Starting Five is our wrapup of the previous day's baseball action with a quick nod to what is ahead.You Oughta Know ...
That Zack Greinke is doing everything in his power to win the American League Cy Young Award.
The Royals ace will not get anywhere close to 20 wins, but he did pick up his 16th of the year with seven innings of one-run ball against the Twins. He's now won five straight decisions dating back to Aug. 25 and his ERA is down to 2.06. As pointed out by FanHouse's Jacob Wheatley-Schaller, if Greinke pitches seven shutout innings in his final start of the year next Saturday in Minnesota, he'll finish the year with his ERA under 2.00.
Only one AL pitcher in the last 15 years -- Pedro Martinez in 2000 -- has thrown more than 200 innings in a season and finished with a sub-2.00 ERA
Greinke departed the mound at Kauffmann Stadium to a loud ovation, a reaction that made him very uncomfortable.
"It's pretty annoying, actually," Greinke said of the cheers about the Cy Young Award. "I don't like it at all. I guess it's nice that they'll do that, but it's annoying to me."No matter how much the right-hander wants to stay out of the spotlight, his performance has made him impossible to ignore.
"We knew he'd be good," Royals manager Trey Hillman said. "We felt like he would be durable. But I don't think anybody could've predicted the impact of his statistics here before his final start."From the Trainer's Room ...
Marlins ace Josh Johnson was scratched from his Sunday start with flu-like symptoms. The flu bug has been making its way around Florida's clubhouse, affecting a number of players over the last several days. Chris Volstad started in Johnson's place, and the Marlins fell 4-0 to the Mets, officially eliminating them from the NL East race.
Numbers Game ...
In losing to the Yankees, the Red Sox became the first team to start a season 8-0 against another team and then wind up not winning the season series. New York's sweep of Boston over the weekend leveled the season series at 9-all, not that the sudden turn in fortune in the rivalry has the Sox concerned.
"I think they have the best team in the American League East," closer Jonathan Papelbon said. "Sure. Facts are facts. I think there's a little sense of pride in trying to win the division every year. But realistically, the point is getting in and getting hot."In Their Own Words ...
"As of right now, obviously they're the better team," left fielder Jason Bay said. "Once the postseason starts, everything else is kind of thrown out the window."
"There's been pitches of the year, innings of the year -- that's the defensive play of the year." -- Rockies manager Jim Tracy on Clint Barmes' diving catch that resulted in the game-ending double play of a 4-3 win over the Cardinals. The grab left the second baseman with a welt on his head, a sacrifice he was all too happy to make since it helped Colorado win a three-game series against St. Louis and kept its wild-card lead at 2 1/2 games over the surging Braves, who won in Washington.
Advance Scouting ...
Separated by two games in the AL Central, the Tigers host the Twins in the opener of a four-game set (7:05 PM ET) that will likely determine the division. Detroit, which carries the edge in the standings into this series, will send Rick Porcello to the mound against Minnesota's Nick Blackburn. The Tigers are 48-26 at Comerica Park this year, the third best home mark in the American League, but just 5-9 against the Twins.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-28-2009 @ 10:43AM
acar098 said...
the man has pitched his heart out, and deserves to win, but his record of wins and losses is not good enough. and that is the bottom line.
Reply
9-28-2009 @ 1:39PM
James said...
Wins and loses should have nothing to do with the Cy Young award. A pitcher cannot control his team's offense. C.C. gets the biggest run support of any of the Cy Young candidates. Greinke gets the least run support.
If C.C. pitched for K.C. he'd be lucky to have more wins than loses.
#1 Stat for a pitcher: ERA.
9-28-2009 @ 10:46AM
dvstckwll said...
Should there really even be a choice? Look at the number's, this is a reward for the best pitcher and it's really not even close. Just ask American League hitters and just imagine what his ERA would be in the National.
Reply
9-28-2009 @ 11:32AM
tonytiger18 said...
There is no question that he is a fabulous pitcher. But, he pitches for the Royals in a division that is weak with no intensity or pressure.
If you look at the numbers and the situation that they were accumulated, then the clear choice is:
Sabathia.
This guy, over the last 15 games that he pitched, has been lights out. His team has won all of those games. He is the reason that the Yanks has the best record in baseball.
The last three games that he pitched against Boston, the second best team in daseball, he gave up NO RUNS. The last two games: three hits TOTAL.
He pitches into the seventh or eight inning every game---saves the bullpen.
Greinke is very good and deserving, but, C.C. is the logical choice for the Cy Young based on his value to his team and the results of his value--First place division winners.
Reply
9-29-2009 @ 11:33AM
Shawn said...
By the way, you are getting your awards mixed up; The award for the player that gives most value to it's team is the MVP, not the Cy Young.
9-28-2009 @ 11:43AM
peter said...
Greinke is having a great year in a joke of a division,Try pitching in the AL east and facing those lineups almost once a week,Sabbathia is hands down the most deserving.He pitches in the east and in the hardest place to play in all sports.He has outpitched every number one he faced and won the division for them.So please put your Yankee hatred to the side and give the guy his due
Reply
9-28-2009 @ 12:43PM
sphinxter said...
If you're going to look at something arbitrarily, at least do it right. Greinke has pitched better against nine of the eleven teams they both have faced. That includes the "scrubs" in the ALC and ALW. CC has Tampa and Toronto. Obviously, Greinke didn't face the Yankees nor Royals, CC didn't face the Yankees nor Rangers. So, those three teams aren't included.
vs Angels-Greinke .56, CC 6.08
vs Baltimore-Greinke 2.08, CC 2.88
vs Boston-Greinke 0.00, CC 2.22
vs White Sox-Greinke 2.31, CC 4.50
vs Indians-Greinke 2.16, CC 2.84
vs Detroit-Greinke 1.00, CC 2.40
vs Minnesota-Greinke 1.29, CC 1.29
vs Oakland-Greinke 3.86, CC 4.57
vs Seattle-Greinke 0.00, CC 3.85
vs Rays-Greinke 5.25, CC 4.35
vs Toronto-Greinke 5.25, CC 2.25
Yeah, nine of eleven teams did better against CC. Put your Yankee loving to the side and realize that just because playing in New York doesn't mean he should get the Cy Young.
Reply
9-28-2009 @ 12:45PM
sphinxter said...
My bad...It's eight of eleven with one tie. That doesn't make much of a difference. His last start is against Minnesota. He has a chance to claim that one too.
9-28-2009 @ 1:06PM
htc6600 said...
Yankees and all their fans suck.
Reply
9-28-2009 @ 1:30PM
tonytiger18 said...
HTC,
wonderful comment, full of info,classy,concise and full of.............ENVY!!!
Idiot.
9-28-2009 @ 1:40PM
tonytiger18 said...
Hey Sphinx,
It is obvious that YOU DID YOUR RESEARCH.
How do you measure intensity and pressure?
Greinke is a great pitcher, no doubt about it, for a team in last place or close to it in a very non competitive division.
He is really good when there is no money on the line. While I do realize he is also on a weaker team and not as productive as the Yankees, he does have less wins.
It is much easier to pitch in an empty stadium with nothing on the line, as opposed to a packed Fenway or Yankee stadium with First place at stake.
The Yankees wouldn't have won their division without Sabathia. The Royals would still be a last place team without Greinke.
There is the difference of which player should be the Cy Young or deciding the MVP.
Reply
9-28-2009 @ 2:05PM
sphinxter said...
That is a cop out. The Cy Young is supposed to go to the best pitcher period. Greinke has shown he is a better pitcher than CC Sabathia. Greinke has better stats across the board and I already showed that even against individual teams Greinke is better. How can you quantify pressure? How about the pressure Greinke had of knowing he had to be practically flawless for him to get the win since his team has given him 3.77 runs per game as support. CC has received 6.02. There isn't much pressure when you're pitching with a lead so much...Even in Fenway or Yankee Stadium.
Furthermore, CC has "only" pitched four games against the Sox. Twenty-nine of his games have come against "non-pressure" teams. Which is ironically about the same amount as Greinke. Greinke still has VASTLY, yes VASTLY superior numbers than CC in everything, but wins. Again, if Greinke had over six runs per game as support, he would have at least twenty wins already. The Fact that CC doesn't is rather pathetic on his part.
However, I do agree that the MVP to a winning team holds some ground for argument. I don't agree with it. It should still go to the best player, but it does have the word "valuable" in the title. Valuable is open to debate. Unlike the Cy Young where it's supposed to go to the best pitcher period.
9-29-2009 @ 11:20AM
shawn said...
Yes TonyTiger, and don't forget the stat that it is tougher for a pitcher to pitch on a night with a full moon and CC has pitched more of those, or when the planets are in alignment...Give me a break, Intensity and Pressure, what kind of pressure does CC has when he goes into a game knowing that he has one of the top offense's behind him. Let's put the shoe on the other foot. Since you are throwing out the hypotheticals about intensity and pressure, Ask yourself this question, Would CC have had the record that he has if he were a member of the Royals? Nope!! Greinke has 16 wins despite the Royals terrible offense. You are right though, if you just look at the Win/Loss column, ignoring k's,ERA,shutouts, Earned runs; Then CC and the Yankee's 200M payroll definately deserve the CY Young. (Greinke's stats are all with him pitching one less game than CC). Boy!!! intensity and pressure must mean a whole lot more than the other stats....