Thursday, November 18, 2021

Another Runner Up Performance


Always the bridesmaid, never the bride.  
Isn't that the saying?

I'm not sure if that could be related to Cy Young Awards, but Gerrit Cole has to start feeling like that at this point in his career.

Despite leading the American League in Wins in 2021, it was announced Wednesday night that Gerrit finished second in the Cy Young voting.  

I believe that the "sticky stuff" conversations hurt Gerrit's chances of capturing his first Cy Young award. 

Since 2015 Gerrit has finished in 5th place (2018), 4th place (2015 and 2020) and 2nd place (2019 and 2021).
The 2015 Pittsburgh Pirates were one of my favorite teams to watch and sadly failed to win a single postseason game (eliminated in the Wild Card game).  They had a starting rotation of Gerrit Cole, Charlie Morton, AJ Burnett, and a resurgent Francisco Liriano.  They also had top pitching prospects like Tyler Glasnow, Jameson Taillon, Clay Holmes, and Nick Kingham in the minors.  That pitching staff could have become legendary if they reached their ceiling of talent and stayed healthy together.

I really missed that 98 win team and the way the management tore down the position player core within a year and the entire starting rotation in 2015 was gone within 3 years.

One of the most famous pitchers to have an incredible career, but never win a Cy Young award is Nolan Ryan.

Through their Age 30 seasons here is a comparison of Cole vs Ryan
Cole
117 Wins
3.20 ERA
1,449 Innings Pitched
1,673 Strikeouts (10.39K/9)
1.12 WHIP
5 top 5 Cy Young Finishes
4 All Star Games

Ryan
141 Wins
3.06 ERA
2,234 Innings Pitched
2,426 Strikeouts (9.77 K/9)
1.31 WHIP
3 top 5 Cy Young Finishes
4 All Star Games

The all time strikeout king had only SIX top 5 finishes for the Cy Young Award.  His career 4.7BB/9 may be a reason why.  He was always giving up free passes. For comparison sake yet again, Gerrit Cole's BB/9 is only 2.3BB/9 (twice as good as Nolan Ryan).


Do you think Gerrit will eventually win a Cy Young Award in his career?

Do you think Gerrit Cole's career will be tarnished by the spider tack allegations that occurred this past season?
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5 comments:

  1. The Lost CollectorNovember 18, 2021 at 7:49 AM

    I don't think it was the sticky stuff, personally. He had control of the race in late August after Lance Lynn faded, and then pitched very poorly down the stretch, especially in key games. It was his award to lose and he did.

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    1. BoNovember 18, 2021 at 10:33 AM

      I guess the question is how much was his slide due to no longer having the sticky stuff. He was also apparently hurt but had a surprising number of poor games for a so-called ace.

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  2. Johnnys Trading SpotNovember 18, 2021 at 8:05 AM

    what sticky stuff, I didn't see any sticky stuff. With that said, here is something you never hear.... If the batters/hitters can use it or tar on their bats why can't the pitchers use a little something something.

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  3. MattNovember 18, 2021 at 11:13 AM

    He reminds me a lot of Chris Sale - 109 wins, 3.03 ERA, 1,629 IP, 2007 K (11.08 K/9), 1.03 WHIP, 6 top 5 Cy Young finishes, 7 All-Star games.

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  4. BulldogNovember 18, 2021 at 12:45 PM

    I don't think he will. Always so many good candidates so it is hard to say one guy will. But I like Cole and hope he can make it over the hump. Great stats comparison and surprised to see his K/9 outpaced Ryan. Good post.

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