I mean it was obvious back in the day, as pitchers pitched a complete game. But now, pitchers get wins for such performances as 5ip, 6er as long has his offence chips in 7. They get losses in 7ip 1 er games if the bats are cold. Wins and losses can be tacked on if a bullpen arm can’t hold the line.

So why?

I think it’s pretty antiquated. Little Joe Morgan thinks that it is the most important determinant. Little Joe is an idiot. A pitcher’s job is to keep runs off the board. Thats it. Pitcher’s don’t “know how to win” or “pitch well enough to lose”. They pitch to keep runs off the board.

NL Cy Young Award
5. Kevin Brown LAD 14-9 2.43 8.03 k/9 62.769 runs sved
Guess what? I park adjusted my runs saved, so now they are figured with park and league context in mind. Last year, Brown was hurt. This year, he was not. He is worthy of Cy Young award consideration, considering he has the weakest offense this side of Detroit behind him. His sinker is still one of the nastiest pitches around.

4. Brandon Webb ARI 10-8 2.75 8.51 k/9 56.907 runs sved
Webb gets some bonus points for his part in keeping the D’Backs rotation steady while Randy Johnson was getting his knee fixed and Curt Schilling was feeling the ill affects of his QuesTec induced bitch fit. You know, for someone who is a horse, Schilling sure is a whiner, isn’t he?

3. Eric Gagne LAD 54 svs 1.23 15.12 k/9 34.571 runs sved
Absolutely dominant this season. He is on pace to blow away the strikeout rate record. It must be tough to beat him when there is almost no chance of putting the ball in play. Gagne holds the consecutive saves record, and looks like the evil illegitimate son of Buddy Holly, and Scott Sauerbeck on the mound. As a note, Russ Ortiz, who will probably finish 2nd or 3rd in the award voting, has less runs saved then Gagne, despite 120 more innings.

T-1. Mark Prior CHC 17-6 2.42 10.33 k/9 67.141 runs sved
Jason Schmidt SFG 17-5 2.34 9.01 k.9 67.598 runs sved
The differences between these two guys are so insignificant that it would be stupid for me to argue one over the other. Prior k’s more, but also walks more. Schmidt has a lower ERA, but when you adjust for ballparks, its even. Prior has pitched 3 less innings, but has essentially the same amount of runs saved. They’ve both played for Dusty Baker. I haven’t seen a compelling reason for one over the other yet, so I make them tied. Fake bonus points for Prior, because he wears the same number I did in high school.

I planned on doing the American League this morning, but it looks like that isn’t gonna happen. I’ll try to do it this afternoon or tonight. Eitherway, I have one more post in me today.