Justin Verlander’s final start already had all the ingredients of a baseball movie: an old ace facing the team managed by his former teammate Don Kelly, a packed Comerica Park, and the lingering possibility that Kelly was still exacting revenge for a dugout hotfoot from fifteen years earlier. Verlander battled into the sixth before A.J. Hinch gave him his curtain call in the most sentimental way possible, sending Verlander’s daughter to the mound to tell her dad his day was done. There were hugs, tears, and even Jim Thome was on hand to remember all the home runs Verlander once helped him hit. Then the ending somehow got even more cinematic, as Detroit’s young core mounted a ninth-inning comeback and Eduardo Valencia sent everyone home with a walk-off homer—a passing-of-the-torch finish so perfect that even Verlander probably couldn’t have scripted it better.
*** Now chatting in #JVDay ***
*** VerlanderlayIndustries has entered the chat ***
VerlanderlayIndustries: okay
last start
no pressure
just twenty-one years of career narrative being condensed into one afternoon
*** SkipHinch has entered the chat ***
SkipHinch: just pitch
VerlanderlayIndustries: aj
this is cinema
SkipHinch: it's pittsburgh
VerlanderlayIndustries: even better
gritty
rust belt
old friends on opposite sides
*** DonnieKellyBaby has entered the chat ***
DonnieKellyBaby: hey justin
VerlanderlayIndustries: DONNIE
DonnieKellyBaby: good to see you buddy
VerlanderlayIndustries: knew you'd take it easy on me today
couple of backups
maybe a utility guy hitting cleanup
ceremonial 82 mph swings
DonnieKellyBaby: nope
VerlanderlayIndustries: what
DonnieKellyBaby: full lineup
best guys available
VerlanderlayIndustries: donnie
i'm 43
DonnieKellyBaby: yes
VerlanderlayIndustries: this is my final start
DonnieKellyBaby: also yes
VerlanderlayIndustries: we were teammates
DonnieKellyBaby: correct
VerlanderlayIndustries: friends
DonnieKellyBaby: definitely
VerlanderlayIndustries: so why is oneil cruz batting
DonnieKellyBaby: managerial responsibility
VerlanderlayIndustries: this feels personal
DonnieKellyBaby: why would it be personal
VerlanderlayIndustries: ...
DonnieKellyBaby: ...
VerlanderlayIndustries: is this about the hotfoot
DonnieKellyBaby: what hotfoot
VerlanderlayIndustries: don
DonnieKellyBaby: i have no idea what you're talking about
VerlanderlayIndustries: i lit your shoe on fire one time
DonnieKellyBaby: july 24, 2011
VerlanderlayIndustries: you remembered the date
DonnieKellyBaby: weird, huh
VerlanderlayIndustries: IT WAS FIFTEEN YEARS AGO
DonnieKellyBaby: and yet i can still smell the leather
*** GreeneMachine has entered the chat ***
GreeneMachine: he's been waiting fifteen years to fill out this lineup card
DonnieKellyBaby: healing takes many forms
VerlanderlayIndustries: you said it was funny
DonnieKellyBaby: it is now
because you're facing our best hitters
VerlanderlayIndustries: Pittsburgh's best hitters?
...we're gonna be fine, boys
DonnieKellyBaby: rude
VerlanderlayIndustries: you started it
*** Game begins ***
VerlanderlayIndustries: strike one
still got it
strike two
STILL got it
strike three
VERY MUCH STILL GOT IT
*** DingleAllTheWay has entered the chat ***
DingleAllTheWay: you know you don't have to announce every strike
VerlanderlayIndustries: final start
i'm savoring
DingleAllTheWay: you've thrown six pitches
VerlanderlayIndustries: six fewer remaining
DingleAllTheWay: wow
okay
*** DonnieKellyBaby has entered the chat ***
DonnieKellyBaby: nice slider
VerlanderlayIndustries: thank you
DonnieKellyBaby: next guy's going to try to hit it 480 feet
VerlanderlayIndustries: you're enjoying this
DonnieKellyBaby: tremendously
*** Fifth inning ***
GreeneMachine: he's still out there
DingleAllTheWay: honestly looks pretty good
*** YouSeriousClark has entered the chat ***
YouSeriousClark: 43?
DingleAllTheWay: 43
YouSeriousClark: i'm pretty sure he's older than my dad's baseball glove
VerlanderlayIndustries: I CAN READ THIS CHAT
YouSeriousClark: great hearing too
*** HaoYuDoin has entered the chat ***
HaoYuDoin: should we tell him his fastball is 94 now
VerlanderlayIndustries: NO
GreeneMachine: vintage justin was 100
VerlanderlayIndustries: VINTAGE JUSTIN ALSO NEEDED MORE ICE
*** ProfessorMcGonigle has entered the chat ***
ProfessorMcGonigle: six strikeouts is six strikeouts
VerlanderlayIndustries: thank you kevin
ProfessorMcGonigle: my parents watched you pitch when they were younger
VerlanderlayIndustries: gratitude withdrawn
*** bottom of the sixth ***
SkipHinch: okay
one more hitter
VerlanderlayIndustries: that's what you said last inning
SkipHinch: i was lying then
VerlanderlayIndustries: and now?
SkipHinch: managerial ambiguity
*** Brandon Lowe pops out ***
VerlanderlayIndustries: there
one out
easy
who's next
SkipHinch: actually
there's someone here to get you
VerlanderlayIndustries: if this is a reliever i'm refusing to look at him
SkipHinch: not a reliever
*** GenV has entered the chat ***
GenV: daddy
VerlanderlayIndustries: ...
GenV: you're done
VerlanderlayIndustries: excuse me
GenV: that's enough
good job
come on
/holds out her hand
ball please
/starts crying
GenV: why are you crying
VerlanderlayIndustries: happy tears
GenV: okay
still need the ball
*** VerlanderlayIndustries hugs GenV ***
VerlanderlayIndustries: wait
are you choking
GenV: no
VerlanderlayIndustries: okay good
DingleAllTheWay: why would she be choking
VerlanderlayIndustries: i've seen "Field of Dreams"
GreeneMachine: here we go
VerlanderlayIndustries: little girl starts choking on a hot dog
mysterious future former ballplayer steps off the field
turns into a doctor
saves her life
loses his chance to play again
DingleAllTheWay: justin
nobody here is secretly a doctor
VerlanderlayIndustries: are we sure
/looks around the infield
VerlanderlayIndustries: spencer?
TorkAndRoll: no
VerlanderlayIndustries: dillon?
DingleAllTheWay: i barely understand my own health insurance
VerlanderlayIndustries: kevin?
ProfessorMcGonigle: i'm 21
VerlanderlayIndustries: max?
YouSeriousClark: i'm basically 12
SkipHinch: your daughter is fine
VerlanderlayIndustries: seems a little selfish
all these years
and not ONE of you secretly went to medical school in 1922
SkipHinch: please leave the mound
*** GreeneMachine hugs VerlanderlayIndustries ***
GreeneMachine: thanks for everything
VerlanderlayIndustries: take care of the place
GreeneMachine: we will
/hides "Fifth Third Park" sign
*** DingleAllTheWay hugs VerlanderlayIndustries ***
DingleAllTheWay: honor catching you
VerlanderlayIndustries: you complained about my signs for six months
DingleAllTheWay: honoring you was complicated
*** ProfessorMcGonigle hugs VerlanderlayIndustries ***
ProfessorMcGonigle: i grew up watching you
VerlanderlayIndustries: everybody needs to stop saying that
*** YouSeriousClark hugs VerlanderlayIndustries ***
YouSeriousClark: you were my dad's favorite player
VerlanderlayIndustries: MAX
YouSeriousClark: sorry
*** HaoYuDoin hugs VerlanderlayIndustries ***
HaoYuDoin: incredible career
VerlanderlayIndustries: thank you
HaoYuDoin: you are proof you can still perform at an advanced age
VerlanderlayIndustries: we're going to work on your farewell speeches
*** ValenSeeYa hugs VerlanderlayIndustries ***
ValenSeeYa: thank you
VerlanderlayIndustries: for what
ValenSeeYa: showing us what it looks like to stay great for a really long time
VerlanderlayIndustries: ...
ValenSeeYa: was that okay
VerlanderlayIndustries: yeah
that one was good
GreeneMachine: rookie wins
*** WORDUPTHOME has entered the chat ***
WORDUPTHOME: HEY GUYS THIS IS JI
JIM THOME
VerlanderlayIndustries: jim?
WORDUPTHOME: JUSTIN
I WOULD NOT MISS THIS
VerlanderlayIndustries: we weren't teammates
WORDUPTHOME: NO
BUT YOU CONTRIBUTED TO MY CAREER IN OTHER WAYS
VerlanderlayIndustries: ...
WORDUPTHOME: SEVEN OF THEM TO BE EXACT
VerlanderlayIndustries: jim
WORDUPTHOME: DO YOU STILL HAVE THAT BAT I SENT YOU
THANKING YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS CONTRIBUTIONS TO OLD JIMBO'S HOME RUN TOTAL
VerlanderlayIndustries: this is my emotional retirement moment
WORDUPTHOME: AND I AM EMOTIONALLY GRATEFUL
VerlanderlayIndustries: you hit seven home runs off me
WORDUPTHOME: YOU HAD TERRIFIC STUFF
VerlanderlayIndustries: apparently not when you were batting
WORDUPTHOME: SOMETIMES GREATNESS BRINGS OUT GREATNESS
AND SOMETIMES IT BRINGS OUT A 450-FOOT HOME RUN TO RIGHT
VerlanderlayIndustries: jim
WORDUPTHOME: LOVE YOU JUSTIN
VerlanderlayIndustries: love you too
*** DonnieKellyBaby has entered the chat ***
DonnieKellyBaby: hey JV
VerlanderlayIndustries: donnie
DonnieKellyBaby: heck of an outing
VerlanderlayIndustries: thanks
DonnieKellyBaby: seriously
proud of you
VerlanderlayIndustries: even after the hotfoot
DonnieKellyBaby: especially after the hotfoot
*** Crowd begins chanting "J-V! J-V!" ***
VerlanderlayIndustries: okay
now this is getting me
GenV: daddy
VerlanderlayIndustries: yeah
GenV: you're walking too slow
VerlanderlayIndustries: I'M HAVING A MOMENT
GenV: mom's waiting
*** Bottom of the ninth ***
MLB_NewsBot: Pirates lead 3-1.
Justin Verlander is currently in line to lose his final Major League start.
VerlanderlayIndustries: excuse me
NO
SkipHinch: you aren't pitching anymore
VerlanderlayIndustries: i can still emotionally influence events
GreeneMachine: how
VerlanderlayIndustries: veteran aura
*** YouSeriousClark has entered the chat ***
YouSeriousClark: got it
/singles to left
VerlanderlayIndustries: YES
THE CHILDREN ARE OUR FUTURE
YouSeriousClark: i'm technically an adult
*** HaoYuDoin has entered the chat ***
HaoYuDoin: keep it going
/doubles to right
VerlanderlayIndustries: YES
PASSING THE TORCH
SkipHinch: please don't literally give them a torch
VerlanderlayIndustries: wasn't planning to
DonnieKellyBaby: probably wise
*** ProfessorMcGonigle has entered the chat ***
ProfessorMcGonigle: this one's for you, sir
/drives in Clark
MLB_NewsBot: Tigers have cut the deficit to 3-2.
VerlanderlayIndustries: KEVIN
I ALWAYS BELIEVED IN YOU
ProfessorMcGonigle: we met this year
VerlanderlayIndustries: AND I BELIEVED QUICKLY
*** ValenSeeYa has entered the chat ***
ValenSeeYa: two outs
two strikes
one more chance
VerlanderlayIndustries: eduardo
no pressure
ValenSeeYa: it's your final game
VerlanderlayIndustries: correct
ValenSeeYa: whole stadium is emotional
VerlanderlayIndustries: correct
ValenSeeYa: comeback rally led by rookies
VerlanderlayIndustries: correct
ValenSeeYa: so basically enormous pressure
VerlanderlayIndustries: yes
ValenSeeYa: cool
*** CRACK ***
VerlanderlayIndustries: ...
GreeneMachine: ...
SkipHinch: ...
*** ValenSeeYa's ball sails over the fence ***
MLB_NewsBot: WALK-OFF HOME RUN.
EDUARDO VALENCIA.
TIGERS WIN 4-3.
VerlanderlayIndustries: HOLLYWOOD
HOLLYWOOD ACTUALLY DID IT
*** the Tigers dugout empties ***
YouSeriousClark: WE WON
HaoYuDoin: JV GET OUT HERE
ProfessorMcGonigle: LET'S GO
ValenSeeYa: THAT ONE'S FOR YOU OLD MAN
VerlanderlayIndustries: OLD MAN?
ValenSeeYa: emotional old man
VerlanderlayIndustries: ACCEPTED
*** DonnieKellyBaby has entered the chat ***
DonnieKellyBaby: you've got to be kidding me
your children pulled off a ninth-inning movie ending
respect
/tips cap gruffly
/lights an imaginary cigarette
*** WORDUPTHOME has entered the chat ***
WORDUPTHOME: JUSTIN
THAT IS HOW YOU END A CAREER
YOUR DAUGHTER GETS YOU FROM THE MOUND
YOUR TEAMMATES HUG YOU
THE KIDS WALK IT OFF
AND NOBODY CHOKES ON A HOT DOG
VerlanderlayIndustries: exactly
WORDUPTHOME: ALTHOUGH
OLD JIMBO WAS PREPARED
VerlanderlayIndustries: are you a doctor
WORDUPTHOME: NO
BUT I KNOW THE HEIMLICH
VerlanderlayIndustries: thanks anyway, jim
*** MLB_NewsBot has entered the chat ***
MLB_NewsBot: FINAL: Tigers 4, Pirates 3.
Justin Verlander finishes his final Major League start with 5 1/3 innings and six strikeouts.
His daughter Genevieve surprised him on the mound before he left to a standing ovation.
Eduardo Valencia's two-out, two-strike walk-off home run completed a three-run ninth inning.
Don Kelly remains unable to prove that today's Pirates lineup was revenge for the 2011 hotfoot incident.
DonnieKellyBaby: no comment
VerlanderlayIndustries: confession
DonnieKellyBaby: friendship
*** GenV has entered the chat ***
GenV: daddy
VerlanderlayIndustries: yes sweetie
GenV: we're leaving
VerlanderlayIndustries: but they're still celebrating me
GenV: mom said now
VerlanderlayIndustries: ...
SkipHinch: uncanny manager instincts
*** DonnieKellyBaby has left to finally admit the hotfoot was objectively pretty funny ***
*** SkipHinch has left to scout Genevieve for a future bullpen-management position ***
*** YouSeriousClark has left carrying one corner of the torch ***
*** HaoYuDoin has left carrying another corner of the torch ***
*** ProfessorMcGonigle has left to remind everyone that torches do not have four corners ***
*** ValenSeeYa has left to WALK OFF INTO THE FUTURE ***
*** WORDUPTHOME has left to thank Justin for the memories, the strikeouts, AND SEVEN VERY SPECIAL BASEBALLS ***
*** VerlanderlayIndustries has left the chat for the final time ***