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Email a copy of 'The Changing Landscape Of The AL Cy Young Race' to a friend
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Valdez is one of the nastiest lefties I have ever seen.
thickiedon
He could set the consecutive quality starts record
Joe says...
Nestor Cortez!! Just because.
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Joe the “other” option on the poll above was definitely designed with you in mind haha.
Yankee Clipper
At 2.73 ERA/143 ERA+/3.40FIP/0.96 WHIP/ & 11 QSs, you do have a valid point, Joe.
But, even at that the guys listed in the article are still better than Nestor in FIP, QS, & IP. His biggest challenge is going to be inning pitched because they’re going to keep him limited and he’s only at 135 now.
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He deserves SOMETHING for the stache alone..
Yankee Clipper
He DID start a throwback revolution of sorts with that dirty stache… point taken, sir, and I agree!
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The Yanks gotta love ya when they allow you to keep the scruff!
goastros123
Tell him to grow a Rollie Fingers mustache.
case
Pitching a lot in the AL east is also a big deal. Not super difficult to dominate some of those central and west clubs this year.
MuleorAstroMule
Keuchel must not have enough innings to qualify.
gbs42
The hitters’ vote for most valuable pitcher.
AverageCommenter
The issue is he has played in two different leagues, so they are actually creating a new award called Major League Baseball Best Pitcher Ever Award. The MLBBPEA is awarded to a new pitcher that pitch in both leagues each year. The reason it’s given each year is because the media claims someone new is the best each year.
SodoMojo90
What…
Bart
He is easily the MVP in baseball…most valuable penis for being married to Kelly Nash.
tstats
I think it still goes to Verlander because writers love to vote on a story line
case
Probably, but would still be stupid. AL west teams rank 14, 19, 26, and 29th in runs scored. All those AL east pitchers are putting up similar numbers in a much tougher division.
Edp007
Why do we still have separate awards , the two “ leagues” are exactly the same. Does the NBA give out a western and eastern conference mvp ? , no , one award at end of year. NFL , NHL no ? One mvp for the whole league. Baseball does not have two leagues anymore.
Joe It All
I think your argument will carry a lot more weight next year when the schedules change to playing every team. It would make a lot of sense what you are saying for that to be the way it’s done going forward.
Jaysfan1981
Biased opinion. But without Manoah and Gausman the Jays aren’t even competitive.
If Verlander and McClanahan are done for the remainder of the regular season I think you have to give it to Manoah (if he finishes strong)
hyraxwithaflamethrower
Manoah’s having a great year, but what makes him more deserving than Cease? Cease has a better ERA, FIP, K%, and has only 9 fewer IP. There’s the large walk difference, but if you include the 14 free passes given up by Manoah via HBP, Cease has let 68 people have a free trip to 1B vs Manoah’s 55. Manoah’s been excellent, but Cease has been just a little better.
KamKid
Manoah’s not more deserving than Cease, but Manoah is a different style that might get a lot of support from the people who like a throwback workhorse. Plus he’s lined up for a pretty significant finish against only teams in direct competition with Toronto for post season spots. Gausman is on this list as well and Toronto media doesn’t seem to give much of a thought to him. All the love is for Manoah. I don’t know how that translates to the voters in other markets, but Manoah makes an impression on those who watch him.
maxorange33
Not just Manoah and Gausman but without Ross Stripling the Jays would be still fighting with the Red Sox for last!
jdgoat
I was nervous about the Gausman contract but man he has been awesome. And he’s been one of the unluckiest pitchers in the game on top of that. He likely won’t be in the Cy Young picture when the season ends but I’m glad to see he is getting the recognition he deserves.
Hello, Newman
You can chose the best.. JV.
Or, chose someone who isn’t currently injured.
Throw Like a Girl
Or choose, but yeah…
Hello, Newman
Thanx for rectumfying
bwmiller
Verlander has been the best all season, even if he doesn’t pitch again in the regular season, I’d say he is the front runner.
A big finish from Dylan Cease would make it interesting, Cease starts tonight against the A’s and is coming off a complete game shut out, one out away from a no hitter, Luis Arraez broke it up with two outs in the ninth, was listening to the game on the radio, was a great game, Sox were up 13-0 in the ninth but there is nothing like a no hitter to electrify a crowd, the final three innings were awesome, and even with the no hitter getting broken up, Cease recorded his first CG shutout, only 11 CG shutouts all season.
Cease’s award to win if he pitches out the season.
stymeedone
5 inning pitchers have no business being talked about as CY Young contenders. Maybe they need a Rolaids Opener award, because no matter how good the numbers, the manager will have an ulcer if he has to keep going to the bullpen in the 6th inning.
cwsOverhaul
Cease has improved longevity of late. Last 7 of 9 starts at least 6ip. Also 156ip before tonight to JV’s 152ip compromised by injury. Hitting his stride.
stymeedone
What were his earlier starts then? Was he even making 5? You don’t get CY consideration for “last 7 of 9” starts. Its for the WHOLE season.
sfu13
Yes Dumba$$, Cease has been the best pitcher in baseball THE WHOLE SEASON, hence the 5.5 bWAR referenced in article. And you should know that firsthand cause Cease is 21-0 with a 0.05 ERA against your loser Tigers for his career. Now go crawl back in your hole since you know nothing about baseball but still feel the need to post.. “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool then to speak and remove all doubt”
mlb1225
If Verlander doesn’t get it, my vote is Manoah or Cease.
Very Barry
Verlander, almost 40 years old still slinging it like this after an injury nonetheless. I haven’t seen this type of pitching dominance so late in a career since Roger Clemens. Hmmm
beastee
for real. i applaud him for the dominance…but eyebrows raised after TJ so late in the career.
bwmiller
Why Nolan Ryan pitched to 45, struck out 220 at 42, they had steroids back then, even if the possibility existed nobody bothered to mention it, now we have to mention it anytime a player has a good season.
Fact is many players who used performance enhancing drugs will fly under that microscope, and get accolades and HOF honors, and some of the greatest to ever play the game will be stripped of HOF honors because of their association with performance enhancing drugs, and that’s a fact. Maybe David Ortiz juiced up, and he’s in, but Manny isn’t and Manny was a much better hitter.
Just an example of what is possible. Great season for Verlander, TJ makes your arm stronger, best mechanics in the game, that’s how you pitch into your forties.
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The Express was one of a kind. I don’t think we will ever see another player, let alone a fireballing pitcher in the game for 27 seasons.
Yoshis Javelin
TJ surgery saving and extending careers has had as much of an impact as any factor on Baseball in the past 50 years, so why wouldn’t the guy who was willing to be the first, threw 2200 innings before the surgery, 2500 after and over those 4700 innings put up a 3.34 ERA, 162 complete games, 46 shutouts and 61 WAR be in the hall of fame?
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WampumWalloper, These threads are getting long…Someone said Tommy John shouldn’t be in the HOF? I missed the post I think..
usafcop
Gausman has pitched well but he isn’t even in the same category as Verlander and McClanahan and Cease….
One month ago I would have said Verlander slightly over McClanahan….
Now we have a 3 way race and Cease has been lights out lately….
My vote goes to Cease right now but we still have a couple weeks of baseball left.
Edp007
Let’s see , we discuss Ohatini as 1 or 2 for mvp award because of his value as both a hitter and pitcher , doesn’t it follow then cy award should be ohtani. ? If any of the others ( top cy candidates) could hit 30 plus homers etc you’d say they are the pitcher you want. Give both cy and mvp to ohtani.
Tough to pitch so well and bat everyday. No four days off between starts.
Think about it.
Amazing
Very Barry
I told you guys BEFORE the season started Dylan Cease would be the A.L. Cy Young Award winner. It’s not close. Verlander went down. White Sox starting to turn look like the World Series contender we all thought they were. Easy Money!!!
Memphis Kong
White Sox are not a contender for the WS, since the Astros are their daddy.
hyraxwithaflamethrower
I’m a die-hard White Sox fan and this team doesn’t even look like a lock to make the playoffs, let alone contend for a title. Cease has a legit shot at the CYA this year, but to say it’s not close is ridiculous. It could still go to McClanahan if he comes back strong or to Manoah if Cease stumbles. And that’s without considering Verlander might return before the end of the year and still win it. If you want to put your money down on Cease winning the CYA or the White Sox winning a title, you go right on ahead. Most of us aren’t nearly so bullish, especially on the latter.
Shrutefarm
If they get in, the White Sox are the most dangerous team in the AL in my opinion.
Very Barry
Gonna get Tim Anderson back
hyraxwithaflamethrower
I could go with most under-rated, maybe, but not the most dangerous. They have Cease and Cueto, but Kopech’s been worse of late and then who? Lynn’s turned it on lately, but has been awful most of the year and Giolito’s been even worse. The bullpen can be dominant or crap, depending on the night. The defense is shoddy. The offense has a severe power outage and they can’t even run the bases properly. If the fire is back and the team is healthy, they’ll be better than a lot of people think, but the Astros, Yankees, Jays, Mariners, and Rays are all better, especially the Astros, much as I hate to say it.
DodgerDan
I think it goes to Shohei, him and Strider have been the nastiest with those K rates
Joey Gallo
Jim Sperm gets my vote. 3.2 Era and only 75 walks
indypacers94
Cease. Guy should have about 3 more wins and has pitched phenomenally since the beginning of August.
Winslow Leach
I think Verlander will win it. But I’d love Manoah on my Angels. He’s a beast.
bullred
I said Manoah but it would have been Verlander if he pitches enough innings.
hyraxwithaflamethrower
I thought it was a toss-up between Cease and McClanahan for 2nd place when Verlander went down. Walk rate aside, a lot of similar numbers. With a strong finish from Cease, he might win if Verlander is shelved until the final week of the season or later. I love a good 3-way race, though. All of them are arguable. And then there’s Manoah, Ohtani, et al. Some outstanding performances in the AL this year.
beastee
It’s easily Cease if Verlander is out. It’s a shame the no hitter didn’t happen, as that, plus a late season playoff clinch by Sox would be too much to overcome for the others. Ceases last 19 starts are the best in American League history basically.
Ohtani is such a great story…but he has Verlander/Cease and Judge really blocking him this year.
hyraxwithaflamethrower
I wouldn’t discount McClanahan or even Manoah if Verlander is out. Cease could stumble – we’ve seen it before where he just gives up 5 or 6 in an inning – but even without that, McClanahan has been about equal in a number of metrics.
As for Judge, I think that depends on the narrative. If he gets 62, which a lot of people still feel is the real HR record (myself included), I think he wins. If he doesn’t, there’s a very strong case to be made for Ohtani. I think it’ll be a really close vote either way.
hyraxwithaflamethrower
*meant to say “If he gets 62, which a lot of people still feel would be the new real HR record”
30 Parks
Manoah is old school tough on the mound. He’s got my vote.
erickohli
I love this article ticking off awesome stat after awesome stat for Ohtani then saying he has basically no chance for the Cy Young.
hyraxwithaflamethrower
He would need more innings and a better ERA to have a legit shot this year. Too many guys ahead of him. Great season, but there are a few guys who have just been better.
Dumpster Divin Theo
Don’t stop me now
Dumpster Divin Theo
Another one Bites the Dust
nrd1138
I would love to see Cease win, but knowing how the Sox fair in such voting polls, it likely will not occur. With that walk rate of his, its the perfect excuse for the voters to vote for anyone else. If Cease was able to throw that ‘no hitter’ that may have been enough to force voters to vote for him, but now, they still have their excuse. Ill be pleasantly surprised if he does but Im not holding out hope with the way White Sox players typically fair in such award contests..
thunderecho
Verlander deserves the strongest consideration for both the MVP and CY Young Awards. No other player in MLB has had the level of impact on all levels of an organization than Verlander.
You can not quantify his impact on the Astros organization with his stats alone. His relentless work ethic established a model for all pitchers in the organization to emulate. It is no coincidence that RHP Hunter Brown’s mechanics and approach are nearly identical to Verlander’s.
The article above mentioned that LHP Framber Valdez is a throw back. You can make the argument that the every starter on the Astros’ staff is a throw back. Verlander’s set the example here.
RHP Misael Tamarez’s, recently promoted to AAA, FB jumped from the low 90s to the upper 90s after tweaking his grip and refining his mechanics.
Astros minor league coaches are imprinting Verlander on their pitching prospects.
Astros should give Verlander a lifetime contract. The team has something very special with Verlander.
BenBenBen
This has nothing to do with trades, signings, call-ups, or other transactions. MLBTR’s original content about those is amazing, but its original content about stuff like this is no different or any better than the generic stuff Yahoo/ESPN/The Athletic puts out.
hyraxwithaflamethrower
Unlike the Athletic and a lot of ESPN, though, this site is free. I like some of the content on The Athletic better (James Fegan is a terrific writer and I love some of the deep dives by Eno Sarris), I love that this site even has articles like this. They could just stick with rumors and transactions, which they do better than anyone else, but they’re going above and beyond and doing a terrific job overall.
BenBenBen
I see a lot of this type of content for free on those sites, though. but one of them report on transactions and rumors the way MLBTR does. This article here isn’t very novel or hard-hitting.