[外電] AL Cy could boil down to longtime rivals
AL Cy could boil down to longtime rivals
09/11/2007 10:00 AM ET
By Tom Singer / MLB.com
Just when you thought the Yankees and the Red Sox had
exhausted all possible manifestation of their intense
rivalry ... here come the ballots for the American League Cy
Young Award.
Both AL East kingpins have suited up their fair share of
pitchers on the receiving end of their art's highest award,
with Pedro Martinez (1999 and 2000) and Roger Clemens (2001)
keeping the honor in the I-95 corridor.
But Yankees and Red Sox pitchers have never contested the
same Cy Young Award, never finishing in the top two in the
vote since the award's inception in 1956.
Well, there is always a first time. Boston's Josh Beckett
and New York's Chien-Ming Wang are the respective leaders of
their postseason-bound staffs, and both will receive ample
support among the voting members of the Baseball Writers
Association of America. They are hardly running a match
race, but their season-long excellence on the road to 20
wins will be hard to ignore.
Their most serious competition will come from another
undisputed staff ace, C.C. Sabathia, the big chief of the
Cleveland Indians. Right-handers John Lackey and Kelvim
Escobar, virtually peers in the Angels rotation, figure to
cancel each other out in the voting booth.
As for relievers, they are simply not invited to this party.
The last closer to earn the award, even as saves totals keep
skyrocketing, was Dennis Eckersley, back in 1992. The
highest-ranking closer in the vote last year -- even after a
season without a 20-game winner -- was Francisco Rodriguez,
whose 47 saves were worth five ballot points out of a
possible 140.
Maybe it is time that closers had their own comparable
award. The potential inspiration for that is still among us
-- San Diego's Trevor Hoffman, who with 519 saves has
already surpassed the 511 wins by the pitcher whose name is
on the Cy Young Award.
FAVORITES
Wang, Yankees: If Cy Young balloting were like some cell
phone plans, Wang would be a shoo-in thanks to rollover
votes. He didn't receive a single first-place vote last
year, even though he matched winner Johan Santana's 19-6
record. So now he is producing a carbon copy, with no one
even close to his two-year record of 37-12 (Santana is
34-17, Justin Verlander 33-14, Roy Halladay 30-12). But what
makes Wang truly stand out is his responsibility for the
Yankees' contention, through his remarkable consistency. He
has not made it to at least the sixth inning only twice in
27 starts.
Beckett, Red Sox: Despite a fresh face (Daisuke Matsuzaka)
and a cured arm (Curt Schilling), the cognoscenti tabbed
Beckett as the key man on Boston's staff -- and he has
delivered splendidly, also delivering on his potential. For
the fourth consecutive season, Beckett has raised his
victory total and has become a smart pitcher, not just a
hothead thrower. Leading evidence of that is having more
than halved both his walks (74 to 36) and homer yields (36
to 14). But he doesn't stand out on his staff as Wang does
on his; not even close.
Sabathia, Indians: Finishing strong to give Cleveland its
first 20-game winner since Gaylord Perry (1974) could sway
the voting in the big left-hander's behalf. He is certainly
worthy, with an amazing strikeouts-to-walks ratio
(185-to-33) for a tall lefty -- historically the mold for
wildness. Has already posted career highs in innings and
strikeouts while matching his single-season high of 17 wins.
Eight of his wins have followed Tribe losses.
DARK HORSES
Lackey, Angels: A rocky four-start stretch beginning in
mid-August probably ejected the right-hander from possibly
even the favorite's seat. He surrendered 26 hits and 13 runs
in 17 2/3 innings around his clutch Aug. 27 shutout in
Seattle. But remember that word "clutch," as well as
"workhorse"; he has gone seven-plus innings in 13 of his
last 23 starts. And his 8-1 record against the other AL West
teams is a big reason for the Angels pulling away from the
division.
Escobar, Angels: Many consider the one-time reliever and
swing starter the Angels' best money pitcher, who has really
flourished once given a permanent place in the rotation. And
he could very well end up leading the league in ERA -- on
the 30th anniversary of the last time an Angels hurler did
so, Frank Tanana in 1977. But he and Lackey are essentially
the same pitcher, with virtually identical numbers.
HONORABLE MENTION
Fausto Carmona, Indians; Erik Bedard, Orioles; J.J. Putz,
Mariners; Joe Borowski, Indians; Jonathan Papelbon, Red Sox
--
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