“I thought about Ellsbury; he had great numbers,” Stiglich said. “I just had a tough time going with a Boston player after the way they (collapsed).”
Stiglich put Ellsbury second, as did Joe Christensen of The Minneapolis Star Tribune, who put Verlander first. Christensen emphasized Verlander’s impact on the Tigers during the (majority )of their season.
Before May 7, when Verlander threw a no-hitter, Detroit was 15-18. Over the next 90 games, the Tigers went 17-3 when he pitched and 33-37 when he did not. That (brought) them to Aug. 17 with a perilous two-game division lead, before a season-ending 30-9 sprint to run away with the (division).
“I feel like it has to be a special year for a pitcher to win, and he has to really separate himself,” Christensen said. “To me, Verlander did that. I feel like he kind of put the Tigers on his shoulders. When they were (treading) water, it was like his start — and then four other days.”
Verlander said he did not think about winning the M.V.P. until midseason, when the buzz grew louder. At that point, he said, “I wanted it badly.”
As for the future, Verlander said, pitchers will probably be more seriously considered now that he has won. But a consensus on their value is (unlikely).
“That’s what I love about this game, the debate part of it,” Verlander said. “There’s plenty of it to be had.”