Could CC Sabathia Win the NL Cy Young Award This Year?

To say that CC Sabathia's been very good for the Brewers would be an understatement. In four starts, CC is 4-0 with a 1.36 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, and 31 strikeouts in 33 innings. Three of his four starts have gone for complete games and the last one was last night's shutout against the Cardinals, which gave the Brewers a 2-game lead in the NL Wild Card race.

Now, it's true that CC's only four starts into his National League career. Still, he's been so dominant that it's kind of hard not to wonder what happens if he keeps this up for two more months. Can a guy that's only pitched in the NL for three months be considered for that League's Cy Young Award? There is some historical precedent and it's not good news for CC.

Remember Randy Johnson as an Astro? It didn't last very long, but it in 1998, the Unit was sent to Houston at the trade deadline. In his 11 starts with Houston, Johnson went 10-1 with a 1.28 ERA, a 0.98 WHIP, and an insane 116 strikeouts (against only 26 walks) in 84 and 1/3 innings. He finished seventh in NL Cy Young ballotting. Rick Sutcliffe is the most recent Cy Young winner to switch leagues mid-season, and he made 20 starts for the Cubs to go 16-1 in 1984. Sabathia's been awesome, but it's likely not going to be enough to get him another trophy this year.