[外電] Hoffman the runner-up for NL Cy Young
D-backs' Webb takes hardware over the all-time saves leader
Trevor Hoffman's remarkable 2006 season culminated on Tuesday with his
selection as runner-up to Arizona's Brandon Webb in the National League's Cy
Young Award race.
Hoffman, who established the all-time career saves record with 482 while
nailing down 46 saves in 51 opportunities for the National League West champion
Padres, was named first on 12 of 32 ballots submitted by members of the
Baseball Writers Association of America.
Webb, who tied for the league lead in victories and shutouts, was the first
choice on 15 ballots. Webb finished with 103 total votes compared to 73 by
Hoffman, who was second on three ballots and third on eight. Points are based
on a 5-3-1 tabulation system.
St. Louis' Chris Carpenter, the 2005 Cy Young Award winner, finished third with
63 points and two first-place votes.
No pitcher was named on every ballot.
Hoffman was in Mexico with his family on Tuesday and unavailable for comment.
Reached at his home near Houston, Padres setup man Scott Linebrink expressed
disappointment that his teammate wasn't chosen but understood the difficulty
a closer has in competing against starters in the Cy Young voting.
"The last couple weeks, when Webb and Carpenter fell off a little bit, it
looked like Hoffy had a legitimate shot at winning it," Linebrink said. "His
consistency, of course, is nothing new, but Trevor really had a great season.
"If the Cy Young is based on domination, I don't know who goes out and
dominates as consistently as a guy who saves games with eight or nine pitches.
"It's always tough for a reliever to win the Cy Young. I remember in 2003 when
[the Dodgers'] Eric Gagne had a perfect season [55-for-55] and there were
[voters] saying that the award shouldn't go to a reliever. If it's hard for a
guy to win it with the season Gagne had, then I can see why it would be
difficult for Trevor to get enough votes."
Before Gagne, Dennis Eckersley with Oakland in 1992 was the previous reliever
to win a Cy Young Award. Padres reliever Mark Davis won the Cy Young in 1989.
Philadelphia's Steve Bedrosian claimed the award in 1987, and Detroit's Willie
Hernandez was the 1984 Cy Young winner. Rollie Fingers (Milwaukee, 1981), Bruce
Sutter (Chicago, 1979), Sparky Lyle (New York Yankees, 1977), Mike Marshall
(Los Angeles Dodgers, 1974) earned Cy Youngs out of the bullpen.
Clay Hensley, who was introduced to the Major Leagues in the Padres' bullpen in
2005 and became a successful starter in '06, said he'd anticipated Hoffman
getting the nod.
"After what Hoffy accomplished this year, I thought it should have been a
no-brainer," Hensley said. "I know it's a little more difficult for a guy in
his position, closing games, but I still think he should have won it hands down.
"I learned so much from Hoffy, being around him. He's an amazing competitor, a
total pro, and a great, great teammate."
Webb had a 16-8 record with a 3.10 ERA in a career-high 235 innings, second in
the NL. He was tied with five other pitchers for the most victories. Webb's
three shutouts were equaled by Carpenter (15-8, 3.09 ERA).
The other three first-place votes went to the Houston Astros' Roy Oswalt (15-8,
2.98 ERA), who was fourth overall.
Finishing the season with 482 career saves -- becoming the first pitcher to
have at least 30 saves in 11 seasons -- Hoffman eclipsed Lee Smith, the former
record-holder with 478.
Hoffman's league-leading 46 saves represented the second-highest total of his
career, exceeded only by his 53 saves in 1998.
Appearing in 65 games, the most since he made 70 appearances in 2000, Hoffman
fashioned a 2.14 ERA across 63 innings. He walked only 13 while striking out 50,
holding hitters to a .205 batting average.
He made his fifth career All-Star Game appearance for the National League.
During the National League Championship Series, Mets closer Billy Wagner called
Hoffman "the standard we're all measured by, the best of the best. I can't
begin to tell you how much respect I have for Trevor, as a pitcher and as a
person. He's always been supportive of me, making me feel good about myself."
Padres general manager Kevin Towers and former manager Bruce Bochy took to the
campaign trail late in the season, lobbying for Hoffman in the Cy Young race.
"The Cy Young is for what a guy does for his ballclub," Towers said in
September, "and who's done more for his ballclub in the National League than
Trevor? Where are we without him?"
Hoffman saved nine of the Padres' final 13 wins, including their final two games
in Arizona, as they won 14 of their last 19 games to win the NL West.
"You never hear his name mentioned nationally with the Cy Young candidates," To
wers said. "What does Trevor have to do?
"There aren't any starters having huge seasons. I don't see any dominant
candidates there. Why not consider a closer? Not only is he having a great
season -- he's on his way to breaking the all-time saves record. Wouldn't it be
kind of fitting to see him win the Cy Young and get that record in that same
season?"
In 1998, his finest season statistically, Hoffman saved a career-high 53 games
to lead the league. He was second in the Cy Young Award balloting to Atlanta's
Tom Glavine and seventh in the Most Valuable Player balloting.
"I don't get a lot of national attention," Hoffman said, "but that probably
works to my favor. I don't worry much about awards, that kind of thing."
Bochy frequently talked about how fortunate he was to have Hoffman as his closer
for his entire run in San Diego as manager, starting in 1995.
"Trevor keeps showing why he's a Hall of Fame-caliber pitcher," Bochy said.
Hoffman's matchless changeup continues to baffle hitters who have faced him
repeatedly, and he was hitting 90 mph on guns late in the season, his fastball
more than a show pitch. His ability to hit corners and stare down pressure
have made Hoffman one of the best closers in history, and, at 39, he shows no
signs of letting up or slowing down.
"Any ballplayer will tell you they strive to be consistent," he said after
surpassing Smith on Sept. 24 against Pittsburgh at PETCO Park. "I've been
blessed to have great support over the years from the guys in the bullpen with
me. That and staying injury-free, those are the things you need to get
something like that done."
In 1998, when he finished second to Glavine, Hoffman was given two more first-place votes than the Braves southpaw. But six voters omitted the Padres'
closer from their ballots.
This time, Hoffman was left off nine ballots, while Webb appeared on all but
three. Carpenter, like Hoffman, was not listed on nine ballots.
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