November 27
Detroit Free Press
columnist Michael Rosenberg
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Justin Verlander won the American League Most Valuable Player award for two reasons: He had a dominant, resonant season, and no AL position player really did. Jose Bautista was the best hitter in the league, but his team didn't contend. We can debate whether team success SHOULD be a factor, but there is no doubt that it is. Curtis Granderson and Jacoby Ellsbury had terrific years in centerfield, a premium defensive position, for contending teams, but their numbers did not blow you away. In a tight voting year, a candidate needs a story, and Verlander had the best story. I know that sounds silly -- this is baseball, not bedtime for a 5-year-old. But it's true. Look at the Hall of Fame"
November 22
Toronto Star
columnist Richard Griffin
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Some baseball position players like the Jays' Jose Bautista may not agree that there are any pitchers worthy of recognition for the MVP award, but there are certain starters that should be included in any conversation and that includes the Tigers' ace, Justin Verlander. On Monday, BBWAA voters agreed as Verlander bucked recent trends, becoming the first starting pitcher since Roger Clemens in 1986 and the first pitcher of any kind since Dennis Eckersley in 1992 to earn Most Valuable Player. Verlander, winner of the AL Cy Young and the 2011 pitching Triple Crown, was rewarded with a first-place nod on less than half the votes cast, just 13 of the 28 by a panel of the league's writers, two"
November 16
Detroit Free Press
columnist Michael Rosenberg
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Justin Verlander won the Cy Young Award by a unanimous vote, which means he'll try to do better next year. This is how he is wired. He has an unwavering belief in his greatness. He expects to pitch a no-hitter in every start and improve every year. When he signed his big contract extension a few years ago, he announced that he hoped to make the Hall of Fame. So I had to ask: Now that he has won a Cy Young Award, when will he start thinking about another? His response: "Immediately." He was laughing, sort of. But I don't think he was kidding."
October 6
Detroit Free Press
columnist Jamie Samuelsen
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When you're married, your wife often presents you with ideas or questions that seem awful at first, but then kind of gain merit as they progress. (Partly because the wife is ALWAYS right and partly because they're actually pretty good ideas.) You know what I'm talking about. She'll say, "We really should repaint that spare bedroom." You think, "This may be the single worst idea that I've ever heard." But as the day goes along, you start to warm up to the idea. By the time the room is painted, you have to admit that the old paint was looking pretty shabby and it was probably time for a change."