EXCLUSIVE POLL: Keep Jim Leyland, Miguel Cabrera tops Justin Verlander

(WXYZ) - The Detroit Tigers are on their way to Major League Baseball’s World Series.

It’s an emotional lift that our city and team needed after a roller coaster year.

So what should the future hold for Tigers’ manager Jim Leyland?

An exclusive WXYZ / Detroit Free Press poll is gauging fan support for Leyland, who's contract will expire at the end of this season.

We asked 800 likely Michigan voters if team management should offer Leyland an extension of his contract when the season expires.

• 69%: In favor of keeping Leyland at least through 2013.
• 12%: Don’t want to extend his contract
• 19%: Not Sure

The same survey conducted by EPIC MRA in Lansing asked people to compare pitcher Justin Verlander’s 2011 season to third baseman Miguel Cabrera’s 2012 season.

In 2011, Verlander accomplished the rare feat of winning both the Cy Young and MVP Awards for the American League.

This year, Cabrera was the first player in the American League since 1967 to capture the Triple Crown for his batting average, home runs, and runs batted in. 

We asked which season do you think was more remarkable? 

• 65%: Cabrera this year
• 27%: Verlander in 2011
• 8%: Both/Unsure

The automated poll was taken on October 17, a day before the Tigers swept the New York Yankees to secure a spot in the World Series.

The survey has a margin of error of +/- 3.5 percent.