In the not-so-surprising news category: Justin Verlander was named the AL Cy Young award winner in a unanimous vote on Tuesday. The only question that remains unanswered—but will be answered Monday—is if the Tigers Ace will also take home the MVP award as well.
Verlander received all 28 first-place votes from members of the Baseball Writers Association, for his first Cy Young award of his career. The National League winner will be announced on Thursday.
“Do I think it’s possible?” he said about winning the MVP as well. “Yes. Would I like to win it? Of course. It’s kind of a weird scenario,” the Associated Press reported.
The Tigers ace dominated the American League in 2011, posting a 2.40 ERA and striking out 250 batters. His 24-5 record was the best in baseball, as he helped carry the Tigers all the way to the American League Championship series where they fell to the Texas Rangers.
Verlander’s Cy Young victory was pretty much in the bag after he took home the AL’s pitching triple crown—tops in wins, strikeouts and earned runs. His unanimous victory is the ninth in AL history.
“[The unanimous selection] means a lot,” Verlander said, according to the Tigers official website. “Obviously there haven’t been too many people that have gotten a unanimous decision.”
Previous winners of the award are: Felix Hernandez (2010), Zack Greinke (2009), Cliff Lee (2008), C.C. Sabathia (2007), Johan Santana (2006).
Santana was the last AL Cy Young winner to get a unanimous decision, which came in 2006. His first victory, in 2004, was also a unanimous vote.
Also in the Cy Young mix was the Angels’ Jered Weaver, who finished second with 97 points and the Rays’ James Shields, who was third with 66 points.
