The Brevity of Pitching Stardom

Justin Verlander just went on disabled list. It could be something minor -- but such things for 30-something pitchers are rarely minor.

Here, by Baseball Reference WAR, were the five best pitchers in baseball in 2011 -- we're talking just four years ago:

1. Roy Halladay 2. Cliff Lee 3. Justin Verlander 4. CC Sabathia 5. Jered Weaver

-- Halladay retired two…