Sorry Yankees Fans, the Hardware Isn’t Yours
September 1, 2009 · D.A. · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
The Yankees are back on top of the world…the baseball world that is.
Everything’s going good. They’re in first place. They have the best record in baseball. But despite this, the big hardware won’t be sent to the Bronx this year.
CC Sabathia will not and should not win the Cy Young award.
Neither Mark Teixeira nor Derek Jeter will or should win the MVP award.
One piece of smaller hardware will be going to New York, and that’s to the greatest closer in MLB history, as Mariano Rivera should have the American League Relief Man of the Year award locked up.
Cy Young Award
It is asinine that people are putting Sabathia in the top-three for Cy Young voting. Just because “he’s been pitching well as of late” doesn’t mean he should win the award. The whole season must be looked at, not just “as of late.”
Four candidates should be ahead of Sabathia, and wins are the dumbest stat to use when comparing candidacies:
1. Zack Greinke: 13-8, 2.32 ERA, 202 Ks, 1.08 WHIP, 190.1 IP, 6 CG
2. Felix Hernandez: 13-5, 2.77 ERA, 179 Ks, 1.18 WHIP, 185.1 IP, 1 CG
3. Roy Halladay: 13-8, 3.13 ERA, 165 Ks, 1.15 WHIP, 190 IP, 5 CG
4. Justin Verlander: 15-7, 3.38 ERA, 215 Ks, 1.17 WHIP, 189 IP, 3 CG
5. CC Sabathia: 15-7, 3.56 ERA, 158 Ks, 1.13 WHIP, 192.1 IP, 2 CG
The argument that “only Sabathia is playing in meaningful games” is illogical for a multitude of reasons. Firstly, it’s not the truth. Justin Verlander and Felix Hernandez have teams that are still in the race. Secondly, it’s irrelevant as there’s no criteria to make the playoffs for the Cy Young (refer to Tim Lincecum and Cliff Lee last year). And thirdly, these players are still playing for a paycheck. They’re not going to tank their performances.
MVP
That people are putting Jeter in the top-two (refer to Buster Olney) in the MVP race is the most ludicrous thing I have ever seen. He’s not even the best shortstop in the American League. Teixeira might have a case, but I really don’t see how either Jeter or Teixeira has been more valuable than a few other players:
1. Joe Mauer: .368 avg, 26 HR, 80 RBI, 1.051 OPS
2. Miguel Cabrera: .335 avg, 27 HR, 82 RBI, .962 OPS
3. Kendry Morales: .314 avg, 30 HR, 94 RBI, .957 OPS
4. Mark Teixeira: .283 avg, 32 HR, 101 RBI, .925 OPS
x. Jason Bartlett: .340 avg, 12 HR, 59 RBI, 24 SB, .400 OBP, .526 SLG
x. Bobby Abreu: .297 avg, 12 HR, 86 RBI, 27 SB, .392 OBP, .430 SLG
x. Derek Jeter: .334 avg, 17 HR, 60 RBI, 23 SB, .398 OBP, .482 SLG
Now, I would not mind if Teixeira won the MVP. However, the Twins are still in the playoff chase in the AL Central, and I think they will still win the division. That would easily give Mauer the MVP. If the Twins lose out to the Tigers, then it’s clear that no other player has been more valuable to their team than Cabrera.
But what about defense? We see all these great plays by Teixeira on that fancy ESPN channel. Get real. Anybody will tell you that Cabrera and Morales are just as good, and probably better, than Teixeira with the glove. They just don’t get the coverage.
Now onto this Derek Jeter fiasco. He is not and should not be mentioned in the same sentence as MVP. “But he’s the captain of the league’s best team” is a horrible argument. Jason Varitek is the captain of Boston…and he won’t be getting any awards any time soon.
Derek Jeter is putting up good numbers. However, he is not more valuable that Joe Mauer, Miguel Cabrera, Kendry Morales, Jason Bartlett, and a whole ton of other people.
So the Yankees might hoist up a World Series trophy in October. And they should be proud if that happens. But don’t expect any individual awards…because they won’t be deserved.
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