Who should be the N.L. Cy Young?

Question

There really isnt a clear cut choice like in the A.L. with Santana.

Answer 1

Lidge, oh wait......Prior, damn......uhmmmm.....my point being this league is struggling for a great pitcher. The top two in wins are Penny and Webb. Penny has an ERA over 4 and Webb has an era under 3. So by that I would go with Webb, but Webb isn't on a winning team, then we have to look at Carpenter and Tracshel. By the numbers it comes down to Carpenter vs. Webb. They have 1 game difference in wins, almost identical ERA, the both have 5 CGs and 3 shutouts (a very underestimated stat in my belief). Carpenter has 9 more strikeouts and 9 less innings pitched. I think I would give it to Carpenter by a slim margin.

Answer 2

Carpenter will be awarded the Cy Young again. Here are my top 4 candidates in order of preference:

1) Chris Carpenter
2) Brandon Webb
3) Carlos Zambrano
4) Brad Penny

Zambrano has shut it down for the season and may have been a stronger candidate if he had finished the season. Penny has a much higher ERA, less strikeouts, and no complete games or shutouts compared to Webb and Carpenter.

Thus the race really comes down to Webb and Carpenter. I pick Carpenter because he's pitched phenomenally when it really counted for the Cardinals. In the second half, the Cardinals pitching staff has been pitiful aside from Suppan. Without Carpenter there is no telling where the Cardinals might be.

Granted the Cardinals team is much better than the Diamondbacks, so Webb earns points for pitching for a rather noncontender, even though they were in the pennant chase until the beginning of this month.

If you evaluate purely on statistics, Webb and Carpenter are nearly identical. Despite Carpenter's blowup last night, he still has a slightly better ERA than Webb. Webb has the additional win, but otherwise they've both pitched 5 complete games, 3 of them shutouts. Two other defining statistics of a pitcher are WHIP and opponent's batting average. Carpenter leads both those categories (WHIP 1.04, .274); Webb (WHIP 1.13, .284).

With that said and considering the Cardinals will be going to the playoffs behind Carpenter's performance, the NL Cy Young should go to Carpenter. Sorry Webb, you pitched valiantly but not quite enough this year.

Answer 3

First of all, you think Santana is a "clear cut choice" in the AL? Though he is probably the front runner, don't expect it to be a unamious decision. I expect his teammate Nathan as well as Papelbon (BOS) and Wang (NYY) to get some first place votes.

In the National League, how about Brandon Webb of Arizona? The guy plays for a crappy team but still has a 16-7 record, 2.95 ERA, 167 Ks and a WHIP of 1.13.

Answer 4

Definitely Brad Penny

Answer 5

Chris Carpenter...comming on real strong, and is putting up soild numbers. I would of said Josh Johnson from FL, but he has been falling of a little bit as of late....Johan Santana for CY? No way, its gotta be Rudy Seanez! haha

Answer 6

How about Trevor Hoffman? The guy just set the all-time save record and the Padres now have the 2nd best record in the NL.

Answer 7

Brad Penny or Brandon Webb

Answer 8

Brandon Webb. Coming down the stretch hes had 2 back to back CG, with one SHO. He has the lowest era in the NL and is tied fo rmost wins. HE has a NASTY sinker that hitters have said is one of the sickest pitches in baseball. He gets wins even though his team is full of garbage players

Answer 9

David Wright

Answer 10

John Smoltz