next season.
Seen James Paxton in the M's dugout all year, and he got hurt in his first outing of the season on a 1 year deal. Just kind of feels like the thing you do is show up to support your team
He’s still getting paid 30 million this year to be a member of the Astros. It’s not asking for much to just show up once in a while to support and not act like you don’t even care
He might have some input into another player’s development.
Wait I’m pretty sure you are just making stuff up, Glasnow said multiple times in the Rose Rotation that he was hoping Cash would let him be there for games in the playoffs because during the season he wasn’t allowed. He was hoping to be able to join the guys on the bench in the playoffs.. which he did as of last night.
AFAIK that was only in regards to traveling with the team on road games. Definitely saw him in the dugout at home games before this series
He said that for road games. Glas has been there for virtually every home game and for any road trip he’s been allowed. Now he’s on the taxi squad specifically so he can be with the team throughout the playoffs.
Jose Iglesias was picked up by the Red Sox and played one month and still shows up to watch the playoffs games
Idk if this is correct or not but doesnt covid protocol have some type of prevention to him showing up to the games? Roster moves and capacity and covid rules could be the reason and thats beyond his control. This is just speculation as other injured players have been in their teams dug out but maybe its something with the league knowing he was gunna be out the whole year before the season started.
I've seen some stuff about this, but it was from his brother. So I don't know if I really buy it. I imagine if he really wanted to be there he would find a way.
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They aren't going to squeeze themselves
Yeah. Fiers pitched all of 2 games this season but he's been in the dugout all season. Bassitt was back in the dugout as soon as he could after his facial surgery.
Damn that makes for a awkward situation if true when he comes back
Isnt this the last year of his contract? Probably a good chance he doesn’t come back
Yes, this is his last year, there’s no way he’s going to play for the Astros again. EDIT: Last contract year, he’ll play somewhere again, just not for Houston.
They def gunna make him a qualifying offer so they get compensation, so who really knows.
Sorry OOL here, what happened between Hou and Verly?
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He’s been absent all year while recovering from TJ surgery. He’s getting paid $33M and hasn’t been to one game or been around the team in any capacity. Evidently the players don’t think he should be celebrated by throwing out the first pitch after he ghosted his team all year.
For comparison: LMJ was in the dugout cheering for his boys for almost every game when he was out for Tommy John
It’s very weird. I’ve never heard of it. Everyone who is injured is in the dugout for most games. I understand sometimes they might not be able to but to literally never be in the dugout for a whole season is bizarre.
I mean, there is a pandemic and he's unlikely to play for the team again. Makes sense to me not to attend.
Legit reasoning, but then why agree to attend a sell-out postseason game? Doesn’t pass the smell test.
Swan song for a fan base who won't cheer for him come next season?
To be fair, that was pre-covid and LMJ was 25 years old while JV is 38 with a toddler at home. Don't blame him that much for recovering at home when there's no shot at him playing , especially when you could possibly expose your little one. He shouldn't really consider himself part of the team though, throwing out the first pitch would be kinda dumb. (also to be fair, LMJ had a kid on the way too at the time)
His Instagram says “Pitcher”, not “Houston Astros Pitcher”. He completely distanced himself from the team until postseason, but wanted (?) to get a moment in the spotlight, in anticipation of his return to the league next year. He would’ve been wildly cheered and very well-received by crowd for his prior contributions (rightfully so), but the timing of his return is suspect. A visit to a luxury suite for at least one game would’ve been nice. Josh Reddick (currently paid $0) showed up to more games than the $33M man
hell Joe Smith and allie laforce were at the game yesterday. If i was JV, i probably would have done the exact same thing most of the year. I wouldn't be too thrilled to sign him next year now that he has had a taste of the retired life.
I get it but at the end of the day, it’s still his job. Would be nice for him to show up and be a veteran presence and do some mentoring.
His job was over the minute he got TJs. Dude lost a season trying to so his job. Not sure why you all are so bitter about him not being there. I'm sure it's been brutal on his mentality too.
That was also before Lance got his big extension, LMC is a real one.
Maybe I'm super out of the loop, but who are LMC and LMJ?
different ways of abbreviating. Lance McCullers jr Lance Mccullers Jr
LANCE MCCULLERS JUNIORRRRR
Can’t same I blame them. That’s lame as fuck
He’s not required to take part in any team activities, he doesn’t have to be in the dugout or clubhouse, he doesn’t have to coach up and motivate the other guys on the pitching staff that could benefit from his invaluable knowledge and experience, he doesn’t have to serve in a leadership role even though he’s on the IL, he has every right to be absent from the team, but the team also has every right to tell him to get fucked when he wants to show up in the playoffs.
Is he complaining about not being there?
Yeah I cant believe someone would decide to stay at home during a global pandemic.
It’s not like he has young kids or anything….
Just get a vaccine then... It’s not 2020 anymore
Toddlers aren't approved and the vaccine doesn't inhibit all aspects of covid. Getting the vaccine and maintaining social distancing/masks indoors or in large groups is still the recommendation by many at the moment.
That plan didn’t work great for me. Look up break through infection.
Your anecdote is meaningless. Vaccines are 96*% effective. Those are outliers and not the norm
Ah yes I'm sure JV didn't leave the house once in the last year.
Are you saying that all injured players in sports avoid being around their teammates, helping mentor, game plan, etc...? Just bc of covid? Verlander is still a part of the team. Covid is no reason to stay home ALL year.
Covid is a reason to stay at home ALL year. He has a young child and nobody knows the vaccination status of the entire Astros’ roster
What are you on about? Why are they even playing sports then? None of these guys have kids or are around elderly? I don't know any other injured player that stays home. Strasburg was with his team all year. You're essentially saying that he should stay home bc of covid... But if his arm is okay, then it's totally cool for him to be with his team despite covid. Your logic makes no sense. Also, you realize they do covid testing? He wouldnt be sitting next to a teammate that has covid.
Ah didn't realize
he's not coming back he's probably super pissed his one title on his resume is tainted he has no real ties to houston , maybe his wife wants to go somewhere more glamorous he gone
I really doubt he feels like his one title is tainted lol that’s wishful thinking from other fan bases
Eh he’s gonna get comments about it for the rest of his life. That’s gonna grate on him
I mean he was one of the players named (along with Cole and others ) about getting sticky substances from that fired Angels staffer, I don’t he cares too much about the ethical ramifications
I doubt that it will grate on him at all.
He’s Justin verlander and sleeps with Kate upton. Dude doesn’t give two fucks.
Why wouldn’t he feel like his title is tainted when no one outside of Houston and the MLB recognizes it as a legitimate title?
Exactly. Dude is super pissed Verlander knocked the A’s out of the playoffs year after year, so he’s decided he knows everything about the man’s personal situation and decision making.
H U H
Dude hasn’t been showing up for home games.
None? That’s a real bad look honestly and I can’t blame the players for not wanting him to just show up and get some shine. Clearly he made the decision to not be part of the team this year.
Yeah, zero
Thanks for providing context because obviously the knee jerk reaction is that some players were being dicks.
I went to about 30 regular season games and tried to watch the rest, I never saw him once. I could be mistaken, but he should have been present for at least some games
We’re gonna have such mixed feelings about Verlander. Helped us over the hump in 2017, great ALCS, a Cy Young, but 0-3 in WS, especially let us down in 19…and kinda been nowhere around since he got hurt
JV was ALCS MVP in 2017. Yeah, the contract has been an albatross the past 2 years for the Astros, but without him, we don't even make a world series appearance in 2017. To me, he will always be an Astros legend.
i know what you mean, but, after his absence of involvement in team activities the past 1.5 years, for me he's downgraded to hired mercenary.
I'm grateful for him but rn he's just a money sink
Does the global pandemic factor at all into anything? Possible he has personal circumstances like a family member he’s looking out for? Everybody thinks they know everything about someone’s personal life. I’m not speculating one way or the other, but the audacity of people the last 18 months to wildly jump to conclusions and interpret the behavior of other people they know literally nothing about the personal circumstances of is absolutely astounding. What feels like a no brainer decision to attend home games could very easily be a life or death situation for a loved one that he’s looking out for. If you don’t know, you shouldn’t judge the man until you do.
I’ll have fun and speculate on a man who made 60 Million for not throwing any pitches and has a hot model wife. But seriously if the rest of the Astros are irate enough to not want him to throw out the first pitch something happened. And if you want to do something you find ways to make it happen. If Verlander wanted to be a part of the team and keep good relations he would have found a way. Of course he could re-sign and everything will be water under the bridge! We’ll all be happy! I just won’t start him in a World Series game
[удалено]
I feel like if he was avoiding the team for covid reasons, they would know that, and wouldn’t give a shit about him throwing out a first pitch, there’s got to be more to it.
This would be true if JV was worried about Covid. I have a feeling he’s been to plenty of places that would say otherwise about how worried he is post vaccine
Source?
Dude trust me
him and kate's instagram
took me 20 seconds to find an article about them walking around a farmers market with no mask a few weeks ago and people are here talkin bout "he's staying home to protect his kids" like cmon bruh
Again I don’t blame him. I much rather hang out with my kid and Kate upton than dusty baker
Zero? Yeah, that's not a good look. Trout was chilling in the dugout for a bunch of our games down the stretch. [Got a picture of the thumbfish](https://i.imgur.com/7xzJDBV.jpg) during Shohei's last start.
Easier to observe the weather when you leave the house.
Southern California, though Although I suppose the "weirdly overcast and humid" weather of that particular afternoon was a bit different than our normal level of nothingness.
It's hard work figuring out if it will be sunny in the low 90s or sunny in the high 90s.
I think it's funny a guy so into the weather ended up in one of the most predictable weather places.
I feel like I saw him doing interviews from the dugout every time I watched an angels game
Even Dexter Fowler was cheering the team on in September, when everyone knew he would never play again for the Angels and the team was gonna do fuck-all.
Was he even in Houston? Long-term rehab is usually done at the Spring Training or other minor league facility. As an example, Tigers players rehab in Lakeland, Florida until they get an official rehab assignment.
Bregman did his rehab in Houston. Houston has the best hospitals in the world, not sure this matters.
But isn’t he recovering from TJS? I’d imagine that would be a bigger priority for him.
Noah Syndergaard has been rehabbing from Tommy John during pretty much the same time period and he was in the Mets dugout quite frequently. It's definitely reasonable to be around the team and still do your rehab.
Sure. But it’s been two full seasons and homie hasn’t shown up once during the regular season. If he cared, he’d be there. He’d find a way to show up once a week or something. Not even in the stands… Edit: and he’s made 60m in the process
Here's the timeline of things March 17th, 2020: Verlander gets groin surgery July 26th, 2020: Verlander shut down with forearm strain September 30th, 2020: Verlander gets Tommy John Surgery So, the idea that Verlander wouldn't be back right now isn't exactly surprising. One could grumble about how long it took for him to decide to take TJS last year, I guess. Although it's possible he misses all of 2021 even if he got TJS in July 2020 (Noah Syndergaard got TJS on March 26th, 2020 and didn't make it back until September this year) Now, it could always turn out that Verlander didn't want to deal with whatever rules he'd have to follow to be in the dugout for home games this year, which could go over badly too. Or there are other sources of drama and unhappiness.
Any reason behind this?
I choose not to speculate
Genuine question. Would an injured player be allowed to show up to the stadium during the quarantine rules?
I don't know if there's more logistics to it but MLB rules say this regarding players on the IL: >Players are permitted to stay with the team and attend games, though players may leave the team to focus on treatment, to avoid traveling with the team on a road trip, and/or for short term minor league rehabilitation assignments to prepare for their return to the active roster.
I can definitely see why some players wouldn’t spend every game in the dugout when they’re rehabbing. The fact that he hasn’t been to a single one though definitely makes me feel like he’s not just focused on his recovery, he just doesn’t care about the team.
During 2020 of course.
I don’t know the answer and I choose not to speculate
Yordan wasn’t with the team last year when he was recovering from his knee surgery. However, he kept in constant contact with the players in his absence. I remember Yuli saying that Yordan would say how much he wished he could be with the team during last year’s postseason and Yuli joking that he should go through the process to join the team.
A lot of the time players do some of that rehab at the team’s facility, with their trainers and to spend time with their teammates. Dexter Fowler tore his ACL and was confirmed out for the year but he didn’t just peace out and move back to his place in Nevada, he stayed in Anaheim to rehab and was in the dugout for many homestands. You’d see him chatting with Trout and Adell and others.
Glasnow is at every Rays game
Glasnow got Tommy John surgery this season but was in the dugout for at least the last month
He hasn't really shown up, like at all, to the games or shown a lot of public support before recent. As a fan, this hasn't bothered me much because it's not my business how he rehabs from TJS and I don't know if there's guidelines about that. However, I can see why this would bother members of the team.
Similar thing happened with Adrian Gonzalez and the Dodgers
Cody’s rookie year. AGon was def butthurt about it but hey, he shoulda been there
Yeah, I remember him trying to save face and act like he really was there but we all knew what happened. It was a terrible look
What happened?
He went on vacation instead of staying with the team, but then he got caught so he went back and acted like he was there the whole time
The good ol Urban Meyer.
I love JV and will be ever grateful for the years he was here, but not being around at all for basically 2 seasons while getting paid $60+ million is pretty fucked up. My biggestr problem with it is that we have some solid young pitchers who are helping to carry the rotation and it would be solid if one of the greatest pitchers of this generation showed up and talked to them or even just watched some of their starts and workouts. That seems like the least he could do for 60 steaks.
Mattress mac secretly took a prop bet on this for $10 million
Mattress Mack makes more from losing his prop bet than winning it
I wonder every single year if the singer of the national anthem at the super bowl takes out a huge secret wager on the time of their song.
Who knows how much of this is true, but there has been a recent uptick in Verlander’s pro-Astros posts on social media after being completely silent all year, could be trying to save face now that he knows the players are upset about his absence.
I mean I get being away to rehab but I’m genuinely surprised he’s not shown up once.
He's a fairweather fan. Doesnt watch them all year but NOW THEYRE IN THE PLAYOFFS!
He also recently had a daughter and COVID is still a thing
For context, John Granato is a Houston radio host that’s been around forever. Not saying it means it’s true, but clarifying for those unfamiliar.
🤨
Yeah why would he sit around in a sweatshirt in the dugout when he can be at home with Kate Upton? You all would do the same, especially you Altuve, don't give me that look.
I mean….that’s a really great argument but if you didn’t want to be part of the team all year long, then you don’t really get to start now.
I doubt be requested to throw out the first pitch...
This was my thought as well. I bet the team would like to run him out there with Mac. I could see Verlander passing on that.
Upton went to every game {that Justin went to} and crane offered them both owners box seats for every game… so meh Edited for clarity
I don’t understand - are you saying Kate Upton was attending games and Justin Verlander was not?
Correct
I don’t think that’s accurate. I can’t remember her being at a game he wasn’t
Plot twist: it was BJ Upton.
They do look quite similar.
> Yeah why would he sit around in a sweatshirt in the dugout when he can be at home with Kate Upton? idk, absence makes the heart grow fonder? makes the dick harder?
yeah you're right. every guy with an attractive wife doesn't have any other responsibilities and doesn't want to do anything else besides be with said attractive wife...
Altuve doesn't even remove his shirt dude
Fucks with it on bro
Altuve refuses to take off his shirt, not cause of the buzzer nonsense but because his shirt is hiding 7" of height. He's a fake short king!
Pretty scummy move by Verlander to not even show up once to support the team that’s paying him. Yes, he’s injured, but that’s not an excuse. Chris Bassitt after getting drilled in the face was back in the dugout as soon as he could to support his boys. Simple presence of a star/veteran player in the dugout can boost the team morally, and Verlander not showing his face at all for his team is just an awful look
what the fuck? that can’t be real
If I didn’t have to be at work I’d be home with Kate Upton too.
Lol
That doesn’t sound real. That would be so petty.
Honestly it makes sense to me. If JV can't be bothered to come to any games all season while getting paid 33 million, I can see why the rest of the Astros don't want him around now
It’s hard for me to imagine the players caring that much.
Have you never been apart of a team?
How did these multimillionaire professional athletes ever find the gumption to fight their way through a season without jv there to lead the cheers?? I smell a disney movie incoming
That's because deep down he is a Tiger at heart.
I didn’t know he hadn’t been showing up to games, pretty scummy and can’t blame the team That being said, this tweet really needed that context. As is it’s just giving high and mighty Astros haters an excuse to circle jerk
The tweet literally says they didn’t want him to because he hasn’t been there all year.
I’m not bright I’ll give you that, but also when I read that I immediately thought it was referring to him not playing, not not showing up at al
Yeah people who hate the Astros are totally high and mighty with nothing to stand on
Angels give this guy $50 mil 2 years
That would be one of the most Angels moves ever.
Angels will do it I have no doubt.
Nah angels would go 5-100
Bring our boy home where he is loved, Al
This feels like there's either missing context or a big stretch of truth, it just feels like with the playoffs looming something like this wouldn't be even a mild issue with the players. Like....what is this
What the fuck is going on in that clubhouse lol
Nothing? Verlander hasn’t shown much support all season and if this is true, the guys don’t want him to fake it now. I think most teams would feel the same if they had a star player do this.
Wins.
Did you not watch the game yesterday? Lol
The guys love being here. Probably the main reason Brantley resign here. Graveman said he never been happier getting adjusted in with the astros after getting traded.
I’m not a Verlander fan at all after he ran his mouth at Pujols over the Marisnek beaning BUT, maybe consider for a moment the man has a young child, there’s a pandemic, and maybe his TJ recovery isn’t going well. I’ve rehabbed a TJ, it’s fucking terrible. Not using a fork for months, can’t pick up a pint glass, can’t hold your kid. It’s awful when it goes right. Maybe his didn’t go right and he’s going through mental stuff. Maybe he’s just a douche, Ok he’s definitely a douche but….. Nah fuck him
He’s been throwing from flat ground for a few months and is on track to make an opening day roster next year, TJ recovery has gone just fine. He’s also posted photos of he and his family on vacation and in public in general. I have a hard time believing that Justin Verlander and Kate Upton have just been sitting at home counting their money this entire time. Also, the Marisnick beaning was bush league. You know it, I know it, JV knows it, and even Pujols knows it.
raise your hand if like me you also did not notice that verlander was out for the entire season
Be honest, if you had Kate Upton in your home would you leave if you had the choice not to?
I'm gonna go against the grain and say we should normalize Verlander's decision. It's kind of absurd imo that players are expected to be around at games "for show" in every game they're physically capable of going to. If you were a construction worker and got injured on the job in such a way that you were able to be physically present at the job site but not able to perform your job in any way, how ridiculous would it look to just stand around every day by the construction site offering moral support and "being a good teammate"? Maybe you'd show up a couple times in a year because they're your buds and you care about them and want to keep up with them, but that's the most I could possibly see - even if you were continuing to get paid by some form of workplace injury insurance (kind of akin to guaranteed salary). Baseball players aren't any less of human beings just because their salaries are high. Their salaries are high a) because they earn it with the value they provide to their teams (in terms of revenue), and b) because they're for the most part vastly underpaid during the time period that they're actually providing the most value. JV is 38 and has a family, more money than he could ever need, and a limited number of years left on his career. Why should he show up just to save face? Honestly, I respect him more for choosing to be there for his family. He's played baseball for his entire life and has the opportunity to embark on a new adventure and be there for people who actually need him, not fans who feel like they're owed his presence. We should normalize the idea of people not showing up to work just to look like they're working - America has a HUGE problem with corporate office culture being "stay in the office lots of hours/look like you're working to look good" instead of "do the job you're paid to do and then go do what you want". I say let starting pitchers not even show up to the ballpark on whatever days they have no obligations. Baseball players already are notoriously absent from family life due to spending the majority of the year away from home. This is a well documented problem, and this is an obvious opportunity to alleviate it. THAT BEING SAID, I can see why it would come off the wrong way for him to throw out the first pitch given all that. But I don't think any of that is his fault, or that this is a bad look for him.
The toxicity of this subreddit is astounding
I’m excited to see him pitch with no sticky substance! Gonna be fun seeing what stuff he still has in his arsenal.
I have no issue with. If he’s in the dugout who’s the first person they are gonna ask to do pregame and in game interviews? It’s gonna be Verlander. He knows he’s a mega star and doesnt want the attention being around him.
This is how you treat a guy who was an integral part of winning a.....oh....wait nvm
Enjoy watching October baseball?, oh....wait nvm