2011 MLB Predictions: Felix Hernandez and the Top 20 AL Cy Young Candidates
The decision to award the 2010 Cy Young to Felix Hernandez was a historical aberration. His 13-12 record was by far the worst of any starting pitcher to win the award; his 12 losses were the most for any pitcher who failed to win 20 games.
That did not matter in the eyes of the voters, however. Had he worn a jersey reading "New York" rather than "Seattle," he could have won close to 25 games, so good were his statistics other than his win-loss record.
Now, with Opening Day just over two weeks away, our attention turns to the 2011 award, and whether or not someone can dethrone King Felix.
Clay Buchholz
1 of 20
2010 Cy Young voting: Sixth
2010 was the season when Buchholz finally arrived. Yes, he threw a no-hitter in his second career start in September 2007, but in the following two seasons, he failed to live up to the lofty promise he had shown.
Last year was a different matter. He finished third in the AL in ERA. He missed three weeks on the DL but if he is able to stay healthy in 2011, he should make a stronger run at the award.
Trevor Cahill
2 of 20
2010 Cy Young voting: Ninth
There were no sophomore struggles for Cahill, as he led Athletics starters in wins, ERA and WHIP.
Of course, at only 23, it is difficult to predict whether he can repeat his sub-3 earned run average, 18-win season. If he can, he could make a stronger run at the award.
Dan Haren
3 of 20
Prior to his midseason trade to the Angels, 2010 was not Dan Haren’s best season. A losing record and 4.60 ERA in 21 starts was not the best return on the D-Backs' $9 million investment. Post-trade, however, he was a different pitcher.
Haren made 14 starts in Anaheim. His record was a meager 5-4, but that is in large part due to the Angels’ weak offense. He shaved almost two runs off his ERA; it fell to 2.87 and his WHIP was below 1.2.
It may have been a temporary improvement, brought on by his new surroundings. Whether he can keep it going into this season is another matter.
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Felix Hernandez
4 of 20
2010 Cy Young voting: Winner
The decision to award the 2010 Cy Young to Felix Hernandez was a historical aberration. His 13-12 record was by far the worst of any starting pitcher to win the award; his 12 losses were the most for any pitcher who failed to win 20 games.
That did not matter in the eyes of the voters, however. Had he worn a jersey reading "New York" or "Boston," he could have won close to 25 games, so good were all his statistics other than his win-loss record.
He will likely go into the season as a favorite to retain his crown, but he will not receive any more run support than he did in 2010.
Phil Hughes
5 of 20
Hughes had a brilliant first half of the season, and was in the top three candidates for the Cy at the All-Star break.
He collapsed in August and was mediocre in September, but he showed that the potential for a future award was there.
Jon Lester
6 of 20
2010 Cy Young voting: Fourth
It seems that every March, Jon Lester’s name is mentioned in Cy Young predictions. 2010, however, marked the first time he had finished in the top 10 in voting.
He led the Red Sox with 19 wins and the league with a 9.7 K/9, posting a 3.25 ERA and 1.202 WHIP. There is no reason to think he will suffer any kind of drop-off in 2011, and he could finally win the award people have predicted he would for the past four years.
Francisco Liriano
7 of 20
2010 Cy Young voting: 11th
2010 marked the first time Liriano had managed to pitch more than 140 innings. With the exception of his rookie season, in which he finished third in the Rookie of the Year race, it was the best campaign of his career.
The Twins will be looking to make another run to the postseason, and Liriano will be a big part of their challenge.
Jake Peavy
8 of 20
2007 NL Cy Young winner
Peavy had a very disappointing season last year, limited to only 17 starts, and struggling when he did take the mound. However, this is a pitcher who has managed a sub-3.00 ERA four times.
David Price
9 of 20
2010 Cy Young voting: Second
Price is one of the best young pitchers in the game, and one of the few bright spots on the horizon for Rays fans.
2009 was disappointing after a stellar debut the year before, but in 2010 he showed everyone what he could do, winning 19 games with a 2.72 ERA.
Mariano Rivera
10 of 20
Rivera might be the MVP and Cy Young of the last 25 years, yet he has never won either award.
Even at 41 years old, the greatest closer of all time is showing no signs of slowing down, and he can never be counted out.
Ricky Romero
11 of 20
Hopes are high for the Toronto Blue Jays ahead of this season. Even the most wildly optimistic prediction does not have them challenging the Red Sox and Yankees, of course, but they could be the most-improved team in 2011. Much of that will be on their young ace.
The young left-hander went 14-9 with a 3.73 mark in 2010. So keen to keep him were the Blue Jays, they tied him up until 2015, with an option for 2016.
CC Sabathia
12 of 20
2010 Cy Young voting: Third
2007 Cy Young winner
Of all active pitchers, CC probably has the best chance to reach the fabled 300-win plateau. One reason is that he wears pinstripes. The other is that he is a horse on the mound.
He has pitched at least 180 innings every year, including his rookie season, and has had an ERA+ over 130 each of the last five seasons. He will post an ERA around 3.00 again in 2011, and the Yankees lineup will give him enough run support to make a run at winning 20 games again.
Ervin Santana
13 of 20
Los Angeles struggled last year, but Santana still managed to collect 17 wins, finishing with a 3.92 ERA. He is a bit of an erratic pitcher in terms of year-to-year performance.
He finished sixth in the Cy Young race in 2008, and has the talent and durability to be a contender, if he can break out of his hot-and-cold pattern.
Max Scherzer
14 of 20
There has been a lot of talk about Scherzer as a potential Cy winner this season, in spite of the fact that he has not accomplished anything thus far in his short career.
He is yet to receive a vote for the award, or make an All-Star team. He is generating a lot of interest, though, so he cannot really be left off this list.
James Shields
15 of 20
Shields had a terrible 2010, leading the American League in hits, earned runs and home runs. He did lead the AL in shutouts a few years ago, and had back-to-back seasons with a sub-4.00 ERA.
Shields will get his starts again, and could be due for a bounce-back season.
Joakim Soria
16 of 20
2010 Cy Young voting: 10th
Soria had yet another brilliant season in 2010, with a 1.78 ERA and 43 saves. Twice in his career he has had an earned run average below 2.00, and even his worst was just 2.48.
Soria has only pitched in the majors for four seasons, but is already 15th amongst active pitchers in saves.
Rafael Soriano
17 of 20
2010 Cy Young voting: Eighth
Not only did Soriano finish eighth in the Cy Young, he also came 12th in the MVP race, higher than any other pitcher.
Soriano was a revelation in his first season in Tampa. His 45 saves were best in the American League, his ERA was just 1.73 and his WHIP, 0.802. His brilliant performance led to his signing a three-year, $35 million deal with the Yankees.
Justin Verlander
18 of 20
2010 Cy Young voting: 11th
Verlander never really seems to receive the recognition he deserves. The 2006 Rookie of the Year has finished in the top 11 in Cy Young voting four times in his five years in the majors.
A retooled Tigers team should make a bigger push for a playoff berth this season, and the better the team does, the more likely a player is to receive votes for the major awards. This could hold true again in 2011, which would be a good thing for Verlander.
Jered Weaver
19 of 20
2010 Cy Young voting: Fifth
Weaver struck out an AL-best 233 batters, whilst pitching to a 3.01 ERA, the best of his career.
Much like Hernandez, Weaver suffered from poor run support, which affected his record, which was just above .500.
As we saw with last year’s eventual winner, though, wins are not the deciding factor in the voting.
CJ Wilson
20 of 20
With Cliff Lee back in Philadelphia, the Rangers will need to look to CJ Wilson as their ace this upcoming season.
2010 was the first time he had been used as a full-time starter and he performed admirably, racking up 15 wins. He will need to improve if he is to lead Texas anywhere, or make a run at the Cy Young, however.
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