Mason Miller

[Talkin' Baseball]

If the Cy Young Award were given today, is there a more deserving NL pitcher than Mason Miller?

[NYCardsFan]

If the season hypothetically ended today, I’d probably rank a few SPs ahead of him, with Cristopher Sanchez being at the top of the list. Miller has been incredible thus far, but it’s hard for even a high leverage RP to add more value than a top-tier SP. But I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Miller gets some votes.

[C-Unit]

Ohtani has to be the darling right. But yeah, Miller is having a historic season. 38 strikeouts in 18 innings is absolutely lewd.

[scoutyjones2]

Rekievers don't deserve the Cy Young

[HorseTrader]

If it ended today, no. Now he does have save in 12 of their wins. IF (Make that a big one) that trend continues and they 100 games. Miller ends up with 50+ saves, 100 plus Ks, his ERA and WHIP etc stay where they are........ then he has a chance. Probably won't get but he'd have a chance. Nine relief pitchers have won the CY, three of those also won the MVP. I'm not saying that all 9 of these should have won and I'm sure not saying Eck, Rollie and Hernandez deserved the MVP but it can happen

Eric Gagne (2003): 55 saves, 1.20 ERA, 137 strikeouts in 82 1/3 innings (Dodgers).
Dennis Eckersley (1992): 51 saves, 1.91 ERA, won both Cy Young & MVP (A's).
Mark Davis (1989): 44 saves, 1.85 ERA (Padres).
Steve Bedrosian (1987): 40 saves, 2.83 ERA (Phillies).
Willie Hernández (1984): 32 saves, 1.92 ERA, won both Cy Young & MVP (Tigers).
Rollie Fingers (1981): 28 saves, 1.04 ERA, won both Cy Young & MVP (Brewers).
Bruce Sutter (1979): 37 saves, 2.22 ERA (Cubs).
Sparky Lyle (1977): 26 saves, 2.17 ERA (Yankees).
Mike Marshall (1974): 21 saves, 15 wins, 208 1/3 innings (Dodgers).

[WeeVikes]

Rekievers don't deserve the Cy Young

With respect, I disagree. If a reliever is the best pitcher in a given year, they deserve it.

[govman]

If it ended today, no. Now he does have save in 12 of their wins. IF (Make that a big one) that trend continues and they 100 games. Miller ends up with 50+ saves, 100 plus Ks, his ERA and WHIP etc stay where they are........ then he has a chance. Probably won't get but he'd have a chance. Nine relief pitchers have won the CY, three of those also won the MVP. I'm not saying that all 9 of these should have won and I'm sure not saying Eck, Rollie and Hernandez deserved the MVP but it can happen

Eric Gagne (2003): 55 saves, 1.20 ERA, 137 strikeouts in 82 1/3 innings (Dodgers).
Dennis Eckersley (1992): 51 saves, 1.91 ERA, won both Cy Young & MVP (A's).
Mark Davis (1989): 44 saves, 1.85 ERA (Padres).
Steve Bedrosian (1987): 40 saves, 2.83 ERA (Phillies).
Willie Hernández (1984): 32 saves, 1.92 ERA, won both Cy Young & MVP (Tigers).
Rollie Fingers (1981): 28 saves, 1.04 ERA, won both Cy Young & MVP (Brewers).
Bruce Sutter (1979): 37 saves, 2.22 ERA (Cubs).
Sparky Lyle (1977): 26 saves, 2.17 ERA (Yankees).
Mike Marshall (1974): 21 saves, 15 wins, 208 1/3 innings (Dodgers).

and how many votes did maybe "best" RP of them all, Rivera, get?

[scoutyjones2]

Rekievers don't deserve the Cy Young

With respect, I disagree. If a reliever is the best pitcher in a given year, they deserve it.

Best relief pitcher. There's a reason that they designate the terminology. The era of the closer they might pitch 80'ish innings

Reliever with the most saves had 62. He threw 68 innings

[WeeVikes]

Rekievers don't deserve the Cy Young

With respect, I disagree. If a reliever is the best pitcher in a given year, they deserve it.

Best relief pitcher. There's a reason that they designate the terminology. The era of the closer they might pitch 80'ish innings

Reliever with the most saves had 62. He threw 68 innings

I understand. I really do. However, in my opinion, if a closer, for instance, was the most dominant pitcher over a season, I’d have no problem giving him the Cy. I concede he’d have to be incredibly dominant to warrant the award, but I personally would not rule out the possibility. I wouldn’t say a reliever should be all but ineligible. I agree, it’s unlikely, but it’s the award for the best pitcher, not best starter. YMMV.

[JohnnyMO]

I’d still give it to Sale, Sanchez, Misiorowsky, Wrobleski and probably several others before Miller. A closer has to be incredibly special over a very long period to be more valuable than a great starter

[C-Unit]

Rekievers don't deserve the Cy Young

Good thing he's a reliever, not a rekiever.

[An Old Friend]

If it ended today, no. Now he does have save in 12 of their wins. IF (Make that a big one) that trend continues and they 100 games. Miller ends up with 50+ saves, 100 plus Ks, his ERA and WHIP etc stay where they are........ then he has a chance. Probably won't get but he'd have a chance. Nine relief pitchers have won the CY, three of those also won the MVP. I'm not saying that all 9 of these should have won and I'm sure not saying Eck, Rollie and Hernandez deserved the MVP but it can happen

Eric Gagne (2003): 55 saves, 1.20 ERA, 137 strikeouts in 82 1/3 innings (Dodgers).
Dennis Eckersley (1992): 51 saves, 1.91 ERA, won both Cy Young & MVP (A's).
Mark Davis (1989): 44 saves, 1.85 ERA (Padres).
Steve Bedrosian (1987): 40 saves, 2.83 ERA (Phillies).
Willie Hernández (1984): 32 saves, 1.92 ERA, won both Cy Young & MVP (Tigers).
Rollie Fingers (1981): 28 saves, 1.04 ERA, won both Cy Young & MVP (Brewers).
Bruce Sutter (1979): 37 saves, 2.22 ERA (Cubs).
Sparky Lyle (1977): 26 saves, 2.17 ERA (Yankees).
Mike Marshall (1974): 21 saves, 15 wins, 208 1/3 innings (Dodgers).

and how many votes did maybe "best" RP of them all, Rivera, get?

Rivera finished in the top 5 five times
1996 - 3rd behind Pat Hentgen and Andy Pettitte
1999 - 3rd behind Pedro Martinez and Mike Mussina
2004 - 3rd behind Johan Santana and Curt Schilling
2005 - 2nd behind Bartolo Colon
2008 - 5th, Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay were 1-2

[HorseTrader]

If it ended today, no. Now he does have save in 12 of their wins. IF (Make that a big one) that trend continues and they 100 games. Miller ends up with 50+ saves, 100 plus Ks, his ERA and WHIP etc stay where they are........ then he has a chance. Probably won't get but he'd have a chance. Nine relief pitchers have won the CY, three of those also won the MVP. I'm not saying that all 9 of these should have won and I'm sure not saying Eck, Rollie and Hernandez deserved the MVP but it can happen

Eric Gagne (2003): 55 saves, 1.20 ERA, 137 strikeouts in 82 1/3 innings (Dodgers).
Dennis Eckersley (1992): 51 saves, 1.91 ERA, won both Cy Young & MVP (A's).
Mark Davis (1989): 44 saves, 1.85 ERA (Padres).
Steve Bedrosian (1987): 40 saves, 2.83 ERA (Phillies).
Willie Hernández (1984): 32 saves, 1.92 ERA, won both Cy Young & MVP (Tigers).
Rollie Fingers (1981): 28 saves, 1.04 ERA, won both Cy Young & MVP (Brewers).
Bruce Sutter (1979): 37 saves, 2.22 ERA (Cubs).
Sparky Lyle (1977): 26 saves, 2.17 ERA (Yankees).
Mike Marshall (1974): 21 saves, 15 wins, 208 1/3 innings (Dodgers).

and how many votes did maybe "best" RP of them all, Rivera, get?

If you want to know, go to BR and count them up.

[RamFan08NY]

Rekievers don't deserve the Cy Young

With respect, I disagree. If a reliever is the best pitcher in a given year, they deserve it.

Best relief pitcher. There's a reason that they designate the terminology. The era of the closer they might pitch 80'ish innings

Reliever with the most saves had 62. He threw 68 innings

I guess I gotta agree with Scouty on this one. A good example would be if Miller wasnt the closer, but the 7th-8th inning guy with the same numbers, but finished the season with those numbers, and 40-50 "holds". Same numbers, but he wouldn't even be in anyone's discussion. Wouldn't even be in the rolaids fireman award consideration because for some reason, that award is only for pitchers who pitch the 9th inning.

Relief pitchers also very often only face the weakest part of the order where starters have their success facing the entire lineup, 3, sometimes 4 times per game.