http://isportsweb.com/2015/09/30/chicago-cubs-is-arrieta-the-nl-cy-young-winner/
Chicago Cubs: Is Arrieta the NL Cy Young winner?September 30, 2015 by Justin Farmer Email PrintRight now, the NL Cy Young race is a three headed competition between Jake Arrieta, ZackGreinke and Clayton Kershaw, even though most assume it’s only between the first two. All threeare very deserving of winning this award and each have had terrific seasons. The problem, MLB isnot going to split this award up into three pieces and hand each of them a part, meaning twopitchers are going to get the short end of the stick. Here is a case for each pitcher and why theydeserve to be the NL Cy Young winner.Jake ArrietaIf I had a say in who is going to win the award, my vote would be going for this guy. Yes, I may be alittle biased since I am a die hard Chicago Cubs fan, but his numbers (especially in the second half)have been nothing short of amazing. Arrieta leads the league in wins (21) and has a 1.82 ERA,which only puts him behind Zack Greinke in the NL. Another major factor that voters need to thinkabout is that Arrieta pitches in the best division in baseball. Now I’m not saying the NL West isn’ttough, but the NL Central has three of the best teams in baseball.Arrieta’s pitching performance in thesecond half of this season has beenincredible. Since the AllStar Break,Arrieta is 111 with a .80 ERA in 14starts. Yes you read that correctly, a.80 ERA! If that holds up, it wouldbe the lowest post AllStar breakERA in major league history. Arrietahas anchored the Cubs pitchingstaff the entire year and without him,I doubt the Cubs would beanywhere near the playoffs. A pointcould also be made that Arrietacould be the NL MVP with thenumbers and performances he hashad this year. Even though I thinkthe award will go to Bryce Haper,Arrieta shouldn’t be overlooked.Zack GreinkeGreinke has arguably been the best pitcher in baseball for the entire season and currently holds thelowest ERA in the majors (1.68). Even though Greinke has less wins than Arrieta, his 183 record isa better overall win percentage than Arrieta’s 216. One knock on Greinke, even though a smallone, is that Dodger Stadium is a “pitcherfriendly” ball park, where as Wrigley Field can bedevastating for pitchers when the wind is blowing out.Another statistic, even though some argue that it is flawed is WAR (wins above replacement).Greinke currently ranks first among all pitchers with a 8.6 WAR and second among all players in theMLB. Greinke has been masterful all season long and only has one loss since July, while alsoallowing the fewest earned runs in NL. There’s no doubt a strong case can be made for Greinkeand he very well could win the Cy Young this year and nobody would complain, he’s been that goodfor the whole season.10/1/2015 Chicago Cubs: Is Arrieta the NL Cy Young winner? | isportswebhttp://isportsweb.com/2015/09/30/chicagocubsisarrietathenlcyyoungwinner/ 3/10Sep 18, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los AngelesDodgers starting pitcher Zack Greinke (21) during thesecond inning of the game against the PittsburghPirates at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: JayneKaminOnceaUSA TODAY SportsSep 29, 2015; San Francisco, CA, USA; Los AngelesDodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) pitchesthe ball against the San Francisco Giants in the ninthinning at AT&T Park. The Los Angeles Dodgers defeatedthe San Francisco Giants 80. Mandatory Credit: Kelley LCoxUSA TODAY SportsClayton KershawKershaw has been the forgotten man in theNL Cy Young race even though he is havingone heck of a year, which is a testament tohow good the other two have been. What’samazing is that Kershaw won the CyYoung last year and is currently having aneven better season than a year ago! Kershawcurrently holds a record of 167 with a 2.16ERA. Even though both of those are higherthan Arrieta and Greinke, they are stillunbelievable numbers. Kershaw also leadsthe league in strikeouts (294) and in inningspitched (229).What hurt Kershaw was his performanceearly on in the season, as he didn’t get off toa great start. Lately though, he has beenuntouchable and just turned in a completegame shutout against the San FranciscoGiants to clinch the NL West.I don’t know how the voters are going to pickbetween these three candidates becauseeach are deserving in their own way.Of course I want it to go to my man Arrieta,but I can’t complain if any of the other two(more so, Greinke) win the award becauseof the seasons they have compiled. It’sgoing to be a very close race and may theodds be ever in your favor.
Chicago Cubs: Is Arrieta the NL Cy Young winner?September 30, 2015 by Justin Farmer Email PrintRight now, the NL Cy Young race is a three headed competition between Jake Arrieta, ZackGreinke and Clayton Kershaw, even though most assume it’s only between the first two. All threeare very deserving of winning this award and each have had terrific seasons. The problem, MLB isnot going to split this award up into three pieces and hand each of them a part, meaning twopitchers are going to get the short end of the stick. Here is a case for each pitcher and why theydeserve to be the NL Cy Young winner.Jake ArrietaIf I had a say in who is going to win the award, my vote would be going for this guy. Yes, I may be alittle biased since I am a die hard Chicago Cubs fan, but his numbers (especially in the second half)have been nothing short of amazing. Arrieta leads the league in wins (21) and has a 1.82 ERA,which only puts him behind Zack Greinke in the NL. Another major factor that voters need to thinkabout is that Arrieta pitches in the best division in baseball. Now I’m not saying the NL West isn’ttough, but the NL Central has three of the best teams in baseball.Arrieta’s pitching performance in thesecond half of this season has beenincredible. Since the AllStar Break,Arrieta is 111 with a .80 ERA in 14starts. Yes you read that correctly, a.80 ERA! If that holds up, it wouldbe the lowest post AllStar breakERA in major league history. Arrietahas anchored the Cubs pitchingstaff the entire year and without him,I doubt the Cubs would beanywhere near the playoffs. A pointcould also be made that Arrietacould be the NL MVP with thenumbers and performances he hashad this year. Even though I thinkthe award will go to Bryce Haper,Arrieta shouldn’t be overlooked.Zack GreinkeGreinke has arguably been the best pitcher in baseball for the entire season and currently holds thelowest ERA in the majors (1.68). Even though Greinke has less wins than Arrieta, his 183 record isa better overall win percentage than Arrieta’s 216. One knock on Greinke, even though a smallone, is that Dodger Stadium is a “pitcherfriendly” ball park, where as Wrigley Field can bedevastating for pitchers when the wind is blowing out.Another statistic, even though some argue that it is flawed is WAR (wins above replacement).Greinke currently ranks first among all pitchers with a 8.6 WAR and second among all players in theMLB. Greinke has been masterful all season long and only has one loss since July, while alsoallowing the fewest earned runs in NL. There’s no doubt a strong case can be made for Greinkeand he very well could win the Cy Young this year and nobody would complain, he’s been that goodfor the whole season.10/1/2015 Chicago Cubs: Is Arrieta the NL Cy Young winner? | isportswebhttp://isportsweb.com/2015/09/30/chicagocubsisarrietathenlcyyoungwinner/ 3/10Sep 18, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los AngelesDodgers starting pitcher Zack Greinke (21) during thesecond inning of the game against the PittsburghPirates at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: JayneKaminOnceaUSA TODAY SportsSep 29, 2015; San Francisco, CA, USA; Los AngelesDodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) pitchesthe ball against the San Francisco Giants in the ninthinning at AT&T Park. The Los Angeles Dodgers defeatedthe San Francisco Giants 80. Mandatory Credit: Kelley LCoxUSA TODAY SportsClayton KershawKershaw has been the forgotten man in theNL Cy Young race even though he is havingone heck of a year, which is a testament tohow good the other two have been. What’samazing is that Kershaw won the CyYoung last year and is currently having aneven better season than a year ago! Kershawcurrently holds a record of 167 with a 2.16ERA. Even though both of those are higherthan Arrieta and Greinke, they are stillunbelievable numbers. Kershaw also leadsthe league in strikeouts (294) and in inningspitched (229).What hurt Kershaw was his performanceearly on in the season, as he didn’t get off toa great start. Lately though, he has beenuntouchable and just turned in a completegame shutout against the San FranciscoGiants to clinch the NL West.I don’t know how the voters are going to pickbetween these three candidates becauseeach are deserving in their own way.Of course I want it to go to my man Arrieta,but I can’t complain if any of the other two(more so, Greinke) win the award becauseof the seasons they have compiled. It’sgoing to be a very close race and may theodds be ever in your favor.
