"For Justin Verlander, the praise perhaps can't get better than this.

Former catcher Pat Corrales watched Verlander throw several shutout innings for the Tigers against the Washington Nationals on Sunday.

"He not only has good stuff, he has command and knowledge," Corrales said. "That's a combination that will beat you very quick."

So if you have a power pitcher with command and knowledge, you've got ...

"Gibson," Corrales said. "That's what you've got -- Gibson."

That's Bob Gibson, the Hall of Famer who remains the ultimate standard for power-pitching right-handers.

Corrales, a senior assistant to the general manager with Washington, caught eight seasons. In 1966 with St. Louis, he caught Gibson.

How to sum up Gibson? In 1968, Gibson posted a 1.12 ERA in the regular season and beat the Tigers in Games 1 and 4 of the World Series. That meant that in each of his past seven World Series starts, he had pitched a complete-game win.

By stopping that streak as left-hander Mickey Lolich beat Gibson in Game 7, the Tigers posted what can be called the most monumental victory in their history.

Verlander's spring has looked a lot like Gibson's 1968. With six shutout innings Sunday, he has an 0.86 ERA in five exhibition starts. In 21 innings, he has walked three and struck out 20.

Manager Jim Leyland and pitching coach Rick Knapp said after Sunday's game that this spring Verlander "is on a mission.""