2016 MLB awards thread

Either Hendricks or Lester is OK by me. Scherzer's been excellent, but I'd view that as a stretch.

 

Good point. Hendricks has a fine K-rate. Sure, it isn't on a level with Kershaw or Scherzer, but it is still very good.

I also agree with you that innings pitched should be a factor. It does matter than Scherzer and Bumgarner have given their teams more innings this season. The amount of weight you put on that is subjective. I think Hendricks should win the award, but I can see the argument for others.

 

Sale was good last night. Verlander was even better.

 

I think it's Verlander in the A.L. right now. I know that Porcello has all those sweet, sweet wins pitching for the best hitting team in the league, but Verlander has the same ERA, virtually the same IPs, and about 60 more strikeouts.

1. Verlander
2. Sale
3. Kluber
4. Porcello

Easily flip Sale and Kluber, also.

 

Man, you are a single-issue voter.

Verlander isn't better than Porcello in anything but strikeouts, which is more than negated by issuing twice as many walks. Porcello better in FIP and ERA+, largely because he has allowed substantially fewer home runs despite pitching in a much more hitter-friendly park.

 

Yeah, I see that the SO/BB really favors Porcello by a longshot. Geez, maybe he is going to win it.

 

Even in the post-WINS!!! era, 23-4 would be incredibly difficult to ignore when all other factors are a coin flip.

One thing about Porcello is there have been no blow-up starts -- the other guys all have a few where they got an early hook after giving up 5+ runs.

 

But why?

 

I second the mentioning of Porcello's K/BB ratio, which has been the secret of his success. As for the wins mattering, it isn't just the wins, it's the low number of losses. When he takes the mound, the Sox are much more likely than not to be leading after a minimum of five and more likely six or seven innings. That's what the starter is for. The innings requirement is what gives wins statistical validity. It's not the most important stat, no one really thinks that any more, but when comparing seasons of excellence, it's a point in a pitcher's favor.

 

Why not just look at their innings?

 

Wins are a shorthand measurement for innings pitched with a lead or when game was close.

 

Because winners win, and he wins.