One last thing on Santana ...
... then I promise I'll stop.
I was a little surprised that I received a few phone calls yesterday asking why I put Johan Santana at the top of my Cy ballot and Tim Lincecum at No. 2. Here's an article from the SF Chronicle on that particular subject, with the closing quote from yours truly, but I think my reasons were better articulated in today's story in Newsday.
A couple of things I may have left out.
-- Santana went 2-0 with a 2.97 ERA in five starts against the world champion Phillies. He struck out 32 in 36 1/3 innings with six walks. Three of those starts were at Citizens Bank Park, where he whiffed 22 in 21 innings and walked only three.
-- Against the NL East, a division that supposedly "hated" the Mets, Santana was 8-2 with a 2.58 ERA in 14 starts. Lincecum had the benefit of living in the NL West, a division full of weak teams this season and pitcher-friendly parks. Yes, even Coors Field is better now since they've been using the humidifier.
-- The measure of a truly great pitching performance often has to do with the magnitude of the game. Did Lincecum pitch in a "big game" all year? I know that the Giants were bad, which makes his job tougher, but there's not much pressure either. The Giants were 12 games out by May 19.
As for Santana, every time he took the mound, he was expected to win, from April through September. He was unbeaten since June 28 and went 9-0 with a 2.09 ERA in those last 17 starts. He also was named Pitcher of the Month for September, when Santana went 4-0 with a 1.83 ERA.
-- Santana had three complete games, one more than Lincecum, and pitched a shutout in his final start -- on three days' rest with a torn meniscus in his left knee. Santana had a 1.148 WHIP, Lincecum had a 1.172.
OK, that's it. I'm done.
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Comments (3)
Hi Dave,
You are preaching to the choir. I wonder if the bullpen will chip in to make up for the possible incentive that Johan will now not receive.(hopefully as their parting gift) Sadly, I think you had to watch Johan pitch every start to appreciate him. Especially after that debacle in the first game of the Phillie series in July. I think he took that to heart. What qualifications do you need to acquire a vote, just out of curiousity? Webb's breakdown in August and September led to the Dbacks losing their division. And as you pointed out, in possibly the worst division in baseball, Lincecum was out of the pennant race very early, but what do we know, right? Mets in 09!!!
The voting on awards is done by BBWAA members nationwide, and each writer usually votes on a different one each year. This year, I just happened to have the Cy Young. Usually, awards like the Cy and MVP go to the more senior members of the BBWAA.
The BBWAA must love your mutton chops, that's why they let you vote on the CY, David!! : o_O
Very compelling argument you laid out. I totally agree with voting for the pitcher who had the most difficult schedule/big games than simply who won and struck out the most.