When Should A Relief Pitcher Win A Cy Young?

[JWDixon120]

As I play through my second 162 game season in Franchise, one of my Free Agent signings has me pondering this scenario.

First off, I'll say I'm about 99% sure MLBTS will not award a RP the Cy Young by default unless said RP has like 15 wins which is obviously extremely unlikely. MLBTS also heavily favors K's in the Cy Young race as well.

Only 3 MLB relievers have won the Cy Young. First being Mike Marshall who threw over 200 innings in '74. Next, Dennis Eckersley in '92 as a closer. And Finally, Eric Gagne in '03 (also a closer).

So that leads me here. I obviously accept the fact that naturally a reliever in my save won't win the award because of MLBTS' award system. Luckily, I use an extensive franchise spreadsheet to track league history as well as team stats etc.. So technically I can look at stats and name whoever I want to be the Cy Young winner regardless of in game awards (You can't track them on player cards anyway).

So my question to ya'll is, what type of stat line do you think a RP would need to put up to at least be in the running? Here's the previous 2 Relievers who won the award. I'll omit Marshall since he threw so many innings.

Eckersley:
80.0 IP / 93 K / 51 SV / 1.91 ERA / 1.72 FIP / 0.91 WHIP / 2.9 bWAR

Gagne:
82.1 IP / 137 K / 55 SV / 1.20 ERA / 0.86 FIP / 0.69 WHIP / 3.7 bWAR


In my current 2021 season playing on legendary with custom sliders, I have one reliever on a miraculous pace. Ken Giles.

I signed Giles in the off season using Atlanta, as I was let down by my pen in the postseason the year before. Giles has casually put up this stat line:

34 IP / 58 K / 19 HLD / 0.00 ERA (Yes, 0 ER and R) / 0.03 FIP / 0.71 WHIP / 1.7 WAR

Obviously it's early into the year (68 Games), but so far his stat line is incredible. He's on pace to throw around 79 innings which would put him around the other two winners. I will definitely update this post in the future whenever the season is done and post the final line and if it's still remarkable, I'll see if it's fair to award him with such a rare achievement.

Let me know your thoughts!

[munsonfan]

Re: When Should A Relief Pitcher Win A Cy Young?

You missed quite a few relievers who won Cy Young Awards:

Here is the full list (Not all were used as modern-style closers):

Eric Gagne, Dodgers, 2003
82.1 innings, 55 saves, 137 strikeouts, 1.20 ERA

Dennis Eckersley, Athletics, 1992
80 innings, 51 saves, 93 strikeouts, 1.91 ERA

Mark Davis, Padres, 1989
92.2 innings, 44 saves, 92 strikeouts, 1.85 ERA

Steve Bedrosian, Phillies, 1987
89 innings, 40 saves, 74 strikeouts, 2.83 ERA

Willie Hernandez, Tigers, 1984
104.1 innings, 32 saves, 112 strikeouts, 1.92 ERA

Rollie Fingers, Brewers, 1981
78 innings, 28 saves, 61 strikeouts, 1.04 ERA

Bruce Sutter, Cubs, 1979
101.1 innings, 37 saves, 110 strikeouts, 2.22 ERA

Sparky Lyle, Yankees, 1977
137 innings, 26 saves, 68 strikeouts, 2.17 ERA

Mike Marshall, Dodgers, 1974
208.1 innings, 21 saves, 143 K, 2.42 ERA

[Caulfield]

Re: When Should A Relief Pitcher Win A Cy Young?

my own personal opinion is I'd rather not see someone w/less than 150 innings pitched win the Cy Young. I'd rather relievers have their own equivalent award. I'd also rather the MVP go to a non-pitcher. I know both of those aren't realistically going to happen but I'd still prefer it to be that way.

[JHodges57]

Re: When Should A Relief Pitcher Win A Cy Young?

my own personal opinion is I'd rather not see someone w/less than 150 innings pitched win the Cy Young. I'd rather relievers have their own equivalent award. I'd also rather the MVP go to a non-pitcher. I know both of those aren't realistically going to happen but I'd still prefer it to be that way.

Relievers used to have an award. Fireman of the year or something like that. Don't know why it was eliminated. I'm with you. Relievers need their own rewards and pitchers should not get MVP since they have the Cy Young and I believe MVPs should appear in more than 20% of a team's games.

[countryboy]

Re: When Should A Relief Pitcher Win A Cy Young?

Relievers have their own award, the Trevor Hoffman reliever of the year award.

[Madden08PCgmr]

Re: When Should A Relief Pitcher Win A Cy Young?

1992 wasn't even Eckersleys best season as a releiver. 1990 was.

Minuscule 0.61 ERA (Vs 1.91), 5 hits/9 (Vs. 7) 0.2 HR/9 (Vs 0.6) 9k (Vs 10.5) but only 0.5 BB/9 (Vs 1.2)

I don't have a problem with those types of seasons winning. Especially with some of these Sally starters taking the hill nowadays.

[Sportsbuck]

Re: When Should A Relief Pitcher Win A Cy Young?

Aroldis Chapman (CPU controlled) just set the single season saves record in year 1 of my franchise going 63/64. He had an ERA of 0.83. Never cracked the top 3 of Cy Young Contenders.

[JHodges57]

Re: When Should A Relief Pitcher Win A Cy Young?

Aroldis Chapman (CPU controlled) just set the single season saves record in year 1 of my franchise going 63/64. He had an ERA of 0.83. Never cracked the top 3 of Cy Young Contenders.

The requirements for a save results in a lot of cheap saves. Hold on to a 3 run lead for 1 inning? That's a cheap save.

I'd make it where the pitcher HAS to deal with the tying run, either with it being at the plate or on base, and has to pitch at least 1 inning. That would reduce the number of saves if for no other reason than many times the pitcher never faces the tying run.