AL Cy Young

[tomdalton22]

No there aren't. Alan's post above says what a lot of us are thinking and what I mentioned above. Don't discount the big edge in IP and pitches thrown. He's horse, the biggest horse and when you need to go deep he's the guy.

I didn't say he didn't deserve it....I think he does. But to say it should be unanamous is stupid. Look at Rodney.....I can't remember a better season by a closer. Price deserves consideration too.

 

[Mitchrapp]

I didn't say he didn't deserve it....I think he does. But to say it should be unanamous is stupid. Look at Rodney.....I can't remember a better season by a closer. Price deserves consideration too.

Who said unanimous? All I said was it should be easy win. Wait a minute, you can't remember a better season by a closer? And the fact he's a closer, they don't win this award much and finally, he didn't make the playoffs.

 

[tomdalton22]

Who said unanimous? All I said was it should be easy win. Wait a minute, you can't remember a better season by a closer? And the fact he's a closer, they don't win this award much and finally, he didn't make the playoffs.

mjsb2 said unanimous which is what started this back and forth. As far as pitchers and the CY....I don't think making the playoffs should be a major consideration. Closers should be alloed to be considered for the CY if they have a monster year. Eric Gagne won it in 2003 and Rodney has better numbers this year.

 

[Mitchrapp]

mjsb2 said unanimous which is what started this back and forth. As far as pitchers and the CY....I don't think making the playoffs should be a major consideration. Closers should be alloed to be considered for the CY if they have a monster year. Eric Gagne won it in 2003 and Rodney has better numbers this year.

They are considered and he will get votes. But the facts are they still win very rarely.

 

[Thumb]

It's

1. Verlander
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2. Price
3. Rodney
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4. Weaver
5. Sale
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Everyone else

 

[tigersofjustice]

You know I previously thought David would more then likely be the likely choice however when you consider how many voters are putting so much emphasis on WAR this gives Verlander a sizable advantage. Now as well you have to factor in he is the reigning CY Young and MVP AND although its not as important as MVP the Tigers actually made the playoffs.

I think it will indeed be a close vote for sure but I think Verlander garters enough votes to win this year.

Prediction:
1st - Verlander
2nd - Price
3rd - Rodney
4th - Weaver
5th - Sale
6th - Scherzer

Scherzer at 6 really isn't a homer pick. If you check the stats he's pretty much been the best pitcher in the AL for the last four months. His overall numbers have come up just behind the level of the top five in that time. It really wouldn't be surprising to see him get a few votes.

 

[tomdalton22]

Scherzer at 6 really isn't a homer pick. If you check the stats he's pretty much been the best pitcher in the AL for the last four months. His overall numbers have come up just behind the level of the top five in that time. It really wouldn't be surprising to see him get a few votes.

He's 16th in ERA and 18th in WHIP, 23rd in innings pitched and 2nd in strike outs. He is no where near the top 6.

 

[Thumb]

Scherzer at 6 really isn't a homer pick. If you check the stats he's pretty much been the best pitcher in the AL for the last four months. His overall numbers have come up just behind the level of the top five in that time. It really wouldn't be surprising to see him get a few votes.

You cannot have Scherzer ahead of a guy like Felix Hernandez and not have it be a homer pick.

Sorry to bust your bubble.

 

[manchild98]

All right, so it isn't last year anymore. I've noticed that. So Justin Verlander hasn't been quite as Gibson-Koufax-Christy Mathewson-esque as he was last year. I've noticed that, too. But that doesn't mean this man still hasn't been the best pitcher in the sport, the ultimate ace and the most deserving winner of this award. It just means it hasn't been anywhere near as clear-cut. David Price is 20-5 and leads the league in ERA. Jered Weaver is 20-4 and leads the league in WHIP. I expect both of them to get lots of votes. Chris Sale, Felix Hernandez and the bullpen monster known as Fernando Rodney (he of the 0.61 ERA) have been terrific. I expect all three of them to show up on many, many ballots. But who's the best pitcher alive? It's still Justin Verlander.

Did you know that he didn't allow a single home run to an opposing cleanup hitter all season? (They slugged .297 against him.) Did you know that in his 13 starts against teams that appear bound for the postseason, plus the White Sox, he went 8-1, with a 1.81 ERA? Did you know that he actually gets more unhittable in the last three innings of a game (.194/.251/.265) than he is in the first three innings (.216/.271/.345)? All 100 percent true facts, ladies and gentlemen.

But what gives him just the slightest edge over Price and Weaver, for me, is this: Their ERAs, WHIPs and Opponent OPS numbers are almost inseparable. But Verlander has compiled his stats with a much heavier workload. He's faced 120 more hitters than Price and 224 more than Weaver. He's had to reach back to throw 436 more pitches than Price and 936 more than Weaver. And that, friends, is what Cy Youngs do. They take on the responsibility of acehood in a way other pitchers don't. They save their bullpens. They get better as the moments get bigger. They reach for the sky when other pitchers are reaching for the shower knobs.

It's what Justin Verlander does better than any starter on the planet. And it's what ought to make him, from this vantage point, the first AL pitcher to win back-to-back Cy Youngs since Pedro Martinez (in 1999-2000).

Great post Alan. I think JV deserves it and I'd vote for him, but I think Price will be the CY Young winner this year.

 

[lonesometiger]

As far as W/L records go Felix Hernandez won it with a 13/12 in 2010. And should WAR be a factor then Verlander is the winner hands down. His K's and WHIP. Are really good.

 

[@Stakesarehigh]

I see others share my opinion on the Cy Young argument..I got ostracized on the "JV is an Ace" thread for merely mentioning the vote would be closer than most think and that JV could possibly not win depending on voters.

 

[pr0tege]

Numbers after the A/S break:

Scherzer - 8-2, 2.81 ERA, 107/25 K/BB ratio, .231 Opponents BA
Hernandez - 7-4, 2.99 ERA, 95/21 K/BB ratio, .231 Opponents BA

Is it likely Scherzer finishes ahead of Hernandez? probably not BUT as I said in my post I would not be surprised IF it did happen. Also I would not be one bit surprised to see Rodney finish ahead of Price considering the year he has had.

It's not a homer pick to be honest and a lot of people have taken notice as well. Max had really 1 bad month this season (April). And since then he has lowered his ERA in every month there after.

Since a horrible April here are his stats.
15-4, 3.21 ERA, 201/45 K/BB Ratio, 1.15 WHIP
Honestly his numbers are there and I believe there will be voters that take notice also so again its not a homer pick to think he could possibly finish in the top 6 in the voting this year. Also take into account Hernandez made 21/33 quality starts this year while Max had 20/31.

 

[tomdalton22]

Numbers after the A/S break:

Scherzer - 8-2, 2.81 ERA, 107/25 K/BB ratio, .231 Opponents BA
Hernandez - 7-4, 2.99 ERA, 95/21 K/BB ratio, .231 Opponents BA

Is it likely Scherzer finishes ahead of Hernandez? probably not BUT as I said in my post I would not be surprised IF it did happen. Also I would not be one bit surprised to see Rodney finish ahead of Price considering the year he has had.

It's not a homer pick to be honest and a lot of people have taken notice as well. Max had really 1 bad month this season (April). And since then he has lowered his ERA in every month there after.

Since a horrible April here are his stats.
15-4, 3.21 ERA, 201/45 K/BB Ratio, 1.15 WHIP
Honestly his numbers are there and I believe there will be voters that take notice also so again its not a homer pick to think he could possibly finish in the top 6 in the voting this year. Also take into account Hernandez made 21/33 quality starts this year while Max had 20/31.

His April was so bad that it can't be ignored. No way does he finish in the top 6.

 

[Mitchrapp]

Numbers after the A/S break:

Scherzer - 8-2, 2.81 ERA, 107/25 K/BB ratio, .231 Opponents BA
Hernandez - 7-4, 2.99 ERA, 95/21 K/BB ratio, .231 Opponents BA

Is it likely Scherzer finishes ahead of Hernandez? probably not BUT as I said in my post I would not be surprised IF it did happen. Also I would not be one bit surprised to see Rodney finish ahead of Price considering the year he has had.

It's not a homer pick to be honest and a lot of people have taken notice as well. Max had really 1 bad month this season (April). And since then he has lowered his ERA in every month there after.

Since a horrible April here are his stats.
15-4, 3.21 ERA, 201/45 K/BB Ratio, 1.15 WHIP
Honestly his numbers are there and I believe there will be voters that take notice also so again its not a homer pick to think he could possibly finish in the top 6 in the voting this year. Also take into account Hernandez made 21/33 quality starts this year while Max had 20/31.

But Rodney doesn't get mentioned much, I haven't heard at all, in the Cy Young race and that usually means he won't get as many votes as you might think. Its rare, mostly because they throw much less than a starter. Now if this was Mo. Rivera with those numbers it might be different.