On Tuesday night, St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Kyle Lohse picked up win number 15 of the season in the 4-1 victory over Houston. His 15-3 record translates into the highest winning percentage (.833) in the major leagues in 2012. Lohse brought his ERA down to 2.71, which is tied for second in the league.
Still he seems to get little respect in national discussions of Cy Young Award candidates.
Researcher Tom Orf pulled the following table. It outlines the best winning percentage seasons by MLB pitchers since 2000, by those with at least 15 victories. Lohse’s .833 mark currently ranks him in a tie for fifth during those 12 years.
At the far right, I added the pitchers’ placements in the Cy Young Award balloting following those seasons. Two of the previous five winningest hurlers won the honor, one came in second, while the other two finished fourth.
However, it should be noted that two of the top winning percentage marks occurred in the same league in the same season, with only one Cy Young Award winner possible. Cliff Lee won the 2008 AL honor with Daisuke Matsuzaka finishing fourth.
It will be very interesting to see where Lohse, an impending free agent, ends up. ESPN’s Cy Young Award Predictor currently has him a distant sixth, with R.A. Dickey of the Mets and the Nationals’ Gio Gonzalez neck-and-neck in the lead.
Lohse will have a couple of more regular season starts to finalize his argument before votes are due. Post-season play is not taken into account in the award balloting by local members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.
Highest winning percentage seasons, MLB since 2000, minimum 15 wins
| Year | Pitcher | Tm | W-L% | W | L | G | GS | ERA | Cy Young Award rank |
| 2008 | Cliff Lee | CLE | 0.880 | 22 | 3 | 31 | 31 | 2.54 | #1 |
| 2001 | Roger Clemens | NYY | 0.870 | 20 | 3 | 33 | 33 | 3.51 | #1 |
| 2008 | Daisuke Matsuzaka | BOS | 0.857 | 18 | 3 | 29 | 29 | 2.90 | #4 (behind Lee) |
| 2011 | Ian Kennedy | ARI | 0.840 | 21 | 4 | 33 | 33 | 2.88 | #4 |
| 2012 | Kyle Lohse | STL | 0.833 | 15 | 3 | 31 | 31 | 2.71 | TBD |
| 2002 | Pedro Martinez | BOS | 0.833 | 20 | 4 | 30 | 30 | 2.26 | #2 |
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Its gratifying to hear that Cueto is not consided a front runner anymore. I wasn’t sure if getting blown out his last three starts would do it.
I’d been wondering if voters would penalize him for unsportsmanlike conduct, or if its just us.
My guess is that the writers in the other 15 cities don’t think a thing about a two-year-old fight.
I doubt anyone other than Cardinals fans would consider what Cueto did to LaRue relevant.
If Lohse can’t get the award I would rather it go to Dickey or Gonzalez. I don’t think the Karma Gods have yet given Johnny what he deserves.
“I don’t think the Karma Gods have yet given Johnny what he deserves.”
I would think that the cleat scars on his back remind Carp of that same thing. Hmmm. . .
Sept. 19th is the date Cy Young recorded his 500th win. Good timing with the article Brian.
And as proof that my commenting is fair and balanced I’ll mention that it is also the date in 2001 that Schmalbert broke the NL record for RBIs by a rookie with his 120th.
Funny. I just posted a blurb about Albert and 120 RBI on the main site message board.
I’m rooting for him to drive in 24 tonight and match his rookie pace.
A double-Whiten.
Exactly, or one and a half Tatises, take your pick.
A triple tatis it would be. Math is hard.
Ozzie Guillan alive and well;
“If they think this place is too big, let me know. I’ll put somebody else in who can hit bloopers behind shortstop.’’
“We are not in last place because this ballpark is big. We are in last place because we are bad from the top to the bottom, myself included,’’ Guillen said.
Guillen dismissed the suggestion that the dimensions will make it hard for the Marlins to sign free-agent power hitters.
“That’s a bunch of crap,’’ he said. “I guarantee you, you give them $100 million, they will play here.’’
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/sports/baseball/ozzie-guillen-says-players-shouldnt-complain-about/nSFFP/
I’m starting to warm up to that guy.
…or in Albert’s case, $350 million…
Not even a bronze statute and immortality in a baseball mad city was enough.
Well, we don’t know everything that went on there. Maybe there were ill feelings between Albert and the FO that were just irreconcilable. Maybe he had family pressures, I did hear a rumor that Deidre really wanted to move to LA. And it could be that it was just the money and nothing else. Whatever it was, it was his choice, the city of St. Louis didn’t own him.
I did hear from a reporter on Twitter that he had information that Albert regretted his decision. However, this was early in the season, when he was playing poorly and the Cardinals were playing well. Things have probably changed now.
The Cardinals are better off without that huge contract. I doubt they would have been able to sign Yadi (who is more important to the team anyway) and Wainwright and any FAs they might want with that contract on the books. I for one think it was a wise decision.
Could have been the weather in SoCal. Though San Diego has the best weather. I am not trying to deny him his choice, it is he and his family’s right to choose where he plays, just delineating the options.
And I realized I typed “statute” and not “statue” force of habit.
I hadn’t heard that they moved to LA.
They may have multiple residences, but it is worth noting that Pujols’ wife had her baby this week in Kansas City.
I saw a headline on MSN, “Pitcher gives rib to daughter” and knew exactly who said Pitcher was. They should auction some pieces off for charity.
His big start is tomorrow. I don’t think anyone can doubt his work ethic. Good luck to Carp!
Meant to include the link:
http://www.foxsportsmidwest.com/09/19/12/Carpenter-keeps-removed-rib-for-daughter/msn_landing.html?blockID=792579&feedID=8745