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Examiner 2009 Tiger of the Year ballot
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With the wounds healing on a disappointing end to an otherwise pleasantly surprising 2009 season for the Detroit Tigers; it’s time to talk hardware. Looking back at the 2009 campaign, there are several deserving candidates for Tiger of the Year, and after much thought and deliberation, it has been narrowed down to five candidates.
Miguel Cabrera .324 BA 34 HR 103 RBI
Cabrera put together another offensive season in Motown, but a late-season alcohol-related incident brought about questions about the 26-year-old’s commitment to the team and work ethic. Still, fewer players put up better numbers than Cabrera, who finished in the top 10 in most major offensive categories.
Magglio Ordonez .310 BA 9 HR 50 RBI
If we were handing out second half player of the year, Ordonez would be the hands down winner. After enduring a tumultuous first half, hitting just .260 before the All-Star break, Ordonez was Detroit’s most consistent hitter, tallying a .375 second half average, and was again one of the key cogs in the Detroit offense.
Rick Porcello (14-9, 3.96 ERA)
The 20-year-old rookie solidified himself as one of the best young arms in all of baseball with a head-turning 2009. Porcello led all Major League rookies in wins (14) and is the front runner for the AL Rookie of the Year. Porcello got better as the year went on, capping his campaign in a no-decision outing; going 5.2 innings, yielding two run (one earned) on four hits in game #163 in Minnesota.
Fernando Rodney (2-5, 4.40 ERA 37 Sv)
The unheralded unsung hero of the Tiger season, Rodney converted on a career-high 37 saves in 2009. His elevated ERA and the uneasy manner in which he went about his business left him without the endorsement and support of the Tiger fan base for much of the season, and was one of the scapegoats in Detroit’s loss in game no. 163 in Minnesota, despite throwing 48 pitches—13 more than he had all season.
Justin Verlander (19-9, 3.45 ERA)
Verlander endured a rocky April, posting a 1-2 record with an ERA of 6.75 before putting together the best season of his young career. Verlander set a career mark in wins, ERA and strikeouts—making him a candidate for the American League Cy Young award.
The Winner will be announced Wednesday morning.
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