Amazon discontinued the ability to create images using their SiteStripe feature and in their infinite wisdom broke all previously created images on 12/31/23. Many blogs used this feature, including this one. Expect my archives to be a hot mess of broken book cover images until I can slowly comb through 20 years of archives to make corrections.

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Bring The Heat

This better be good.
Our Hero:  Justin Verlander

What You Need To Know:  Second overall pick by the Tigers in 2004, Verlander is a power pitcher with a live arm and the freakish athletic ability to have his pitches gain speed in the later innings of a game.  He played his first full season with the Tigers in 2005 and hasn't looked back since.  In 2011 he not only won the Cy Young Award (the highest honor for pitchers) but he also took home the MVP (Most Valuable Player) - a rare feat since many voters believe that pitchers shouldn't win that award.  Getting his ass handed to him on a platter by the San Francisco Giants in the World Series aside - you can make the argument that Verlander is the best pitcher in all of baseball.  And if you don't believe that?  You still have to put him in your top five.

His Baggage:  A high draft pick, the Tigers were able to sign him with the promise of a nice signing bonus.  He drives a Porsche (at least he used to), he plays (well) in Pro-Am golf tournaments, and he's been linked to model Kate Upton, although she recently said in some TV interview that she's "single."

Yeah, I'm sorry to do this to you JV - but to make this work, you're going to have to go down.

The Proposed Category Romance Plot:  Once one of the greatest pitchers in baseball, he's grown accustomed to a life filled with adoring fans, numerous awards, and fawning interviewers.  But it all goes to hell when the one thing he could always rely on suddenly vanishes.  He's lost his fastball.  The 95+ mph heater that could make grown men, professional hitters, drop to their knees and beg for mercy.  Once one of the greatest pitchers in baseball, he's now getting his ass handed to him every fifth day.  Now there are rumors that the team is looking to unload him.

So this guy is a boxer.  Minor detail.
The Heroine:  A fan through and through, she spends her free time working with local youth baseball organizations and arranging trips for the kids to go to big league games.  It's on one of these outings she meets the hero.  Oh, she knows all about his troubles, and she thinks she can help him get out of his own head and find his way back to the pitcher he used to be.  He's more than a little skeptical, but when the sports psychologist assigned by the team fails to fix him, he figures what the hell?  The writing is on the wall and he's got nothing left to lose.  But how is he going to get his head back in the game when his amateur shrink is proving to be a very sexy distraction?

What Category Romance Line?:  Harlequin Blaze.  Of course Verlander is kind of a hairy guy - he's going to have to wax for the cover shoot.

8 comments:

Tracy S said...

The field trip one! LOL :)

you said, "Of course Verlander is kind of a hairy guy - he's going to have to wax for the cover shoot." But why?! I am so sick of the smooth skinned guys on the covers. I know it shows the muscles more, but seriously, it is unnatural looking! lol

S. said...

Lololololol
Really liked the wax proposal....
:D

Phyl said...

Nice. A heroine who knows her baseball.

Wendy said...

Tracy: I agree - although I suspect the day we see a hairy guy on a Blaze cover is the day that signals the start of the apocalypse ;)

S.: I'm just going off of his arms. Verlander has very hairy arms.....

Phyl: This was the story I felt like I could have altered a bit more. Maybe toss in a secret baby per Brie's request :) Although now that I think about it - maybe the heroine could be a former girlfriend.....the one he dumped to go chasing after supermodels. He goes crawling back to her because when they were together it was the last time he had his fastball.....

Kathryn said...

I watched some of today's Detroit-Philly game during lunch. Your series may just turn me into a Tigers fan - at least until they play Texas.

Wendy said...

Kathryn: LOL! I'm curious to watch the AL West this year - lots of changes in that division!

Susanna Fraser said...

I think Felix Hernandez is the best pitcher in all baseball, but I'll definitely agree Verlander is top five. :-)

Tracy S said...

Wendy: LOL on the apocalypse comment! ;)