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Verlander's MVP: Yay! The Voters Got it Right! 64

Dugout Dispatch
Posted by: Gary Gramling
November 21, 2011, 4:18 PM

You might have heard that Tigers ace Justin Verlander was named the American League's Most Valuable Player, becoming the first starting pitcher in 25 years to win MVP.

Now, many people think that only position players should win MVP. Of course, those people are wrong. Yes, the top pitcher gets the Cy Young Award. But the top hitter gets the Hank Aaron Award (Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista won it in the AL this year).

Those people might also argue: Hey, position players play 162 games. Starting pitchers only play 34 games! Well, that's true. But it's also misleading. A position player only comes to the plate four, maybe five times in a game. A starting pitcher faces about 25-35 batters over the course of a start. Position players can have a medium impact on some games, but even the best ones only make a minimal impact in most games. A starting pitcher is his team's most important player, by far, any time he takes the mound.

And anyway, Red Sox star outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury came to the plate 732 times this season, most in the major leagues. Verlander faced 969 hitters. Who had the bigger role?

Of course, Ellsbury was great this year. I think he and Verlander were neck-and-neck for MVP, and I would have had no complaints if Ellsbury won. But it's just good to see the voters recognize that the most important players on the field, the starting pitchers, are pretty darn valuable.

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BigWrestling replied on August 14, 2012 at 12:59pm.

yeah thats the way to roll go jvvvvvv

BaseballPitcher861 said on July 28, 2012 at 3:13pm.

Justin Verlander is good

SoccerGoalie175 said on July 14, 2012 at 9:31am.

go verlander!

PitcherGame3 said on June 19, 2012 at 12:56pm.

HAMMLES ALL DAY LONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GO PHILLS

PowerChamp29 (not verified) said on June 11, 2012 at 1:44pm.

ya he rocks! he's having a bad season though but who cares he WILL win a nother cy young

BaseballBaseball3844 replied on June 23, 2012 at 2:32pm.

oooooooookay, mabee he will but ra dicky is getting it in the national leuge

FootballGeek76 replied on June 13, 2012 at 9:11am.

I am a HUGE Verlander fan I agree with you all the way!!

BaseballBaseball3844 said on June 4, 2012 at 8:29pm.

ha ha even though i a hate him

FantasticFalcon124 (not verified) said on June 2, 2012 at 8:58am.

GO DETROIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GamerGuy84 said on June 1, 2012 at 4:27pm.

joe mauer should have got it.

DartsShooter4 said on February 26, 2012 at 4:22pm.

Although i agree with JV getting the mvp i think that if you don't hit, you're not a complete baseball player. NL guys do it. Why cant the al?

BoyBoy1484 (not verified) said on January 12, 2012 at 7:44pm.

jv is number #1

BaseballBaseball3844 replied on June 7, 2012 at 4:38pm.

king felix is number 1

SlammerLinebacker1 replied on April 6, 2012 at 1:51pm.

King Felix is #1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OrangeArtist (not verified) said on January 7, 2012 at 9:51am.

Justin Verlander had an awesome season!!!!!!!!!! HE IS MVP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

EyeTop10 (not verified) said on December 15, 2011 at 5:30pm.

hey

ThunderStar35 (not verified) said on December 14, 2011 at 5:25pm.

way to be dude

TinyAthlete6 said on December 13, 2011 at 9:28pm.

Way to go Justin!

FalconFlier12 (not verified) said on December 10, 2011 at 7:13pm.

verlander's awesome

PlayoffPro35 (not verified) said on December 9, 2011 at 7:36pm.

GO TIGERS!!

HalfBackHawk54 (not verified) said on December 9, 2011 at 4:00pm.

JV is awesooome! go tigers!

BadBig110 (not verified) replied on December 19, 2011 at 6:57pm.

coolllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllol!

AwesomeBaseball413 (not verified) said on December 8, 2011 at 4:36pm.

Ya he was the best

TeamSafety2 (not verified) said on December 7, 2011 at 8:17pm.

BEST PITCHER EVER?!?! YAH RIGHT!!! Tim lincicome is the best ever!!!!

DartsShooter4 replied on August 10, 2012 at 1:01pm.

yeah best ever not counting anybody good

OutfielderEagle6 (not verified) said on December 7, 2011 at 5:39pm.

Justin Verlander shouldn't have been MVP! Jose Bautista shouldv'e won!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LionSuperhero7 (not verified) said on December 7, 2011 at 1:25pm.

cool

FootballFanatic496 (not verified) said on December 3, 2011 at 4:33pm.

crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

ShooterCool (not verified) replied on December 7, 2011 at 3:46pm.

what up

PurpleCoyote5 (not verified) said on December 2, 2011 at 7:05pm.

give me points