Justin Verlander (Wikimedia Commons)
For the first time since 1992 a pitcher has been named the American League Most Valuable Player and for the first time since 1986, an American League starting pitcher has been named the American League Most Valuable Player.
On Monday, Justin Verlander of the Detroit Tigers joined elite company with Dennis Eckersley of the Oakland Athletics (1992), Roger Clemens of the Boston Red Sox (1986), Lefty Grove of the Philadelphia Athletics (1931), Spud Chandler of the New York Yankees (1943), Hal Newhouser of the Detroit Tigers (1944 and 1945), Bobby Shantz of the Philadelphia Athletics (1952), Denny McLain of the Detroit Tigers (1968), Vida Blue of the Oakland Athletics (1971), Rollie Fingers of the Milwaukee Brewers (1981), and Willie Hernandez of the Detroit Tigers (1984) as pitchers to be named American League MVP.
Verlander led the American League in wins (24), strikeouts (250), and earned run average (2.40). My biggest question is should Verlander be AL MVP worthy when he is only in the lineup once every five days? What do you think?
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