BBA: NL Cy Young Award Ballot

by Slyde on Oct 19, 2009 1:46 PM EDT in Off-season

Today we'll look at the NL Cy Young Award and who I voted for:

1. Tim Lincecum - Giants

Lincecum has a case for NL MVP, not just Cy Young Award. His 8.2 WAR is the second highest total in the NL behind Albert Pujols. He's first in the NL in strikeouts, second in ERA, and first in FIP. It's a shame he only won 15 games on the year because that could prevent him from winning an award that should be his.

2. Chris Carpenter - Cardinals

The NL ERA leader, 23 of his 28 starts were quality starts, and he allowed more than 3 runs in a start just 3 times. Despite missing nearly a month of the season, he threw over 190 innings on the season, mainly because he only failed to reach 6 innings 4 times, one of which was his last start before the playoffs when TLR was saving him. His 17-4 record and ERA title are going to attract a lot of BBWA votes, but his missed time and fewer strikeouts left him nearly 2.5 WAR behind Lincecum, which is why he falls short here.

3. Javier Vazquez - Braves

Things you may not realize about Vazquez - he was second in the NL in WAR for pitchers (6.6 WAR). He was second in the NL in strikeouts at 238. He was second in the NL in strikeouts per walk (5.41). He was second in the NL in FIP (2.77). You could make an argument that he deserves to be second on this list, but I think Carpenter did a bit more to deserve the vote (Carpenter's WPA was 5.41 to Vazquez's 2.41).

Dan Haren also has a case to be on this list, but I think Carpenter's numbers were too good to ignore.

Poll

Who should be the 2009 NL Cy Young Award Winner?

Chris Carpenter

76 votes

Dan Haren

2 votes

Tim Lincecum

146 votes

Javier Vazquez

9 votes

Adam Wainwright

48 votes

281 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

I was the lone (at this point) Haren vote

His numbers are excellent and, like Lincecum, he should have more wins (he was the victim of some blown saves). All of the pitchers in the poll are great, but Haren (last I saw him in person) had incredibly dominant stuff. That, and he needs at least one vote

by Red_Poodle on Oct 19, 2009 5:52 PM EDT reply actions

Is Adam Wainwright related to Louden?

Jay Bruce will become a major league baseball STAR, starting in April, 2010.....

by Madville on Oct 19, 2009 6:30 PM EDT reply actions

not Loudon, either

"And then there was the USAID guy in Kandahar who drove a giant pink Cadillac, which the locals set on fire one day. If you wanted to destroy something symbolic during a riot, you just could not do better than that. Good stuff." - Ghosts of Alexander

by Cy Schourek on Oct 20, 2009 6:06 PM EDT up reply actions

i always vote Lincecum

"I have found me a home"

by obc2 on Oct 19, 2009 8:49 PM EDT reply actions

Who was the one player you're glad the Reds didn't take in the 2006 draft?

"We, as for me all seasons you are affected peculiarly in the edge of my seat and are happy concerning the fact that the Adam Dunn fan has been mixed up exactly." - Reynard-san

by BK on Oct 19, 2009 9:02 PM EDT up reply actions

We've got a lot of newer posters that weren't here for the 2006 draft

but I think i should let everyone know that I said the reds should take Lincecum instead of Stubbs. OBC was adamant that the reds take Stubbs. He’ll claim the story a different way, but don’t listen to his revisionist history

Made from 100% Recycled Awesome,

by 'tHan on Oct 20, 2009 8:54 AM EDT up reply actions