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A sometimes-irreverent look at Detroit's Boys of Summer, the Tigers, as they try to return to the top of the American League Central.

Friday, October 21, 2011

Verlander a finalist for pair of Players Choice Awards

All of a sudden, the awards season is in full swing.

A day after Miguel Cabrera was named the recipient of the Luis Aparicio Award, the Major League Baseball Players Association came out with the list of finalists for the 2011 Players Choice Awards. Tigers ace Justin Verlander is in the running for two of them: American League Outstanding Pitcher and MLB Player of the Year.

Voted on by the honorees' MLB peers near the end of the regular season, the Players Choice Awards will be announced on Nov. 3. The announcement will be broadcast on MLB Network from 8-9 p.m.

Verlander's competition for the Player of the Year Award are former Tigers teammate Curtis Granderson of the New York Yankees and Boston's Adrian Gonzalez. The players pick an outstanding player, pitcher and rookie, as well as a comeback player from each league, then an overall Player of the Year and Marvin Miller Man of the Year.

While Verlander won the AL pitching triple crown, leading the league in ERA (2.40) and all of baseball in wins (24) and strikeouts (250), the other two were statistically among the best, as well. Gonzalez finished second to Cabrera for the AL batting title, leading MLB in hits and finishing top-five in total bases, RBI, on-base percentage and extra-base hits. Granderson led the big leagues in runs scored, was second in home runs and third in RBI.

Verlander's competition for the AL Oustanding Pitcher are Tampa Bay's James Shields and LA's Jered Weaver.

Paul Konerko of the Chicago White Sox, Adam Wainright of the St. Louis Cardinals and Michael Young of the Texas Rangers are the finalists for the Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award.

Full list of finalists:
(Courtesy MLB Players Association)

American League:
Outstanding Player:
Jose Bautista (Toronto), Adrian Gonzalez (Boston),
Curtis Granderson, Jr. (NY Yankees)
Outstanding Pitcher: James Shields (Tampa Bay), Justin Verlander (Detroit),
Jered Weaver (LA Angels)
Outstanding Rookie: Jeremy Hellickson (Tampa Bay), Eric Hosmer (Kansas
City), Mark Trumbo (LA Angels)
Comeback Player: Bartolo Colon (NY Yankees), Jacoby Ellsbury (Boston),
Casey Kotchman (Tampa Bay)

National League:
Outstanding Player:
Ryan Braun (Milwaukee), Matt Kemp (LA Dodgers), Justin
Upton (Arizona)
Outstanding Pitcher: Roy Halladay (Philadelphia), Ian Kennedy (Arizona),
Clayton Kershaw (LA Dodgers)
Outstanding Rookie: Freddie Freeman (Atlanta), Craig Kimbrel (Atlanta),
Vance Worley (Philadelphia)
Comeback Player: Lance Berkman (St. Louis), Jose Reyes (NY Mets), Ryan
Vogelsong (San Francisco)

Either League:
Player of Year:
Adrian Gonzalez (Boston), Curtis Granderson, Jr. (NY
Yankees), Justin Verlander (Detroit)
Man of the Year: Paul Konerko (Chicago White Sox), Adam Wainwright (St.
Louis), Michael Young (Texas)

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