Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • 25

ryf 7 7 7 7 7 I TT 7 DETROIT FREE PRESS WWW.FREEP.COM BASEBALL SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 2006 7 TIGERS CORNER PITCHER Future looks bright for Tigers' Vcrlandcr From Page 1C Opener among 16 games on TV 20 Nome games shaded. Also on Channel 20. By JOHN LOWE and JON PAUL MOROSI FKEE PHliSS SPORTS WHITKRS 1 i -Mi, III imS XL SUN MOnI TUE I WED I THU I FRI I SAT 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Det. Det. Det.

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2:05 1:05 1:05 1:05 7:05 1:05 FSN I FSN I I these people." an unofficial role. After talks broke down between the Tigers and agent Mike Milchin, Richard Verlander called then-scouting director Greg Smith. By that time, the Tigers' offer was off the table. The deal was dead. Richard revived it.

Immediately, Smith knew he was not dealing with a novice. "That's what he does for a living," Smith said. "Once he and I started talking, it came together like that." "It's like with CEOs and the presidents of unions," Richard Verlander explained. "When you hit a logjam, the personal relationships can get you out." Richard is still active with the union, now as a district organizing coordinator. The job supports his family son Benjamin is in the eighth grade and enables him to pursue his hobby.

He buys, fixes and drives muscle cars. He has done it for years. He has a '71 Corvette, a '69 Chevelle SS and now a son who pitches in Motown. "The stars aligned," Richard Verlander said. "Unions, cars.

Seems perfect. "We're a blue-collar family. And he's a blue-collar kid. Justin fits in Detroit." By "captain," Ordonez meant manager Jim Leyland. Ordonez turn.

The boys knew how hard it would be for Verlander to make the major leagues. At that age, every young pitcher is a longshot. Too many things can go wrong. "The way you're developing," Hicks told him, "I'll take my chances." Imagine Hicks' satisfaction that day in October 2004, when his buddy by then a 6-foot-5 man with an overpowering fastball signed a contract with the Tigers. It included a signing bonus.

And triggered the clause in Hicks' little-known document. Verlander's Little Debbie or Good Humor treat turned out to be worth $3,120, perhaps the most expensive snack bar item in human history. Verlander, 23, was asked about the debt in the Tigers' clubhouse this week. "I don't know," he said, "what piece of paper you're talking about." Then he reclined in a cushy clubhouse chair and smiled. Hicks, a sympathetic soul, has yet to bring out the contract for collection.

He has it locked, safe and sound, at home in Virginia. In a gun cabinet. He said Leyland is "always on top of Verlander remains close to Hicks, and not just because of that slip of paper. Verlander invited him to Lakeland during spring training. They kicked around Verlander's place there and enjoyed meals with some of the other Tigers.

Hicks, a left-handed junk-baller in high school, has yet to ask for the cut of the bonus. "Give me a couple tickets," he said, "and we'll call it good." His pal should be able to oblige. Verlander might be in the big leagues to stay. Still, there's no way to know for sure. He has pitched only two games for the Tigers.

His big league ERA is 7.15. But all indications are that he will have success in Detroit and handle it well once it arrives. His father seems confident of that. He remembers something a scout told him before the draft. "He told me that, in 10 years, the only difference about Justin will be the car he drives," Richard recalled.

"I thought it was a nice compliment. The point is, he's grounded. "He really doesn't think he should be anything special. That's the way he thinks. I'm his dad.

I'm proud of that." Contact JON PAUL MOROSI at 313-223-4097 or you, and makes sure you re ready for every at-bat. "It's good," Ordonez said. Ordonez said he feels better physically than at any point since 2002 or 2003. Carlos Guillen, his friend and countryman, has noticed how healthy AMY LEANGDetroit Free Press Verlander's dad says his son's blue-collar background makes him a good fit for Detroit. teur and professional lifestyles.

She has spent time with him in Lakeland, and will come to Detroit during the season. "She keeps me grounded, really," Verlander said. "She's someone I can go to, to get away from the game, just me and her. "It was tough at first. She Ordonez looks.

"This year," Guillen vowed, "you'll see the real BIG NIGHT: Jordan Tata's debut Thursday night touched off a chain reaction of emotion in the seats close to the Tigers' dugout, didn't really understand base- ARLINGTON, Texas Sixteen Tigers games will be shown on over-the-air television this year, ending the club's one-year absence from free TV. Channel 20 will carry the games, the Tigers announced Friday. The first telecast will be Monday, when the station will show a simulcast of Fox Sports Net's telecast of the home opener against the White Sox. Duane McLean, the Tigers' senior vice president of business operations, said the remaining telecasts on Channel 20 will be produced by FSN and feature the announcing team of Mario Impemba and Rod Allen. FSN will televise 112 Tigers games this season.

In effect, it now will do 15 more games that will be carried on Channel 20. McLean said the as-yet unannounced 15-game schedule on Channel 20 will begin in June. The Tigers also hope to show those games on over-the-air stations elsewhere in the state. TALKING IT UP: Spurred by a sluggish loss in September, understated slugger Magglio Ordonez gave a public assessment that lingered into the off-season. Two of the more memorable words: "We stink." Late Thursday, Ordonez called reporters to his locker.

He was in the mood to talk. And he had a different message. "Tell you what," Ordonez said, fresh off a two-homer game in Thursday's 10-6 victory at Ameriquest Field, "this team is not even close to last year. This is a very good team." In his remarks seven months ago, Ordonez said the Tigers needed to change their attitude and that they should have had a winning record last season. On Thursday, Ordonez said, "This team is balanced, top to bottom.

He also doesn't back down, ball, or the life that I was going where 25 friends and family members kept their careful eyes Once, when Justin was 14, Bob to be living. But she adapted, as on the Dallas-area native, well as I have, to the whole situ plans to frame it some day. Smith was catching his bullpen ation. There might be more keep session at the academy. Wayne Spencer, a third baseman who sakes to come.

"My girlfriend told me his parents were crying every time he went out," catcher Ivan Ro driguez said. "Every inning. When they took him out of the played at Virginia Common wealth, was there, too. The radar readings: Seventy-nine. Seventy-nine.

Seventy- A Cards CgBBBgRtESBlgS; 1 Years later, Hicks' noontime game, my girlfriend told me his dad went to his knees and start wager looks similar to a ed crying. He was very happy. straight-up bet against the nine. Smith threw his hands up, tossed his glove aside and told Spencer, "Wayne, see if you can jt WANTED TO BUY SHOWS He was so proud of his son. It Lions on the road.

In his second professional season, Verlander has the look of a pitching prodi get him to throw 80. was very nice. 14 aw "His dad made my girlfriend Spencer's response: "I don't think Sally Ann could break a Coma Stamoe. Inc. cry.

Can you believe that? gy. He will make nis tirst start 17658 Mack Groeae Pointt 313-665-4200 Since 1957 Tata's friends and family of the year today against the pane of glass. Toy Train Show April 9th 10am-2pm United Food Commercial Workers' Hall 876 Horace Brown Drive Madison Heights (S. of 13 Mile between John 175) 586-321-1712 Texas Rangers. "They were telling me they'd joined him for a celebration at the team hotel.

Some of Tata's Buying adult booki and other old magajjnee, 2 pre-1975 comlca, antique radios. 1 Ait STAB BOOKS. 21747 VAN DYKE, WARREN. 747n 1 Throughout spring training, teammates came by, too. seen better arms on a chair, Verlander recalled.

They might have been joking. They might have been issu 1 1 Jll mi lHi: Ji "They made a point to con mm gratulate him, said Christine Tata, Jordan's mother. "It was Verlander's name was associated with Jeremy Bonderman, Joel Zumaya and Jordan Tata. All are hard-throwing righthanders. All are 24 or younger.

All represent promise for a long-stagnant ing a challenge. Whatever the SPORTS CARD SHOW WANTED really wonderful intent, Verlander was suffi ciently motivated. Said Rodriguez: "He's going Silver Coins Sunday, April 9th 9AM-2PM RedfordVFW Schoolcraft Rd. (1-) 4 Inkster Rd "The next pitch," Smith re to be good. He going to be called, "was 84." great.

Autograph piestt from But Verlander stands out. Tata pitched three innings in TERRY O'REILLY Brain $9.00 WAYNE CARLETON Braiai $8.00 Silver is white hot! PAYING 6X FACE and mora for Silver Dollars! relief, leaving with the bases bverybody has been hitting. WON LAMBERT Canadiaju $8.00 "To be a winner, you have to loaded in the ninth inning. All He was named the team's fifth starter less than two years after the Tigers drafted him sec get along, play like a team and three runners scored after Fer- Combo -all 3 for $20.00 i Drain info: 1 (734) 789-8495 or (734) 464-0084 33700 Woodward Ave. Birmingham ond overall.

The rapid rise is al To this point, the Justin included, have retained some degree of normal 24B-G44-B565 most unprecedented for a team cy. that doesn't have another of its first-round draft picks on the 25-man roster. have a captain who can drive nando Rodney relieved him. Liftoff! Tigers set club mark with 7 HRs in win Justin has found his escape Verlander has gotten there on the golf course. He is quite good, thanks in part to an extended driver that, his father said, "looks like a rake." The Redford Jewelry Coin 25950 W.

Six Mile Redford 2 Bike. W. of Beach Dary 11 3-5924T1I Hour: 10-8, Thursday 10-4 Closed Sunday and Monday Sports Collectible Show Livonia Mall 7mim MiddietMit April 14-15 Saturday A Tribute to 1 Antony Carter $12 Braylon Edwards $35 DEALER TABLES $50 EACH www.bnjce3howDro.com 248-788-1178 I with the help of his father, Richard, a past president of the Communication Workers of America local in Richmond. Richard Verlan By JOHN LOWE FRU PR1.SS SPORIS WRITER RETAIL der went from splicing cables to negotiating labor contracts. He did it with purpose and verve.

25 OFF SALE ALMOST EVERYTHING NOW THROUGH APRIL 30TH Sports Card Comic Books Comics Archives Inc. 25650 Plymouth Redford 313-837-8860 Moat major credit carda accepted CLOSED MONDAYS h.B4u, And no one could accuse him of being shy. In a 1996 Richmond Times Dispatch story, a spokesman for Bell Atlantic compared him to P.T. Barnum. game.

The only other hurler since 1940 to allow that many was Boston knuckleballer Tim Wakefield two years ago at Co-merica Park. Inge and Magglio Ordonez, who also smacked two homers, hit solo homers in the first. Shelton led off the second with his first homer of the game. In a four-batter span in the fourth, Shelton, Craig Monroe and Marcus Thames went deep. The bullpen yielded one homer Ordonez's shot off the leftfield foul pole in the ninth.

That blow broke the club record for homers in two-game and three-game spans, both set in a three-game stretch in mid-1997. Michigan State Numismatic Society SO" Annual Spring Convention April 7, 8, 9, 2006 Hyatt-Regency Hotel Dearborn Adm. Free 1 50 Tables Contact D. Charters first time Verlander played golf, he sank a three-wood from 215 yards out. Birdie.

"He smacked it," said Hicks, a scratch golfer. "And that was his first time ever. "Now he's real good. Pitchers, they have all that time off. He can play every day." Verlander's ties to Goochland remain strong.

He has dated his girlfriend, Emily Yuen, since high schoof. They attended Old Dominion together, too. She is so close to the family that she calls the Verlander home more often than Justin does. Their relationship has endured despite the chasm that separates a ballplayer's ama- ARLINGTON, Texas The last liftoff this powerful was Apollo 11. The Tigers have hit 15 home runs during their 3-0 start, 12 in the past two games.

Those are club records for any two- or three-game span at any point of a season. After hitting three homers Opening Day and five Wednesday, the Tigers slugged seven Thursday night in a 10-6 victory over the Texas Rangers. "Once a team gets overwhelmed with that confidence," third baseman Brandon Inge He really good at what he does," said Bob Smith, a Ver- ander family friend who 734-721-4991 1 coached Justin at the Richmond Baseball Academy. "Before you know it, he's got you. And you wonder how he did it." He salvaged perhaps the most important negotiation in his famils history Justin contract with the Tigers in Reprinted from Friday's late editions.

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