A Justin Verlander High School Bobblehead?

It's that time of year, folks.  The time where baseball teams are releasing their promotional schedules.

By now, we've all seen that creepy, stuffed Don Zimmer bear that the Tampa Bay Rays are giving way, right?

Well, not to be outdone, the Richmond Flying Squirrels are doing a Justin Verlander bobblehead...and it will feature the reigning American League MVP and Cy Young award winner in his, wait for it, Goochland High School jersey.

Pretty cool, right?

What if I told you that the bobblehead of the Detroit Tigers hurler was going to be given away at the Double-A home of the San Francisco Giants?

Say what?!?  One can only hope that he's immortalized with his sweet 18-year-old dirtstache.

Some other dates of note...the Flying Squirrels are bringing in Dale Murphy (April 12), Bret "The Hitman" Hart (June 12) and midget wrestling (September 1).

So, yeah, you've got that going for you, Richmond. 

Frank Thomas Blasts American League MVP

Postseason awards are funny.

Typically, you're going to hear a lot of people saying they don't matter...until they object to who wins one.  Then, of course, they suddenly begin to matter.

Such was the case Monday when Justin Verlander was named the American League Most Valuable Player.

Ask anyone what they thought about the Detroit Tigers pitcher taking home the award and they had an opinion.

Me...I asked Twitter.

Earlier in the day, Dwight Gooden and his clouded memory took center stage.  Late Monday night...it was two-time recipient Frank Thomas sounding off on the merits of the MVP award.

Verlander had a unbelievable season but he was not the league MVP!!

Pitchers do not deserve that award!! 36 starts is not enough to be the league MVP!!

If they want to add a 3rd award for pitchers they should do just that. MVP is measured over a 162 game schedule!!

I've been keeping an eye on "The Big Hurt" since he hit Twitter in June and never have I seen him this vocal...much less all that active.

But, if Thomas is looking to stir the pot a little bit...he did just that.

If dude is looking to troll the waters and help promote Big Hurt Beer (which he conveniently dropped into conversation right before his Verlander takes)...well done.

Big Hurt Beer...a crisp full-flavored lager with All-Star taste and a smooth finish.  Now available at selected locations throughout Chicago and at the Binny's Beverage Depots.

Stock up today!

Justin Verlander Wants to Throw Seven No-hitters

Typically, after a pitcher throws a gem of a game he's pretty humble.

Consider these quotes from Roy Halladay who, last year, threw two of baseball's best games.

After the perfect game in May:

"I don't know what to say.  Early in my bullpen I was hitting spots more than I have been. I felt like I just carried that out there."

And after the no-hitter in the Playoffs:

"It's surreal, it really is.  I just wanted to pitch here, to pitch in the postseason. To go out and have a game like that, it's a dream come true."

You'd maybe expect the same from Justin Verlander after he tossed his second career no-hitter, right?

Wrong.

"I feel like I'm coming into myself," the Detroit Tigers ace said following Saturday's game. "There is no secret where I want to be when I finish...I want to separate myself."

And when asked how many no-hitters he'd like to throw in his career?

"Seven," he quickly answered.

One can only hope that Verlander was responding with a smile on his face because, if not, it is one of those things that blurs the line between confidence and cocky.