Justin Verlander: Jack Clark is 'moronic' for PEDs allegations
Justin Verlander responded to Jack Clark's assertions Verlander used performance-enhancing drugs. (Jason Miller/Getty Images)
Detroit Tigers right-handed pitcher Justin Verlander responded to former big leaguer Jack Clark's assertion that Verlander is having a down year because Verlander stopped using performance-enhancing drugs.
According to a USA Today report, Verlander said "it's moronic" for Clark to comment about Verlander's performance because Clark isn't watching the right-hander pitch this season.
"It's moronic," Verlander said, "look at the source. It's moronic to talk about something you know nothing about and clearly ... he's not watching."
Clark, a retired player who hit 340 home runs over 18 MLB seasons, said Verlander's dip in velocity and overall dominance is correlated with Verlander no longer using performance-enhancing drugs after Verlander signed a long-term deal with the Tigers.
Clark commented on Verlander's performance to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
“Verlander was like Nolan Ryan, he threw 97, 98, 100 miles an hour from the first inning to the ninth inning,” Clark said on the air. “He got that big contract, now he can barely reach 92, 93. What happened to it? He has no arm problems, nothing’s wrong. It’s just the signs are there.
“The greed … they juice up, they grab the money and it’s just a free pass to steal is the way I look at it.”
Clark said last week that he believed Los Angeles Angels first baseman Albert Pujols used performance-enhancing drugs. Clark, a four-time All-Star, played with the San Francisco Giants, St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees, San Diego Padres and Boston Red Sox.
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