Justin Verlander wins the MVP to go with his Cy Young, while Jacoby Ellsbury (gerbil’s MFRS) got the runner up. I was on the fence whether it should be Ellsbury or Verlander and can not argue with either choice. Jim Ingraham of The Herald-News in Ohio left Verlander off his MVP ballot entirely (and explains his position in the linked article.
I don’t get omitting Verlander altogether. There are 10 other major-league players more valuable than he was? Pete Abraham provides an interesting read as he explains his MVP ballot.
10 replies on “Verlander Voted Most Valuable”
They need to change the name of the award. Most Valuable Player to Player of the Year. To me, the MVP should be the player with the most overall value to his teams success. In this case Verlander was a great choice, but Ellsbury as the runner up? So without Ells the Sox would have finished where? I can’t believe I am as upset about this as I am, being that I support the winner, but #2 should have been Granderson. He carried the Yankees for stretches this season, all by himself. His value to the Yankees, a playoff team, far outweighs the value that Ellsbury brought to the Sox, a non-playoff team. Take Granderson off the Yankees and they do not win the AL East. Take “Valuable” out of the name of the award and I will agree with how 1-4 broke out. Keep “Valuable” in and I believe they got it wrong.
Wow, get back on your meds.
What about that is “wow” worthy or of that meds comment?
The Yankees didn’t have another player with a WAR above 6 other than Granderson, the Sox had 2. Granderson was the Yankees offense for long stretches this season. Like I said, I’ll give Verlander his due, he was superb this season, but Granderson was far more valuable to his team than was Ellsbury. I don’t think there is anything crazy about that.
I agree 100% with John; while I’m happy that Ellsbury finished 2nd, it’s silly for somebody who wasn’t on a playoff team to finish so high. Thankfully it’s not a big deal since it’s #2 we’re arguing about.
Verlander was absolutely deserving of the award, though.
MM is a troll John, ignore him.
I agree with you. Jacoby probably should have won it. Either way, it should have been an everyday player, not a pitcher.
What do you guys think about the extra wild card for next year? I think it’s pretty cool. A one game play in is exciting. Plus, we will basically never miss the playoffs ever again! :)
Sorry John YF, I was flip because I was still feeling a little emotional about Elsbury not winning it. It was uncalled for. I believe Elsbury was a no brainer as much as you feel the same about Granderson.
Additionally, I do have a problem w/ pitchers winning that award, as well as the concept that a player has to be on a playoff team to win. Sometimes a player has an exceptional season on a team that just isn’t going anywhere, should that cost him the recognition he deserves?
Krueg, I’m hardly a troll.
That’s what all trolls say.
Krueg, after following your posts all year I would think you would be most likely to understand someones emotions getting the better of them. Since you don’t, c’est la vie.
“The Yankees didn’t have another player with a WAR above 6 other than Granderson, the Sox had 2. Granderson was the Yankees offense for long stretches this season. Like I said, I’ll give Verlander his due, he was superb this season, but Granderson was far more valuable to his team than was Ellsbury. I don’t think there is anything crazy about that.”
CC Sabathia had a great year which people are forgetting about. Per fangraphs he actually outperformed Granderson and Verlander. I think it’s incorrect to say any one player carried this very well-balanced and talented Yank ballclub, but I’d go with Sabathia before Granderson if I had to.
In general, I can’t get behind John’s way of thinking because of the absurd lengths you can take this to. The Tigers won their division by 15 games, so there’s an argument to be made that they could have done that without Verlander. Does he lose “value” as a result? For my part, I think the writers did very well with this vote. No real complaints here.
Me? Emotional??? Come on. I am calm and analytical at all times.