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Aces in Queens
Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander, two dominant right-handers, are joining forces this season with the Mets
Excerpt:
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — About nine years ago, Brad Ausmus, then the rookie manager of the Detroit Tigers, found himself staring down an uncomfortable decision.
Max Scherzer was coming off his first Cy Young Award season and had established himself as baseball's most recent breakout ace. Justin Verlander had started six straight Opening Days, was a six-time all-star and had a Cy Young of his own.
The problem was not that Ausmus might choose the wrong pitcher to help the Tigers win. The problem was that both aces wanted the Opening Day start, as aces tend to do.
“Whoever was not starting would not have been thrilled about it,” said Ausmus, who ultimately selected Verlander for the job. “Max said he thought he earned the start. And he was probably right.”
About nine years later, New York Mets Manager Buck Showalter found himself facing the same unwinnable win-win decision, with Scherzer and Verlander again together in a World Series caliber-rotation. He planned accordingly.
His solution was to ....
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Read it all at https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2023/03/29/max-scherzer-justin-verlander-mets-pitchers/
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