Why isn't Max Scherzer being considered for the NL CY Young?

[Hrbowski]

Why not?

[Willihammer]

Kershaw

[SweetOne69]

Because there are several pitchers that performed much better than he did.  Odds are it is Arrieta with a few votes going to Greinke and Kershaw.

[Mike Sixel]

I'd say he's in that tier, but I can see why he's not for many. Really, all four of those guys have been great.

[SweetOne69]

The only thing that Scherzer has going for him is Complete Games and Strikeouts.  His 14-12 record with a 2.79 ERA are what knock him out of contention.

[Seth Stohs]

Arrieta, Kershaw and Greinke... but he's a solid #4!

[Thrylos]

Same reason that Sale (who pitched better than Keuchel) will not get considered for AL CY: W-L & ERA

 

Kersaw and Arrieta (in that order) deserve it more, too, but that 14-12 record will hurt him with those voters

[biggentleben]

Scherzer could make a great argument in the AL, but Arrieta, Greinke, and Kershaw have each posted seasons that would each win a CY without the other two around. Scherzer's the clear 4 there, but he's still elite on the season.

[Hrbowski]

I hate how wins and loses play such a factor. Corey Kluber deserves much more consideration in the AL.

[biggentleben]

 

I hate how wins and loses play such a factor. Corey Kluber deserves much more consideration in the AL.

 

If Scherzer were 20-8, it wouldn't move his position on my rankings. Kluber did get a vote in my IBWAA ballot.

[Thrylos]

 

If Scherzer were 20-8, it wouldn't move his position on my rankings. Kluber did get a vote in my IBWAA ballot.

 

Alright.  So explain why you would rank Greinke higher than Scherzer then?  Scherzer is ahead on every stat pretty much other than W-L and ERA, and Greinke had a .229 BABIP

[Monkeypaws]

Should be an interesting ballot - Arrieta seemed a no brainer until I looked at Grienke's numbers: then Kershaw's: all are deserving. It will be close. Scherzer is a "victim of coicustance."

[Oldgoat_MN]

Most importantly, I want to congratulate you on the shortest post ever to get a dialogue going.

[biggentleben]

 

Alright.  So explain why you would rank Greinke higher than Scherzer then?  Scherzer is ahead on every stat pretty much other than W-L and ERA, and Greinke had a .229 BABIP

 

BABIP, high LOB%, whatever. Greinke still posted an ERA a full run lower than Scherzer's.this year, and that happened on the field. I was lucky to be present for Scherzer's near perfect-game against Pittsburgh, and he had an other-worldly season, but it would be a very good season any year. The numbers for the other three would be a clear-cut winner any year.

[nicksaviking]

I really don't think the W/L is weighed very heavily by voters since Bartolo Colon's now infamous winning of the award over Johan Santana. Felix Hernandez won the award with 13 Wins and the whole narrative pre-award was about if voters would ignore the Wins/Losses; they did. Lincecum, Grienke and Kershaw have all won recently with less than ideal Win totals.

 

I think the voters have earned at least this benefit of the doubt by now. Wins/Losses do not appear to be a factor any more.

[TheLeviathan]

Jake Arrieta has sure come a long way from being comped to PJ Walters at the time he was traded to the Cubs.

 

I really, really wish we'd be more active in targeting guys like him.  (Failed former top prospects)

[jokin]

 

Jake Arrieta has sure come a long way from being comped to PJ Walters at the time he was traded to the Cubs.

 

I really, really wish we'd be more active in targeting guys like him.  (Failed former top prospects)

 

Yep.  IIRC, both you and I were having a debate on TD with other naysaying posters about what a great trade this was for the Cubs back in 2013, conceptually.  And the Cubs got not just Arrieta, but also RP Pedro Strop, two arms who both bounced back spectacularly with the Cubs after down years with the Orioles.  And the Cubs got both of these stalwarts by flipping their rental FA pitcher, Scott Feldman.  The Twins, instead of jumping on Feldman early in the FA bidding in November of 2012, waited until the market was established by guys like Feldman, and instead, settled for Kevin Correia and Mike Pelfrey.... Gulp... Theo outmaneuvered Terry- and the rest of the League on this one- big time

[SweetOne69]

 

I really don't think the W/L is weighed very heavily by voters since Bartolo Colon's now infamous winning of the award over Johan Santana. Felix Hernandez won the award with 13 Wins and the whole narrative pre-award was about if voters would ignore the Wins/Losses; they did. Lincecum, Grienke and Kershaw have all won recently with less than ideal Win totals.

I think the voters have earned at least this benefit of the doubt by now. Wins/Losses do not appear to be a factor any more.

I don't think W/L is a non factor, I just it has become less of a factor compared to the perephial stats.  They've come to realize that a pitcher doesn't have a complete control over W/L.  They look more at ERA, SO, and IP now in addition to W/L.

[drjim]

I suspect the overall stink attached to the Nationals hurts as much as anything. Probably not fair to Scherzer but so it goes.