There are a number of candidates worthy of consideration for MVP honors in the American League. But there's one that stands out in the crowd...Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander. Verlander's dominance in 2011 was pretty obvious, as his unanimous Cy Young Award suggested. His value to the Detroit Tigers was without question. That's why, in my opinion, he's at the top of the list when discussing AL MVP candidates.
Unfortunately, some of the writers who vote for the MVP award have this antiquated notion that starting pitchers aren't as valuable as position players because they don't play in every game. As a result, they don't vote for pitchers for MVP (these are many of the same writers who regularly give LCS and World Series awards to pitchers, mind you). Some also argue that since pitchers have their own award, the Cy Young, they shouldn't be eligible for MVP, too. Well, they are. The rules allow pitchers to win MVP, so writers shouldn't be able take it upon themselves to decide if they deserve it.
I'm not saying pitchers should regularly be considered for MVP. I'm just saying they shouldn't be screwed in the voting just because they're pitchers. Are you telling me Pedro Martinez wasn't the Most Valuable Player in the American League in 1999? Anyone who watched baseball that year could tell you he was. The MVP is called "Most Valuable" Player for a reason. It's not designed to go to the best player. I define "Most Valuable" as the player who's individual success directly impacts his team's success (just ask the Indianapolis Colts about Peyton Manning's value). Take Justin Verlander off the Detroit Tigers. Do they still win the AL Central? Absolutely not! Thus, it's pretty clear to me how valuable he is. I don't care that he only played in 35 games. He proved his worth in those 35 games more than many position players did in 140. And in this case, he was the best player, too. The dominant numbers (24-5, 2.40 ERA, 250 strikeouts, 0.92 WHIP) speak for themselves.
Among the guys who played in all 162 games (or thereabouts), the best options are probably the Yankees' Curtis Granderson, Verlander's former Tigers teammate, and Boston's Jacoby Ellsbury. After struggling in his first season with the Yankees, Curtis put the "Grand" back in his last name in 2011. He led the American League in RBIs (119) and runs scored (136) while hitting a career-high 41 homers and stealing 25 bases. Of course I'm a little biased, but I think Granderson was far and away the best player on the team that finished with the best record in the American League.
At the All-Star Break, it looked like Adrian Gonzalez was going to be a runaway winner of AL MVP honors. In the end, though, Gonzalez wasn't even the most valuable Red Sok. That was Ellsbury, who seemed to be the only guy on that team to give a crap in September, when he hit .358 with eight home runs and 21 RBIs while the rest of the team decided to take the month off. Overall, he hit .321 with 212 hits, 32 homers, 105 RBIs, 39 steals and an incredible 364 total bases. Ellsbury, who only played in 18 games last season, has already been named AL Comeback Player of the Year.
I don't think Ellsbury's going to win, though. The Red Sox' historic collapse is too much to overlook. Besides, there are two other Boston players in the discussion who are likely to take some votes away from him. The first is Gonzalez, who clearly had no problems adjusting to American League pitching. All Gonzalez did was hit .344 with 197 hits, 48 doubles, 30 home runs, 105 RBIs and 111 runs scored while also winning the Gold Glove at first base. That annoying little pipsqueak Dustin Pedrioa is the third Red Suk who'll get votes. He had 21 homers and 91 RBIs while playing a Gold Glove second base.
Two other guys worth a look are Miguel Cabrera and Michael Young. Cabrera, the second-best player on the Tigers, is basically just one massive scary beast at the plate. He won the batting title with a .344 average, but it's not like he's a slap-hitting singles hitter. Cabrera's 197 hits included 48 doubles and 30 homers. He also drove in 105 and scored 111 times. Young deserves some credit for taking all the crap the Rangers dealt him during the offseason, then responding with one of the best years of his career. He had a league-leading 213 hits, a .338 average and a .380 on-base percentage while playing all over the infield. Young also made the All-Star team yet again, at a third different position (DH). He's the heart and soul of a team that's won back-to-back American League pennants. While his value is more intangible than what you'll find in the box score, there's no doubt Michael Young is an important piece in the Texas Rangers' lineup.
People in Canada think Jose Bautista actually has a chance of winning. I give him credit for doing more than hitting fastballs really far this season, but c'mon Canadians. The Blue Jays finished fourth. He's the only hitter in that lineup, so it also continues to confuse me why pitchers don't just walk him all the time.
My vote: Justin Verlander-The truth of the matter is that none of the hitters had the kind of year Verlander did. A starting pitcher hasn't been the MVP since Roger Clemens in 1986. Hopefully that changes this year, because no matter how you choose to define it, the "Most Valuable" player in the American League this season wore an Old English D on his hat and the number 35 on his back. The rest of my ballot: 2-Curtis Granderson, 3-Jacoby Ellsbury, 4-Adrian Gonzalez, 5-Miguel Cabrera, 6-Jose Bautista, 7-Michael Young, 8-Dustin Pedroia, 9-Paul Konerko, 10-Robinson Cano.
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