AL Cy Young

Short answer? I'm being a smart ass.

Better answer? A few weeks ago, somebody started to argue for Rivera. I pointed out that Rivera wasn't even the best candidate among the relief pitchers in the AL. Soria has done nothing but widen that gap since. I don't know that he should even be in the top six (Hernandez, Price, Lester, Sabathia, Buchholz and Cahill probably all belong ahead of any reliever), but Soria has been pretty damn amazing this year for a dogshit team.

 

Just talked to a guy with an actual AL Cy Young vote, and he told me he's deciding between Felix and Price. No CC.

 

Price pitched great tonight.

My ballot would be:

1. King Felix
2. Price
3. Lester

 

Great performances by Hernandez, Price and Sabathia tonight. Not sure if any of the three will pitch again in the regular season. Hernandez dropped the league-best ERA down to 2.27 by holding the Rangers to one run in eight innings in Arlington.

Sabathia really should have no shot at this point. Even if you are going to put more weight on wins, Price is close enough at 19-6 that he should get it over Sabathia.

Of course, Hernandez is the best pitcher in the American League this year. Still remains to be seen if that is enough.

 

The Mariners would be doing their fans - and Felix, for that matter - a disservice if they don't pitch him in the season finale Sunday at home against Oakland. He'd be on normal rest and against a pretty poor hitting team, he really could end any question about him deserving to win the Cy Young with another lights-out performance.

 

Apparently, Hernandez agrees with you.

http://twitter.com/gbakermariners/status/25849173330

 

Not that the front office ever has any influence on a team's manager, but the Mariners would be crazy from an attendance perspective not to pitch Felix on Sunday.

I live a good five-hour drive away from Seattle and have heard several people discuss making the drive to and from the Sunday afternoon game if Hernandez is pitching. In fact, if I didn't have a prior commitment, I might, too!

 

It's a disservice, and they are crazy:

http://twitter.com/TNTmariners/status/26023914906

 

Why is it crazy to protect the franchise's most valuable asset?

 

I'd like to see him pitch, because I'd like to see him pitch.

But, Kornheiser & Wilbon aside, he should have the Cy Young wrapped up by now. He could probably only hurt his chances. I can't really blame the Mariners.

 

I doubt they would admit it, but that has to be a factor. As it stands, his final performance of the season is a strong one against the playoff-bound Rangers in a great hitter's park. A stinker against a weak Oakland lineup in Safeco could do some real damage with voters who are on the fence.

Of course, he has already reached a career high in innings pitched and the game is effectively meaningless, so I have no problem with them shutting him down now.