Verlander or Cole: The Sneaky Awesome AL Cy Young Debate

[koufax32]

Was just talking about this with a friend. These guys are so close to each other in so many stats:

JV: wins, baa, whip, CG’s

GC: ERA, K’s, K/9, ERA+, FIP

I assume JV will win with the no-hitter being the tiebreaker for many voters. But should it be? If ever there was a time to split it, this is it.
What say you, SoSH?

 

[Rovin Romine]

They are close, but if, post-season, Houston had to look back over the season and decide which of the two to replace with a .500 pitcher, I'd say they'd keep Verlander, due to the edge in GS/IP.

 

[drbretto]

The tie goes to the narrative.

It's not just a no hitter, it's a third no hitter. That is magnitudes more impressive. That's legitimately historical. That's an extremely exclusive club.

The 300/3000k game is also really something. Sports media loves to combine a couple of mildly impressive stats to make a seemingly impressive combination that no one has done since Babe Ruth probably. These are *the* milestones for a season and a career. That they both happened in the same game is a neat coincidence, but that coincidence highlights the accomplishments.

These three things happening in the same year is an absolute career statement. There were probably people unsure of his potential HoF status just 6 months ago. I think it would take a clear and significant statistical advantage to overcome all that. This is the year of the Verlander. He's gonna shine.

 

[HurstSoGood]

In 4 of his 6 losses, Verlander gave up three runs or less and never gave up more than four runs all year. No-no. Finished with 7.7 WAR and .80 WHIP.
Quick eye test says Justin had the stronger SOS.

Since his last loss (May 22), Cole has been lights out.
17-1. Roughly 2.14 ERA.

Both have been filthy. I could agree with Verlander winning or splitting. I cannot see Cole winning outright.

 

[SirPsychoSquints]

In 4 of his 6 losses, Verlander gave up three runs or less and never gave up more than four runs all year. No-no. Finished with 7.7 WAR and .80 WHIP.
Quick eye test says Justin had the stronger SOS.

Since his last loss (May 22), Cole has been lights out.
17-1. Roughly 2.14 ERA.

Both have been filthy. I could agree with Verlander winning or splitting. I cannot see Cole winning outright.

A split would require a lot of voters putting Cole first. If you can see them tieing, why can’t you see Cole getting just one more vote?

 

[sean1562]

yea verlander 100% cemented his HoF status this season. if they win another WS, would he go i as an Astro or a Tiger? I cant see him falling off a cliff either, so he will probably retire with over 80 WAR.

 

[axx]

Verlander wins easily I think. The NL Cy Young vote will be closer.

 

[barbed wire Bob]

I’m rooting for Cole in a very close vote, just to see another Twitter rant from Kate Upton complaining about the vote.

 

[NYCSox]

It will be a competitive vote only if Cole gets win 20 today. Otherwise the 21 wins and no-hitter will be enough to carry the day for Verlander. And it's close enough between them where I don't mind using wins as a tiebreaker though I think Cole has been the slightly better pitcher by analytics.

 

[Rough Carrigan]

There's not much to choose between them statistically but Verlander's thrown 16 more inning. You have to expect that Cole will go 5 innings today to get a 20th win and that will make the difference 11 innings. That's not much but it's just under 5% of their seasons' totals. I don't think they're 5% apart in performance. I'd go Verlander.

 

[SemperFidelisSox]

Verlander is going to get the lifetime achievement treatment from voters. 3,000 K’s/300 K’s, the third no hitter, doing it all at 36.

 

[Mueller's Twin Grannies]

Verlander is going to get the lifetime achievement treatment from voters. 3,000 K’s/300 K’s, the third no hitter, doing it all at 36.

Including Upton.

I think it's JV in a relative walk. Cole probably already bought him dinner to celebrate.

 

[brandonchristensen]

Wait a minute...

THAT’S RICK PORCELLOS MUSIC

 

[InsideTheParker]

There's an article in the Sports section of the NYTimes about Verlander getting ten hours of sleep a night. He thinks that's crucial to his performance. I don't care who wins, if it's not the Red Sox, but I thought that was interesting.

 

[Marciano490]

There's an article in the Sports section of the NYTimes about Verlander getting ten hours of sleep a night. He thinks that's crucial to his performance. I don't care who wins, if it's not the Red Sox, but I thought that was interesting.

I had an interesting thought the other night when thinking about Tom Brady (as I so often do). The pro athletes now aged 35+ are probably the first generation to have a lifetime understanding of proper nutrition, training and supplementation and access to it.

It’s easier now than ever to read how to eat and train and the knowledge is more pervasive than ever. Brady’s ability to play into his 40s may be less to do with what he does know than what he’s been doing since age 12.

It’s that lifetime of doing everything right that may lead to a redefining of performance by age.