Sabathia Beats Out Beckett For Cy Young

Had the voting for the Cy Young Award been taken after the playoffs, I think it's safe to say that Josh Beckett would have been a runaway winner. Unfortunately for Josh, that's just not the way things work, though I'm sure the World Series ring is a fantastic consolation prize.

The voting is based on the regular season, and the votes say that Cleveland's C.C. Sabathia is the Cy Young Award winner in the American League.

In voting conducted by members of the Baseball Writers Association of America, Sabathia beat Boston's Josh Beckett for his first American League Cy Young Award. He is only the second pitcher in Indians history to win the award -- the first being Gaylord Perry, who won it in 1972.

Sabathia went 19-7 for the Indians this season as he was the ace of a starting staff that led the Indians to an AL Central title, and a trip to the ALCS. Sabathia set all sorts of career highs this season, in wins, ERA (3.21), innings pitched (241, led the Majors), strikouts (209), and perhaps most importantly, games started (34).

Sabathia has always been a dominant pitcher, but he had always had trouble staying healthy. I don't think it's a coincidence that the first year he stayed healthy for a whole season he ends up winning the Cy Young Award.

All of which is probably going to lead to quite a hefty contract extension from the Indians before too long.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

11-13-2007 @ 2:37PM

steve said...

the redsox rocked sabathia

Scott Sargent said...

All of which is probably going to lead to quite a hefty contract extension from the Indians before too long.

Assuming the Tribe brings out the checkbook for once...

11-13-2007 @ 2:39PM

And commence New England complaining about the playoffs not counting in the voting in 3...2...1...

11-13-2007 @ 2:56PM

jeanbean0762 said...

Congrats CC, but my heart was with Josh. I think you are both great. Good luck to you, and Josh, guess there is always next year. Love ya Josh, you are still our hero.

11-13-2007 @ 2:57PM

NUMBA1STUNNA74X said...

Good I'm Glad..Red Sox still suck!!

11-13-2007 @ 3:13PM

Hey Stunna, typical comment from a Yankee fan. In case you forgot, we are World
Champs.......... Proud Sox fan here

11-13-2007 @ 3:16PM

JD said...

Beckett does not chock in the big games, like Sabathia does.

11-13-2007 @ 3:25PM

kevin said...

red sox play in a stadium similar to a putt putt course monsters windmills bowling alleys
if you cant hit 300 in that park you should quit
funny how sox fan is starting to sound like yankee fan

Jerry Waller said...

I think it is a real measure of how good a top pitcher is when he has to perform in the playoffs. josh Beckett was outstanding in the playoffs and Sabathia collapsed. Maybe the Cy Young should reconsider its measurement platform.

11-13-2007 @ 3:29PM

Lynnie said...

Hi,
Just to show you that fans from RED SOX NATION are the classiest and of course would have wished John Beckett had won, I still send congratulations to C.C. Sabathia on winning the AL Cy Young Award.

Josh you can look forward to next year and your World Series Championship ring from what was one of the most special seasons I've watched since the 2004 championship as well. RED SOX will always ROCK and so will the fans. : )

P.S. Theo and management? Get off your duffs and RESIGN MIKE LOWELL! I'll even come to Fenway to sing the National Anthem or God Bless America if you do. As they say, " It ain't over till the fat lady sings".. oh wait, that doesn't matter, I'm not FAT and I can sing! Sign Mike TODAY and send me to Fenway! LOL < smile >

11-13-2007 @ 3:30PM

Hey Stunna, the Red Sox have won two world championships in the past four years. How many have the Yankees won during that time period?

11-13-2007 @ 3:50PM

nickstoli said...

If I were the Red Sox I'd trade Beckett for Sabbathia. I mean, Sabbathia's a Cy Young winner, Beckett isn't.

Honestly, they should have Playoff Awards. The Reggie Jackson Award for best hitter during the playoffs, the Sandy Koufax Award for best pitcher, etc.

11-13-2007 @ 4:02PM

Tony.A. said...

I am happy for Sabathia but i think Becket was the better pitcher. The votes should be taken after the world series is over.I am not an Boston fan,i have been an Indians fan all my life.The seasons are not over until the world series is played,so i think that all the games including the world series should be taken in cinsideration.

Jon said...

They do have playoff awards (MVP). Beckett was MVP for the ALCS, and deservedly so. CC was chosen as the Cy Young winner based on his regular season performance, which was also deserved. Those are the rules that have been in place since the award started.

11-13-2007 @ 4:46PM

gary ward said...

It remains obvious to me and most others that sports writers and those that vote on the cy young award probalby never played the game. Josh Beckett was textbook. Period. These people should be ashamed to show their faces and claim to know baseball. C.C. Sabathia, you have to be kidding!

11-13-2007 @ 4:48PM

su said...

Josh you are the BEST!!!

11-13-2007 @ 5:08PM

Diane said...

I know these awards are voted on based on the regular season but don't you think all the voters should feel pretty stupid knowing what Beckett did in the post=season? And I guess 20 wins doesn't mean what it used to. Did they think it was a fluke? And really, .06 difference in era. What were they thinking?

11-13-2007 @ 5:07PM

John said...

Both pitchers had great years and remarkably similar statitics. They had identical WHIP of 1.141. Sabathia's ERA was fractionally lower, 3.21 vs 3.27. Sabathia started four more games, pitched nearly 40 more innings, gave up fewer bases on balls. Sabathia had 15 more strike outs and gave up three more home runs and 49 more hits. Beckett's ERA may be a little inflated by pitching in Fenway, a notorious hitter's park. I expect Beckett would not trade his world champion ring for the Cy Young. Congrats to C.C.

11-13-2007 @ 5:37PM

arkmanmat said...

bag job for porky pig........ESPN started to tout him and the sportswriters bought it.........ask the players who was tougher????? Oh well...time for Sons of Tito to act like Belichik and run up the scores next year.......

11-13-2007 @ 6:01PM

David said...

Hey, Kevin: The Red Sox must be the "suckiest" World Champs in baseball history!

(And, by the way: At least Boston won a few games against Cincinnati.)

| 1 | 2 |