Justin Verlander Wins AL MVP…Sounds Good, Right?

I will say it outright, “Justin Verlander should win the American League MVP award.” 

If you remove Justin Verlander from the Detroit Tigers, they are not a playoff team, not even close. Verlander accounted for 25 percent of his team's wins last season and the argument is still made that pitchers should not win the MVP. 

Heck, his own coach, Jim Leyland, said pitchers shouldn’t win the award, sort of.

The whole problem stems from pitchers taking the mound once every five days, while the likes of Curtis Granderson, Jose Bautista, and Jacoby Ellsbury are everyday starters and the catalysts for their respective clubs. 

History is severely against Verlander in this matter.

Since 1981, only four pitchers have won the MVP: Dennis Eckersley, Roger Clemens, Willie Hernandez, and Rollie Fingers. Those really aren’t the best odds in the world, but things can change…right?

Verlander’s year was as dominant as any in recent memory. He led the league in wins, winning percentage, games started, ERA, innings pitched, strikeouts, WHIP and h/9. If that is not MVP-worthy, I don’t know what is. 

Verlander is this year’s front-runner because the other main candidates did not have a year that would or could stand out in the history of the game, or at least in our recent memory. Verlander’s numbers trump his counterparts' as his statistics are some of the most complete, well-rounded and dominant, dominant as those of Randy Johnson in 2002, John Smoltz in 1996, and Roger Clemens in 1986. 

That’s some pretty lofty company, but that is where his 2011 stacks up in relation to historical significance. 

With the announcement of the AL MVP on Monday, I know personally, I’ll be on edge of my seat waiting for the results, because if there was anytime a pitcher should be an MVP, it’s now.

Devon is the founder of The GM’s Perspective

Devon is a former professional baseball player with the River City Rascals and Gateway Grizzlies and is now an independent scout.