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• Smoltz... (Score:1)

  by jcavanaugh (1007)

  He coulda been a serious contender for Cy Young if he didnt go down with an injury. It would have been an interesting vote given Smoltz is in the bullpen. But I digress...
  
  I agree 10 no decisions is brutal, but Maddox has also suffered similar fates over the years. He finally resorted to pitching complete games (not to mention throwing a fit if he was taken out), it was the *only* way he could control his own destiny.
  
  Maybe Martinez needs to save some juice so he can go 9 innings and not have to trust th
  • Re:Smoltz... (Score:2)

    by pudge (1) on 2003.09.24 2:27 (#24482) Homepage Journal

    But that's not the point. The Cy Young should go to the best pitcher. Wins, by definition, are measure of the best team, not the best pitcher. Yes, a better pitcher will usually win more than other pitchers, but this is not always the case. It is, however, always the case that the pitcher with the best ERA is the best.

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    • Re:Smoltz... (Score:1)

      by waltman (335)

      It is, however, always the case that the pitcher with the best ERA is the best.

      There's more to being an effective starting pitcher than having a low ERA. Pedro only averaged 6 1/2 innings per game this season, and is going to finish with less than 200 innings pitched. There's no denying he had a great season when he was in there, but in my opinion he missed too much time and and got pulled early too often to deserve the Cy Young this year.
      • Re:Smoltz... (Score:2)

        by pudge (1)

        Yes, but consider 1. the IP/GP is largely a function of some short outings because of injuries, and that in five of the six games in question, he went 7 innings or more.
        
        Say what you want about innings pitched, but if you take those five games where he should have won if the rest of the team had done their job -- where he pitched 7 or more innings -- he has 19 wins (going for 20 on Friday), which is plenty to get consideration for the Cy Young Award, for most baseball writers.
        
        • Re:Smoltz... (Score:1)

          by waltman (335)

          If you're going to give him credit for games he should have won, you should take away credit for games where he didn't "do his job". 4 of Pedro's wins came in games where he pitched less than 7 innings, and 2 of those 3 have come in the last month's stretch drive, after he'd returned from his injury.
          • Re:Smoltz... (Score:2)

            by pudge (1)

            Oh, come on. Nice way to lie with statistics. Every single one of those games is when the Red Sox had a big lead. He left after 6 with a 10-run lead, 3 with a 9-run lead, 6 with 7-run lead, and 6 with an 8-run lead. And he left with big leads because the sorry bullpen needed some work.