By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com NEW YORK -- CC Sabathia's initial bid to become the first 20-game winner in the Majors this season was denied on Tuesday, as the Orioles pushed the ace around early and held on to post a 6-2 victory over the Yankees. Baltimore jumped on the left-hander for six runs -- five earned -- before finally knocking Sabathia out in the seventh, putting him in line for his first loss at Yankee Stadium in 22 starts, dating back to last year's All-Star break. Smarting from four losses to Sabathia already in 2010 and eight straight against the lefty overall, the Orioles mashed together a three-run first inning, with all of the runs crossing the plate before Sabathia was able to record an out. Brian Roberts led off with a single and scored on a Ty Wigginton bloop to shallow center field, and Adam Jones cashed Felix Pie and Nick Markakis with a two-run single to left field, with Markakis sliding in safely when catcher Jorge Posada couldn't corral the throw. Nolan Reimold blasted a two-run homer off Sabathia -- his third of the season -- with Wigginton aboard in the third inning. Sabathia settled in afterward, retiring 10 straight at one point, but the Orioles got to Sabathia for the sixth run in the seventh inning, as Curtis Granderson couldn't snare a Josh Bell fly ball and Markakis slapped the hurler's 109th pitch into left field for a broken-bat RBI single. Sabathia had won each of his last six starts at Yankee Stadium and came into Tuesday's game 13-1 with a 2.59 ERA in 18 career starts against the Orioles. He allowed nine hits, walking one and striking out five. The Yankees got to Orioles right-hander Jake Arrieta for two runs on eight hits in 6 1/3 innings. Brett Gardner started New York off with a first-inning bunt and scored on a Robinson Cano hit, denting Baltimore's early lead. The Yankees moved a second run around the bases in the fifth when Posada blasted a none-out double to left-center. Third-base coach Rob Thomson whirled slow-footed Lance Berkman toward the plate, where he beat the throw with a clumsy but effective slide. New York had a solid shot for damage the seventh, when Alex Rodriguez pinch-hit with runners at the corners and one out. But Matt Albers got Rodriguez to line hard into a fielder's choice and Gardner bounced out, ending the inning. Having won 19 games each in 2007 and '09, Sabathia had one previous chance to be a 20-game winner, making his final start of the season last Oct. 2. But the Rays knocked Sabathia out that night after he'd allowed five runs in just 2 2/3 innings, leaving the ace with a record of 19-8 heading into the postseason.
Felix has no chance at the Cy Young. He may have great numbers, but his sparkling 11-10 record won't be nearly good enough to garner him enough votes. The only chance he has at is if he somehow manages to finish at least 14-10. Even then, if CC wins 20+ games, finish with close to 200 Ks and has an ERA just over 3...I have a hard time believing he wouldn't get it. As much as they say wins don't matter, they do. And if CC manages to break 20 (which I project he'll probably win 21) and Felix finishes with less than 15, I don't think he's got a shot.
Oh, and I don't see how this rough game is going to hurt his chances. He's been dominant for basically all season, minus the first month, and he's still got a legit shot at finishing the season with a sub-3.00 ERA, since his is still only at 3.14.
Felix has been without a doubt the best pitcher in the AL this season, using any statistic. He deserves the Cy Young.
Sure, whatever you say. I'm just saying, he's not going to get it. 13-15 wins doesn't win you a Cy Young. Especially if you have a guy with 20+ wins, a 3.00 ERA and 200 Ks. He may be the best pitcher in the AL right now, but it won't matter without the wins.
Which is absolutely retarded because wins are by no means a good statistic to measure pitchers by. It's pretty much a pointless statistic. Felix is easily the most deserving Cy Young candidate right now and it's not even close.
I don't disagree, but I wouldn't say he's "easily" the most deserving candidate. You have to give CC some due. While offense has a lot to do with getting wins, he's still doing a damn fine job at what he's paid to do, which is keep the opposing offense in check and win. To say that he's basically not even in the race is just ignorant and biased. 19-6, 3.14 ERA, 1.2 WHIP, .241 BAA and 170 Ks with at least a few starts left this season. The fact that he's got such a low ERA is also incredible, given that a large chunk of his starts come in the launching pad that is Yankees Stadium. So, while he might not be the most deserving person, he's still got more than good enough numbers to win it, and I'd put money on it that he will.
Except Felix is easily the most deserving candidate when you look any statistic. Any. From the basic stats to the advanced stats, Felix is better in EVERY category. I've yet to see one single statistic besides W-L(lol) that shows Sabathia is having a better year. That's why I can say Felix is easily the most deserving candidate.
Except when you include W-L, which voters do care about. Sabathia is deserving, I just don't get why you don't see it. He leads the league in wins, great ERA, solid Ks, good WHIP and BAA. I realize Felix probably leads in all those categories (I know he's better than CC in them), but that doesn't mean CC isn't a deserving candidate. With the way you talk, it sounds like you think CC doesn't even deserve a vote and that Felix should win unanimously, which isn't the case.
I've never said Sabathia isn't deserving. I said Felix is easily the most deserving, big difference, and he seriously is. The only reason he might not win is because of his W-L record, and that's just retarded. Of course I know CC has a shot and could very well win, but that's only because the voters are dumb enough to make the W-L record the determining factor. I'm simply saying when you look at any statistic, Felix has had the better year and is easily the most deserving.
