Josh Johnson: Why Miami Marlins Ace Will Win NL Cy Young

As a fan, I sat in Sun Life Stadium on a warm, muggy Tuesday night in May of 2011 to watch, at the time, the two best pitchers in the National League square off in an epic duel. Josh Johnson and Roy Halladay put on a show in front of an unusually large and energetic crowd, and the Marlins won 2-1. 

When Johnson was injured not long after that game, he was leading the National League in ERA, the Marlins were still good, he had defeated the Braves and the Phillies and he had only allowed more than two runs in one of his nine starts.

My prediction obviously is tied directly to his ability to stay healthy, but if he can give the Marlins 30 starts in that brand new pitchers' park, he can post an ERA under 2.50 and lead the league in K/BB ratio. 

His velocity is back to where it was before the surgery a few years ago, and the injured shoulder seems to be close to 100 percent ready. Several things plagued him as far as national perception in past years. His team wasn't always competitive. His win totals weren't high because of poor run support and leads blown by the bullpen. Finally, the Marlins as a whole don't receive the media or fan support most other teams get. 

Well, in the year Johnson wins the Cy Young, all of that will change. The team will be better, and should be in outstanding position to make the postseason. The offense behind him is improved, and so is the bullpen who will follow his stellar starts. And let's not forget the boost in national coverage and in ticket sales that a new ballpark will provide the Marlins.

Prime example: Opening night of the stadium is April 4. Johnson will start for the Marlins against the world champion St. Louis Cardinals in front of a national ESPN audience, and set the tone for his Cy Young run. I don't know how many times FOX or ESPN carried Marlins games last season, but you can bet your life that number will be easily surpassed in the first month alone.