King Felix wins AL Cy Young

[Matt Breen]

http://bbwaa.com/

 

Hernandez wins, Price second, Sabathia third.

 

Hernandez got 21 of 28 first place votes, despite winning only 13 games. But he lead the league in ERA, innings pitched, and was 2nd in strikeouts.

 

Stat folks should be happy about this win.

[crewcrazy]

Very cool of the BBWAA to publicize the breakdown of first place votes.

 

I wouldn't really call this a major victory for sabermatricians, especially if you look at some of the names who voted Felix #1. It's more about recognizing the best overall pitcher in the American League, as he was pretty clearly the top pitcher before you even get to the sabermetric stats -- he just happened to also be the best sabermetrically.

[endaround]

Cliff Lee was better.

[Oldcity]

Amazing that Lee didn't finish top three.

[Funketown]

Cliff Lee was better.

But Lee only won 12 games, to Felix's 13!

 

Yeah, Lee deserved it. David Price didn't deserve to finish second. C.C. didn't deserve to finish third. I just can't wait to see the individual ballots filled out.

 

Edit: Wait, only three people thought Cliff Lee was one of the FIVE best pitchers in the AL! That's horrendous. How can you justify five guys being better than Lee? I can see Felix, maybe Verlander. Maybe an argument could be made for Weaver? Seriously though...

[Invader3K]

Aren't these voted on at the end of the regular season?

[Baldkin]

Aren't these voted on at the end of the regular season?

Yes. But Lee was ridiculous, regular season or not. His K/BB was over 10 to 1. By fangraphs war (which uses FIP and not ERA) he topped all pitchers in MLB.

[Invader3K]

I have to believe voters looked at Hernandez's 249.2 innings pitched. The man was a horse this year.

[Baldkin]

I have no issue with Hernandez winning, but saying the "stats folks" should be happy with the result is a bit much.... baby steps, I suppose. I just don't see how people could collectively vote for Hernandez, and at the same time, completely ignore Lee.

[Ennder]

Felix Hernandez is pretty deserving. His peripherals were as good as Lee's and he pitched more innings.

[GAME05]

I have no issue with Hernandez winning, but saying the "stats folks" should be happy with the result is a bit much.

 

stats folks are never happy. ha!

[TooLiveBrew]

Stat folks are happy, but they just have to find a quantifiable way to describe it before discussing it. I hear there's work being done on HAR (happiness above replacement) over at FanGraphs.