Yankeetorial: If Justin Verlander wins the MVP, it will be because of the Yankee rule: Pitchers are not eligible, unless the alternative is to elect a Yankee

Remember 1978, when Ron Guidry was the most valuable player in the American League and - for that matter - all of baseball? That year, Gator went 25-3.

May I repeat that, for the visually impaired? Twenty five wins and three losses. His ERA was 1.79, and he threw 9 shutouts. Several came after Yankee losses, and Guidry absolutely held the team together through an incredibly dramatic and intense pennant drive.

Naturally, Jim Rice won the MVP that year. The sportswriters said pitchers should not be eligible. They can win the Cy Young. Case closed!

And eight years later, they gave Boston's Roger Clemens the MVP.

Everybody knows the Yankees win way too many MVP awards. Just ask anybody on Fox Sports and ESPN. That's why Josh Hamilton won last year over Robinson Cano, even though Hamilton was hurt for much of the season. The Buck/McCarver axis of Yankee evil started campaigning in August, because Hamilton's story of resurrection through Jesus was so compelling, it was an MVP-worthy tale. Plus, the Yankees always win.

The previous year, when the Yankees won the World Series, the MVP went to Joe Mauer over Derek Jeter, the team captain who hit 18 HR and batted .334, while playing a Gold Glove worthy shortstop. (Jeet missed in 2006 too, when he hit .343.) But by early September, the drumbeat for Mauer was overwhelming: Local boy scorns major market to lead Twins. Plus, the Yankees always win.

This year, Curtis Granderson and Robbie Cano are deserving candidates for MVP. Fogetaboutit. In late August -- when Granderson was emerging as the choice - the campaign started on ESPN and Fox: How refreshing it would be to see Justin Verlander win. Everybody's sick of Yankees winning all the awards.

I'm not saying Verlander isn't a great pitcher who had a great year. I'm just saying I remember Ron Guidry, and I remember Roger Maris - who remains a non-member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. And everybody knows why... because the Yankees always win too many awards. Right?