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Dontrelle Willis Is The Reason Why The Marlins Are In The Playoff Hunt
Who Will Win This Year's NL Cy Young Award?
Ted Blake
Issue date: 9/20/05 Section: Sports
This season, the National League has featured the three best starting pitchers in baseball. Cardinal ace Chris Carpenter, ageless wonder Roger Clemens of Houston and Florida's young lefty Dontrelle Willis are battling to take home the 2005 Cy Young Award, given annually to the league's best pitcher. Though Carpenter looks like the frontrunner now, it is Willis who should take home the hardware, as the 23-year-old Marlins hurler has not only posted some of the best numbers in the NL, but has done so while carrying his team in the playoff hunt.
Prior to his most recent outing, on Monday Sept. 12 Willis pitched his seventh complete game and earned his 21st win of the season, tying Carpenter for the league-lead in both categories. Willis carried a one-hitter into the fifth inning, and allowed only two earned runs with one walk. Helping his own cause, Willis hit his first home run of the year, to power his Marlins into the Wild Card lead for the first time this season.
Admittedly, Clemens could have as many wins as either Willis or Carpenter, if the Astros gave him any run support. But while Clemens can simply complain about his team's offense and Carpenter can rely on one of the best run-producing lineups in baseball, Willis actually helps his team score. Though neither Willis' Monday homer nor his .259 batting average count toward the Cy Young Award, he is the only candidate with any respectability at the plate or on the base path.
Though he has allowed the fewest home runs of the three aces, Willis falls a little behind the two righties in the numbers game. Clemens 1.77 ERA is way ahead of either Carpenter's 2.31 or Willis' 2.49, and Carptenter's 201 strikeouts are best in the National League.
But numbers shouldn't mean everything in Cy Young voting, Willis' biggest credit is that he wins when it counts. Carpenter's Cardinals already have the NL Central locked up by 15 games, taking all the pressure off their ace. Willis has pitched as well as Carpenter under much more pressure, with the playoffs on the line every time he is on the mound
With his Marlins in a September battle for the NL Wild Card with the Phillies and Clemens' Astros, Willis has been at his best, winning seven of his last 10 starts and allowing 14 runs. Over the same timeline, Clemens has gone 4-3 and allowed nearly 20 runs in his last 10 starts, with a 3.16 ERA since Aug. 7.
Taking his team on his back, Willis has posted five complete game shutouts, more than either Carpenter or the aging Clemens, who has gone nine innings only once this year. Willis' durability has proven very useful to his team, as he pitches nearly an inning more than Clemens per start.
Willis dererves the Cy Young because he is a winner. Clemens is a great pitcher, but hasn't won for his team this year and Carpenter hasn't faced a pressure situation all year. Willis puts his team and its season on his shoulders every start and is still the best pitcher in the National League.
Prior to his most recent outing, on Monday Sept. 12 Willis pitched his seventh complete game and earned his 21st win of the season, tying Carpenter for the league-lead in both categories. Willis carried a one-hitter into the fifth inning, and allowed only two earned runs with one walk. Helping his own cause, Willis hit his first home run of the year, to power his Marlins into the Wild Card lead for the first time this season.
Admittedly, Clemens could have as many wins as either Willis or Carpenter, if the Astros gave him any run support. But while Clemens can simply complain about his team's offense and Carpenter can rely on one of the best run-producing lineups in baseball, Willis actually helps his team score. Though neither Willis' Monday homer nor his .259 batting average count toward the Cy Young Award, he is the only candidate with any respectability at the plate or on the base path.
Though he has allowed the fewest home runs of the three aces, Willis falls a little behind the two righties in the numbers game. Clemens 1.77 ERA is way ahead of either Carpenter's 2.31 or Willis' 2.49, and Carptenter's 201 strikeouts are best in the National League.
But numbers shouldn't mean everything in Cy Young voting, Willis' biggest credit is that he wins when it counts. Carpenter's Cardinals already have the NL Central locked up by 15 games, taking all the pressure off their ace. Willis has pitched as well as Carpenter under much more pressure, with the playoffs on the line every time he is on the mound
With his Marlins in a September battle for the NL Wild Card with the Phillies and Clemens' Astros, Willis has been at his best, winning seven of his last 10 starts and allowing 14 runs. Over the same timeline, Clemens has gone 4-3 and allowed nearly 20 runs in his last 10 starts, with a 3.16 ERA since Aug. 7.
Taking his team on his back, Willis has posted five complete game shutouts, more than either Carpenter or the aging Clemens, who has gone nine innings only once this year. Willis' durability has proven very useful to his team, as he pitches nearly an inning more than Clemens per start.
Willis dererves the Cy Young because he is a winner. Clemens is a great pitcher, but hasn't won for his team this year and Carpenter hasn't faced a pressure situation all year. Willis puts his team and its season on his shoulders every start and is still the best pitcher in the National League.