tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624254435992330014.post4362125922351807034..comments2023-10-28T08:31:25.462-04:00Comments on Subway Squawkers - A Yankees-Mets Rivalry Blog: Why David Price deserved to finish ahead of CC Sabathia in the AL Cy Young raceSubway Squawkershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04156896665605326549noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624254435992330014.post-75613936487043926412010-11-19T15:50:25.641-05:002010-11-19T15:50:25.641-05:00If the purpose of a pitcher is to stop the other t...If the purpose of a pitcher is to stop the other team's offense so that your own has a chance to win, wouldn't you want Greinke (2.16 ERA in 2009) or Hernandez (2.49) over Sabathia (3.37)? <br /><br />The disparity is even greater in a sabermetric stat like Baseball Reference's WAR, where Greinke won in 2009 with 9.0, while Sabathia was tied for ninth with 4.3.<br /><br />In 2010, Sabathia was actually a lot closer in BR's WAR, finishing tied for second with Weaver and Buchholz at 5.4 behind Hernandez' 6.0. Price was at 5.3.Jon Lewinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15879924630761240519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624254435992330014.post-17665899349119038032010-11-19T15:11:43.815-05:002010-11-19T15:11:43.815-05:00Again, the Cy Young, like the MVP, isn't about...Again, the Cy Young, like the MVP, isn't about "best" or "most outstanding," it's about "most valuable," and with all due respect to Mariner fans -- who never showed up until 1995 and seemed to disappear after October 2001 -- Felix Hernandez was not the most valuable pitcher in the American League this season. If you're only 1 game over .500, you're not Cy Young-worthy unless you're a reliever with a truckload of saves.<br /><br />I don't object to David Price being picked over CC Sabathia; if CC deserved the Cy, it was last season, not this one. But that season, too, the Cy went to the wrong guy: Zack Grienke did nothing to help get the Royals out of last place, and Hernandez, who finished 2nd in the voting, was only good enough to help the Mariners get above .500. CC was the most valuable pitcher in the AL that season, and anybody who says otherwise simply doesn't understand that the purpose of a pitcher is to stop the other team's offense so that your own has a chance to win. Pitching and defense, as in all sports, doesn't win, it gives your hitters a chance to win.Uncle Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11618876073064128027noreply@blogger.com