Is Cubs Ryan Dempster NL 2008 Cy Young Winner?
Others: Giants' Lincecum, D'Backs' Webb, Mets' Santana, Phils' Lidge
Sep 24, 2008 Grace Lichtenstein
In Chicago, fans believe veteran Cubs right-hander Ryan Dempster deserves the Cy Young Award because he has had a great year and starts for the team with the best record in the league. His teammate Carlos Zambrano owns a no-hitter against Houston. However, Dempster is clearly the Cubs' stopper.
But the Cy Young goes to the best pitcher period, not necessarily best on a winning ball club. That's why Tim Lincecum of the San Francisco Giants is a strong contender for the title, since he has an under 3.00 ERA and a 17-5 record with one game to go on a team that is fourth out of five in a weak division.
Philadelphia points to dark horse candidate Brad Lidge, the team's stellar closer. Brandon Webb of the Diamondbacks will surely get many votes because he is dominant in the wins column and is in the top 5 in ERA. Also, Webb won the award two years ago, so he is not a fluke.
Then there's C.C. Sabathia, who is surely the best pitcher to be traded in the middle of the 2008 season. The lefty has loomed large in every respect for the Milwaukee Brewers, still in the hunt for the wild-card spot in the National League. Although he has lost his last two starts, he was last year's winner in the American League pitching for the Indians.
Finally, among the possibilities is Johan Santana, the Mets left-handed ace. Santana is lagging in wins because his bullpen has blown the lead in a bunch of games. If he were to get the award, he,would be another of the few who captures the Cy Young in each league. Santana won the pitching title twice in three years while with the Minnesota Twins.
Winners in Both NL and ALStill Active: Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez
Since the Cy Young was awarded to a pticher in each league starting in 1967, only four players have won at least once in each league -- Randy Johnson, Roger Clemens Pedro Martinez and Gaylord Perry. And if Dempster wins, he will be the first Cub since 1992, when Greg Maddox won. The following year, Maddux was pitching for the Braves, and he took home the trophy again.
What are Sabathia's chances? There is a precedent for a traded pticher capturing the prize. Rick Sutcliffe won in 1984 as a Cub after being traded in June of that year from the Indians, where he had a so-so record.
One thing is for certain: Cy Young's own career record of 511 victories, compiled for clubs in both the National and American Leagues around the turn of the century, will probably never be equaled. Nobody else has come close. Of course, there were surely no pitch count limits back then.
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