It’s been 20 years since a pitcher won an MVP in the American League (AL). Oakland Athletics’ Dennis Eckersley won the award in 1992.
What is the definition of the MVP? According to Wikipedia, “The Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award (MVP) is an annual Major League Baseball (MLB) award given to one outstanding player in the American and National Leagues. Since 1931, it has been awarded by the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA). The winner receives the Kenesaw Mountain Landis Memorial Baseball Award, which is named in honor of the first MLB commissioner, who served from 1920 to 1944. MVP voting takes place before the postseason but the results are not announced until after the World Series. The BBWAA began polling three writers in each league city in 1938, reducing that number to two per league city in 1961. The BBWAA does not offer a clear-cut definition of what “most valuable” means, instead leaving the judgement to the individual voters.”
Notice the “award is given to one outstanding player.” The wording does not say most valuable hitter, fielder, everyday player. A pitcher is certainly a player, though not on an everyday basis.
Also notice that, “The BBWAA does not offer a clear-cut definition of what ‘most valuable’” means, instead leaving the judgement to the individual voters.”
It’s my contention that many in the BBWAA believe that the MVP award should go to an everyday player, rather than a pitcher. I also believe that the majority of BBWAA members consider the Cy Young Award, which, again according to Wikipedia, “is an honor given annually in baseball to the best pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB), one each for the American and National leagues,” to be the pitcher’s “MVP.”
I think this BBWAA logic is the reason why many pitchers over the past 20 years who had great single seasons have not received the MVP.
The BBWAA should throw its logic out the window in 2011 and name the Detroit Tigers’ pitcher Justin Verlander the MVP.
Why?
As of September 16, 2011, Verlander leads all AL pitchers in every important category, including wins (23, with just five losses), earned run average (2.36), strikeouts (238), and innings pitched (236).
There are other AL pitchers who are having good, if not outstanding, years. But, they are not in Verlander’s “league.” At least, not in 2011. These pitchers may garner some second or third place Cy Young Award votes, and most likely little or no MVP consideration. These pitchers include:
C. C. Sabathia, New York Yankees:
Wins:19 ERA:2.93 K:216 IP: 224.1
Jered Weaver, Los Angeles Angels:
Wins:17 ERA:2.40 K:188 IP:221.1
Other starting pitchers in the AL having good seasons include C.J. Wilson (Texas Rangers), Dan Haren (Los Angeles Angels), James Shields (Tampa Bay Rays), and Jon Lester (Boston Red Sox). But, none of these pitchers approach Verlander’s numbers.
So, Verlander should win the Cy Young Award hands down. As of September 16, Verlander’s team’s record was 87-63, a .580 winning percentage. Without Verlander, the team would be 64-58, for a .525 won-loss percentage. Verlander’s record gives the Tigers a .55 positive percentage point increase. Thanks in great part to Verlander, the Tigers are in first place in the AL Central, with the second place Chicago White Sox 13.5 games behind Detroit.
Verlander’s competition for MVP will come from everyday players who are experiencing outstanding 2011 years.
Who are some of these everyday players?
I have broken the everyday players “glamour statistics” down to batting average (Ave.) runs batted in (RBI) and home runs (HR). The figures are based on September 16, 2011 statistics.
Adrian Gonzalez, Boston Red Sox:
Ave:.338 RBI:111 HR:26
Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers:
Ave:.334 RBI:97 HR:26
Jason Ellsbury, Boston Red Sox:
Ave:.318 RBI:94 HR:27
Paul Konerko, Chicago White Sox:
Ave:.308 RBI:100 HR:29
Jose Bautista, Toronto Blue Jays:
Ave:.304 RBI:100 HR:42
(For a complete listing of the batting statistics of players, refer to AL player statistics as of September 16, 2011. The link is below.)
Of these players, the front-runners are Adrian Gonzalez and Miguel Cabrera. Why? Because the BBWAA, more often than not, picks an MVP from a winning team. Konerko’s White Sox are in second place in the AL Central Division, but, as of September 16, 2011, have a 73-76 losing record. The same predicament goes for Bautista, who will probably lead the league in home runs, but plays for a Jays team that is 75-74 (a mediocre record), and is currently in fourth place in the AL East. The Red Sox are currently battling the New York Yankees for the AL East title, but Gonzalez will probably overshadow Ellsbury in the voting.
All of these players’ numbers are very good. But, do they match up to Verlander’s current .821 winning percentage?
Have these players made as much of an impact on their teams’ place in the standings to warrant an MVP award?
The only players to do so are Gonzalez, Cabrera, and Ellsbury.
Still, I believe that Verlander has had more impact on the Tigers’ position in the standings then any everyday player.
That’s why I believe the BBWAA should break with tradition and prejudice and vote for Verlander as MVP.
Sources:
Most Valuable Player Awards, AL:
http://www.baseball-almanac.com/awards/aw_mvp.shtml
Wikipedia Most Valuable Player Definition:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Most_Valuable_Player_(baseball)
Wikipedia Cy Young Award Definition:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cy_Young_Award
2011 American League Pitching Statistics, as of September 16, 2011:
http://espn.go.com/mlb/stats/pitching/_/year/2011/seasontype/2/league/al
AL Standings as of September 16, 2011:
http://espn.go.com/mlb/standings
AL Player Statistics as of September 16, 2011:
http://espn.go.com/mlb/stats/batting/_/year/2011/seasontype/2/league/al