I retract my case for Verlander as AL mvp. Does he deserve consideration? Sure. But I just saw that Pedro's 2000 season which is perhaps the finest pitching season in mlb history didn't even garner him a single first place vote. That was a very depressing stat to read. You know what's even more depressing? Reading that Francisco Rodriguez got a first place vote in 2008 for his 62 saves despite not even being the third best closer in the AL that year.
I guess they should just rename the award to the Most Valuable Player Who Doesn't Pitch, or something.
From Wiki: In 1999, Martínez delivered one of the greatest pitching seasons of all time, finishing 23–4 with a 2.07 ERA and 313 strikeouts (earning the pitching Triple Crown), unanimously winning his second Cy Young Award (this time in the American League), and coming in second in the Most Valuable Player ballot.
The MVP result was controversial, as Martínez received the most first-place votes of any player (8 of 28), but was totally omitted from the ballot of two sportswriters, New York's George King and Minneapolis' LaVelle Neal. The two writers argued that pitchers were not sufficiently all-around players to be considered. (However, George King had given MVP votes to two pitchers just the season before: Rick Helling and David Wells; King was the only writer to cast a vote for Helling, who had gone 20–7 with a 4.41 ERA and 164 strikeouts.) MVP ballots have ten ranked slots, and sportswriters are traditionally asked to recuse themselves if they feel they cannot vote for a pitcher. "It really made us all look very dumb", said Buster Olney, then a sportswriter for the New York Times. "People were operating under different rules. The question of eligibility is a very basic thing. People were determining eligibility for themselves." The Times does not permit its writers to participate in award voting. Martínez finished second to Texas Rangers catcher Iván Rodríguez, by a margin of 252 points to 239. Rodríguez had been included on all 28 ballots.
Following up 1999, Martínez had perhaps his best year in 2000. Martínez posted an exceptional 1.74 ERA, the AL's lowest since 1978, while winning his third Cy Young award. His ERA was about a third of the park-adjusted league ERA (4.97). No other single season by a starting pitcher has had such a large differential. Roger Clemens' 3.70 was the second-lowest ERA in the AL, but was still more than double that of Martínez. Martínez also set a record in the lesser known sabermetric statistic of Weighted Runs allowed per 9 innings pitched (Wtd. RA/9), posting a remarkably low 1.55 Wtd. RA/9. He gave up only 128 hits in 217 innings, for an average of just 5.31 hits allowed per 9 innings pitched: the third lowest mark on record.
Martínez's record was 18–6, but could have been even better. In his six losses, Martínez had 60 strikeouts, 8 walks, and 30 hits allowed in 48 innings, with a 2.44 ERA and an 0.79 WHIP, while averaging 8 innings per start. Martínez's ERA in his losing games was less than the leading ERA total in the lower-scoring National League (Kevin Brown's 2.58). The Yankees' Andy Pettitte outdueled the league's best pitcher twice; Martínez's other four losses were each by one run. Martínez's first loss of the year was a 1–0 complete game in which he had 17 strikeouts and 1 walk.
Martínez's WHIP in 2000 was 0.74, breaking both the 87-year-old modern Major League record set by Walter Johnson, as well as Guy Hecker's mark of 0.77 in 1882. The American League slugged just .259 against him. Hitters also had a .167 batting average and .213 on base percentage, setting two more modern era records. Martínez became the only starting pitcher in history to have more than twice as many strikeouts in a season (284) as hits allowed (128).
In the span of 1999 and 2000, Martínez allowed 288 hits and 69 walks in 430 innings, with 597 strikeouts, an 0.83 WHIP, and a 1.90 ERA. Some statisticians believe that in the circumstances — with lefty-friendly Fenway Park as his home field, in a league with a designated hitter, during the highest offensive period in baseball history — this performance represents the peak for any pitcher in baseball history.
That's goddamn insane. Wingman's just mad because he pitched for the Red Sox. I bet next Wingman will tell me that he's not a Hall of Famer because he only won 219 games.
Chipper Jones just hit his 450th career homer and Derek Lowe his first, haha! The Braves are like the worst team in the majors at hitting against LHPs (hence the reacquisition of righty Matt Diaz today), but the switchhitting Jones, the right-handed Lowe, and the right-handed Uggla have produced their three runs so far tonight.
Chipper Jones just hit his 450th career homer and Derek Lowe his first, haha! The Braves are like the worst team in the majors at hitting against LHPs (hence the reacquisition of righty Matt Diaz today), but the switchhitting Jones, the right-handed Lowe, and the right-handed Uggla have produced their three runs so far tonight.
Surprised Chipper is only batting .228 against lefties this year. He's a career .309 batting right handed against lefties (.306 for the other way 'round and .299 this year).
Giants win 4-0 today, i dont know whats more impressive, Bumgarner pitching a complete game, 2 hit shutout, or the Giants scoring 4 runs today
Neither is impressive when it comes against my pathetic Cubs. On a positive note Alfonso Soriano only has 3 years and $54 million remaining on his contract
Neither is impressive when it comes against my pathetic Cubs. On a positive note Alfonso Soriano only has 3 years and $54 million remaining on his contract
That sounds a lot better then what the Nationals and Jayson Werth have to deal with.
We all remember the 5-0 and 1 earned run in 42 innings June?
August: 5-0 and 2 earned runs in 39 2/3 innings.
If only he wasn't so pedestrian in May and July or else he'd have the cy young wrapped up. If the pattern continues though, he'll be lights out in October and the Phillies will cruise to a world series win.
Neither is impressive when it comes against my pathetic Cubs. On a positive note Alfonso Soriano only has 3 years and $54 million remaining on his contract
Dont feel so bad, we still owe Zito like $60+ mil for the next 3 years and Rowand $12 mil next year who we just cut ... I think every team has at least one really bad contract to be embarrased about though...
It's being reported that Frank McCourt has been offered $1.2 billion for the Dodgers by LA Marathon founder Bill Burke. It is an all-cash bid and would partially be funded by Chinese investors. It's unknown if McCourt is interested in the deal and his spokesman had no comment. The bid expires in 21 days.
Surprised Chipper is only batting .228 against lefties this year. He's a career .309 batting right handed against lefties (.306 for the other way 'round and .299 this year).
That surprises me a bit, too, but as I recall he's been hitting the ball left-handed much better than right-handed this year. I wanna say last night's right-handed HR was only the 2nd (of 14) from that side of the plate.
Jesus Montero, the Yankees #1 prospect has been called up to the big club and is in Boston with the team. Also, all MLB rosters has been expanded to 40 men.
We all remember the 5-0 and 1 earned run in 42 innings June?
August: 5-0 and 2 earned runs in 39 2/3 innings.
If only he wasn't so pedestrian in May and July or else he'd have the cy young wrapped up. If the pattern continues though, he'll be lights out in October and the Phillies will cruise to a world series win.
I love watching hitters take third strikes right down the middle against him. It happens enough that batters must be completely fooled by what he is throwing.
It's being reported that Frank McCourt has been offered $1.2 billion for the Dodgers by LA Marathon founder Bill Burke. It is an all-cash bid and would partially be funded by Chinese investors. It's unknown if McCourt is interested in the deal and his spokesman had no comment. The bid expires in 21 days.
We all remember the 5-0 and 1 earned run in 42 innings June?
August: 5-0 and 2 earned runs in 39 2/3 innings.
If only he wasn't so pedestrian in May and July or else he'd have the cy young wrapped up. If the pattern continues though, he'll be lights out in October and the Phillies will cruise to a world series win.
Cliff Lee became only the 3rd pitcher in MLB history to have two 5-0 months and have an ERA under 1.00 in the same season.
Lee went 5-0 with a 0.21 ERA in June and 5-0 with a 0.45 ERA in August.
Bob Gibson accomplished the feat in 1968: June (6-0, 0.50 ERA) and July (6-0, 0.50 ERA).
Walter Johnson accomplished the feat in 1913: April (5-0, 0.24 ERA) and July (6-0, 0.81 ERA).
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I bet next Wingman will tell me that he's not a Hall of Famer because he only won 219 games. 
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