Spring Break
Despite No Run Support All Season, Roger Clemens Is Still The NL's Best
Who Will Win This Year's NL Cy Young Award?
John Fleming
Issue date: 9/20/05 Section: Sports
In terms runs scored in the NL, the Astro's rank No. 13, while the Cardinals are No. 2, and the Marlins are No. 5. On top of having on of the weakest offensive teams in the NL on a night-to-night basis, Houston has been worse when Clemens takes the mound. Clemens' win total may be right around the Cardinals' and Marlins' aces had his team not been shutout in eight of his starts this year. Eight times! That is not only a lot for a team to be shutout in a season, but for one starter has not happened in over 30 years. Had the Astros got even two runs in five of his starts they would have won 2-1. As of Sept. 8 he received the fourth lowest run support in the league. Houston is still within reach of the wildcard, imagine if they showed up when Clemens pitched.
Win-loss records may be the most overrated statistic in baseball. Clemens is tied with 20 other pitchers at No. 33 in the league for most wins. Bronson Arroyo is one of those pitchers with 12 wins, but he also has an ERA of 4.42 - almost two and a half times greater than Clemens. If Clemens were pitching with an offense as potent as the Cardinals or even the Marlins, he would have at least eight more wins and win the Cy Young by a landslide.
Beyond Clemens' minuscule ERA and lack of run support, he has been as good or better than the contenders in many categories. Opponents are batting a league low against the Rocket at just .188, .31 less than Carpenter and .53 less than Willis. Clemens has also allowed the least amount of hits, fewest total bases and the lowest OPS (on base percentage and slugging percentage against) of the bunch. Carpenter and Clemens both are ahead of Willis in most categories and in the end, barring terrible breakdowns, they will battle for the award.
History is on Carpenter's side. Clemens would be the first pitcher to win the Cy Young with more than five wins less than the leader Clemens right now is down nine with potentially three or four more starts to go. That means the Cy Young award voters will have to be more than fans and see all the numbers, not just wins. It is not about who is the best pitcher on the best team; it is about who is the best pitcher in that season. Period. That is what Clemens has done seven times before, and he has done it again. History may not be on Clemens' side, but that is because Clemens is about to change it.
Win-loss records may be the most overrated statistic in baseball. Clemens is tied with 20 other pitchers at No. 33 in the league for most wins. Bronson Arroyo is one of those pitchers with 12 wins, but he also has an ERA of 4.42 - almost two and a half times greater than Clemens. If Clemens were pitching with an offense as potent as the Cardinals or even the Marlins, he would have at least eight more wins and win the Cy Young by a landslide.
Beyond Clemens' minuscule ERA and lack of run support, he has been as good or better than the contenders in many categories. Opponents are batting a league low against the Rocket at just .188, .31 less than Carpenter and .53 less than Willis. Clemens has also allowed the least amount of hits, fewest total bases and the lowest OPS (on base percentage and slugging percentage against) of the bunch. Carpenter and Clemens both are ahead of Willis in most categories and in the end, barring terrible breakdowns, they will battle for the award.
History is on Carpenter's side. Clemens would be the first pitcher to win the Cy Young with more than five wins less than the leader Clemens right now is down nine with potentially three or four more starts to go. That means the Cy Young award voters will have to be more than fans and see all the numbers, not just wins. It is not about who is the best pitcher on the best team; it is about who is the best pitcher in that season. Period. That is what Clemens has done seven times before, and he has done it again. History may not be on Clemens' side, but that is because Clemens is about to change it.