Jim Leyland prides himself on the way he protects -- some might say "babies" -- his pitchers.

That was why the Tigers manager was irked by a story in USA Today that suggested, in passing, that Justin Verlander's slow start this season might stem from the fact that the right hander threw a major league high 3,937 pitches last year --more than 400 more than he threw in 2008.

"He threw more pitches last year because he pitched better so he was in games longer," Leyland pointed out.

To prove his point Leyland produced a computer printout that detailed the number of pitches Verlander threw in each of his 35 starts, encompassing 240 innings, last year.

"Justin averaged 112 pitches a game," Leyland said. "That's a sneeze. 

"Seven innings at 15 pitches is 105. If 112 pitches is a lot, then I should go home,

"Justin Verlander is a horse," Leyland continued. "He was mad at me a lot of times because I took him out last year.

"The fact is, there has been no velocity change at all this year over last year.

"Today we have better training, better physical conditioning, and more exercise work than ever," Leyland said. "One hundred and 12 pitches per game isn't that much."

Having said that, the Tigers' undisputed ace is still winless after two starts. His ERA is an ugly 9.00. Instead of eating innings and dominating enemy hitters, Verlander has yet to  record a sixth-inning out.

Not to worry. Been there. Done this before

In case you have forgotten, after Verlander's first four starts a year ago, he was 0-2 with an identical 9.00 ERA.

Verlander lost just seven more games the rest of the season, while winning 19 and finished  with a 3.45 ERA.

"I'm not worried about Justin Verlander at all,"  Leyland insisted.

"Not concerned at all," Verlander concurred. "It's just a matter of fine-tuning."

When one writer asked Leyland  if Verlander should add a split-finger fastball to his arsenal, as Jack Morris did many years ago, the manager didn't hesitate.

"Verlander doesn't need a split," he said. "I wouldn't advise that."

Nevertheless, a win or two for Verlander before the Tigers return home on April 27 would put a lot of people's minds at ease.