Competition in the National League for the Cy Young award is heating up. At the start of the season, many people predicted that the usual candidates would be the end-of year nominees for the award. Players like: Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Tim Lincecum had down years; paving the way for this year’s crop of candidates.
There are five hurlers who would like to stake their claim to the Cy Young. If it not for injury, Clayton Kershaw would have posted better numbers; as it stands now I’m not including Kershaw in my group of potentials. The reigning winner is way off from last season’s stats, and I can’t justify giving him serious consideration this year.
The four remaining aces each have a legitimate chance. Three of the four have their teams playoff bound. We have a 20 game winner, a knuckle-baller leading the league in strikeouts, a Giant who tossed a perfect game and a player snubbed for an All-star appearance now in the midst of a Cy Young race.
Gio Gonzalez – Washington Nationals
The National League’s first 20 game winner, Gio Gonzalez of the Washington Nationals is having a Cy Young deserving season. Gonzalez has contributed greatly to the Nationals success as they have clinched a playoff spot and are closing in on a Division title.
Acquired in the off-season from the Oakland Athletics via trade, then signed to a five year $42 million contract with another two year club option; The Nationals ensured that this superb lefty remains with the club through his prime career years.
Impressive stats for Gonzalez; in addition to the 20 wins, he also cracked the 200 strikeout barrier. The big drawback for Gonzalez is that he wasn’t the best pitcher on his own team; that honor goes to Stephen Strasburg.
Baseball writers should recognize the season Gonzalez put together, and he will receive some first place votes. I just don’t think there will be enough of them. I give this young gun-slinger runner-up status.
R.A. Dickey – New York Mets
This knuckler is looking to make history, as there has never been a pure knuckleball pitcher win the Cy Young award. Dickey’s season certainly deserves Cy Young consideration. If ever a knuckler was going to win this award, this is the year.
Dickey has 19 wins, leads the league in strikeouts and ERA; meaning his is one win away from the triple crown of pitching. Add in the fact that Dickey ranks first in innings pitched and complete games and is second in WHIP.
Just to add to the magic that has been the 2012 season; in June, Dickey tossed back-to-back one-hitters against the Tampa Rays and Baltimore Orioles. A failed league appeal prevented Dickey from counting one as a no-hitter.
Dickey must content with the fact that the NY Mets were awful this year and are irrelevant come playoff time. Nonetheless, his rise to pitching prominence is a compelling story.
Matt Cain – San Francisco Giants
This Giants power-pitcher has propelled himself into the Cy Young conversation by winning his last five decisions. Cain has 15 wins on the season and he is projected to make two more starts before the end of the regular season. I don’t think he’ll get a chance to get two more in; it’s more likely he will get a rest to have him ready for the playoffs.
Cain is not in the top three in wins, strikeouts or ERA. He actually ranks ninth in strikeouts and sixth in ERA. Cain did make highlights earlier this season as he tossed a perfect-game against the Houston Astros.
Cain has pitched well and the Giants have benefited by winning their division. As good as Cain has been, he hasn’t been spectacular and his statistics just don’t stack up against the competition.
Johnny Cueto – Cincinnati Reds
August 28, Cueto was an impressive 17-6 with a 2.48 ERA. Since that time; losses to Philadelphia, Houston and Miami have brought his record to 18-9 and raised his ERA to 2.92. Had Cueto won or even pitched decently, then I think the Cy Young would have gone to him.
Cueto is slated for two more starts; however, similarly to Matt Cain, I think Cueto will get rested and likely miss his last start.
Cueto’s stat line on the season is descent. He is currently tied for third in wins; however, he has no other top three rankings in pitching statistical categories.
The success of the Cincinnati Reds will bode in Cueto’s favor; it won’t be enough to sway the voters who will see the late season slide.
NL CY YOUNG SHOULD BE: R.A. DICKEY
NL CY YOUNG WILL BE: GIO GONZALEZ, baseball writers get it wrong here and vote for the pitcher on the Division winner. Dickey gets robbed of the award.