David Price edges Justin Verlander in AL Cy Young voting – MLB Update
David Price of the Tampa Bay Rays edged Detroit Tigers’ hard throwing ace Justin Verlander in the American League Cy Young Award voting. Price beat out 2011 winner Verlander by only four points as per the balloting conducted by Baseball Writers’ Association
of America.
Price posted some impressive numbers last season. Along with Jered Weaver of the Los Angeles Angels, he led the American League in wins with 20 and finished the season with a superb 2.56 ERA. Striking-out 205 batters, he created all sorts of problems for
the Major League Baseball hitters.
Verlander, who was also the AL Most Valuable Player last year, went 17-8 with a decent 2.64 ERA. He played a big part in Tigers’ American League Championship winning campaign in 2012. Verlander led the league in complete games with six, 238 innings and 239
strike-outs.
Verlander will be certainly disappointed with the outcome of the voting but without a shadow of a doubt, Price was the deserving winner. Price pitched fewer innings and hence faced fewer batters than Verlander. However, he faced stiffer competition in the
big bad American League East Division.
"I looked at all the candidates and all the statistics," one of the voters Drew Davison said in a telephone interview. "I looked at the relievers who have won the Cy Young, and Rodney's numbers were better than all of those. I felt he was the best pitcher
in the AL this year. He gave up five earned runs the entire season. Verlander had a great year. I thought Rodney had a better year. I'm surprised I'm the only one who voted for him."
Weaver, who was the other finalist, received 70 points to finish third in the voting results. The right hander also pitched with great control and accuracy in the past season. He threw a no hitter and earned a 2.81 ERA in his 20 victories. Weaver, however,
missed a number of starts and pitched only 188 plus innings for his side.
It seems Verlander paid the ultimate price for his loss against Price on June 29. Tigers’ Number one starter gave up three home-runs in that game and Price secured a comfortable win against him.
Tags: