For starting pitchers in MLB Baseball, there are fewer nightmares that are worst than taking the mound everyday knowing that your offense is the worst in the entire league.
That is exactly what Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Felix Hernandez faced for the entire 2010 season, as the Mariners ranked last in the MLB in runs scored with only 513, or just 3.16 runs per game.
The Pittsburgh Pirates were the next lowest with 587 runs. The Mariners scored 74 runs fewer than the next lowest team!
But Hernandez did so much more for this Seattle team and if he played with any other team in baseball, Hernandez arguably would've posted 20 plus victories with ease.
Hernandez finished the season with a 13-12 record, a 1.06 WHIP, and 2.27 ERA that led all of the American League. Hernandez ranked 1st the AL in innings pitched (249.6), ranked 2nd in strikeouts (232), 3rd in complete games (6), and tied for 4th in getting ground balls for a double play (25).
Its this body of work, despite only 13 victories for a Seattle Mariners team that won just 61 times for the entire season.
The award is not meant for the best pitcher on a playoff team, but goes to the best pitcher in the American League, and Felix Hernandez absolutely was the best pitcher in the American League in 2010.
Here is how I would've filled out the rest of my AL Cy Young Award Ballot
2. Clay Bucholz - Boston Red Sox - Bucholz was second in the American league with a 2.33 ERA and had an impressive 17-7 record. Bucholz allowed opposing hitters to bat just .226 off of him, which was 6th best in the AL.
3. David Price - Tampa Bay Rays - Price was 3rd in the American League with a 2.72 ERA while compiling a record of 19-6. Price was also 8th in the AL in strikeouts with 188.
4. Jered Weaver - Los Angeles Angels - Led the league in strikeouts with 233 while posting a WHIP of just 1.07.
5. C.C. Sabathia - New York Yankees - Led the league in wins with 21, but was not in the top 5 for many of the major categories.
I have to agree with you {Yankee fan}. If my memory is correct, I believe back in the 50's Bobby Schantz of the old Philadalphia A, also won the award for a cellar dwellar or close to it team. That was in the days of only 8 teams in each division and the caliber of players wasn't as diluted.
ReplyDeleteAll good points unfortunately the media who vote on this put way to much stock and value into Wins not overall numbers. It drives me nuts. If he doesnt I will go on a big rant on my site www.intheot.com
ReplyDeleteHopefully I don't have to and hopefully jutice is served and Felix gets the Cy Young, but if not, I'll look forward to reading your stuff.
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