Ok, let's deal with it: No matter what happens in his final two starts of 2025, Max Fried won't win the AL Cy Young.
Nope. This year's mantle candy will go to either Tarik Skubal or Garrett Crochet, both of whom pitched well, had great seasons and will dominate in one key voter consideration: They do not play for the New York Yankees.
Even if you add, say, 10 goose egg innings to Fried's final 2025 numbers, generously projecting shutouts in his last two starts - his ERA would still land above the current outputs of Skubal and Crochet, allowing the Gammonites to stroke their anti-Yankee fetishes. (Of course, if both were bombed, it would get interesting.) As for Hunter Brown? He's next year's tuna casserole. I realize that wins and losses are an "OK Boomer" way to judge a pitcher, but when you're thinking Cy Young, 12-7 won't cut it.
So, the '25 Yankees will likely miss the MVP (Cal Raleigh over Aaron Judge), the Cy Young (Skubal over Fried) and the ROY (the entire population of Greenland over Jasson Dominquez.) Of course, everything will soon boil down to one comparison:
Who wins Game One of the Wild Card playoff, Crochet or Fried?
The outcome of that game will ruin our erections for long after whatever bullshit awards are troweled out on ESPN's Golden Globe-knockoff red carpet extravaganza, one of the crassest outgrowths of celebrity culture since Lady Gaga's meat dress. On the All-MLB team, Judge will play RF - that's a lock - and either Jazz Chisholm or Trent Grisham could make the Second Team. But nobody will remember nuthin' if the Yankees - 2009 World Champs! - exit early in October.
Last night, Fried was flawless - seven shutout innings against an angry and volatile team that is better than its record. Next year, he and Carlos Rodon will be joined with Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt, both around mid-summer. By then, all three of our young pitchers will be coming off TJ surgery, and God knows what the OF will look like. The Martian? Spencer Jones? Grish? Belli? Only Judge is a lock, and I wonder if his elbow will need a winter makeover.
Ah, but isn't it too soon to think of next year? So, why why WHY is it on our minds? Why can't I dismiss the feeling that - with or without any crapola awards - next year is right around the corner?
Posts
15 comments:
I'm looking forward to the Yankees winning the AL Participation Trophy, for participating in the 2025 season.
Boone will be holding it above his head when the Yanks are eliminated in the playoffs, dripping with celebratory Colt 45.
It seems like it's just around the corner because only November (with a few exceptions), December, and January are the only 3 months without baseball. Next season isn't far away.
Next year is right there in front of us. Wish I could say the same for any erections.
It means little, but isn’t it time to drop the 5 inning minimum for starters to be awarded a win? The game has changed and some scoring rules should too.
I have a big leather ottoman in front of my big leather chair, the chair I plant my tired old self on every evening for some teevee viewing to go along with the bourbon. My dog, a wonderful person and the best friend anyone could ever have, my dog likes to jump up on that ottoman and make herself comfortable on my lap. She's a big dog, so I'm in it for the long haul, but she's a sweetheart and she falls asleep on me and snores but I don't mind at all. It's the part of the day I look forward to the most.
A wise man once said, “Activate the golden sleeve!” To this day I just don’t know what he was talking about.
Does she get a bourbon too, ML?
A Lab or Golden Retriever?
Carl….my bourbons are usually Golden
Good point.
I dunno about that, 999. I mean, I hear what you're saying, but did Schlittler deserve a win for being unable to get through five innings with a 10-1 the other night?
In fact, shouldn't the way that the game has changed honor longevity MORE? In other words, because you're forced to use your bullpen every time out, aren't starters who can go at least 6-7 all the more valuable, because they save you the wear and tear?
Remember Jaret Wright? That guy used to drive me crazy. He went 11-7 for us on the VERY good-hitting, 2006 team. Pitched 136 innings in 27 starts, or 5.03 innings a start. Every time he went out there, our bullpen weakened a little more. He was the opposite of an "innings eater"—maybe an "innings regurgitater"?
Carl J she's a golden doodle. You know, one of the designer dogs purists crap on. Sweet old girl, fast learner, doesn't shed. She's 12 though so every day is a good day with her.
Golden doodles are quickly becoming my favorite breed. The purists can suck it.
Perhaps instead of mandatory decion, the official scorer should determine the winner.
Post a Comment