Tiger of the Year

[hellifino]

in some years it's been tough even finding one who fits the bill, yet this year we are full of them. Verlander for sure will win it, but any other year guys like Cabrera,Martinez,Peralta,Avila and Valverde would have a case for being it. Bless You Boys!

 

[jrange378]

Yeah Verlander 100%.

 

[tonyballs]

Should be Verlander hands down.

Myself? I'm giving the runner-up to Avila. The kid has mashed sinced April and made his first All-Star game at a very young age. That and the fact he catches every fucking day makes him more valuable a player. The kid is a horse....

 

[lions2011]

Brandon Inge....he's a gamer.

 

[tycobb420]

1. JV 2. Alex 3. Valverde 4. Miggy 5. V-Mart

 

[jas5lf]

The only reason Verlander wins it this year is because Inge let him.

 

[grandy]

The fan favorite, Ryan Raburn

 

[beez]

Agree on Avila being it had Justin not been Jesus on the mound this year.

 

[jimrice]

I don't know how you could have it any other way than Verlander and then Cabrera. Maybe we are starting to take Cabrera for granted around here. He's top 5 in nearly every single offensive category. Avila has been fantastic, especially as a catcher, but damn.

 

[Mitchrapp]

JV. Mart two and Cabby 3.

 

[mikem2780]

I'd have to agree that it's JV, followed by Cabrera. After that, I think it's hard to say who's been more valuable between Avila and Martinez. Avila is the biggest surprise, so I think a lot of people would say him, but VMart is hitting in arguably the most important spot in the Tigers order, right behind Cabrera. Without him there, we'd be seeing another repeat of last year when everyone pitched around Cabrera.

 

[jimrice]

I'd have to agree that it's JV, followed by Cabrera. After that, I think it's hard to say who's been more valuable between Avila and Martinez. Avila is the biggest surprise, so I think a lot of people would say him, but VMart is hitting in arguably the most important spot in the Tigers order, right behind Cabrera. Without him there, we'd be seeing another repeat of last year when everyone pitched around Cabrera.

And Cabrera still has 93 walks. Unbelievable. The guy is a machine.

 

[beez]

I don't know how you could have it any other way than Verlander and then Cabrera. Maybe we are starting to take Cabrera for granted around here. He's top 5 in nearly every single offensive category. Avila has been fantastic, especially as a catcher, but damn.

In a way...yes. I kind of went the route of Verlander was too good not to win it, Miggy was Miggy, but Alex's vast improvement was a huge boost in helping this team have one of the best year in recent memory. I realize of course without Cabrera they would be done but I kind of went for the outside the box approach I guess. Just like if you were a Cards fan, obviously Pujols is the best player, the most important factor etc...but if they would have an unexpected guy hit .310 with 25 homeruns to Pujols hitting .315 with 30 hrs I think I would be inclined to give the "Card of the year" to the other guy (should they be division champs).

Like I said, you're probably right in the way of taking Cabby for granted to an extent, but I think logically Alex could be in the convo.

 

[batcave76]

I'd have to agree that it's JV, followed by Cabrera. After that, I think it's hard to say who's been more valuable between Avila and Martinez. Avila is the biggest surprise, so I think a lot of people would say him, but VMart is hitting in arguably the most important spot in the Tigers order, right behind Cabrera. Without him there, we'd be seeing another repeat of last year when everyone pitched around Cabrera.

And Cabrera still has 93 walks. Unbelievable. The guy is a machine.

The guy is a machine. His hand eye coordination must be off the charts. He has natural talent that you don't see very often in any sport. And does it almost effortlessly.

 

[mikem2780]

I don't know how you could have it any other way than Verlander and then Cabrera. Maybe we are starting to take Cabrera for granted around here. He's top 5 in nearly every single offensive category. Avila has been fantastic, especially as a catcher, but damn.

In a way...yes. I kind of went the route of Verlander was too good not to win it, Miggy was Miggy, but Alex's vast improvement was a huge boost in helping this team have one of the best year in recent memory. I realize of course without Cabrera they would be done but I kind of went for the outside the box approach I guess. Just like if you were a Cards fan, obviously Pujols is the best player, the most important factor etc...but if they would have an unexpected guy hit .310 with 25 homeruns to Pujols hitting .315 with 30 hrs I think I would be inclined to give the "Card of the year" to the other guy (should they be division champs).

Like I said, you're probably right in the way of taking Cabby for granted to an extent, but I think logically Alex could be in the convo.

Don't get me wrong, I think Alex is in the discussion. I just think of an MVP or Tiger of the Year as the player the they could not do without. While AA is having a fantastic season and has done so many things to help this team, the Tigers would be in a worse position w/o Cabrera than w/o Avila. Not that there's a flaw in your argument, that's just how I look at it.

As an aside, that's also why I think JV is AL MVP. You take him off the team, the Tigers are not in playoff contention. You can't say the same for Grandy, Adrian Gonzalez, Jacoby Ellsbury, or, obviously, Jose Bautista.

 

[ihatebadenglish]

My vote would be:

1. Verlander
2. Avila
3. Martinez
4. Cabrera
5. Peralta

 

[Thumb]

No knock on Avila, but I don't how anyone can possibly put him over Cabrera.

Cabrera is the only person on the team putting up MVP numbers (not including Verlander who probably is not going to win MVP because he's not a position player), and for that reason alone, he should be number 1.

 

[ihatebadenglish]

No knock on Avila, but I don't how anyone can possibly put him over Cabrera.

Cabrera is the only person on the team putting up MVP numbers (not including Verlander who probably is not going to win MVP because he's not a position player), and for that reason alone, he should be number 1.

It depends on how you look at the award. I view it as the MVP of the Tigers.

Where would this team be if Avila tanked with the bat? It was pretty apparent halfway through the year that Martinez was not going to catch all that much in the 2nd half. Avila's durability kept us from seeing a healthy dose of Omir Santos behind the plate, which in turn allowed the team to carry an extra player on the bench. The guy has not only caught the most innings in the AL (only 2 behind the MLB), but also has batted .300 with an OPS north of .900. That is incredible.

Cabrera is the centerpiece of the lineup and is having another monster year, but I don't think he has been the most valuable piece to this year's team

 

[Thumb]

No knock on Avila, but I don't how anyone can possibly put him over Cabrera.

Cabrera is the only person on the team putting up MVP numbers (not including Verlander who probably is not going to win MVP because he's not a position player), and for that reason alone, he should be number 1.

It depends on how you look at the award. I view it as the MVP of the Tigers.

Where would this team be if Avila tanked with the bat? It was pretty apparent halfway through the year that Martinez was not going to catch all that much in the 2nd half. Avila's durability kept us from seeing a healthy dose of Omir Santos behind the plate, which in turn allowed the team to carry an extra player on the bench. The guy has not only caught the most innings in the AL (only 2 behind the MLB), but also has batted .300 with an OPS north of .900. That is incredible.

Cabrera is the centerpiece of the lineup and is having another monster year, but I don't think he has been the most valuable piece to this year's team

I am viewing it as the MVP of the Tigers...

Using your same logic, what if Cabrera was injured and did not play, which do you think affects the Tigers more?

Avila not being able to hit? or no Cabrera?

Nobody on the team has had more impact then Cabrera. Avila, Peralta, and Vmart have been fantastic, but Cabrera beats them all hands down.

 

[ihatebadenglish]

I am viewing it as the MVP of the Tigers...

Using your same logic, what if Cabrera was injured and did not play, which do you think affects the Tigers more?

Avila not being able to hit? or no Cabrera?

Nobody on the team has had more impact then Cabrera. Avila, Peralta, and Vmart have been fantastic, but Cabrera beats them all hands down.

I don't think they make the Postseason if either misses significant time

If Cabrera was to go down this year, Martinez would play 1B and someone like Ordonez would go to DH, improving the OF defense. Eventually at the deadline the Tigers could find a DH type guy when they finally realized that Ordonez couldn't hit.

If Avila goes down? Good luck finding a serviceable Catcher on the trade market without overpaying. Most likely would be stuck with Omir Santos or equivalent.