Here is the response from one of the writers
"I feel bad that people are upset about this; I did the best I could," Chastain told the Daily News. "I went around the clubhouse, I asked guys. I agonized over this. The biggest thing for me was between (Baltimore closer Zach) Britton and (Rick) Porcello."
Chastain told the Daily News he sent his ballot in about a week before the regular season ended. He voted for Porcello, Zach Britton, Corey Kluber, Chris Sale and Masahiro Tanaka in that order.
"At the time, I thought I picked the best five guys," Chastain told the newspaper. "Maybe I should have waited until the end. When I voted, it looked pretty clear to me."
He added, "I wasn't out to get Verlander. It was nothing personal."
His Ballot was sent before JV's last 2 starts, and maybe as soon as 23 Sep by some guessing.
Starts/Stats after 22 Sep:
Verlander = 3 GS 20.6 IP 14 H 3 ER 4 BB 31 K 1.31 ERA 0.87 WHIP
Porcello = 2 GS 12.3 IP 16 H 6 ER 3 BB 15 K
4.38 ERA 1.54 WHIP
Sale = 2 GS 12.0 IP 14 H 8 ER 1 BB 13 K
6.00 ERA 1.25 WHIP
Kluber = 1 GS 4.0 IP 5 H 2 ER 1 BB 3 K
4.50 ERA 1.50 WHIP
Britton = 5 G 2 SV 5.2 IP 4 H 0 ER 0 BB 7 K 0.00 ERA 0.71 WHIP
Tanaka = 0 GS
Tanaka last pitched on 21 September.
ERA on 16 Sep - Final Season
Verlander 3.33 - 3.04 = -0.29
Britton 0.61 - 0.54 = - 0.07
Kluber 3.12 - 3.14 = + 0.02
Porcello 3.12 - 3.15 = + 0.03
Tanaka 2.97 - 3.07 = + 0.10
Sale 2.99 - 3.34 = + 0.35
Chastain's ballot was easily sent before Verlander's last 2 starts and possibly his last 3. It only needed to be submitted before the Post Season starts (4 October). By all accounts, Chastain's ballot was sent O/A 24 September. Certainly, Tanaka not pitching after 21 September, but still getting his vote is a concern.
Goodall voting for 2 TOR starters is a concern as well. Goodall wouldn't even comment on his selections.