Greinke's Quiet Cy Young Push

Kansas City’s Zack Greinke struck out fifteen yesterday in a dominant eight inning performance against Cleveland. Greinke, the heralded ace who burst onto the national scene by starting the season 6-0, had along with his club faded as the season progressed. He has just two wins since June 28th and has been passed in national acclaim by big market stars Josh Beckett (14-5, 3.65) and CC Sabathia (15-7, 3.59).

Dismissing Greinke, who is just 12-8 after his win yesterday, would be a mistake for Cy Young voters. He’s second in the American League in strikeouts, with 197, nearly 50 more than Sabathia and Beckett. He also possesses the league’s lowest ERA, at 2.43 – more than a full run lower than the Red Sox and Yankee aces. It’s more than half a run lower than would-have-been trade deadline hero Roy Halladay. He’s tied for the league lead in complete games with Halladay with five.

Greinke’s main problem this season hasn’t been on the mound, but rather on which mound he’s pitching on. Kansas City has been unable to support him, rewarding him with no decisions and losses for performances worthy of victory.

Greinke Losses and No Decisions:

Date	IP	ER	Dec.
19-Aug	7	4	L
14-Aug	7	0	ND
3-Aug	5	6	L
29-Jul	6	2	ND
24-Jul	7	1	L
18-Jul	7	1	ND
8-Jul	6	3	L
3-Jul	6	2	L
17-Jun	6.2	4	L
11-Jun	7.1	3	ND
5-Jun	5	5	L
31-May	7	3	ND
21-May	6	2	ND
9-May	8	1	L

The numbers provide an astounding statistic – in Greinke’s losses and no decisions he is 0-8 with a 3.65 ERA. Certainly no indication of any fault of his own. In his wins he is an  incredible 12-0 with a 1.19 ERA. He has the lowest run support of any starter in the AL and the Royals have been shut out four times in his starts.

On another club he’d be the prohibitive favorite for the award, unfortunately for him he’s going to have to go by the Tim Lincecum 2008 Cy Young blueprint, hope for votes based on body of work rather than simply win total and team acclaim.