Sunday Insider: Verlander makes pitch for MVP

A spirited debate broke out in the Twins clubhouse recently, as players discussed whether Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander is this year's American League Most Valuable Player.

Michael Cuddyer was holding court with 2006 MVP Justin Morneau and 2009 MVP Joe Mauer. They shared their thoughts this week.

"Pitchers have their own award," Morneau said, in reference to the Cy Young. "I think the MVP should go to a hitter, unless a pitcher's the only guy having a good season, and his team makes the playoffs."

Mauer said, "Obviously, if any pitcher deserves the MVP, Verlander's definitely made a great case for it, but I just think that's more of a position player-type award. It's hard for me to say that he's MVP of the season when he can only make 36 starts."

Cuddyer said, "I never used to think it should go to a pitcher, but if ever there were a season to do it, it would be this year with Verlander."

My ears were wide open as these guys explained their arguments. I'm one of 28 writers with an AL MVP vote this year.

As longtime Star Tribune readers might remember, La Velle E. Neal III was one of two writers who left Pedro Martinez off the 1999 MVP ballot. Martinez finished second to Ivan Rodriguez, and those two non-votes changed the outcome.

The ballot reminds us "all players are eligible for MVP, including pitchers and designated hitters." But since the award debuted in 1931, the first two voting criteria have been: 1. Actual value of a player to his team, that is, strength of offense and defense; 2. Number of games played.

Both of those work against starting pitchers, who appear in one-fifth of their team's games and contribute little or nothing offensively. Still, anyone can see how valuable Verlander has been to the Tigers.

Entering Saturday, they were 22-8 in games Verlander started and 54-54 in their other games. He's 21-5 with a 2.34 ERA and leads the league in wins, WHIP (0.910), innings pitched (223) and strikeouts (224).

The Tigers have two other MVP candidates in Miguel Cabrera and Alex Avila, but Verlander impacts the Tigers even on days he doesn't pitch. Manager Jim Leyland can use his bullpen aggressively in the days before and after he pitches, because most relievers usually get a rest when the big horse is on the mound.

It's also worth noting that the league's top hitters will have about 750 plate appearances each year, while Verlander could face about 950 batters this season.

For me, Bautista's numbers are too impressive to ignore. Entering Friday, he led the AL in on-base percentage (.449), slugging percentage (.640), home runs (39) and walks (108). Using the all-encompassing stat called WAR (wins above replacement player), Bautista was at 8.0, and Verlander was at 7.3, according to baseball-reference.com.

I know the Blue Jays aren't going to the postseason, but they have been above .500 in the rugged AL East, and Bautista makes all the difference. Curtis Granderson is having a great season for the Yankees, but he's surrounded by talent. The Red Sox have three MVP candidates in Adrian Gonzalez, Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia.