Thursday, May 16, 2013
Silva: Time to End the Collins Era and Bring On Backman
(metsmerizedonline.com)
...and Wally dug the Mets out of the basement.
Read More...Backman is known to be a great motivator and teacher. He won’t wave a magic wand and make this 4-A squad a contender, but I guarantee the players will maximize their potential- whatever that may be. He can manage a bullpen, and certainly will run a clean clubhouse. He will demand respect and a winning attitude. The Mets may not win under Backman, at least not right away, but they will compete. This is not what I can say has been the case 100% ...
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1. cardsfanboyConcur. Always root for the knuckleballer.
Yes. Without looking at park adjusted numbers, Dickey has the better ERA, the better WHIP, the better K rate and more innings.
And he throws the knuckleball, so he should win by default.
Well, the park is a pretty significant factor. BR has 3-year pitching factors of 96 for Citi and 106 for GABP. Cueto actually has a better ERA+ (and has allowed 3 fewer unearned runs as well). And Baseball Prospectus indicates that Cueto has faced tougher hitters on average than Dickey has.
Cueto doesn't have a knuckleball, but he does have his own unique ability (for a RHP, at least): so far this year, he has 1 SB against and 9 pickoffs. And he picked off 2 Giants in the same inning earlier this year: Cueto is a ninja.
Since they got rid of the wall in LF this year, I'm not sure how much you can rely on the 3 year park factor for Citi. No question it doesn't play as hitter friendly as Cincy, of course.
Dickey has 227 IP; so he's 17 ahead of Cueto right now, which isn't nothing. (Though Dickey just pitched today, does Cueto have 1 or 2 more starts left?) I'm a Mets fan, I'm rooting for Dickey to win it, but Cueto would be a fine choice as well. Dickey has the better K and BB numbers but I'm not sure how much of a difference that should make in the Cy voting.
Dickey has a realistic chance to lead the league in Wins, ERA, IP, K, and WHIP.
This is exciting, and he's got a real chance to win it. The ERA title is going to be something of a coin flip. He's all but sewn up IP. He's 11 Ks up on Kershaw, but Kershaw has (I think) two starts left.
Cueto's allowed 4 unearned runs, which is lowest among pitchers in the top 10 in ERA. Dickey's allowed 7.
EDIT:
Cueto should just have 1 start left (he started on Tuesday). He also probably won't go deep into game, so he can be rested for the playoffs.
No he didn't! There was no spin at all.
Also, the tie goes to the guy who didn't end another player's career by kicking him in the head.
I'm not sure there really is a more deserving among the type six candidates. If I had a vote, and as of right now I would go 1. Dickey. 2. Cueto, 3. Kershaw, 4. Lohse, 5. Gonzalez. I could be easily convinced (fully acknowledging homerism tendencies) to put Lohse ahead of Kershaw.
Pretty foolish of Cueto to defend himself while pinned against the backstop during a brawl.
As a Reds fan, I can vouch for this. He doesn't do anything especially interesting (besides kill the running game, I guess), but you look up 2 hours later and realize he's given up 2 runs in 7 innings. Very boring consistency.
I really hope Dickey wins the pitching triple crown. That would be awesome. It's also possible he doesn't win any of the categories, of course. Gonzalez is going tonight and is tied in W. Kershaw is 11 behind in Ks and 0.01 up in ERA, but has 2 starts left to Dickey's 1.
But it'll probably be "Congratulations, R.A."
It appears that Gio is voting for either Dickey or Cueto.
Would it be nakedly cynical and opportunistic of me to suddenly argue that the guy with the most wins should get the Cy Young, given my advocacy for King Felix two years ago? Why yes, yes it would.
If you don't want to get hit on the head, don't rush out onto the field during a brawl and insert yourself into the scrum.
I know I'm in the minority, but tie goes to the pitcher who's not excruciating to watch. Knuckleballers drive me batty.
By the way, despite Gio voting for Dickey and Cueto tonight, the Phillies apparently want Gio to win.
I'm with you.
RA Dickey is the most joyous and entertaining pitcher in baseball.
Ok, seriously, have you watched him pitch? You know that he throws a 80 mph knuckleball, and mixes in a 60 mph knuckleball? He is a blast to watch.
Does Dickey, though? The guy is likely going to lead the league in K's and is third in WHIP. He has 4 wild pitches this season in 220 IP (going into today). He is not your average knuckleballer.
But dont let me piss on the Dickey party. He's clearly a deserving Cy young candidate, and if you enjoy watching him pitch, then keep on keeping on.
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