All-Star scene a must-see for Verlander, daughter
LOS ANGELES — During the Astros’ last homestand, Justin Verlander brought his daughter to work. Genevieve turns 4 in November and is beginning to understand what her daddy does. Father and daughter walked through the clubhouse. An overhead television showed a highlight of Justin from one of his starts earlier this season.
“She just stopped,” Verlander recalled Monday. “Looking at the screen, saying ‘Daddy, that’s you.’ ”
Genevieve — “Vivi” to her mom and dad — attended Verlander’s final start of the first half, a six-inning suffocation of the Oakland A’s at Minute Maid Park on Saturday.
The outing meant Verlander could not pitch in Tuesday’s All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium but did ensure a different perspective for his ninth Midsummer Classic. The Astros’ 39year-old ace has now attended five All-Star games without making a pitching appearance. None of the other four offered him the chance to cherish it as a father.
“I came for a different experience back then,” Verlander said. “It was more of just ‘have fun, joke with the guys, have a couple drinks.’ I think this time, it’s something I want to experience with my family and specifically with my daughter.”
Verlander has pitched all season with a heightened appreciation for the game he’s mastered. A two-year absence and grueling rehab from Tommy John surgery gave Verlander a new outlook on baseball and some of its facets he once took for granted.
“Having surgery at my age and not having anyone come back from it, really, wakes you up a bit,” Verlander said.
Verlander earned his 12th win of the season Saturday, more than any other major league pitcher. His 1.89 ERA trails only Tampa Bay Rays ace Shane McClanahan for the American League lead. McClanahan will start the All-Star Game on Tuesday, an honor Verlander has accomplished twice in his Hall of Fame career.
Verlander acknowledged some sadness that he couldn’t oppose National League starter Clayton Kershaw, a fellow former Most Valuable Player and future Hall of Famer. At 34, Kershaw will start his first Midsummer Classic, a feat Verlander accomplished at 24.
“I was just trying to hang on a little longer for (my kids) to see it,” Kershaw said. “I think my daughter is 7 and my oldest son is 5, and I've got a 2-year-old and 7-month-old that probably won't remember this.
“But the 7- and 5-year-old, it's just fun to see it through their eyes, and hopefully I get them down here to watch the Home Run Derby and just kind of see it. I think they are starting to understand baseball a little more.”
Verlander can relate. His wife, Kate Upton, informed him that Vivi is “really starting to get into it” while attending some games.
Because he is not scheduled to appear in the game, Verlander did not have to travel to Los Angeles. He chose to anyway and brought Vivi onto the field for Monday night’s Home Run Derby — finally a first for a pitcher who’s done just about everything else in this game.
“It surely would be a lot easier sometimes to just stay at home and relax, but I remember as a kid, sometimes when guys got selected and it was my favorite players and they didn’t show up, it disappointed me a bit,” Verlander said. “I always remembered that and said if I ever do get selected, I’m going to go no matter what.”