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1. Why won't Detriot give Justin Verlander a 6th year? He's 26, and went 19-9 last year!

Dan: I wouldn't be so quick to give him a 6-year deal. I would just give him 5 years because when players are in their contract year, they seem to have better years. I don't feel comfortable giving more than 4 years on a contract, because a lot of things could happen but, that could be different for the general managers.
Joe: In my opinion I don't think Verlander is worth that sixth year??because, frankly, no pitcher is. I believe it was Jeff Moorad, when he was the principal operating partner of the D'backs when asked if he would ever give a six year contract to a pitcher said: "No."
Verlander is what can be considered an ace in these times??when considering that (discounting 2005 when he went 0-2 in 2 games) he has a 65-43 .602 record with almost four straight years of 200 plus innings. But loooking at why it is not that great an idea to give a pitcher a long term contract consider these examples:
Mike Hampton: (Number with a bullet!) He had a 49-39 record when he suddenly goes 22-4 in 1999. Leaves the Astros and signs with the Mets and goes 15-10. Signs long term with the Rockies in the off-season of 2000??for $121 millionand goes 14-13 (2001)??and 7-15 (2002. Rockies dump him to the Marlins and the Marlins flip him to the Braves. He actually has two fair to middling years in 03 and 04 and then blows out an elbow. After coming back he tears an oblique in 07 and then??a pec in 08. On 8/5/08 he wins his first game in three years. On 9/15/09 he had rotaor cuff surgery and will miss 2010.??His win average since signing long term: 9 games a year. That is $13.4 million a win.
In no particular order also consider these deals:
2) Carl Pavano: $40 million for four years. 9 wins in three years.. $4.44 million per win.
3) Barry Zito, $126 million, 7 years. Word is Zito has lost 4-5 mph, leaving little between the fastball and his signature breaking ball. He's got almost six years to go.????
4) Kevin Brown, $105 million deal. According t oJohn Heyman, "The first $100-million free agent. There were whispers that no one was offering anywhere near nine figures, but the truth is that while L.A. was the high bidder, there were other fools out there, as well. He brought his surly demeanor to the Bronx for two years, and left without a word, never to be heard from again. That is, until the Mitchell Report was released."??
5) Chan Ho Park, $65 million, five years, Rangers. He went 9-8; 1-3 and 4-7 i nhis firts three years with Texas before rebounding in 2005 and going 8-5 to start the year. Texas unloads him to??SanDiego during 05.??He has??gone 18-18 since with five different teams.??????
6) When the Giants signed Barry Zito in 2006, they figured they had??an ace for the next seven years
But, Zito with the Giants has been a less than stellar.??His ERA with Giants is i nthe 5.00 meighborhood and he looks simply awful. His velocity and control have deteriorated to the point where his once devastating curveball is no longer as effective as it once was. The Giants are still on the hook for another 4 years of Zito at a whopping $76 million bucks??due full to a no trade clause. The weird thing with Zito is he hasn't been hurt or a tlest no one is saying he??has bee nhurt since signing with the Giants.??????



Rest at:


http://www.informativesports.com/MLB/0210/Spitballers_2_2 .htm