This year's Cy Young award winner is a pitcher with a:
2.27 ERA (best in baseball)
249.2 innings (best in the American league)
6 complete games (second in the American League)
232 strikeouts (second in the American League by 1)
1.06 WHIP (second in the American League)
34 games started (best in the American League)
This pitcher's name is Felix Hernandez of the last place Seattle Mariners and is the 2010 Cy Young award winner with 13-12 record, lowest among Cy Young winners.
Is this a trend?
A lot of people in the media will tell you that.
"Starting in 2011, people will be able to cite historical evidence as to why wins should not be considered in the Cy Young discussion. 'Hernandez won it in 2010,' they will say. 'And he didn’t even win 14 games.' They will be right, and the Cy Young award will begin to have meaning." (Jess K. Coleman, featured columnist)
I don't agree with Jess. I'm still a believer in wins being important for pitchers because it's important in games, it's important for quarterbacks and it's important for goalies—both soccer and hockey.
“Ultimately, you look at how guys are able to win games,” says National League Cy Young award winner, Roy Halladay.
Now what does that mean for King Felix? Is he the start of a now wins needed trend? No, he's the exception.
He has dominated David Price from Tampa and C.C. Sabathia from New York in every stat but wins.
Congrats for Felix Hernandez but don't expect the same to happen in the future.
However, I will say this, wins are significant but wins alone will no longer grant Cy Young victory. High wins total will now need to be backed up with an ERA in the two's and a high strikeout total.
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