Verlander for MVP?

Drew Sharp of the Detroit Free Press floated the idea that Justin Verlander should be in the discussion for American League MVP. I think he should, too, but it opens a can of worms that has remained closed for a long time.

I tried to remember the last starting pitcher to win MVP, and it's no surprise that I coudn't--it was Vida Blue, 40 years ago! There's hardly an active player who was alive then. Before that, it was not uncommon, especially before the advent of the Cy Young Award. Since then, it seems that the baseball writers have considered that hardware enough for starters.

There have been handful of relief pitchers who have won it, though, including Rollie Fingers, Willie Hernandez, and Dennis Eckersley. It seems that the theory is that starting pitchers, who nowadays appear in only one game in five, aren't fit for an award over an everyday player. Relief pitchers appear far more often, and thus are not out of the conversation.

I can buy some of that argument. Verlander is clearly the MVP of the Tigers, even over Miguel Cabrera. He leads the league in wins, strikeouts, and WIP. Moreover, 14 of his 18 wins have come after Tiger losses, defining the term "stopper." He is the front runner for the A.L. Cy Young, putting a little distance between himself over Jered Weaver, who he beat one-on-one two weeks ago. Weaver still has a slight edge in E.R.A.

Verlander should receive MVP votes. Writers are allowed to vote for ten players, and he's in the top ten, despite being a starter. He's the ace and savior of a first-place team and, barring a collapse, should have well over 20 wins, which in this day and age is a rarity.

But he won't win. A starting pitcher probably will never win the award again, unless there are absolutely no other worry candidates. That's not true this year. The leading candidates are Adrian Gonzalez and Jacoby Ellsbury of the Red Sox, Curtis Granderson of the Yankees (where'd he get that power?), and Jose Bautista of the Blue Jays. They are all having great years, and except for Bautista, play for playoff-bound teams. Verlander's only shot is if the two Red Sox split the vote.

I'm a Tiger fan, but I can see that Verlander won't win this award. I am counting on him winning the Cy Young, though.