MLB 2011: An overview of the Cy Young Award candidates – Part 1
The regular season of Major League Baseball is now days away from what will be a classic finish. The competition in each division is getting intense and the pitchers have been at the core of guiding the teams to success.
Every year, the best pitcher from each league, American and National, is awarded with the Cy Young Award which is proclaimed to be the dream of every pitcher. This season has witnessed some of the best performances on the mound and the competition for top-honours
is intense. Following is an analysis of the top pitchers from each League who may win the Cy Young Award this season.
The Philadelphia Phillies have led the National League with a significant margin this season and their pitching’ staff has been central to their success thus far. Their pitching, ranked as one of the best in the Majors, is led by Roy Halladay who has dictated
terms to even the best batters on the circuit.
Halladay leads the list of most innings pitched and most complete games in the NL and shares the top-notch with Clayton Kershaw and Ian Kennedy for most wins in the NL this season. The right-handed starting pitcher has a phenomenal earned-run average and
has struck-out batters at will.
Halladay has won the Cy Young Award twice in his career, his first triumph coming in 2003 and the latest coming last season in 2010. This season, however, Halladay’s success has been overshadowed by the fact that he is a component of the best pitching rotation
in business with the likes of Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee supporting him. Having said this, he still remains to be a top candidate in the race.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have been in all sorts of off-the-field problems this season and this has greatly affected their performance on-the-field. However, their starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw has defied all odds to be ranked as one of the most challenging
forces in the NL and the Majors. His performance this season has been exemplary and rating him as a challenger for the Cy Young Award would be fairly justified.
Kershaw has exhibited immense arm strength and quality this season and is currently the leader in strike-outs in the NL. He possesses the entire arsenal that a pitcher desires and has not been hesitant in exposing it. Kershaw has been at the core of any
success that the Dodgers have enjoyed this season. His salary remains to be among the lowest in MLB but this is expected to inflate sooner than later after four top-quality seasons from the left-hander.
Kershaw has not bagged any silverware till now but this year, it would not be a surprise if he manages to win his first Cy Young Award. Given that he has been the sole firepower in the Dodgers bull-pen, he is the most deserving candidate this year.
The Arizona Diamondbacks have shown a late resurgence in the season, toppling the reigning World Champions San Francisco Giants to gain the top spot in the NL West division. The D-backs have greatly depended on their starter Ian Kennedy and to their help,
Kennedy has not disappointed.
Kennedy won seven consecutive starts from July 8 to August 12 before his streak came to an end against the Phillies on August 18. He is now the joint leader in wins in the NL, sharing the spot with Kershaw and Halladay.
Continued in Part 2
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