I think it is fair to say there can be a reasonable discussion when it comes to most of the postseason awards. Perhaps for the exception of AL MVP (Miguel Cabrera), AL ROY (Mike Trout) and NL MOY (Davey Johnson). Most of the other awards should be (have been) closely contested including tonights AL and NL Cy Young awards.
Like most other people, I will give my two cents on who should win the award. While I think it will be David Price (the first Rays pitcher to win the award) to take the award in the AL, ( though a strong case can be made for Justin Verlander) I am going with Mets RHP RA Dickey to become the third pitcher in the history of the franchise to win the Cy Young. It is not because I am a Mets fan, it is because the numbers say he should edge out Dodgers LHP Clayton Kershaw and Nationals LHP Gio Gonzalez.
It should be a close vote, as all three pitchers seriously deserve consideration. Left out of the equation are non-finalists Johnny Cueto, Craig Kimbrel and Aroldis Chapman, all having Cy Young type seasons. Gonzalez won 21(-8) games, leading the NL while pitching for the first place Nationals. Gonzalez also led the NL in fewest HR/9 IP as well as most Ks/9 IP. Kershaw finished 14-9, leading the NL in ERA at 2.53, WHIP at 1.023 and fewest hits/9 IP.
Dickey should get the award because he was the iron man of the NL. In a league that pitchers pitch fewer innings because of pitch counts, Dickey could be counted on to pitch 7+ innings just about every start. Thats backed up by the fact he led the NL in complete games (5) and shutouts (3) as well as innings pitched (233 2/3) and batters faced (927). His 230 Ks led the NL, albeit by just 1 over Kershaw, and he finished with a 20-6 record, a higher winning percentage than both Gonzalez and Kershaw. That stands out because he faced more batters and pitched more innings than both of the other finalists. While Kershaw gets credit for finishing 1 K behind Dickey, it evens up when you look at Dickey having just a slightly higher WHIP (1.053-1.023).
I think in the end it will be a two horse race between Dickey and Kershaw, even though Gonzalez pitched his team into the postseason. Lets get something straight. Dickey winning the Cy Young will be nothing more than an honor for Dickey himself. There is no victory involved for the Mets if he wins. I will feel no better or worse if the Mets have a Cy Young winner or not. It will not take away the fact that the Mets have much to improve on if they expect themselves to be competitive in 2013 and beyond. But, throw in the fact that he was the league's biggest workhorse, led the league in Ks and had a higher winning percentage on a worse team that the other two candidates, to me at least, it is clear that RA Dickey should win the 2012 NL Cy Young. Even if it turns out to be as close of a vote as Dickey and Kershaw's strikeout totals (230-229).
It should be a close vote, as all three pitchers seriously deserve consideration. Left out of the equation are non-finalists Johnny Cueto, Craig Kimbrel and Aroldis Chapman, all having Cy Young type seasons. Gonzalez won 21(-8) games, leading the NL while pitching for the first place Nationals. Gonzalez also led the NL in fewest HR/9 IP as well as most Ks/9 IP. Kershaw finished 14-9, leading the NL in ERA at 2.53, WHIP at 1.023 and fewest hits/9 IP.
Dickey should get the award because he was the iron man of the NL. In a league that pitchers pitch fewer innings because of pitch counts, Dickey could be counted on to pitch 7+ innings just about every start. Thats backed up by the fact he led the NL in complete games (5) and shutouts (3) as well as innings pitched (233 2/3) and batters faced (927). His 230 Ks led the NL, albeit by just 1 over Kershaw, and he finished with a 20-6 record, a higher winning percentage than both Gonzalez and Kershaw. That stands out because he faced more batters and pitched more innings than both of the other finalists. While Kershaw gets credit for finishing 1 K behind Dickey, it evens up when you look at Dickey having just a slightly higher WHIP (1.053-1.023).
I think in the end it will be a two horse race between Dickey and Kershaw, even though Gonzalez pitched his team into the postseason. Lets get something straight. Dickey winning the Cy Young will be nothing more than an honor for Dickey himself. There is no victory involved for the Mets if he wins. I will feel no better or worse if the Mets have a Cy Young winner or not. It will not take away the fact that the Mets have much to improve on if they expect themselves to be competitive in 2013 and beyond. But, throw in the fact that he was the league's biggest workhorse, led the league in Ks and had a higher winning percentage on a worse team that the other two candidates, to me at least, it is clear that RA Dickey should win the 2012 NL Cy Young. Even if it turns out to be as close of a vote as Dickey and Kershaw's strikeout totals (230-229).
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