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With Another Great Start, It's Time to Give Zack Greinke the Cy Young Award

Royalsreview_tiny by royalsreview on in News Comment 137 comments

Focus on what matters. Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Zack Greinke throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

More photos » by Charlie Riedel - AP

Focus on what matters. Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Zack Greinke throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Browse more photos »

So Zack Greinke was able to shut down the Red Sox, just like he shut down everyone else. Are you, the incredibly small group of baseball writers that we take way too seriously, satisfied yet?

Greinke threw six scoreless innings against Boston on Tuesday night, allowing just two hits, while lowering his ERA on the season to 2.08. A patient Boston lineup did draw three walks, although Greinke also struck out five.

Late last week I heard Peter Gammons discussing Zack Greinke's Cy Young chances on ESPN Radio. Like everyone else, Gammons agreed that Greinke was the best pitcher in the American League this season, although he did not hesitate to add that one weak part of his resume was that he hadn't faced the Red Sox or Yankees in 2009.

(Of course, the Royals only play the Red Sox and Yankees twice a season, and half of those games had yet to be played. Greinke was slated to face Boston in four days and is likely to pitch against New York later this month. Not surprisingly, this point was not made. Never let the factual details get in the way of your point, I suppose.)

Last year, Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay had similar numbers (save in the win column, essentially the least helpful stat) and I argued that Halladay deserved the Cy Young over Lee by virtue of facing the Red Sox, Yankees and Rays a total of sixteen times, while Lee seemingly pitched against the Royals once a week. Zack Greinke, it must be said, not only has to be teammates with the Royals, by rule, he is also not allowed to pitch against them.

Star-divide

The strength of opposition argument is valid... when we're comparing two pitchers who are close. However, this season, no one is close to Greinke. He's the best pitcher in baseball this season. There's no one in the same ... oh, hell, ballpark, right now. He's having one of the best seasons of the decade. He's even got a great off-field story, which does matter to people. He's the Cy Young.

Give the man the damn award.

2 recs  |  Comment 137 comments |

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Read More: 2009 cy young, Zack Greinke (P - KAN), Kansas City Royals, Tampa Bay Rays, Boston Red Sox at Kansas City Royals, Sep 22, 2009 8:10 PM EDT

Comments

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That picture

is pretty sweet

Holy Shit!!!...Peterson resigned...Am I dead?...Is This Heaven?

by RoyalsFanStuckInCardsLand on Sep 22, 2009 10:45 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Nice Greinke pic there

And way to split the series early!

If you watch Rambo backwards, it's Sylvester Stallone healing people with his magic bullet vacuum.

by ratherfantastic on Sep 22, 2009 10:46 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

6 out save

4 out save
3 out save
1 pitch save

Soria can do it all

hope he’s available tomorrow

Graduate with a B.S. from the Dayton Moore School of Stats Analysis

by BHWick on Sep 22, 2009 10:49 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

these are the games that you have to win

Graduate with a B.S. from the Dayton Moore School of Stats Analysis

by BHWick on Sep 22, 2009 10:54 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

It probably happens more often than you think

if you watch closely. Last year Joe Girardi used every good pitcher in the Yankee bullpen in game 161 about a week after the Yankees were eliminated to save Mike Mussina’s first and only 20 win season. Personal milestones for your ace are a big deal to every manager.

by swing and a miss on Sep 22, 2009 11:02 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

we should bet on it

I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at Driveline Mechanics.

Can't get enough of me? Check out my Twitter feed.

by devil_fingers on Sep 23, 2009 9:29 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Is a sub 2.00 ERA possible?

Greinke has currently given up 50 ER which means he would need to throw a total of 225.1 IP in order to have an ERA of 1.997. He has currently thrown 206.1 innings, so he needs exactly 19 IP without an ER in order to make it. Unfortunately he only has 2 starts left, so barring two extraordinary efforts (plus maybe a relief appearance thrown in there), it does not look too good.

by Mac'n'Seitz on Sep 23, 2009 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I don't know why I care about the award.

But I really do. We need some sort of thing to be proud of with this team, other than they play above replacement level baseball only in September and occasionally April.

by KCScuba on Sep 22, 2009 10:55 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

it was good enough

but i need at least one meaningless award every 6 years

by KCScuba on Sep 22, 2009 10:58 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Win # 63

means we’re guaranteed another season with losses in the mere double digits.

And now we’re a full 1.5 games out of last place.

Chaim Mattis Keller New York City's # 1 Royals fan!

by cmkeller on Sep 22, 2009 10:58 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

they're less likely to fuck up a lower pick

it’ll zone them in on a larger pool of players so they don’t get herded into picking someone just because they’re supposed to be a high pick

Graduate with a B.S. from the Dayton Moore School of Stats Analysis

by BHWick on Sep 22, 2009 11:01 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I agree...

though it would be fun to have a run at Bryce Harper

Desperately hoping for Desperate Measures

by averagegatsby on Sep 22, 2009 11:02 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

And let's not forget the gloating factor

for those of us in New England. That’s ewwwwwwwwwwwge!

by LaFLamme on Sep 22, 2009 10:59 PM EDT reply actions   1 recs

I was out all evening and I don't know if this was covered

but I saw John Kruk discussing Xaq and they were talking about his league lowest ERA, but Kruk said that he has to win the final three games to win the Cy Young in his mind. “He needs 16 wins”. Nice analysis Krukie.

"Things could always be worse." - Buddy Bell

by buddyball on Sep 22, 2009 11:00 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Don't Question The

Judgement of a one balled man who has shot a deer from his hot tub in West Virginia.

I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.

by philofthenorth on Sep 23, 2009 2:22 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

LOL I'm watching the NESN postgame

Fun to hear dave roberts say zack didn’t pitch that great tonight, was getting all the calls on the outside corner, and he’d still give the cy young to sabathia.

……….wtf???? like what planet do these people live on?

-

by slayor on Sep 22, 2009 11:02 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Wasn't Greinke getting squeezed?

I wasn’t really watching every pitch, but I know everyone was bitching about it.

Desperately hoping for Desperate Measures

by averagegatsby on Sep 22, 2009 11:04 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

well, I didn't watch

but if the ball is on the outside corner, it is a strike…

"Things could always be worse." - Buddy Bell

by buddyball on Sep 22, 2009 11:04 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

He lives on the planet

‘Red Sox Nation’

BREAKING NEWS!!!!
Kanye West just interrupted Patrick Swayze's funeral to let everyone know
that Michael Jackson's funeral was better!!!

by labbadabba on Sep 22, 2009 11:18 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

That Dave Roberts interview was a joke. What a bunch of whiny ass tools. They were ALL about the bad calls that went Zack’s way. It worked the other way, too.

by LaFLamme on Sep 22, 2009 11:04 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

yeah, nevermind the fact that the hottest team in baseball only got TWO HITS IN SIX INNINGS

one of htem a double on a cookie pitch after he got squeezed into a 3-1 count on pedroia…. unbelievable whining and pouting, and people wonder why anybody on the east coast despises yankees / red sox fans

-

by slayor on Sep 22, 2009 11:05 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Just like KU fans

But in all seriousness, I’d like to punch Dave Roberts in the freaking face!!

Coffee. The NEW Performance Enhancing drug for Sport's Writers. Just ask Ken Rosenthal.

by 306008 on Sep 22, 2009 11:08 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

easy now.

we’re all friends here and it should stay that way…

BREAKING NEWS!!!!
Kanye West just interrupted Patrick Swayze's funeral to let everyone know
that Michael Jackson's funeral was better!!!

by labbadabba on Sep 22, 2009 11:18 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

NHZ?

I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.

by philofthenorth on Sep 23, 2009 2:24 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Splitty is starting to sound a little better...

maybe its the talking everyday, “stretching” the chords a little

Desperately hoping for Desperate Measures

by averagegatsby on Sep 22, 2009 11:06 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I really hope he gets back to normal

I can’t really continue to make fun of Lou Holtz and now Split

Holy Shit!!!...Peterson resigned...Am I dead?...Is This Heaven?

by RoyalsFanStuckInCardsLand on Sep 22, 2009 11:07 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

not Split^^

Holy Shit!!!...Peterson resigned...Am I dead?...Is This Heaven?

by RoyalsFanStuckInCardsLand on Sep 22, 2009 11:08 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

It's funny

Because the Sox commentators for the game did nothing but heap love on Zack.

by LaFLamme on Sep 22, 2009 11:07 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I hope that Hochevar blows them out and we CRUSH Beckett.

Coffee. The NEW Performance Enhancing drug for Sport's Writers. Just ask Ken Rosenthal.

by 306008 on Sep 22, 2009 11:09 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Beckett

has been erratic.

by LaFLamme on Sep 22, 2009 11:10 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

SVP was givin him love

saying he should have well over 20 wins

Holy Shit!!!...Peterson resigned...Am I dead?...Is This Heaven?

by RoyalsFanStuckInCardsLand on Sep 22, 2009 11:11 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I really like SVP...

and I hope he gets that emmy so he can have his Scott Van Melt

Desperately hoping for Desperate Measures

by averagegatsby on Sep 22, 2009 11:12 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I listen to SVP and Ryen

everyday during work…I wish they didn’t give way to Doug Gotlieb at 3 o’clock

Holy Shit!!!...Peterson resigned...Am I dead?...Is This Heaven?

by RoyalsFanStuckInCardsLand on Sep 22, 2009 11:14 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I can't get AM where I work...

Desperately hoping for Desperate Measures

by averagegatsby on Sep 22, 2009 11:17 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

terry francona just said greinke has the best slider in baseball

“any adjectives, you could use, and he’s all of him”

RESPECT

-

by slayor on Sep 22, 2009 11:13 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I hate John Kruk more and more every day

Holy Shit!!!...Peterson resigned...Am I dead?...Is This Heaven?

by RoyalsFanStuckInCardsLand on Sep 22, 2009 11:16 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

John Kruk is another example of a guy I used to love...

and he has one of the greatest shirts ever…

On the front it says “If I can’t play in the game …”
and on the back “… I’ll take my ball and go home.”

Desperately hoping for Desperate Measures

by averagegatsby on Sep 22, 2009 11:20 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

didn't catch the game

did z’attack come out of the game after 6 because of his 91 pitches? was it precautionary for the arm? end of the season reasoning? or was our bullpen too good to keep on the bench?

sidenote: did brayan die?

I'm hiding out in the big city blinking.

by bludevil33 on Sep 22, 2009 11:21 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

The Joyce reference is hilarious.

Toby is in HR, which technically means he works for corporate, so he's really not a part of our family. Also, he's divorced, so he's really not a part of his family.

by Rev. Slappy on Sep 22, 2009 11:56 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

More Like Burroughs.

I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.

by philofthenorth on Sep 23, 2009 2:27 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

i bet he would have stayed in if it was 2-0

all in all, not a bad gamble on hillman’s part to yank him early

by royalsreview on Sep 22, 2009 11:28 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Colon looked good tonight.

He’s like a box of chocolate…

BREAKING NEWS!!!!
Kanye West just interrupted Patrick Swayze's funeral to let everyone know
that Michael Jackson's funeral was better!!!

by labbadabba on Sep 22, 2009 11:29 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'm guessing

that after blowing out ever other arm on the staff, Hillman wants to limp Zach along to 17 wins 6 innings at a time.

BREAKING NEWS!!!!
Kanye West just interrupted Patrick Swayze's funeral to let everyone know
that Michael Jackson's funeral was better!!!

by labbadabba on Sep 22, 2009 11:29 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

In McClure's postgame interview with Joel in place of Zack (who was in the clubhouse before the end of the game)

he said that it was more precautionary than anything, but that Zack was really tough. It was sort of left unspoken that the 5 run lead was enough for even the Royals to hold. Also, I kind of felt like sending Zack back out for the 7th left the possibility of finishing the game out completely out there. He had a shutout through 6, if he gets through the 7th with it intact, he’d probably lobby for the 8th, and then the 9th. They cut all that crap out by taking him early. I totally agreed with the move.

I attended the game tonight, and the first inning was great! The only thing better would have been if Billy’s blast to the wall later in the game had gone over, or dropped for his 50th double.

by AxDxMx on Sep 23, 2009 12:22 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Wow how quickly does Kruky change his tune

now he says Grienke should win

Holy Shit!!!...Peterson resigned...Am I dead?...Is This Heaven?

by RoyalsFanStuckInCardsLand on Sep 22, 2009 11:29 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Did he really?

I figured he’d just make something stupid up and say Zack still shouldn’t get it.

by MJR on Sep 22, 2009 11:34 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

nope he did a complete

180 from what he said just hours ago

Holy Shit!!!...Peterson resigned...Am I dead?...Is This Heaven?

by RoyalsFanStuckInCardsLand on Sep 22, 2009 11:36 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

He still hasn't faced the Yankees

Never mind that Sabathia hasn’t either.

by NotAHippie on Sep 22, 2009 11:39 PM EDT up reply actions   1 recs

Also very surprisingly

there is a poll on espn where Greinke has 60% of the vote between himself, King Felix, and CC

Holy Shit!!!...Peterson resigned...Am I dead?...Is This Heaven?

by RoyalsFanStuckInCardsLand on Sep 22, 2009 11:30 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

But keep in mind the average ESPN voter

“It happened today, thus it’s the biggest deal!”

by sterlingice on Sep 22, 2009 11:31 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Sportsnation's ranking

Had Zack Greinke as only the 4th best pitcher in baseball. Turrible.

by NotAHippie on Sep 22, 2009 11:33 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

he had 50% of the vote

in a poll that’s was ongoing all month for AL Cy Young on ESPN sportsnation between him, Doc, JV, CC, and Felix. And he won every state that’s not part of the home territory of the Yankees, Mariners, or Tigers.

by swing and a miss on Sep 22, 2009 11:36 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

WAR update

pitching 18.8
positional 8.1 (awful)
total 26.9 = 27
projected wins per WAR = 75

hmmmm

Kansas City Royals - rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic since 1994.

by Home Run Tony Cogan on Sep 22, 2009 11:36 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

from WAR, basically replacement level wins is 48,

then you add WAR at the end of the season. But it would be like 69 projected wins right now because there are 11 games left. Basically, the Royals have been unlucky this year by this measure.

Go Royals!

by BabyBlues on Sep 22, 2009 11:59 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

good point

but I think you get the jist. however, i don’t think it’s luck, more likely terrible defense at catcher and horrific baserunning accounts for a large part of the difference. some bad luck for sure (seagulls) but they’ve also done plenty to hurt themselves.

if DM brings back Jacobs and/or Olivo my head will fucking explode.

Kansas City Royals - rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic since 1994.

by Home Run Tony Cogan on Sep 23, 2009 12:03 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'm not totally sure its unlucky...

WAR is an excellant measure of Individual Value, but not the best predictive tool.
The main problem being that baseball is a team game, and while you can calculate someones contributions, the amount that that contribution affects their odds of winning the games varies by the cast around them.

Theres a saying that a 6 WAR player on a team of replacement guys is less valuable than 3 2WAR players on a team of replacements simply because much of the 6 war guys contributions are gonna go to waste (See Adrian Gonzalez and Zach)

The Royals this year are probabyl a bit of an extreme case simply because the contributions of their best player have been mollified by the suck of the rest of the team.

I refuse to set up a signature....DAMMIT

by RoyalPug on Sep 23, 2009 1:01 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

although...

the royals are now 16-15 in games started by greinke, which still amazingly sucks, but is nevertheless considerably better than what they do in all other games

by royalsreview on Sep 23, 2009 1:05 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

lol yep, which really just illustrates how horrific this team is

With Zachs numbers the Royals should be about 22-5 in games he starts, which accounts for the discrepancy in his predictions

I refuse to set up a signature....DAMMIT

by RoyalPug on Sep 23, 2009 1:06 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

At fanfest...

My friend tried to get Zack Greinke to sign a baseball: “Zack Greinke 2009 Cy Young” He wouldn’t do it

Desperately hoping for Desperate Measures

by averagegatsby on Sep 22, 2009 11:39 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I totally froze when I "met" Zack at the caravan

I chatted with B-Mac, Kila, and Dennis Leonard, but Zack’s sheer aweomeness intimidated me

Duffy*, Montgomery*, and Melville* for Willy Taveras and Paul Janish
*currency of baseball

by McClure 'stache on Sep 22, 2009 11:54 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I can't remember what I asked him

Desperately hoping for Desperate Measures

by averagegatsby on Sep 22, 2009 11:56 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Minda made it on the radio

yay, internet people are able to use the phone :D

Graduate with a B.S. from the Dayton Moore School of Stats Analysis

by BHWick on Sep 22, 2009 11:52 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

you can get phone service from your mom's basement?

Holy Shit!!!...Peterson resigned...Am I dead?...Is This Heaven?

by RoyalsFanStuckInCardsLand on Sep 22, 2009 11:58 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

she drove in from Lincoln

so phone reception is no problem

Graduate with a B.S. from the Dayton Moore School of Stats Analysis

by BHWick on Sep 23, 2009 12:03 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Tonight is the first time I have heard the talking head

mention all of the times Greinke has had an amazing start and not gotten the win

Holy Shit!!!...Peterson resigned...Am I dead?...Is This Heaven?

by RoyalsFanStuckInCardsLand on Sep 23, 2009 12:09 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

John Kruk

“Put him in New York with that lineup, and he’s got at least 22 wins right now”

Holy Shit!!!...Peterson resigned...Am I dead?...Is This Heaven?

by RoyalsFanStuckInCardsLand on Sep 23, 2009 12:16 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Really -- How many people are truly arguing against Zack?

I know we’re paranoid. I know there’s big-market bias. But really, how many writers/analysts have truly embraced the cause of Halladay, CC, Verlander, or Felix? From what I’ve heard, not very many.

Now, someone may make a stray remark here or there that Greinke advocates will (rightfully) tear to shreds, but that’s not the same thing as how they will cast their vote when they sit down and look at the whole picture.

Maybe I’m just naive, but that’s how I see it.

by raefzilla on Sep 23, 2009 12:31 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I dont think anyone is saying Halladay...

he has pretty much crumbled since the trade fallout

Desperately hoping for Desperate Measures

by averagegatsby on Sep 23, 2009 12:36 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

the last week has changed the game

greinke’s snagged two Ws… which seems to have sealed it for a lot of people

by royalsreview on Sep 23, 2009 12:42 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

JoPo

sounds pretty confident on the matter.

by LaFLamme on Sep 23, 2009 12:35 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

GAH!!!

http://espn.go.com/mlb/features/cyyoung

Desperately hoping for Desperate Measures

by averagegatsby on Sep 23, 2009 12:37 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

how is that even possible

Felix has one more win…otherwise Zack dominates him

Holy Shit!!!...Peterson resigned...Am I dead?...Is This Heaven?

by RoyalsFanStuckInCardsLand on Sep 23, 2009 12:40 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

The points will update tomorrow morning

I have a spreadsheet with their formula, and Greinke has 166.3 points now. :P

by swing and a miss on Sep 23, 2009 12:51 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Oh...

well the ERA and wins updated

Desperately hoping for Desperate Measures

by averagegatsby on Sep 23, 2009 12:52 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

yeah the regular stats update instantly with the ESPN database

but the Cy predictor is recalculated every morning, partially because they change the victory bonus at whim and it’s different every day.

by swing and a miss on Sep 23, 2009 1:01 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

do you work for ESPN.com?

just curious… how do you know this stuff?

by royalsreview on Sep 23, 2009 1:06 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

no, but i've been watching the Cy Predictor every day

since about mid-August. Plus I have the spreadsheet that tells me what they change when I compare it to my numbers. /dork

by swing and a miss on Sep 23, 2009 1:09 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

That's ridiculous

Those people are on the crack pipe.

by LaFLamme on Sep 23, 2009 12:44 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

A couple of people already brought up this point, and I think it's hilarious

Sabathia never had the face the Yankees!, yet he doesn’t get penalized by the voters for obvious reasons. Grienke also never gets to face the Royals so he doesn’t get a a couple of automatic wins a year (sorry, no disrespect to the Royals).

Also, if you’ll take a look at BP’s Quality of Batter’s Faced stat (incedentially, one of the few reasons I got to BP anymore), here are the opponents OPS’s for Grienke, Sabathia and Felix:

CC: .748
Grienke: .752
Felix: .760

So Grienke has actually faced tougher opposition than CC, and slightly easier than Felix (of course Halladay still has the toughest schedule in baseball).

by vivaelpujols on Sep 23, 2009 12:53 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

good stuff

you ready for the Missouri Cy Young sweep this year?

Holy Shit!!!...Peterson resigned...Am I dead?...Is This Heaven?

by RoyalsFanStuckInCardsLand on Sep 23, 2009 12:57 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

halladay...

he’s probably always going to be the king of this

just imagine next year if the oriole lineup is as good as people think it can be

by royalsreview on Sep 23, 2009 1:07 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

AL Cy Young voting

2 voters per city… let’s size it up

28 votes

10 AL Central, 10 AL East, 8 AL West

the Central voters should be pretty friendly to Greinke.
Texas, LA, and Oakland are somewhat good possibilities. Greinke faired very well against LA and Texas.
Seattle is an odd one since they might knock Greinke down a few pegs to enhance Felix
Boston will vote Beckett, and neither of their votes actually came to KC for this series
New York will vote Sabathia and/or Mariano. Because nothing says Cy Young like being 2nd in your league in saves.
Baltimore and Toronto are unknowns
Tampa Bay may not help since Greinke sucked down there.

So we have 16 promising votes out of the 28

Graduate with a B.S. from the Dayton Moore School of Stats Analysis

by BHWick on Sep 23, 2009 3:16 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

My favorite thing...

…about this stretch from Greinke, is that most of us here have been fretting about Greinke getting a screw job by the writers because his record wasn’t as good as it needed to be but if you really looked at the numbers, Greinke was the best pitcher in the AL and arguably the best in MLB. But now, over the last few weeks he’s basically taken matters into his own hands. Three weeks ago, there was some argument, a weak argument, but still an argument to be made for Verlander or Felix or even CC. Now, there is no argument. His ERA’s dropped from a wonderful 2.44 to a borderline historic 2.08. He’s not backing into the award. He’s not hoping for a split vote from the east coast. He’s going out and making sure there’s no doubt that he’s the best pitcher in the world. And it’s been fun to watch. Incidentally, I can’t believe that Mo Rivera is in the discussion. His era is now only .17 better than Zack’s in 160 fewer innings. 160! It’s not even close. Three weeks ago, maybe. Now? No way.

by billexgordler on Sep 23, 2009 9:41 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

It isn't a debate anymore

I’ll be pissed if it isn’t unanimous. There is no reason, other than local bias, that you could possibly make any half decent argument for anyone other than Greinke. Especially if the person you vote for is CC Sabbathia or a friggin reliever who doesn’t lead the league in his magic stat. Felix I could just about tolerate.

by kcbottom9th on Sep 23, 2009 9:52 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Kudos to Minda

heard her call in a couple of questions on the 610 post game. She even managed to stump the ridiculously prepared Greg Schaum with a minor league question (Parraz – what was his final injury? In defense of Greg, apparently the Royals have never quite gotten around to letting anybody know in the first place)

Mr Glass, this is a pro sports team, not a retail store - run it like one!

by loyal2sdad on Sep 23, 2009 10:42 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

New Greinke goal

Even though I think that he looks like he will win it now anyway, I am rooting hard for the following:

14 or more IPs over the last 2 starts; 1 ER or less.

That’s what he needs to do to get his ERA below 2.00

May seem trivial – but don’t discount the psychological impact that might have on an “old school” voter.

Interesting dilemma: say he pitches a shutout Sunday, thus lowering his ERA below 2.00 Do you decide and sit him the last start, guaranteeing he finishes below 2? I say no – because I also would like to see him beat Leo’s team K record. Needs 16 for that now, so it may not be easy.

Mr Glass, this is a pro sports team, not a retail store - run it like one!

by loyal2sdad on Sep 23, 2009 10:46 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I would like to see break that record as well

and sitting him out the final day would be a really bad move, especially if the Twins and Tigers are in the hunt.

by AxDxMx on Sep 23, 2009 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Players of the last fifty years with a better ERA+ than Zack's current 210

Roger Clemens 1990- 213
Kevin Brown 1996- 216
Pedro Martinez 1997- 219
Roger Clemens 1997- 221
Roger Clemens 2005- 226
Dwight Gooden 1985- 228
Pedro Martinez 1999- 243
Bob Gibson 1968- 258
Greg Maddux 1995- 262
Greg Maddux 1994- 271
Pedro Martinez 2000- 291

by 9il on Sep 23, 2009 10:51 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

so funny...

i was JUST looking at that…

by billexgordler on Sep 23, 2009 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Greinke deserves the Cy Young award hands down. It’s a shame he’s not on a better team because if he was he would already have 20 wins and there would be no further discussion. The problem is he’s playing on a lousy team in a really small market. I hope the writers are smart enough to overlook that because he really does deserve it.

by zoechastain on Sep 23, 2009 3:54 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Just a little love from Anaheim

Mark Gubicza on the Cy Young-
“CC Sabathia will win it, but Zach Greinke deserves it.”

I couldn’t agree more.

Rex Hudler for President.

by Teixeira Who? on Sep 23, 2009 5:44 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

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