If you watched the Tigers at all during this last summer you know that you witnessed one of the most impressive pitching performances any baseball fan ever witnessed. Every time Verlander took the mound it was must see TV. On Tuesday the baseball writers capped this past season with the award for pitcher, JV is now a Cy Young winner.
Really, I think this vote was a no brainer but it was almost a relief when the announcement that he was taking home the hardware almost a relief. This years incarnation of Verlander witnessed a decent start, a long win streak and a player the stopped the bleeding any time the Tigers needed a win. JV's stuff was electric, his control was like Maddox's and he could dial it up like Ryan any time he wanted to. He was must see TV for any Tiger fan or true baseball fan.
Just to hit on the highlights to break it down on how good he was: He posted his second highest total for strike outs 250, lowest WHIP .92 and 24 wins. He threw a no hitter and flirted with 2 others. The game that sealed the deal was his match up with Angles ace Weaver. When the two teams met, Weaver was probably neck and neck for a Cy Young race, when the day closed JV pulled ahead, the Tigers won and Weaver looked like a child.
This 2011 season is one I won't soon forget, its a season in which most of us who love the game seen a player take control, put his team on his back and carried them into the post season. I won't get into the MVP talk, that will be voted on in a few days the way the Tigers players award winning luck has gone, I won't hold my breath. To be honest, if JV could have won that 25th game for his last start it would have made the MVP race even juicier.
Thanks for the great season JV.
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