Felix Hernandez pitched a complete-game two-hitter today, which he also lost 1-0. He struck out 5 Blue Jays, increasing his league-leading strikeout total to 227. Weaver is sitting at 220 with two scheduled starts remaining: Sunday against Chicago and next Friday at Texas. Hernandez's final two starts will be against Texas and Oakland. These three teams strike out less than average, so all things being equal, Jered is very unlikely to surpass Felix.
An Angel pitcher has not led the league in strikeouts since Nolan Ryan and Frank Tanana did it every season from 1972 to 1979 (Tanana in 1975, Ryan in all the other years). However, Jered Weaver can still accomplish something an Angel starter has not done in nearly 20 years: finish a full season with an ERA under 3.00. Jim Abbott was the last in 1992, although John Lackey gave up just one earned run too many in 2007. Weaver's ERA is currently 2.99.
Wow, Mark Whicker could have written that, right? Let's add some color. I'm currently watching the Rays and Yankees, which is pretty much a "Sabathia for Cy Young" fundraising telethon. Did you know he's going for his 21st win?! Who cares if Felix Hernandez is better at pitching in literally every way you can be better at pitching, 21 wins!! Are you listening BBWAA? Oh wait, of course you are, because you all live in New York.
Maybe the reason these people still can't fathom the thought that win and losses are dumb is the fact that they are called "wins" and "losses." Apparently the Mariners didn't lose 1-0 today, Felix Hernandez did. We've all watched Jered Weaver pitch enough this season to catch the nonsense in that statement. So let's just call a spade a spade. The "CC for President" argument now goes like this:
CC Sabathia should win the American League Cy Young Award because he leads the league in Times He Was The Pitcher Who Last Pitched Prior To The Half-Inning When The Winning Team Took The Lead For The Last Time, Except When The Starting Pitcher Pitches Less Than Five Innings, In Which Case The Win Shall Be Awarded To The Relief Pitcher Whom The Official Scorer Deems Most Effective (THWTPWLPPTTHIWTWTTTLFTLTEWTSPPLTFIIWCTWSBATTRPWTOSDME).
THWTPWLPPTTHIWTWTTTLFTLTEWTSPPLTFIIWCTWSBATTRPWTOSDME? And to think people still use VORP as the example of baseball geekiness.
2 recs | 27 comments
I love when the Yankees lose
In fact, Javier Vazquez is out there throwing gas on the fire as we speak. Arson-squad style.
hk47 - September 23, 2010
As incredible as King Felix has been this year...
He might have had a better season last year. I think he deserves the Cy Young. The point is well-taken SubOp- wins are a poor indicator of value.
hk47 - September 23, 2010
I had no idea just how well Felix was pitching this year until I saw the numbers posted here last week.
That guy is clear-cut the cy young, unfortunately for him he doesn’t play on an east coast team.
Dontbatvlad4th - September 23, 2010
East coast bias especially on mlb tonight is ridiculous
angelsownredsux - September 23, 2010
Baseball Tonight
had Curt Schilling on a few nights ago explaining why Felix should win over CC.
Brody - September 24, 2010
Hmm. Interesting.
Rally Manatee - September 24, 2010
Ha! CC pitches for the MFY, therefore he is the BESTEST EVAH!!!!
red floyd - September 24, 2010
King Felix should definitely be the Cy Young this year
Like Dontbatvlad4th, I saw the numbers earlier and was really surprised. I knew he was having a good season, but damn, those are impressive numbers.
TheKingfish - September 23, 2010
Kaz is going to win hands down!
Hahahahaha.
AndyHogan14 - September 23, 2010
Can I have a dollar? Gimme a dollar!
red floyd - September 23, 2010
I cannot wait until this horrible meme dies.
PhiSlamma - September 24, 2010
I couldn't believe when I think it was Jon Hart on MLB tonight brought up this argument
Felix has pitched better, but CC has more wins, so I would have to choose CC.
~MMP~ - September 23, 2010
Even though this particular game may have helped Felix’s chances more than hurt it, the fact that he’s failed to earn a win on seven different occasions that he allowed two runs or less has definitely reduced his odds of winning overall. You know how often that’s happened to CC Sabathia? Twice. Sabathia is 13-0 over 15 starts in which he allowed two or fewer runs. In Felix’s 19 such starts, he’s 12-1.
~MMP~ - September 23, 2010
Wow the post thing is giving me trouble.
~MMP~ - September 23, 2010
The above thing was an interesting fact from Lookout Landing following Felix losing 1-0 to Toronto
~MMP~ - September 23, 2010
Wins and Losses is all that counts
Why let the quality of the pitching dictate the quality of the pitcher? E-R-A. Me-R-A. You-R-A. CC’s-GA. It makes no difference. Strikeouts. Smikeouts. Everyone knows that Ervin, with his 17 wins and 4 ERA, is the ace of the staff, not Weaver. (not serious)
angelsownredsux - September 23, 2010
Zach Greinke Says Hello
jjackflash - September 23, 2010
WOOOAAA Timeout
if Felix wins then Weaver should come close second……..theyre stats(minus era) are pretty similar
Angels_48 - September 23, 2010
You won't get an argument from me
But really, what do you get for finishing 2nd in the Cy Young race? If there actually was something, they’d probably find a way to give it to AJ Burnett.
Commander_Nate - September 24, 2010
Interesting stat for tonight
Out of the nine players in the Mariners starting lineup tonight, only two of them had OBPs over .300 – not batting average, but OBP! And one of those two players was Chone Figgins, who sports a menacing .301 slugging percentage. I think this goes a long way to explaining how Felix can throw a two-hit complete game and still lose.
The_Question - September 23, 2010
So basically
The cast around the actor is what gives the actor the academy award.
Slyintine - September 24, 2010
I'd say the crew, maybe.
Julia Roberts won an Oscar because her huge fake Erin Brockovich boobs fooled voters into thinking she was finally playing a character differently. Charlize Theron was perfectly fine, even good, in Monster, but a huge assist should be given to her makeup artist.
spookymilk - September 24, 2010
Vote for the Worst--Scott Kazmir
righteous halo - September 24, 2010
If by worst, you mean most awesome then yes
Vote for Kaz!
ryanfea - September 24, 2010
Other guys that are just as good as C.C.
Based more on WHIP, innings pitched, ERA, and K/BB, these guys are just as OR MORE deserving than C.C.
Hernandez
Weaver
Cahill
Lee
Rally Manatee - September 24, 2010
Twins fan here
And I’ve lurked on and off for almost two years now. I enjoy this blog, and this article says precisely what I’ve been saying for some time, but the acronym is awesome.
I’ll be linking the hell out of this. Thank you.
spookymilk - September 24, 2010
I think Weaver has a chance...
he needs FOUR to pass Felix and the Mariners are considering to shut him down for the season. Stay tuned.
Downing Rules - September 30, 2010
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