The American League Cy Young Award race has not been a huge surprise to most people so far this year. Almost all of the pitchers in consideration this year for the Cy Young Award have been Cy Young Award contenders in previous years. The race to be named the best pitcher in the A.L. will come down to the end, and this is how I feel the race looks right now:
1st - Chris Sale - Chicago White Sox: It is a surprise that Chris Sale is having a Cy Young caliber season, not because he isn't capable of being a great pitcher, but because it is his first season being a starting pitcher in the MLB. He has been one of the most dominating pitchers in the A.L. so far this season with a record of 10-2 with a 2.19 ERA and a .95 WHIP. He ranks third in wins, eighth in strike outs with 98, and second in ERA and WHIP. The one problem I have with Chris Sale is that he has already pitched a career high 102.2 innings. We will have to see how he is able to hold up throughout the rest of the season, but if the season ended today he would be the Cy Young Award winner.
2nd - Jered Weaver - Los Angeles Angels: Jered Weaver has been very good to start the season and he is in the Cy Young Award talk again this year. If it wasn't for him going on the DL, he would have been ranked first in my Cy Young Award race. In 14 starts this year Jered Weaver is 9-1 with a 2.13 ERA and a .94 WHIP. He currently ranks fifth in wins, first in ERA and WHIP, and fourth in the A.L. with two complete games. Jered Weaver has been dominate on a good Angels team this year, and if he is able to hold up in the final months of the season, he should make a strong case to be the Cy Young Award winner.
3rd - Justin Verlander - Detroit Tigers: Many people think Jusin Verlander is having a down year, but actually he has pitched very well on a struggling Tigers team. His numbers aren't as good as last year when he won both the MVP and Cy Young Award, but they are still good enough to make him a Cy Young Award contender again this year. He is 8-5 with a 2.69 ERA and a .98 WHIP in 17 starts this season. Justin Verlander ranks first in the A.L. in innings pitched (123.2), first in complete games (4), second in strike outs (121), third in WHIP, and fourth in ERA. If he can continue to pitch well and dominate opposing batters he should be in the Cy Young Award conversation at the end of the season.
4th - Jake Peavy - Chicago White Sox: Jake Peavy is finally back after years of injuries and inconsistency. He has been pitching very well of late but the White Sox have had trouble scoring runs when he pitches. In his last four starts, a total of 30 innings, he has an ERA of 2.70, allowing a total of nine runs, four walks and 27 hits. Yet he has lost all four starts because the White Sox have scored a grand total of two runs. As a result of him losing four straight starts his record is 6-5, but besides his record his other stats are close to the top in the American League. He currently ranks sixth in ERA (2.96) and fourth in WHIP (.99). He also has pitched the most complete games with four, and he has struck out 101 batters four seventh best in the league. Jake Peavy needs to be able to stay healthy for a whole season, and he can't wear down in the last few months of the season if he wants to be a serious Cy Young Award contender.
5th - David Price - Tampa Bay Rays: David Price continues to develop into one of the best young pitchers in the game. He almost won the Cy Young Award two years ago when he had 19 wins, but end up losing to King Felix. This year Price is making another strong case to be in the Cy Young conversation. David Price is currently 11-4 with a 2.92 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. He leads the A.L. in wins and is fifth in ERA in 16 starts this year. He also is in the top ten in strike outs and innings pitched. David Price needs to continue to pitch well and hope that some of the pitchers above hm start to struggle if he wants to have a chance at being named the American League's best pitcher.
Pitchers who are still in the race: Yu Darvish, Matt Harrison, CC Sabathia, C.J. Wilson, and Felix Hernandez.
The Cy Young Award race isn't over, and any of the pitchers who I don't have in my top five could easily make a push in the second have of the season to take home the award. It should be interesting to see if Chris Sale can hold up through the rest of the season, and if some of these pitchers can remain healthy enough to try to win the Cy Young Award in the American League.
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Showing posts with label Cy Young. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cy Young. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
The National League Cy Young Award Race
This year in the National League there has been many surprising pitchers. Roy Halladay, one of the best pitchers in the game, has been hurt for most of the season, and Tim Lincecum hasn't look anything like his Cy Young Award winning years. This year there is many pitchers, anywhere from 10 or more, who can win the Cy Young Award, and so far the leading candidate is a 37 year old knuckleball pitcher, R.A. Dickey. Here is how I feel the race is shaping out:
1st - R.A. Dickey - New York Mets: R.A. Dickey has been a huge surprise so far this season. No one ever thought he would ever be this good, and anything close to a Cy Young Award contender. He has been the most dominating pitcher this year going 12-1 with a 2.15 ERA. R.A. Dickey leads the league with a .88 WHIP and three complete games. He is second in the National League in strikeouts with 116, and he has shown great control with his knuckleball. We have never seen a pitcher like R.A. Dickey before who throws mid 80's knuckleball and is so dominate. He is the leading Cy Young Award candidate and if he continues to pitch like this the rest of the season there will be no question that he should win the award.
2nd - Matt Cain - San Fransisco Giants: Matt Cain, who has so far lived up to his huge contract he received this off season, has been a very dominate pitcher this year. He is finally getting some respect he has deserved, since in years past he has been one of the most underrated pitchers in the game. Matt Cain has been very good this year, and he has pitched the best game this year so far, a perfect game, where he struck out 14 batters. Through 16 games this season, Cain is 9-3 with a 2.53 ERA and a .95 WHIP. He is close to the top in strike outs with 114 and innings pitched with 113.2. Matt Cain has become the ace of the Giants staff and has shown why he is one of the best young pitchers in the game today. He should continue stay in the Cy Young race and will challenge R.A. Dickey for the award if he continues to pitch this way.
3rd - A.J. Burnett - Pittsburgh Pirates: A.J. Burnett might be a surprise here at third but if you look at his numbers he has pitched very well. He has been very hot in his last 10 starts going 8-0 with a 2.29 ERA. The ace of the Pirates staff has had only one bad start this season, where he allowed 12 earned runs against the Cardinals on May 2nd. If it wasn't for the one bad start he would of had a 2.05 ERA, which would currently be second best in the league. A.J. Burnett is currently 9-2 with a 3.31 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP, in 13 starts. He could have a good chance at a 20 win season, and if he continues to pitch this well and stay healthy he will be a dark horse in the Cy Young race.
4th - Stephen Strasburg - Washington Nationals: Stephen Strasburg has pitched very well so far, but if he is shut down at his 160 innings limit, which I expect to happen, he will not win the Cy Young Award. As of today, Strasburg is still well in the conversation of being the Cy Young winner, but because of his inning limit, that is why I have him ranked fourth in my Cy Young Award race standings. The young power pitcher through 16 games is 9-3 with a 2.81 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP. He is also leading the N.L. with 122 strike outs in 93 innings. He is one of the most over powering pitchers in the game, and he will be able to have a chance at the Cy Young Award. But you can't be the best pitcher when you don't pitch in September.
5th - James McDonald - Pittsburgh Pirates: James McDonald has been a surprise this season. He has finally showed that he can be a top of the rotation pitcher. He has pitched well this season and has a record of 8-3 with a 2.45 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. His could have even more wins but the Pirates have struggled to score runs, and have been shut out all three times he has lost. If he and the Pirates continue to play well, he will have a slight advantage over guys like Wade Miley, Zack Greinke, and Cole Hamels for the fifth spot.
Pitchers who are still in the race: Zack Greinke, Wade Miley, Cole Hamels, Gio Gonzalez, Lance Lynn, Clayton Kershaw, Johnny Cueto, and Chris Capuano.
The Cy Young Award race is still not over and many of these great pitchers who are not in my top five could easily make a push for the top spot. The Cy Young Award race should come down to the wire and it should be fun to see if some of these pitchers can make a strong push to become the best pitcher in the National League.
Please follow me on Twitter @DanTheMan4295
1st - R.A. Dickey - New York Mets: R.A. Dickey has been a huge surprise so far this season. No one ever thought he would ever be this good, and anything close to a Cy Young Award contender. He has been the most dominating pitcher this year going 12-1 with a 2.15 ERA. R.A. Dickey leads the league with a .88 WHIP and three complete games. He is second in the National League in strikeouts with 116, and he has shown great control with his knuckleball. We have never seen a pitcher like R.A. Dickey before who throws mid 80's knuckleball and is so dominate. He is the leading Cy Young Award candidate and if he continues to pitch like this the rest of the season there will be no question that he should win the award.
2nd - Matt Cain - San Fransisco Giants: Matt Cain, who has so far lived up to his huge contract he received this off season, has been a very dominate pitcher this year. He is finally getting some respect he has deserved, since in years past he has been one of the most underrated pitchers in the game. Matt Cain has been very good this year, and he has pitched the best game this year so far, a perfect game, where he struck out 14 batters. Through 16 games this season, Cain is 9-3 with a 2.53 ERA and a .95 WHIP. He is close to the top in strike outs with 114 and innings pitched with 113.2. Matt Cain has become the ace of the Giants staff and has shown why he is one of the best young pitchers in the game today. He should continue stay in the Cy Young race and will challenge R.A. Dickey for the award if he continues to pitch this way.
3rd - A.J. Burnett - Pittsburgh Pirates: A.J. Burnett might be a surprise here at third but if you look at his numbers he has pitched very well. He has been very hot in his last 10 starts going 8-0 with a 2.29 ERA. The ace of the Pirates staff has had only one bad start this season, where he allowed 12 earned runs against the Cardinals on May 2nd. If it wasn't for the one bad start he would of had a 2.05 ERA, which would currently be second best in the league. A.J. Burnett is currently 9-2 with a 3.31 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP, in 13 starts. He could have a good chance at a 20 win season, and if he continues to pitch this well and stay healthy he will be a dark horse in the Cy Young race.
4th - Stephen Strasburg - Washington Nationals: Stephen Strasburg has pitched very well so far, but if he is shut down at his 160 innings limit, which I expect to happen, he will not win the Cy Young Award. As of today, Strasburg is still well in the conversation of being the Cy Young winner, but because of his inning limit, that is why I have him ranked fourth in my Cy Young Award race standings. The young power pitcher through 16 games is 9-3 with a 2.81 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP. He is also leading the N.L. with 122 strike outs in 93 innings. He is one of the most over powering pitchers in the game, and he will be able to have a chance at the Cy Young Award. But you can't be the best pitcher when you don't pitch in September.
5th - James McDonald - Pittsburgh Pirates: James McDonald has been a surprise this season. He has finally showed that he can be a top of the rotation pitcher. He has pitched well this season and has a record of 8-3 with a 2.45 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. His could have even more wins but the Pirates have struggled to score runs, and have been shut out all three times he has lost. If he and the Pirates continue to play well, he will have a slight advantage over guys like Wade Miley, Zack Greinke, and Cole Hamels for the fifth spot.
Pitchers who are still in the race: Zack Greinke, Wade Miley, Cole Hamels, Gio Gonzalez, Lance Lynn, Clayton Kershaw, Johnny Cueto, and Chris Capuano.
The Cy Young Award race is still not over and many of these great pitchers who are not in my top five could easily make a push for the top spot. The Cy Young Award race should come down to the wire and it should be fun to see if some of these pitchers can make a strong push to become the best pitcher in the National League.
Please follow me on Twitter @DanTheMan4295
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