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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Justin Verlander of the Houston Astros has been |
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named the recipient of the 2022 American League Outstanding Pitcher |
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Players Choice Award from the Major League Baseball Players |
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Association; and |
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WHEREAS, Selected by other MLB players for the accolade, |
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Mr. Verlander was also honored as the 2022 AL Comeback Player of the |
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Year after returning from elbow surgery on his throwing arm; after |
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sitting out most of the 2020 and 2021 seasons, the 39-year-old ace |
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delivered one of his finest campaigns in 2022, notching a |
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career-best and MLB-leading 1.75 earned run average to set a |
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Houston franchise record; he posted an 18-4 record in 28 |
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regular-season starts, and he led the AL in wins, ERA, walks and |
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hits per inning pitched, and opponents batting average; moreover, |
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in his 12 starts following a Houston loss, he was 9-0 with a 1.11 |
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ERA; and |
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WHEREAS, A crucial component of the Astros' thrilling |
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postseason run in 2022, Mr. Verlander excelled in Game 1 of the |
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American League Championship Series against the New York Yankees; |
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pitching six innings, he recorded 11 strikeouts and allowed just |
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three hits and one walk, becoming the oldest starting pitcher to win |
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an ALCS opener; the 4-2 win sparked Houston's four-game sweep of the |
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Yankees and a coveted berth in the World Series; and |
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WHEREAS, The highlight of Mr. Verlander's 2022 season came on |
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November 3, when he recorded the first World Series win of his |
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career in a 3-2 Game 5 decision over the Philadelphia Phillies; |
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competing in his fifth World Series, and making his ninth start, he |
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threw 94 pitches in five innings to stymie the Phillies' offense; he |
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was the fourth-oldest starting pitcher to claim a win in the Fall |
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Classic, and thanks in part to his vital contributions, the Astros |
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went on to secure the World Series title; and |
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WHEREAS, Justin Verlander has earned the lasting respect of |
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his fellow players and the admiration of countless fans across |
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Texas and the nation, and it is indeed a pleasure to join in |
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recognizing him for his exceptional achievements with the Houston |
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Astros; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Justin Verlander on receiving the |
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2022 American League Outstanding Pitcher Players Choice Award from |
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the Major League Baseball Players Association and extend to him |
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sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Verlander as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |