Jim Leyland clarifies: Justin Verlander for AL MVP
MINNEAPOLIS — Jim Leyland opened his pregame media session Saturday morning with this: “Let me start today by making a statement, I want everybody in here to know — and please print — that I will support Justin Verlander for MVP to the hilt. I want to make that perfectly clear.”
Leyland said recent news media reports made it sound like he wouldn’t support Verlander for American League MVP.
“The question was asked of me if I thought a pitcher should be MVP. And my answer to that is no, I do not. But under the way the system is, I will certainly support Verlander as a possible candidate for the MVP.
“There is a difference,” he said.
Several times during the 33-minute session, Leyland returned to the subject to make the point.
“I want to be quoted: I will support Justin Verlander 110% for the MVP.”
Leyland would rather see the MVP split into two categories: “I think there should be most valuable pitcher and most valuable player.”
Since the system doesn’t work that way, he said, “I will push like hell for Justin Verlander. And the people that vote can vote however they want; it’s not my business.
“But to this day I don’t believe a pitcher should be an MVP over a guy that has played 155, 160 games. That’s just my opinion. That doesn’t make it right.”
BULLPEN DEPTH: Since returning from Toledo in mid-August, right-handed reliever Ryan Perry has made five appearances, allowed three hits and given up no runs.
“Perry’s gotten a little better,” said Leyland. “I’m tickled. I’m hoping that he can build on a few good outings. Maybe the more he pitches the better he is, and maybe some of that is my fault, but like I said, you pitch what you see. You don’t pull starters out just to pitch somebody unless the score gets out of hand a little bit. And we’ve really haven’t had a lot of that.”
Perry’s recent effectiveness gives Leyland more late-game versatility, as does a resurgent Phil Coke. The left-hander hasn’t allowed a run in his past 12 outings. During that time, he has struck out 19 in 11 2/3 innings.
He pitched 1 2/3 innings Friday night against the Twins and fanned three.
“He’s throwing quality strikes,” said Leyland, “not just strikes.”
NOTEBOOK: Don Kelly is expected to rejoin the team today. He spent the previous two days on paternity leave — his wife Carrie had a boy, Luke Thomas Kelly. … Infielder Danny Worth was sent back to Triple-A Toledo.
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