DETROIT – In honor of the late, great Joe Falls, it's a Fish Fry Friday.
It might not be fair.
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Heck, it might be apples and oranges.
But in a lot of ways, Justin Verlander's start against the Royals in Kansas City tonight should remind you of his Game 1 start in the 2012 World Series against the Giants in San Francisco.
JV was hammered and the Tigers lost. It set the tone for the Giants' four-game sweep. It felt as if the Giants were energized, more confident after beating the Tigers' ace.
Make no mistake about it. The Tigers need Verlander to win Game 1 of the Tigers' three-game showdown with the Royals.
The Royals start this series 1/2-game behind the Tigers for the top spot in the American League Central. The Royals are coming off an impressive victory over Chicago White Sox stud starter Chris Sale, who entered that game with a stingy 1.99 ERA.
Meanwhile, the Tigers lost the last two games of a three-game series to the last-place Minnesota Twins. Hence, Game 1 in Kansas City seems to have great importance, especially since the Tigers will have just nine games left in the regular season after it.
By most standards, especially the former AL Cy Young and MVP, Verlander has had a bad season. He's 13-12 with a fat 4.81 ERA. The Tigers have won two of his last three starts, including a 9-5 victory over the Royals Sept. 8 at Comerica Park.
In his last start, however, against the Cleveland Indians, JV got a no-decision, allowing three runs in 5 2/3 innings of work. For sure, most fans will be nervous about Verlander. Many aren't sure which JV will show up.
In fact, many fans have given up hope that Verlander, 31, can get back to form and be the dominant pitcher he has been for most of his 10-year career.
There's only one concern, though. Fans can't honestly believe the Tigers are going to reach their ultimate goal - winning the World Series - without Verlander.
The chances of that, winning it all without your No. 1 starter contributing, are slim to none.
If you're giving up on Verlander, you are basically giving up on the Tigers as well.
Stay tuned.
Goodell Must Go
The NFL mess continues and some fans are upset with the way the league has handled things. In a new poll released Friday, 57 percent of football fans weren't happy.
It seems as with everyday the past week or so there's another NFL player involved in domestic abuse or a child abuse case.
Missing in action is NFL commissioner Roger Goodell who we haven't seen or heard from in more than a week since these scandals rocked NFL America.
Thursday night in Atlanta, there were some protests at the Bucs-Falcons game. A women's group even hired a plane that flew over the stadium with the message: Goodell Must Go.
Of course, Goodell didn't commit any of these horrible crimes. But he has been all over the place with his penalties.
Plus, his leadership was been weak, at best. The NFL has looked horrendous.
So much so, that advertisers started going off on the league publicly with their displeasure at how the league was handling the situation.
Most believe it's the reason Minnesota Vikings' RB Adrian Peterson was finally taken off the field until his legal process is finished. Originally, the Vikings reinstated him Monday after he missed the game Sunday. Then came the quick reversal the next day.
Lions host Packers
At some point, if the Lions want to convince people that they are a better team and really making progress, they have to beat a good team.
They had a chance last Sunday in Carolina and lost to the Panthers, 24-7. Worse, QB Matthew Stafford's record against teams that finish the season above .500 is 2-27.
That's why the Lions have to beat Green Bay and QB Aaron Rodgers. They can't just keep beating bad teams like they did in the opener against the New York Giants.
A win over the Packers would hold weight. The Packers (1-1) came back from a 21-3 deficit against the New York Jets last week to win. And the Packers - who won the division last season - have been picked by some experts to even make it to the Super Bowl.
Parker's Pro Pick: Packers 30, Lions 17.