Verlander for MVP? He already has the V so give him the MP!

Should a Cy Young award winning pitcher have an opportunity to win the Most Valuable Player award? Detroit Tigers ace starting pitcher Justin Verlander is the subject of this debate, and his credentials in 2011 do not lie: 24-5 record in 34 starts, 2.40 ERA, 4 complete games, 2 shutouts including one no-hitter against my Toronto Blue Jays (GRR!), and 250 strikeouts put the Tigers all-star in all important pitching categories, if not all. In fact, Verlander succeeded in picking up the "Triple Crown" for pitching: Leading in wins, ERA, and strikeouts. Not since the days of a resurgent, reinvigorated, and disputedly juiced up Roger Clemens with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1997 and 1998 has a pitcher so captivated the baseball world with his prowess and skill; what is more impressive with pundits is he accomplished those feats with a team already with a strong, elite core of baseball players on the Detroit Tigers.



However, does he deserve the American League MVP award? The old argument of pitchers playing every fifth day no longer works here as pitchers face as many batters during the regular season than batters that accumulate at-bats, so while pitchers have off days they play harder and for longer on the field when it is time to work. My man is Jose Bautista, who is the right fielder for the Toronto Blue Jays, and his production in the second half to the regular season in 2011 dropped off. He still finished with the league best 43 homeruns, when everyone expected 30+ earlier in the year. It's possible the lack of a clear cut fielder in the MVP debate makes things interesting in the American League, and gives Justin Verlander more chances to become American League Most Valuable Player on top of being the league's best pitcher.



Verlander is the best baseball pitcher in 2011, and in the American League he is the best player as well.

Say It Ain't So, Francona?

When the Red Sox fired Grady Little after that debacle in 2003 against the Yankees in the ALCS, I thought "Terry Who from Where?" That was in December of 2003 when Mr. Francona took over the reins in Boston.

When I visited my sister in Boston about a year ago, I had to visit Fenway Park. More than the banners of 2004 and 2007, the Ted Williams statue, and the sight of Beantowners walking the streets wearing multi-coloured baseball caps is the sense of pride Francona gave to the city. You really need to manage when your team is down 3-0 to the Yankees, and losing Game 4 in the 2004 ALCS. You also need to manage when down 3-1 to a hot Cleveland team, and before you meet a Colorado Rockies team that would win 28 of 29 regular and postseason games. Terry Francona did more than manage, he gave Boston their "B" back - Belief.


All the best, Terry Francona, the best Bosox manager ever. For more on the resignation as well as the collapse in Baltimore, click on this link!

HE DID WHAT?!

The New York Mets will not qualify for postseason honours this year, but shortstop Jose Reyes remains in line for individual honours as he vies for the National League batting title. What remains of his chances are anyone's guess after laying a bunt single in his only at-bat in the Mets' final regular season game. Leading off the bottom half of the first inning, Jose Reyes bunted the ball down the third base line, and reached first base safely. Mathematically speaking, this puts Reyes ahead of Brewers' slugger and lead MVP candidate in terms of batting average; Reyes finishes 2011 with a .337 BA. For Ryan Braun to overtake Reyes, he must go at least 3-for-4 in his final game against the Pittsburgh Pirates tonight.

Amidst some boos from his home supporters, who paid considerable money to watch him play a full game against the Cincinnati Reds in the afternoon contest, Reyes entered the Mets' dugout to congratulations from most if not all of his teammates. Even the Mets' broadcasters were perturbed by interim manager Collins' decision to pull him from the game. According to Twitter, however, it was at Jose Reyes' request!

One can win trophies for mathematical supremacy via gamesmanship; when the same individual attempts to win trophies based on the subjective judgment by writers and outside influences, however, the perception of foul play taints and voids any attempt at securing such high praise.

No one can vote for who shall win the batting title, in the same way no one can remove Barry Bonds' single-season homerun record of 73 because he used performance-enhancing drugs, which many knew about and continued to overlook. Jose Reyes did what he felt was right, according and not according to the rules of the game. This would throw into question Reyes' effort during the season in almost every situation when the manager pulled him from a game, or didn't start him. However, if the National League Most Valuable Player Award came down to my vote, I would hope for Mr Reyes' sake that he would not be counting on me.

Embedding features off-line: For more on this game, click on this link to MLB.com ^_^

Toss-Up for NL MVP?

Decided to leave the debate for American League MVP for another day, and weigh in on the debate for the player most deserving to win the National League Most Valuable Player Award for the 2011 season. There is no need to add a pitcher to the list of candidates because no pitcher went above and beyond to be nominated for MVP in all of the National League; just fielders this time:

My Favourite

Ryan Braun sporting the Milwaukee Brewers Retro Uniform

Ryan Braun of the Central Division Champion Milwaukee Brewers looks like the runaway favourite in the NL MVP race. His league-leading .333 batting and .599 slugging averages would boost the standing of any major league baseball club, but to join the 30/30 club and beat opposing teams with his bat and his speed are something else (33 homeruns, 31 stolen bases in 37 attempts). Left fielders know most of the action in baseball will come their way, so to lead the league's left fielders in innings played (1229.0 INN) and fielding percentage (.996 FPCT), rank 2nd in assists (8), and error only once is no small task. Detractors may credit his success this year to the fact he plays on the same team with Prince Fielder, who is in his contract year, but to rank 4th in the NL in runs batted in (110 RBI) means Braun is doing his fair share.


My Rival

Matt Kemp during happier, postseason times, with #55 Russell Martin no less

Matt Kemp of the Los Angeles Dodgers had an exceptional second half to the 2011 season, if not a very good 2011 as a whole, as he led the NL in hits (88) since the All-Star Game in Arizona. Tied for first in home runs with Cardinals' first baseman Albert Pujols (37 HR), and tops in runs batted in (120 RBI) are good enough for Kemp to be #2 on this author's list of MVP candidates (His 40 stolen bases are nothing to sneeze at either). Too bad his numbers aren't astronomical otherwise he would get the nod as favourite; the Dodgers are among the cellar dwellers of the National League sitting fourth in the NL West Division. The Most Valuable Player award should go to a player on a playoff bound team, or a player whose contributions more than make up for his team's lack of production and talent.

My Dark Horse

Carlos Ruiz used Death Stare; it's super effective. Batter faints. Ruiz gains 780 XP

Carlos Ruiz of the Philadelphia Phillies may have pedestrian statistics this year, but his value to the team's pitching staff goes without saying. He only played in 125 games, but his presence at catcher is a god send for pitchers such as Halladay (19 wins), Lee (16 wins), Hamels (14 wins), and rookie Worler (11 wins). If one considers a player's value to a team, then Ruiz has a case.

That's my three candidates for National League MVP. I'll weigh in on the "Verlander for MVP" debate in the next couple of days. The photos are linked to their respective sites, so I don't take credit for or own MLB pictures (all rights reserved); special thanks to MLB.com for statistics, and Getty Images and Zimbio for images.

Oh my! Sparks Fly!

Due to the embedding embargo imposed by MLB.com, all I can do is provide a link to the page. As the season progresses, or after a couple days, I can embed it on this page to show you.

Detroit Tigers catcher Alex Avila gets a shocking surprise from a Pierzynski foul ball in yesterday's game versus the Chicago White Sox! What is not a surprise to the Detroit Tigers or their fans is their first place ranking in the American League Central Division ^_^

Failure to Understand

I love MLB.com with its user-friendly interface and informative blogs and insight into each and every Major League Baseball game. If there is one concern, however, it is with the Headlines section in the top right corner of the window. There is a slight possibility one could be mislead if the headlines are read the wrong way! For example (Headings obtained from MLB.com website on September 13, 2011): Damon joins exclusive 200-HR, 400-steal club That's good about the homeruns, but shouldn't someone speak to him about his kleptomania? Beckett to start either Thursday or Friday Procrastination is not a good habit to get into. Terry Francona is really relaxed on managing his players Red Sox feeling the pain but remain confident If they changed the setting from perm press to normal, then things will not be so bad.

Bautista at the Bus Stop?

Remember the last time a baseball player attained hero status? In the post-steroid era of the game, cynicism hangs like a cloud, or maybe a slider, over every significant offensive accomplishment. Prognosticators, fans, and writers hold their breath awaiting for the inevitable positive drug test. This week in the city of Mississauga, and possibly in other places in and around Toronto, however, there is an unfamiliar and welcome site gracing the bus shelters and billboards of the metropolis. There is nothing surprising about professional athletes hawking sports products, fire-selling outdated electronic equipment, or promoting restaurants and eateries. Given the current climate of cynicism and apprehension about all professional sports, management structures, and the athletes employed by those teams, the surprise does not come from the beaming smile of Jose Bautista fire-selling the organic fruit drink "Booster Juice", but from the slogan printed in bold letters next to him.

Everyone needs something to believe in, and right now Torontonians believe Jose "JoeyBats" Bautista is the real deal. So much so that private industries are buying into his gracious and humble image. While the world of baseball casts a Spockian eyebrow at his outer worldly accomplishments, Bautista's consistency and hard-working attitude is a hit with fans right here in Canada.

After hitting his 42nd homerun of the season against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, which caromed off the foul pole in left field, Bostonians watch Bautista in eerie silence. The knowledgable Bosox supporters would shower other players of the past, such as Rafeal Palmeiro and the bulky Barry Bonds, with boos and taunts until the cows come home. In spite of the disparagement, there is an unsettled and bewildered eye toward Jose Bautista as he rounds the bases. There are no Popeye muscles, no overwhelming size, and no earth shattering step; he remains the same size player Blue Jays hitting coach Duane Murphy pulled aside for a word about the hole in his swing near the end of the 2009 season.

The advertisements are all over Toronto now, and they are a proud symbol of one city's belief in their "most valuable player", and the "booster juice" he drinks LOL. No, much more than that, for just like in days of yore following the Black Sox scandal and a big-time big fella with a big bat playing for the Yankees graced the box of a popular kids' cereal in the 1920s and 1930s, heroes still live among us - no matter how big or small.

9/11 Ten Years Later: Pause to Remember