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  • 08/13/2012, 06:10PM ET

NL Cy Young

Outlaw... (330-270-74) vs Justin Cyder (6-0-1)
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If the season ended today, who should win the NL Cy Young award?

I narrowed my choices down to three. Jordan Zimmermann, Johnny Cueto and RA Dickey.

In the end I have to go with Jordan Zimmermann, the real ace of the Nationals.

Zimmermann doesn't lead the league in any one category, he isn't striking out 20 batters a game, but across the board he is having a great season.

He has the second best ERA in the league posting a 2.35 mark. His WHIP of 1.060 is good enough for 5th in the NL.

As a matter of fact, the only categories where he doesn't rank in the top 10 are strikeouts and wins, and for the strikeouts, he's 6th in the league in K:BB ratio.

Zimmermann has flew under the radar this season thanks to other members of the Nats' roation, but the fact of the matter is, Zimmermann has out performed both Strasburg and Zimmermann.

Dickey has had a great season, but Zimmermann holds a significant advantage in ERA, and while Cueto has a comparable ERA, his WHIP is very high compared to Zimmermann's.

As of now, Zimmermann has been the best pitcher in the NL.


I'm going with R.A. Dickey.

#4 in era with a 2,72
#1 in Whip with a 1.004
#2 innings pitched with 162.1 which is only 1/3 of an inning behind Kershaw for #1
#1 in K's with 166

I usually don't take winning percentage into account but the guy is 15-3 on a team that is below 500. So he leads the NL in wins as well.

This year, R.A. has been the best pitcher in the NL.


Dickey has had a fine season, no doubt, but as far as I'm concerned, ERA is the most important stat for a starting pitcher. Not allowing runs, giving your team a chance to win is the main objective.

Zimmermann has a significant advantage in ERA. Nearly .4 runs better.

The stats where Dickey leads Zimmermann are not overwhelming advantages. The difference in WHIP is very slim. A WHIP of under 1.1 is excellent, and both fall in there.

The only significant advantage Dickey has over Zimmermann is strikeouts. Fact is, Zimmermann isn't a strikeout pitcher. There is more than one way to get a batter out, and a groundout is just as good as a strikeout. If you look at the strikeout to walk ratio, the two are very close together. Zimmermanns is 4.4 K's per BB to 4.6 for Dickey.

Innings pitched is a product of the style of pitcher Dickey is, knuckleballers tend to go deeper in games, but they are not the end all be all. It's not like Zimmermann is just pitching 5 innings and is done every start. He's averaging over 6 innings a start.

Zimmermann has 20 quality starts in 23 starts. Dickey has 18 in 23 starts.

Zimmermann deserves the Cy Young as of now.


ERA is important but sometimes you don't have as much control over it as you think. The Mets are awful defensively. Although unearned runs don't count against you, balls your inept defenders don't get to do and double plays turned into one out through bad defense also does. The errors also lengthen the amount of pitches you need to throw. The Mets inept defense has cost Dickey ERA points and quality starts.

Zimmerman has a fine defense behind him (Ranked 10th) while Dickey is dealing with a disaster (ranked 24th). Washington has committed 66 errors ascompared to 80 for the Mets. Guys like David Murphy at 2nd and Duda simply do not get to balls and make errors when they do. Dickey was without his SS for 45 games and without his starting CF for 30.

You mention the minor difference in BB's but Dickey has struck out 1/3 more batters than Zimmerman (166 for Dickey, 110 ZImmerman).That is a huge diffence

You say era is the most important stat but the pitchers job is to keep their team in the game and give them a chance to win. No onehas done that better than Dickey and he's doing it with almost no help. He's 15-3 on a bad team with no defense and no bullpen.

Comments (89) Add A Comment

August 13, 2012  06:13 PM ET
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Good luck JC. Be sure to bring the T+R crowd. I like an action packed comment section.

August 13, 2012  06:19 PM ET
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QUOTE(#1):
Originally posted 06:13 PM ET  08.13 by Outlaw...

Good luck JC. Be sure to bring the T+R crowd. I like an action packed comment section.

We'll get them over here. I have to admit I wasn't thinking about Zimmerman until I saw your arguement. Good points but I've been watching R.A. all year and feel strongly about this. Good luck

August 13, 2012  06:22 PM ET
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As crazy as it sounds...I like Craig Kimbrell.

Comment #4 has been removed
August 13, 2012  06:26 PM ET
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QUOTE(#4):
Originally posted 06:23 PM ET  08.13 by And the Prophecy Read

If you put Cueto in Washingtons ballpark his ERA would be like a run less thats how big a difference those ball parks are.I also think Chapman needs to get mentioned if he keeps up the season he is having.

Cueto's ERA is great considering the park he plays in, but the small park should actually help his WHIP with lnot a lot of ground for the outfielders to cover.

And I'm sure Kimbrel and Chapman will get a few top 5 votes, but in the end I'll vote for a starter over a closer every time.

August 13, 2012  06:27 PM ET
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QUOTE(#3):
Originally posted 06:22 PM ET  08.13 by Bundyrocksalot

As crazy as it sounds...I like Craig Kimbrell.

He's pitched great, but he's a closer, and really he hasn't been used as much as most closers, especially lately since the Braves either lose or win by 4 or more runs. His last few outtings have been just to get him some work.

August 13, 2012  06:32 PM ET
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QUOTE(#3):
Originally posted 06:22 PM ET  08.13 by Bundyrocksalot

As crazy as it sounds...I like Craig Kimbrell.

Pretty much if I vote for a closer there has to be several things happen.

1. No starter can have a sub 2.75 ERA

2. There must be no blown saves, a ridiculous K:BB ratio and an ERA in the low 1's or lower.

Kimbrel has the ERA and K:BB ratio down, but has has blown 2 saves, and there are too many starters having great seasons to vote for a closer.

August 13, 2012  06:32 PM ET
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QUOTE(#4):
Originally posted 06:23 PM ET  08.13 by And the Prophecy Read

If you put Cueto in Washingtons ballpark his ERA would be like a run less thats how big a difference those ball parks are

Unlikely.

Comment #9 has been removed
Comment #10 has been removed
August 13, 2012  06:36 PM ET
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QUOTE(#9):
Originally posted 06:33 PM ET  08.13 by And the Prophecy Read

Chapmans ERA is .18 against NL teams. And I learned that nugget of info over a week ago.And WHIP I just think is a stupid stat. Some pitchers know how to pitch with runners on and it isn't a problem. I'm not saying a high whip is good but if you don't let the runners score whats it matter if you let a couple on base?

If you have a crappy defense behind you it makes a difference. Earned runs may not count against your era but they can lose you the game.

With relievers WHIP can certainly count because of inherited runners.

David Robertson on the Yankees has been a beast out of the pen with a very high WHIP the last couple of years. They don't score so it shouldn't matter. But, he ends up throwing so many pitches they can't use him as often as they'd like or make him the closer.

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August 13, 2012  06:38 PM ET
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QUOTE(#10):
Originally posted 06:34 PM ET  08.13 by And the Prophecy Read

Yea quite the exaggeration but there is in all likely hood a few run difference.

Okay, I'm down with that.

August 13, 2012  06:39 PM ET
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QUOTE(#9):
Originally posted 06:33 PM ET  08.13 by And the Prophecy Read

Chapmans ERA is .18 against NL teams. And I learned that nugget of info over a week ago.And WHIP I just think is a stupid stat. Some pitchers know how to pitch with runners on and it isn't a problem. I'm not saying a high whip is good but if you don't let the runners score whats it matter if you let a couple on base?

Honestly, I haven't watched Cueto pitch very much. If he's a groundball pitcher, a high WHIP isn't bad for him, but it does hurt his Cy Young candidacy.

I saw that stat for Chapman on MLB Network a few days ago. Chapman has had a great season, but the fact remains that he is a closer and arguably the second best closer in the NL.

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August 13, 2012  06:40 PM ET
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QUOTE(#12):
Originally posted 06:38 PM ET  08.13 by And the Prophecy Read

The WHIP part was about Cueto who may walk a batter but then seems to get a double play turned behind him.The Reds have one of the best defenses in the league as well.

Their defense has been lights out and their pen has been outstanding. The Reds are tough. Real tough.

August 13, 2012  06:42 PM ET
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QUOTE(#15):
Originally posted 06:39 PM ET  08.13 by And the Prophecy Read

I see what you're saying my point is I just hate when people post a stat line and talk about like a 1.3 WHIP. If he has a good ERA and is a ground ball pitcher or something a double play after a walk erases the runner yet still hurts his WHIP. Its just not a good stat for judging a pitcher. I think much more needs to be looked at.

I agree. I think you need to look at all stats with a grain of salt. I think WHIP is impotant in Dickey's case for reason's I'll get into later where as it probably isn't as important to a guy like Cueto or a sinker ball pitcher.

I don't think any one stat says it all.

August 13, 2012  06:43 PM ET
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QUOTE(#16):
Originally posted 06:40 PM ET  08.13 by Justin Cyder

Their defense has been lights out and their pen has been outstanding. The Reds are tough. Real tough.

Definitely. IMO, the best all around team in the NL. And they've played great without their best offensive weapon in the lineup for the last several weeks.

August 13, 2012  06:44 PM ET
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Ryan Vogelsong only has 10 wins, but he is having a fantastic year too.

 
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