Who Deserves to Win the NL Cy Young?

[t-wizzle]

Lee with another great performance tonight, coming within an out of his 6th shutout. Kershaw would probably be the front-runner if he were on a winning team. Halladay doing what he does every year. Lincecum and Hamels in the mix too but both lacking in the win column.

I would go with Cliff Lee personally, partly because I think he's going to finish the season stronger than anyone.

[InTheDrink]

1- Doc
2- Kershaw
3- Lee
4- Hamels

Anyone notice that the only candidates are Phillies and pitchers in the NL West?

When will everyone here realize that those guys are having great seasons primarliy because the NL West blows.

[stevenash]

Ian Kennedy belongs in the conversation.

[t-wizzle]

Ian Kennedy belongs in the conversation.

Yes he does, forgot to include him.

[Brock Landers]

Cliff Lee has it in the bag

[t-wizzle]

I don't see anyone getting 20 wins. 20 wins is a magic number but if no one gets to it, it's wide open.

[astrodomer]

I made a thread before the season started that Kershaw would win it and im sticking to it

[InTheDrink]

Yes he does, forgot to include him.

I didn't

he's fifth

there...he's been mentioned

[sweethook]

for me , kershaw

[dlunc3]

Looks like Lee it grabbing this award and trying to run away with it

[LT Profits]

Kershaw has been the best pitcher all year but he may not win it because of his team. Then again, he could also benefit from all the Phillies splitting votes.

[InTheDrink]

Kershaw has been the best pitcher all year but he may not win it because of his team. Then again, he could also benefit from all the Phillies splitting votes.

kershaw = 13 starts vs. nl west
lee = 6

advantage: lee

[LT Profits]

Yeah but Kershaw is legit, he would be the first choice by GMs in a fantasy draft because of his age.

[InTheDrink]

not saying he's not a good pitcher

he's not the best in the league this year

cliff lee is the third pitcher in history to have two 5-0 months with era's under 1.00.....others were walter johnson and bob gibson...he might do it in september the way he's been pitching

[gryfyn1]

Ian Kennedy belongs in the conversation.

no he doesn't, not to say he hasn't had a great year, but he isnt any where near the same level as the big three.

but really

28 GS 16-5 202.2IP 8.7 k/9, 1.1 BB/9, 1.06 WHIP 2.49ERA/2.12 FIP/2.62 xFIP
29 GS 17-5 205.2IP 9.7 k/9, 2.1 BB/9, 1.02 WHIP 2.45ERA/2.44 FIP/2.81 xFIP
28 GS 16-7 203.2IP 9.0 k/9, 1.8 BB/9, 1.03 WHIP 2.47ERA/2.60 FIP/2.76 xFIP

nothing really separates those three its really hard to say that one clearly deserves it over the others

[dlunc3]

no he doesn't, not to say he hasn't had a great year, but he isnt any where near the same level as the big three.

but really

28 GS 16-5 202.2IP 8.7 k/9, 1.1 BB/9, 1.06 WHIP 2.49ERA/2.12 FIP/2.62 xFIP
29 GS 17-5 205.2IP 9.7 k/9, 2.1 BB/9, 1.02 WHIP 2.45ERA/2.44 FIP/2.81 xFIP
28 GS 16-7 203.2IP 9.0 k/9, 1.8 BB/9, 1.03 WHIP 2.47ERA/2.60 FIP/2.76 xFIP

nothing really separates those three its really hard to say that one clearly deserves it over the others

even tho hamels hasnt gotten the run support to get the wins, his numbers are just as good and belong in the list with those three

[gryfyn1]

even tho hamels hasnt gotten the run support to get the wins, his numbers are just as good and belong in the list with those three

while I agree that Hammels has been every bit a good, he pitched about 20 less innings that these three and is slightly behind the in all categories. And I dont think he quite makes it to the top three.

[stevenash]

even tho hamels hasnt gotten the run support to get the wins, his numbers are just as good and belong in the list with those three

Cliff Lee gets 1/2 run a game less run support

[crustyme]

you people are crazy if you think ian kennedy doesnt deserve this.

he leads the nl in wins (18) and winning % (.818). before anyone says wins dont matter, yes they do. past 12 of 19 cy young winners led the league in wins (excluding gagne who won as a closer).

kennedy also has a very good era under 3 (2.96), 1.12 whip (lower than even cc sabathia, greinke, lester, lincecum and felix hernandez).
he is top 10 in nearly every major category.

and we're not even talking abouy intangibles like where would the dbacks be without him? last place. phils w/o halladay? 1st place. w/o lee? 1st. w/o hamels? still first place.

anyone who thinks hamels wins is retarded. any voter considering him has to ask themselves this fundamental question... is he better than lee or halladay? no way. so how can someone who isnt even the best pitcher on his own team deserve an award for best in the league?????

halladay and lee will end up splitting the votes knocking each other out. kershaw may have blown it with his last start. so kennedy could end up with 2-3 more wins and era of 2.70 which should be enough to win.

[daimoshokage]

Cliff Lee.. No doubt!

[InTheDrink]

give it up crusty....he's got no chance

none

i'll be glad to give you odds with points if you feel so strongly about it

[ehp6737]

Lee gets this without question. There are a few hurlers having phenomenal seasons in the NL, but Lee's is just unreal. And he's doing it when it matters most.

For those comparing W's and run support.....the WIN stat in baseball is one of the most overrated statistics in all of sports. I dont care about wins or run support. Those are stats of the past. You can go out and not give up a ER and still lose. The WIN is dependent on the whole team, which makes it infallible when trying to compare pitcher vs pitcher. Cy Young voters hardly even take wins into account anymore. There are too many other "true" stats you can reference. F Hernandez recently won the Cy Young award with only 13 wins. That was unprecented. Voters now realize there are more true ways to assess a pitchers real value.

[beerman2619]

After tonight i would go with Derek Lowe

[crustyme]

give it up crusty....he's got no chance

none

i'll be glad to give you odds with points if you feel so strongly about it

if voting were held today kennedy wouldnt win. doesnt mean he doesnt deserve it. but if at the end of the season he has 2-3 more wins and era around 2.70 he should be the favorite.

id be willing to wager right now on who finishes higher in the voting: kennedy or hamels.

you in?

[Tech N9ne]

Kershaw and its not even close

[InTheDrink]

if voting were held today kennedy wouldnt win. doesnt mean he doesnt deserve it. but if at the end of the season he has 2-3 more wins and era around 2.70 he should be the favorite. id be willing to wager right now on who finishes higher in the voting: kennedy or hamels. you in?

wtf does hamels have to do with it?

you just posted this:

you people are crazy if you think ian kennedy doesnt deserve this.

honestly just stop with the kennedy nonsense

[Cap dat 4ss]

Roy Halladay. Had Cliff Lee been throwing all season the way he has been since the break, he'd probably be the favorite. But right now I'd go Halladay 1, Kershaw a close second.

[crustyme]

Lee gets this without question. There are a few hurlers having phenomenal seasons in the NL, but Lee's is just unreal. And he's doing it when it matters most.

For those comparing W's and run support.....the WIN stat in baseball is one of the most overrated statistics in all of sports. I dont care about wins or run support. Those are stats of the past. You can go out and not give up a ER and still lose. The WIN is dependent on the whole team, which makes it infallible when trying to compare pitcher vs pitcher. Cy Young voters hardly even take wins into account anymore. There are too many other "true" stats you can reference. F Hernandez recently won the Cy Young award with only 13 wins. That was unprecented. Voters now realize there are more true ways to assess a pitchers real value.

lee could lose his last 10 starts and phils would still win the division and secure home field. if kennedy loses 10 in a row, dbacks dont make the playoffs.
so hes been under the gun every single start as they are must wins.

what the baseball writers have proven is that they have no logic or reason for their voting. look at 2002 for example... pedro dominated every category: 2.26 era, .92 whip, 239 ks, 144 hits allowed yet didnt win. they gave it to barry zito, who led the league in just 1 category, you guessed it: wins.

so this could very well be the season they vote for wins over era & whip.

[InTheDrink]

crusty, seriously what's got you rock hard over kennedy? he doesn't have a chance and you arguing otherwise is getting ridiculous

are you in his family or something?

[BobHarvey]

The ballot should read:

Kershaw
Kennedy
Lee

[InTheDrink]

the ballot should read: Kershaw kennedy lee

nLOLwest

[crustyme]

wtf does hamels have to do with it?

you just posted this:



honestly just stop with the kennedy nonsense

what dont you get? kennedy deserves it just as anyone else. youre the one whos saying its an insult to include him in the conversation.

meanwhile youre hyping up hamels who has no chance whatsoever since hes not even the top 2 best on his own team.

so put ur money or pts where your mouth is... i say kennedy gets more votes than hamels even though u think hes not even worthy of being mentioned with your cy young favorite hamels.

[JMobile]

Clayton Kershaw and Ian Kennedy as runner up.
End of story and discussion!

[Ace_of_Spades]

Kennedy won't win it, but he is worth a shout.

[InTheDrink]

what dont you get? kennedy deserves it just as anyone else. youre the one whos saying its an insult to include him in the conversation. meanwhile youre hyping up hamels who has no chance whatsoever since hes not even the top 2 best on his own team. so put ur money or pts where your mouth is... i say kennedy gets more votes than hamels even though u think hes not even worthy of being mentioned with your cy young favorite hamels.

i just posted the other day (right up there ^) that doc and lee were my picks ahead of him....and i even threw in kershaw

i still dont understand what you're arguing son. hamels will not win cy, nor will kennedy.