A Sigh on Cy

Which candidate do you think is most worthy of the Cy Young Award?

• Candidate A: 2.83 ERA, .231 Batting Average Against, 51 BB, 213 K, 204 H, 241.2 IP
• Candidate B: 2.63 ERA, .243 Batting Average Against, 55 BB, 170 K, 213 H, 236.1 IP
• Candidate C: 1.87 ERA, .198 Batting Average Against, 62 BB, 185 K, 151 H, 211.1 IP

From the stats, it looks like Candidate C was clearly the most dominating pitcher of the three. Naturally, Candidate A (Chris Carpenter of the Cardinals) won the National League Cy Young Award today, edging out Candidate B (Dontrelle Willis of the Marlins). Candidate C was Roger Clemens and he finished far behind the other two. The reason; check out the won-loss records:

• Carpenter: 21-5
• Willis: 22-10
• Clemens: 13-8

Clemens was punished because the Astros did not give him the run support he needed to win 20 games. It is even more ludicrous when you look at Clemens' career numbers and see that 2005 might have been the best statistical season of his career; approaching his 1986 and 1991 campaigns. Now let us look at three other candidates:

• Candidate A: 3.48 ERA, .254 Batting Average Against, 43 BB, 157 K, 215 H, 222.2 IP
• Candidate B: 1.38 ERA, .177 Batting Average Against, 18 BB, 80 K, 50 H, 78.1 IP
• Candidate C: 2.87 ERA, .210 Batting Average Against, 45 BB, 238K, 180 H, 231.2 IP

Again, Candidate A (Bartolo Colon of the Angels) won the AL Cy Young Award. Candidate B (Mariano Rivera) was second, and Candidate C (Johan Santana of the Twins) finished third. The records?:

• Colon: 21-8
• Rivera: 7-4, 43 Saves
• Santana: 16-7

Again, the pitcher with the worst record had a better year statistically than the Cy Young winner in every category except wins and losses. What is really frustrating is that the pitcher having the better year gets snubbed all too often. It happened to Randy Johnson last year, and Perdo Martinez in 2002. It is almost amazing that Pedro Martinez won in 1997 while posting "only" a 17-8 record. Now, I am not saying that there should be statistical requirements to win the award. I just wish writers would better recognize the importance of relevant stastical information. If a pitcher goes 10-15 with a 1.60 ERA and a .175 BAA on a last place team, and another pitchers goes 23-7 with a 3.85 ERA and a .267 BAA, who is the better pitcher.

The award does not go to the most valuable pitcher. When it comes to the Cy Young Award, numbers matter.