The 2016 Cy Young Awards were announced Wednesday. In the National League, it was Nationals ace and former Tiger pitcher Max Scherzer. But the more surprising announcement was in the American League. Tigers ace Justin Verlander was edged out by Red Sox pitcher Rick Porcello, another former Tiger. What made it surprising was how close the race was. Porcello eked out JV 137-132. What made it MORE surprising was how the voting was dolled out.
Verlander received 14-of-30 first-place votes. He fell five points shy of Red Sox right-hander Rick Porcello.
— anthony fenech (@anthonyfenech) November 16, 2016
It is the second time Verlander has finished second in AL Cy Young voting. In those votes, he lost by a combined nine points.
— anthony fenech (@anthonyfenech) November 16, 2016
Sparking even more controversy around the Cy Young voting was the fact that two voters for the BBWAA left Verlander off their five-pitcher ballot completely.
Verlander was left off two ballots — both from the BBWAA's Tampa bureau.
— anthony fenech (@anthonyfenech) November 17, 2016
Verlander would have needed third-place votes or better from both writers who left him off ballot to win. Seven writers had him 4th or 5th.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 17, 2016
The omission of Verlander on two ballots completely has already been described from ‘criminal’ to ‘juvenile’ and everything in between. In fact, a number of people have voiced their displeasure on social media regarding the final tally. Among those are Verlander’s fiancé Kate Upton, and Justin’s younger brother and a minor leaguer in the Tigers system, Ben Verlander.
(Side note: One tweet by Upton features language that may be offensive to some and may be deemed NSFW)
Hey @MLB I thought I was the only person allowed to fuck @JustinVerlander ?! What 2 writers didn't have him on their ballot?
— Kate Upton (@KateUpton) November 16, 2016
He had the majority of 1st place votes and 2 writers didn't have him on their ballots?!! can you pick more out of touch people to vote?@MLB
— Kate Upton (@KateUpton) November 16, 2016
Sorry Rick but you didn't get any 1st place votes? you didn't win. #ByeFelicia @MLB keep up with the times and fire those writers
— Kate Upton (@KateUpton) November 16, 2016
Are you kidding me? Most first place votes and doesn't win? #SaltyYoungerBrother Explain this.. pic.twitter.com/RpEb4PPrME
— Ben Verlander (@Verly32) November 16, 2016
Porcello vs Verlander
GS: JV
IP: JV
K: JV
ERA: JV
WHIP: JV
BAA: JV
bWAR: JV
Run Support: Porcello
Wins: Porcello
Cy Young Award: Porcello— Jeremy Frank (@MLBRandomStats) November 17, 2016
Hey, @wwchastain, please explain to me why you didn't vote for my brother. Thanks.
— Ben Verlander (@Verly32) November 16, 2016
The Twitter handle that the younger Verlander references is that of Bill Chastain, a Tamp-based sports writer for the Associated Press. He and Fred Goodall, another Tampa-based writer for MLB.com, are the two writers that left the elder Verlander off their Cy Young ballots completely.
