The Tigers lost last night in Anaheim. Justin Verlander is their starting pitcher tonight as they try to turn it around against the Angels. The expectation is the Tigers will win. That the bleeding will stop.
This season, Verlander has pitched extraordinarily well following Tigers' defeats, getting eight of his 11 victories under such circumstances. Another victory came over Cleveland when the Tigers were deadlocked for first place in the American League Central with the Indians.
Doesn't this make Verlander a candidate not only for the Cy Young Award, but also for MVP?
Statistically, Verlander has been a marvel this season. But it isn't just that he is performing exceptionally well, but when.
Without him, the Tigers wouldn't be close to a playoff contender.
The concept of a pitcher securing the MVP Award is not a novel one. The last two times the Tigers won the World Series, 1968 and 1984, Denny McLain and Willie Hernandez were named American League MVP.
It's just it hasn't happened at all since 1992 when Oakland closer Dennis Eckersley was A.L. MVP. It was fairly common the years before that in the American League. Roger Clemens (1986), Rollie Fingers (1982) and Vida Blue (1971) also were named A.L. MVP as pitchers, in addition to Hernandez and McLain. No National League pitcher has been named MVP since Bob Gibson in 1968.
The arguments against a pitcher being named MVP are valid. A starter only works once every fifth game. A closer usually just an inning, and about half the games - if that.
But let me ask you this question, what American League player been as valuable to his team as Justin Verlander has been to the Tigers so far this year?
I can't think of one, can you?
Some thoughts on the Tigers pitching overall: