Since 2000 - covering the last ten years - there have been 428 American League starter seasons with at least 150 innings pitched. Here's how Felix's 2009 ranks among them:
ERA: #5
FIP: #17
Combined*: #8
* (2*ERA + 6*FIP)/8. A quick and dirty way of still giving starters some credit for their context pitching. This stat sucks and please never use it.
Of course, neither ERA nor FIP are adjusted for park, so Felix gets a boost, but he was still excellent, and the unfortunate coincidence that Zack Greinke was better doesn't take away from the fact that Felix still had a Cy Young-caliber season. No reason to be disappointed.
The top three AL starter seasons since 2000: Pedro Martinez 2000, Pedro Martinez 2002, and Pedro Martinez 2003. Pedro Martinez 2001 would have qualified had he thrown another 33.1 innings. Between 1999-2003 - covering five years, 135 starts, and 933 innings - Pedro ran a 2.10 ERA and 1.94 FIP. He allowed 133 runs between 1999-2001. Jose Contreras and Scott Olsen allowed 134 runs in 2007. This really happened.
0 recs | 16 comments
It would make me sad if Pedro didn't make the hall of fame.
Mariner John - November 17, 2009
Note: I am not saying the Hall of Fame matters
Just that this would show just how little it matters.
Mariner John - November 17, 2009
I can't fathom any scenario in which Pedro doesn't waltz in on the first ballot.
Benne - November 17, 2009
PEDs would keep him off the first ballot.
Matthew - November 17, 2009
You can't spell Pedro without PED!
pdb - November 17, 2009
Why not (ERA+FIP*3)/4?
lailaihei - November 17, 2009 via mobile
Why not (3*ERA + 9*FIP)/12?
Because I was playing around with a couple different ratios in my head, I didn’t think to reduce, and hey it turns out it doesn’t make a difference. Math!
Jeff Sullivan - November 17, 2009
"This stat sucks and please never use it."
Now someone should make it their life goal to champion this new “Combined 2ERA+6FIP stat, created by Jeff of LL”, as the greatest pitching stat ever, and try to convince all future Cy Young award voters to vote based on it.
ARock - November 17, 2009
Isn't it called SABRJeff?
PositivePaul - November 17, 2009
So I didn't realize Pedro didn't win the Cy Young in 2002 or 2003
I can kind of understand why they put an emphasis on innings, but the Cy Young goes to the best pitcher, not the most valuable one, and Pedro was far and away the best.
Jeff Sullivan - November 17, 2009
Even on value, Pedro was worth waaaaay more WAR than Barry Zito in 2002.
2003, I don’t really have a problem with it. If they mattered, 2002 would’ve been a travesty.
marc w - November 17, 2009
So how many Cy Young awards have the BBWAA NOT effed up?
Since, say, Pat Hentgen.
Colm - November 17, 2009
Its not hard to argue
That that stretch by Pedro is probably the the best in the last 80 years.
CKremer - November 17, 2009
It's not hard to argue that's in the best stretch of pitching ever.
Goose - November 18, 2009
Oh, Felix. :( I still think you're the best.
But congrats to Greinke. Absolutely deserved.
Teej - November 17, 2009
Greinke was better
But I am enitirely happy having the second best pitcher in baseball on our team (from last year, at least).
Sign him god damn it.
OlSalty - November 18, 2009
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