Who Wins Cleveland's Next Cy Young?

by mjschaefer on Feb 15, 2009 11:53 PM EST

We all know the details that CC Sabathia won it in 07 and Cliff Lee took the honors while pitching for the Tribe last year. Making it fairly obvious that Cleveland will be the home of the 2009 Cy Young.

Let's examine the candidates-

Cliff Lee- Lee won the award last year with an impressive performance that Chuck couldn't have even seen coming. Chances are he'll fall slightly back to Earth.

Fausto Carmona- Arguably Fausto was a better pitcher than Sabathia in 2007 but he didn't have the name value or the K's to win over the writers. Carmona struggled with injuries all through out 2008.

Anthony Reyes- Reyes was brought over from the Cardinals in the middle of the season. He worked well in the few starts that he had before being shut down due to elbow pain.

Carl Pavano- The greatest wild-card of them all. Pavano has done nothing of note since before he signed with the Yankees. Now the oft-injured pitcher hopes to cash in on an incentive laced one year deal with the Tribe.

Aaron Laffey- The most likely candidate to start the year in the five spot. He's a soft tossing lefty that pitched well at times early last year. Laffey is an LGT favorite

Jeremy Sowers- Another soft tossing lefty, Sowers hasn't reclaimed the success he found in the summer of 2006. He's in the race for the fifth spot. He's the anti-Laffey in that he is also a soft-throwing lefty but few people among the board like him.

Kerry Wood- If stupid K-Rod can get votes why not Wood?

Poll

Which Indian will win the 2009 Cy Young?

Cliff Lee

20 votes

Fausto Carmona

93 votes

Anthony Reyes

5 votes

Carl Pavano

2 votes

Aaron Laffey

3 votes

Jeremy Sowers

7 votes

Kerry Wood

9 votes

139 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 41 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

Am going with my “chuck gutcheck” that Fausto has the best chance this year.

by talonk on Feb 16, 2009 12:20 AM EST reply actions

It’s as good as any other method.

by mauichuck on Feb 16, 2009 12:29 AM EST up reply actions

I know Fausto is the sentimental pick, but I went with the numbers, i.e., the only totally healthy starter we have with a history of major league success … Cliff repeats.

by Jay on Feb 16, 2009 4:21 AM EST reply actions

it is funny to see, that even after 2008, (so far) the overwhelming favorite here is Fausto.

hell, i should have voted for laffey. i haven’t been leaving enough drunk voice mails about him, though.

and sowers? really? anyone gonna own up to that?

So 2009.

by Gradyforpresident on Feb 16, 2009 4:37 AM EST up reply actions

Somebody must really believe in Jeremy’s ability to attract run support. Hell, I hope whoever-it-is is right.

by Jay on Feb 16, 2009 4:39 AM EST up reply actions

Ahh…the first Sowers vote was me. I didn’t want to jinx the rest of them. And besides after Cliff last year, why not?

On top of that, if its remotely close to being true, something good will have to be happening.

by cclemens31 on Feb 16, 2009 4:09 PM EST up reply actions

Jay you’ve hit on it again. Never, ever underestimate Mr. Lee, never.

by mauichuck on Feb 16, 2009 2:14 PM EST up reply actions

One, two, three, look at Mr. Lee
Three, four, five, look at him jive
Mr. Lee, Mr. Lee
Oh, Mr. Lee
Mr. Lee, Mr. Lee
Oh, Mr. Lee
Mr. Lee

I wish they would play that at the Jake, er, Prog, when he takes the mound.

Signature to be named later.

by emd2k3 on Feb 16, 2009 10:36 PM EST up reply actions

They probably would if Toby Keith did a cover of it

Burn on, big river, burn on...

by Turkmenbashi on Feb 17, 2009 10:02 AM EST up reply actions

I picked Cliff because of this.

by Ryan Kelsey on Feb 16, 2009 2:56 PM EST up reply actions

Carmona for Cy Young 2009

by danvail on Feb 16, 2009 7:08 AM EST reply actions

i actually went with kerry wood. i feel like if wood stays healthy, he is capable of putting together the kind of year lidge had in 2008, which was certainly deserving of cy young votes. i’m not saying it’s likely, but i like the chances of wood going like 36 for 36 in save chances with gaudy peripherals more than i like the odds of lee repeating or carmona putting together a cy year as a starter (though, not by much).

by Cap'n Snegiryov on Feb 16, 2009 7:32 AM EST reply actions

Yeah, I Wood was my first instinct. But if K-Rod and Lidge didn’t win it last year, I can’t imagine a closer winning it unless there are just no good options as starters, at all. I picked Cliff.

by Ryan Kelsey on Feb 16, 2009 2:57 PM EST up reply actions

K-Rod’s numbers aside from saves were weak. A closer has to be a determining factor to really earn votes/win the award.

K-Rod basically benefited more from an absurd amount of opportunities then from anything else.

by mjschaefer on Feb 16, 2009 3:03 PM EST up reply actions

Oh I totally agree with you, but I’m saying that the current people who decide the Cy Young will probably tell you that K-Rod’s season was as dominant as any closer in recent memory.

That’s the part of the intrigue of this exercise- its not who is most likely to DESERVE the award, but the most likely to have the season that Cy Young voters will appreciate.

by Ryan Kelsey on Feb 17, 2009 1:28 AM EST up reply actions

As mj said, K-Rod was not that good last year. He didn’t deserve to be anywhere near the top 5.

Didn’t Gagne win a few years ago in LA? So it’s not impossible for a closer to win, but you’re right that there has to be no dominant starters available.

The best thing probably is to hit [Grady] 2nd -- Jay

by Buckeye Brad on Feb 16, 2009 9:00 PM EST up reply actions

I wish these polls could have been public. A large part of me wanted to go with Reyes for no reason other than I really want him to do well, but I went with Kerry Wood. If we win the AL Central, he’ll be a large reason why.

I don’t expect Cliff or Fausto to put up numbers as great as their best years, but I see them both with ERAs sub 3.5.

by mjschaefer on Feb 16, 2009 11:20 AM EST reply actions

Actually, I need to retract my vote. I totally forgot about the “first names starting with ‘C’” rule. Gotta go with Pavano.

Cy Cy Sabathia, Cy Phifer Lee, Cy Pavano

Burn on, big river, burn on...

by Turkmenbashi on Feb 16, 2009 12:04 PM EST reply actions

What about Fausto Cymona?

by Jay on Feb 16, 2009 5:20 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs

I can dig that, no doubt

Burn on, big river, burn on...

by Turkmenbashi on Feb 16, 2009 8:07 PM EST up reply actions

I voted for Fausto, thinking that the trifecta is a cool idea and that we could be to the Cy Young what the Dodgers and As teams have been to the Rookie of the Year award. Then I looked up the history of the Cy Young award and realized, to my surprise, that it is not infrequent that the award goes to the same candidate two years in a row. So, I unofficially switch my vote back to Cliff.

"Lotta heart in Cleveland." - Ian Hunter

by Denver Tribe Fan on Feb 16, 2009 5:13 PM EST reply actions

By the way, I answered Lee based on the text of the FanPost, but based on the title alone — not specific to 2009, just the Indians’ “next Cy Young” — it’s a closer call.

by Jay on Feb 16, 2009 5:25 PM EST reply actions

I vote Scott Lewis.

by tabler84 on Feb 16, 2009 6:24 PM EST reply actions

pecota slut.

by Brick. on Feb 16, 2009 10:35 PM EST up reply actions

hahaha

"Mixed emotions. Rather see him hit PEDroia [with that pitch]. I don’t care if he is in the dugout"

by Gradysmanldy on Feb 27, 2009 9:25 AM EST up reply actions

I ask myself this about Lee. Will he become less composed and grounded? Will his fast ball lose velocity? Will he be less able to locate his fast ball? Will he stop going after hitters? Will he stop peppering the strike zone? Will he no longer be able to get his curve ball over for a strike? I keep answering no. So, I believe he can pick up right where he left off. All he needs is some run support and he’s going to be a serious candidate for Cy Young in 2009.

by elsandito on Feb 16, 2009 10:34 PM EST reply actions

Would an ape make a human doll that talks?

by Manhattan Tribe Fan on Feb 16, 2009 11:12 PM EST up reply actions

Pass the bong MTF, you’re bogardin’ all the dope.

by mauichuck on Feb 16, 2009 11:27 PM EST up reply actions

I picked Cliffly to repeat, but since I have to be the worst person on this entire site for this sort of prognostication, I feel rather bad for the rest of you Lee voters. You’re dooooomed.

by Julie on Feb 17, 2009 11:43 AM EST reply actions