Ad-Justin-g to the Big Leagues

June 12, 2007. Detroit, Michigan.  JJ Hardysteps up to the plate, his Brewers trailing 4-0 in the ninth.  But today there would not be a Brewercomeback, not with Justin Verlander on the mound.  Hardy belts a ball to the track, but Magglio Ordonez isthere to haul it in.  Tigerswin.  But most importantly,Verlander, at 24 years of age, has pitched the Tigers’ first no-hitter in 23years. Fast forward to the present.  Justin Verlander leads a somewhat suspect pitching corps ofthe Detroit Tigers.  But if youtold him that it was shaky, he’d probably laugh you off. But Verlander, along with most other young gunslingers,needs to be cautious.  Overpitchinghas been an issue in the majors in the past few years, with teams riding theirhot young ace’s arm all the way to the disabled list. Just ask Kerry Wood. The Chicago Cubs made use of their young star almost immediately, asWood threw for 166.2 innings in his 1998 rookie season.  He sat out the 1999 season with tornligaments in his ... [link]