Verlander really didn't have some 'outlier' year though.
 
2.99 FIP, 3.12 xFIP, 2.99 SIERA, 3.09 tERA, 8.96 K/9, 2.04 BB/9, 7.0 fWAR

2.88 FIP, 3.02 xFIP, 3.14 SIERA, 3.47 tERA, 8.72 K/9, 2.31 BB/9, 7.1 fWAR

Relatively close, right? One of those is 2011 CC Sabathia, the other is 2011 Verlander. Was CC Sabathia anywhere near a real MVP-candidate? No and deservedly not.

For further comparison's sake, Roy Halladay's 2011 season:

2.20 FIP, 2.71 xFIP, 2.79 SIERA, 2.46 tERA, 8.47 K/9, 1.35 BB/9, 8.2 fWAR