Someone Explain This To Me
>> Wednesday
Why is it that in the race for AL Cy Young, all you ever hear about is either CC Sabathia or Josh Beckett? Has anyone looked at John Lackey's numbers? He won the ERA title (overrated, I'll admit), he's got the highest ERA+ and has pitched over 200 innings and although his strikeout numbers aren't quite as impressive as Sabathia or Josh Beckett, they're really freaking comparable.
While I think Sabathia should win, (he pitched 40+ more innings than did Beckett and still had a better ERA and ERA+ and had virtually the same WHIP with only one fewer Win, if you're someone that likes that sort of thing), it's really surprising that someone who should be right in the mix is getting almost no pub.
Is it because he plays on the west coast? Or is it because he looks like a complete gomer? God only knows on this one.
Also, Pat's insane for saying that Braun shouldn't win the ROY.
Posts
7 comments:
He's gotten some mention, but you're right--nowhere near the level of Beckett, C.C., or even Wang for most of the second half. But yeah, I'm still going with Sabathia because of the innings and incredible walk total.
Also, as I said in the comments under Pat's post, Tulowitzki's got a pretty awesome case, contrary to popular belief as well as my own predilections. Look to the WARP! Defense wins championships!
Or maybe WARP just overrates defense. Fuck if I know.
Also, unfair as it is, I think the results of this game so far are gonna sway opinion further from Lackey and toward Becket.
Also, I like how I said, "I'm going with Sabathia" as if I have a vote. I do not. But I SHOULD.
Nah, its either Braun or Tuliwitzki for ROY. Both make great cases
You know what pisses me off the most about the whole damn thing? That Beckett having one more win than Lackey and Sabathia and putting him at the arbitrary "20 win" plateau is going to steal him a bunch of votes from sportswriters that don't care to do any research. Bulldink, bulldink I say!
I think WARP3 does overrate defense, but fuck me if I know how or why it does so. VORP probably overstates offensive numbers somehow too.
One factor that may tilt in Beckett's favor would be each pitchers park. While he plays in a tough environment at Fenway with Monster and short right field porch, Sabathia pitches in a pretty neutral park at Jacobs, Lackey in a somewhat friendly pitcher's park in Anaheim.
Speaking of people inexplicably getting no pub, where's the love for John Smoltz in the NL?
I think we tend to ignore the guys that we expect to be great, but Smoltz's numbers this year are pretty damn comparable to Peavy and Webb.
3.11 ERA, 140 ERA+, 1.18 WHIP and an absolutely sick K/BB of 197/47
Of course, once again, Smoltz's 14-8 record automatically eliminates him from Cy Young discussions.
That, and also Peavy running away with it.
Post a Comment