AL Cy Young?

BB, I tend to agree.

I think it's kind of a boring year, because most of the biggies are so obvious.

For all the ink spilled, in the end, I don't think the baseball writers are anywhere near as dumb as some folks think they are. My guess is Mauer and Greinke are runaway winners, respectively, with Pujols probably being unanimous in the NL.

 

It's Zack. With a K. As in Zack-kkkkkkkk. Woulda been more against the Tigers last week, except for Cabrera's liner.

 

I would have to think if Greinke made it to 17 wins while keeping his ERA right in that 2.10 area, he'll be unanimous as well.

 

It's amazing to think that every fifth game in September, I still can't wait to watch the Royals. Just to agree with everyone else, Greinke should be a slam dunk. No one else "in the discussion." It's Greinke, that's it.

 

Three weeks ago, there was a lot of chatter about Verlander/Sabathia/Felix/Rivera. That's why I started this thread, to get a gauge from people.

I think Greinke has pretty much run away with it since.

So, no, it's not supposed to be a controversy and I don't think it is anymore.

 

Posnanski just posted a link on his blog re: someone not ready to vote for Greinke. Apparently Cy Young voter Pat Reusse said:

“He’s going to have to move that (win) number for me to vote for him … I don’t care what his numbers say. He’s gotta get to at least 16 for me to vote for him.”

 

Grienke is clearly the only deserving winner.

As for candidates for second and third, I'm cherry-picking here since he had such a mediocre start, but Jon Lester warrants at least a cursory look.
Since his start on May 31, here is Lester's line.

135.1 IP, 11-2, 2.16 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 153 K, 39 BB.

 

Joe Posnanski linked to an interesting blog entry on his running Greinke blog tonight ...

http://ussmariner.com/2009/09/22/felix-and-the-cy-young-award/

May 1st to present.

Greinke: 174 1/3 IP, 156 H, 36 BB, 180 K, 11 HR, 2.48 ERA.
Felix: 182 1/3 IP, 156 H, 54 BB, 160 K, 13 HR, 2.47 ERA

... In other words, even if you took away Greinke's most dominant stretch of the season, he's still the better pitcher this season. And to think there are guys like Rob Dibble spouting off about how "Greinke's had a horrible second half."

 

Nah, it's only right seeing as to how Greinke's started five games against the Tigers, whose tailspin began with two miserable series against the Royals in the first place. Balances it out for the Tigers somewhat.

 

This is the other reason there is debate, becuase we all knew there would at least be one voter who was just determined to be lazy and stupid about his choice. Reusse has stepped up to be that guy. Idiot.

 

I'm sure this has been thrown out, but it's worth noting, I think...

No AL Cy Young winner has won less than 18 games since 1994, when David Cone won for the, wait for it, Royals.

Also, there's only been on AL Cy Young winner with eight losses since 1996, Colon (21-8) in 2005.

 

Actually, I don't think that had been thrown out there, but I'm sure voter like Reusse will use a number like that to justify his laziness.