OT: Justin Verlander named POY by Sporting News
Sporting News has dubbed Verlander the 2011 MLB Player of the Year.
In voting by 289 major league players (177 players from the AL, 112 from the NL), Verlander was the first pitcher to win the award since the Los Angeles Dodgers' Orel Hershiser in 1988.
This is likely the first of many awards for Verlander this year. Keep 'em rolling in!
Congratulations, Justin.
October 28th, 2011 at 12:11 PM ^
MJVP!
October 28th, 2011 at 12:46 PM ^
He deserves to be Player of the Year. He probably won't win MVP, but I hope he does. Verlander was way more valuable to his team than Granderson or A-Gone or Ellsbury.
October 28th, 2011 at 1:01 PM ^
He definitely deserved the POY. In my opinion he deserves to win the MVP and Cy Young as well. A-Rod is definitely not a part of that discussion for MVP. It's between Granderson, Bautista, and Verlander. Ellsbury has an outside chance. As always Go Blue!
October 28th, 2011 at 1:05 PM ^
He's got more than an outside chance, look at his stats.
I'd easily have him ahead of Bautista and Granderson.
October 28th, 2011 at 7:13 PM ^
What does Granderson not have outside the totally overrated statistic of batting average?
And having Ellsbury "easily" ahead of Bautista is laughable.
October 28th, 2011 at 1:21 PM ^
They really don't like giving the MVP award to a pitcher because they don't play every day. Cy Young should be definate , but I would'nt hold my breath on the MVP. It's like a defensive player winning the Heisman you have to do something outstandingly Ridiculous to win.
wins (24), strikeouts (250), opponents' batting average (1.92) and WHIP (0.92), and he led the AL in ERA (2.40)
October 28th, 2011 at 1:37 PM ^
It just doesn't make sense, though.
Granderson was involved in 691 plate appearances as a batter and 0 as a pitcher. Verlander was involved in 4 plate appearances as a batter and 969 as a pitcher. If you accept that pitching is no less important than hitting, Verlander had more of an impact on the Tigers' success than Granderson had on the Yankees'.
October 28th, 2011 at 2:09 PM ^
They don't count plate appearances as a pitcher for one. The record for plate appearences in a season is still 778.
Verlander played in 34 games
Granderson played in 156 and was responsible for 255 runs (119 RBI's and 136 runs) and that does'nt count defensive plays ( of defensive flops)
If you remove Verlanders 24 wins from the Tigers record they still finish above .500 and still win the division. I'm not saying Verlander did'nt have an outstanding year you just can't compare the impact over a season between a good hitter / fielder playing well in 156 games and a dominate starting pitcher playing in 34.
If Pedro Martinez could'nt win the MVP in 99 there is no way Verlander should win it this year.
October 28th, 2011 at 3:08 PM ^
Sure they count plate appearances for pitchers--they just call it "BFP" (batters faced by pitcher). Verlander had 969. Or maybe I misunderstood what you are saying. I also know about the difference in games played. It's just that Granderson, or any other non-pitcher, accounts for much less of the result of a game than a pitcher does.
Of all Yankees at bats, Granderson was involved in almost exactly 11 percent (which makes sense, because he is exactly 1/9 of the starting lineup). Verlander pitched 17.4 of all of the Tigers' innings, which makes sense because he is 1/5 of the starting rotation. You can't tell me that Granderson had more of an effect on the Yankees than Verlander did on the Tigers--he played more games, yes, but he played a much smaller role in each of those games.
There's nothing I can say about Pedro Martinez. That was an MVP year, and he didn't win it because he was a starting pitcher. You are clearly not the only person in the world who is biased against pitchers when it comes to the MVP award--the voters are biased as well, and it will ensure Granderson wins the award. Too bad, though; he isn't the most deserving candidate.
October 28th, 2011 at 3:56 PM ^
I'm just making the arguement as why he won't win the MVP. I don't think Granderson deserves it either, I just used him in my post because others thought of him as the front runner. One the biggest holes in your arguement tho is the fact you are going off just batting statistics but an every day player like Granderson usually has to play defense as well. That's the main reason I don't think Granderson should win the mvp his defense is too sketchy at times.
yes a starter pitcher has a chance to make a huge influence over the game he starts in, but has less influece than a cheerleader for the next 4-5 games.
The NBA 's MVP is so much easier to figure out and usually goes tot he most deserving player.
October 28th, 2011 at 4:07 PM ^
Okay, we are on the same page. I left off Granderson's defense mainly because Granderson really shouldn't want defense anywhere near the MVP discussion. I agree that the Center Fielder's defensive responsibilities are much greater than the pitcher's defensive responsibilities, but he still only catches about 2.5 fly balls per game.
It really is an apples to oranges argument when comparing pitchers and batters. If the pitchers didn't have their own separate award, or if the batters did have their own separate award, pitchers would certainly get more consideration for the MVP.
October 28th, 2011 at 2:40 PM ^
Awesome, too bad Tigers aren't playing rit now
October 28th, 2011 at 2:53 PM ^
When do they announce the winners of the Cy Young and MVP awards?
October 28th, 2011 at 3:08 PM ^
He was the most dominant player this year (and yes, I know Haaliday put up similar stats, but in a diluted league), and deserves this award. He locked up the Cy Young, and while I figure he'll be passed over for MVP, it was still a great year, one in need of even more recognition.
October 28th, 2011 at 3:30 PM ^
Only just for someone who was - without question - the player who had the most influence on the games he played in. Way to go, Justin!
October 28th, 2011 at 8:31 PM ^
Well deserved honor. Cy Young is surely to follow, MVP probably won't. But he should get a significant amount of votes.