On the way to Wichita for football last Friday night the top of conversation turned to baseball and more specifically to the MVP races.  I was quick to point out my picks as Curtis Granderson in the AL and Matt Kemp in the NL.  One guy pointed out that Justin Verlander of the Detroit Tigers, a pitcher, should possibly get the AL nod.  Ummmm….NO!  Would the place kicker get an MVP award in the NFL?  How about the caddy in golf?  The really good free throw shooter at the end of the bench?  The zamboni machine in hockey…ok I really couldn’t think of one for hockey, not really a fan.

Pitchers already have their own MVP award called the Cy Young.  This award is given to the best pitcher and eliminates position players.  So why should pitchers that appear once every five days, at most, be put into the same award category as everyday players?  Voters shouldn’t have to compare apples to oranges in deciding that a player that is expected to play his position and bat very well is more or less valuable than a player that pitches and if he is in the NL bats…usually terribly.

Nobody should get upset if Justin Verlander or any pitcher doesn’t receive the MVP, if he doesn’t win the Cy Young then yes by all means howl away.

Pitchers should never bat, but that is another topic for another day.