NL Cy Young poll

Maybe it's just me, but I have a hard time giving a Cy Young award to a pitcher that just won 15 games, regardless of how dogshit his team was this year.

I can't remember when there was such mediocrity and parity in the field. You could make a strong claim for most of the pitchers named above, though you could also make a damaging case against them as well.

 

When innings pitched are that close, I have to go purely with ERA.

Also, the way Oswalt closed the season was pretty big.

 

Jeter!

 

My bad, Webb's IP was 235 not 230.

The others (in order):
Harang 234 1/3
Smoltz 232
Carpenter 221 1/3
Oswalt 220 2/3
Lowe 218
Zambrano 214

The Reds homer in me wants it to go to Harang, but I can't remember an NL Cy Young winner with a ERA above 3.5. Most NL Cys have had sub 3 ERA, IIRC. Still, Harang finished 11th with his 3.76 ERA.

 

I hate to agree with you ... but I will here.

 

For the curious, Oswalt was 5-0 with a 1.85 ERA in six Sept (and I'm assuming) October starts.

That's enough for me, too.

 

It has happened, I can't see giving it to Harang with one more victory when Oswalt had an ERA under 3 and he was dominant when the Astros made their run at the end.

 

I'm too lazy to look it up, but strikeouts would be a factor that was not listed above. Looking at those numbers, I'd probably give it to Oswalt. Hate to give to a guy with 15 wins, but it's not like 16 wins is a significantly better statistic, so I'd have to give it to the guy with the lower ERA ... he gave his team a better chance to win night in and night out than the others.

 

Why not Trevor Hoffman? I know he blew the save in the All-Star game and I know he is a relief pitcher, but which pitcher made more of an impact during the season?

 

Brandon Webb really shouldn't be on the ballot in my book. After going 9-0 to start he was pretty hit or miss the last half of the season.

I was thinking Smoltz blew it with three bad starts in September, but this is a pretty undistinguished field. Oswalt might be the best pick.

 

I agree. There's no 20-game winner and the NL is a tad weaker this year in the starter category. Give Hoffman a gift Cy Young Award.

 

Total pile of bullshit stat.