Pitchers Have The Cy Young For A Reason!

Last weekend Justin Verlander wrapped up his first Cy Young award in his lifetime. But Today he becomes the 21st pitcher to in MLB history to win the MVP award, receiving 13 of the 28 first place votes. The first since Dennis Eckersley in 1992. Since baseball first started the MVP race in 1931 there has been 140 MVP awards given out between the American League and the National League, and only 21 have been to pitchers.

So here's my view on things. Pitchers have the "Cy Young" award for a reason, every year this award is given out to the best pitcher in each respective league, but here's my thing. A player can't win the Cy Young can they? No they can't, and they shouldn't be able to because the award is given to the best pitcher in each league. So basically pitchers already have an MVP award to begin with. And typically the MVP award is given out to the best hitter in the league anyways. Pitchers had their chance to be recognized, so now its the players turn.

Last year Rangers Slugger Josh Hamilton who was injured for some of the 2010 season won the award by hitting an average of .359, 32 home runs, and 100 RBI's. He also lead the Rangers to their first AL Championship, and their first World Series appearance in team history. This years Runner up in the MVP voting was CF Jacoby Elllsbury of the Boston Redsox. He batted .329, also hit 32 home runs, had 105 RBI's, and oh by the way had 26 more hits than Hamilton. Ellsbury didn't lead his team to the playoffs but was one of the only two consistent players on a Redsox team who suffered baseballs worse collapse in September. So wait a minute. Your telling me he didn't win the MVP? Well what about Yankees CF Curtis Granderson, batted .262, hit 41 home runs (second in the league), knocked in 119 RBI's, and nearly carried the Yankees to the AL championship game. He didn't win the award either? What about Adrian Gonzalez? 27 home runs, 117 RBI's (second in the league), 213 hits (first in the league), second in the league in batting average with .336, and he couldn't win it either? I could go on, but the bottom line is this should not be a pitchers award!

My, and should be AL MVP Adrian Gonzalez!

Verlander did have an impressive 24 wins this year, and yes he did throw two no hitters this season. But as I said earlier he has already been recognized for his talents he doesn't need the MVP award. This article is nothing against Justin Verlander as a matter of fact I actually like him, and as an Orioles fan I hate the Boston Redsox can't stand them actually, but even I'm making the case that two of them should have won this award instead of the Tigers hurler. For Christ sake a Yankee should have beaten out Verlander!

Lets go to the NL 23 year old Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw won Cy Young, and the Dodgers didn't even have a chance late in the season to make the playoffs. But that doesn't matter because he was the best Pitcher in the National League this year (says the voters.) Now the NL MVP award is set to be between Dodgers CF Matt Kemp, and Brewers LF Ryan Braun who was second in the NL in batting average; The winner is set to be announced tomorrow.

There's not a pitcher even in the top 5 contestants in the N, AND THERE SHOULDN'T BE! Let me remind the voters that the NL Cy Young award winner Clayton Kershaw. Yea he's the guy who lead the league in ERA, gave up 9 fewer runs then Verlander, and gave up 11 fewer home runs than Verlander. But he didn't win the MVP did he? Many could even argue that Kershaw was better than Verlander was pitching wise. Overall the MVP award is not, and should not be a pitchers award. I rest my case.