Kennedy finishes fourth in NL Cy Young
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Nov 17, 2011 
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The Dodgers Clayton Kershaw was a runaway winner in the National League Cy Young race this afternoon, but he didn’t get all of the first-place votes. Four writers voted for Roy Halladay, and one voted for former Yankees starter Ian Kennedy.
Kennedy finished fourth overall, and that’s where most of the voters picked him.
It’s been two years since the Yankees shipped Kennedy to Arizona in the Curtis Granderson deal. At the time, he was coming back from an aneurysm and had never found steady success at the big league level, despite dominant numbers in Triple-A. This season he went 21-4 with a 2.88 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP.
Having Kennedy on the roster would certainly lessen the need for another No. 2 or 3-type starter, but not making that deal would also leave a significant hole in the Yankees outfield. Kennedy became a Cy Young candidate this year, but Granderson emerged as an MVP contender. Hard to consider that a bad swap for the Yankees.
Congrats to IPK! (and Kershaw!)
Bumgarner is one heckuva pitcher; got no run support first half.
Somehow, I feel like this counts in the “Yankees finishing fourth in awards”
If only they hadn’t screwed it up with Girardi finishing fifth!
good for IPK!!!
DKnobler Cubs make it official, Dale Sveum is new manager
Isn’t the Pfister the hotel that’s haunted? I wonder which GM saw the most ghosts during the meetings?
Erin, good point. Another “Yankee” 4th place finish.
mick, Bumgarner 1.080 WHIP second half. 1.338 first half. 2.67 FIP.
It might be fair to say “it all worked out”, but I’m still not happy with how the Yankees treated IPK. He stumbles a _little bit_ at the big league level and they banish him back to AAA. It was ridiculous how quickly they lost faith in him.
Good for IPK. Not sure, though, that we can say he “never” had steady success here. What was it, two years into his ML career before he was traded? Maybe I’m nitpitcking, but “never” implies a longer trial…
Kershaw, what can you say about this guy. He’s a “runaway” talent.
///
Missed the JoeG thing. Thanks to posters for catching us up. LOL on “tremendous bat speed.” I guess it’s something that belongs in a museum to be admired or something – or incubating for future use, just not applicable to things like, oh, I dunno – pinch hitting in the postseason?
Hey Joe, here’s to managing in October in 2012 like it isn’t June. (See Game 2, ALDS).
Later.
Hughes and Joba for IPK. It’s funny how things change as Hughes was supposed to be of the three, while Joba wasn’t to far behind. and IPK was not even considered in their class.
It is much tougher to get a pitcher that had the season Kennedy did, than to get a CF’er that had Grandy’s season. Should both players repeat their seasons in 2012, I would say Arizona got the better end of the deal. Consider Jackson, and the Yankees come out even worse. I like Grandy, but the Yanks gave up some very good young talent. Long-term will tell the tale on this deal. I have no problem with parting with Coke. That guy wassa gas can.
juniper, QFT.
IPK would have been 2nd on my ballot.
He had a great season but could NEVER do that in the AL East. We all know that looking at the recent parade of so-called NL “star” pitchers who cannot do anything right in the AL much less the AL East. Its a huge difference pitching in Arizona, against 240 hitters in the 7th and 8th spot in the lineup and an automatic out in the ninth spot
It is much tougher to get a pitcher that had the season Kennedy did, than to get a CF’er that had Grandy’s season
——–
How so?
I can’t remember the last CF to hit the free agent market that can approximate the type of production Grandy provided.
Many fans turned on Kennedy long before the Yanks traded him.
blake -
Me, too, on IPK. But Congrats to him for 4th. Kershaw no surprise.
**
Re: Interview, and the Cervelli comment. To me, it wasn’t so much excitement, but Francesa had listed like 4 catchers and it seemed as if it was more of an Oh! don’t forget Cervelli! (And he was pretty good in the second half especially with guys on, but I don’t know if I’d personally use the word tremendous.) Could be Girardi missed Montero’s bat speed in the spring because they were really focusing on his catching and the improvements he had made there, and I don’t recall Montero hitting particularly well in s/t. Banuelos and Betances were getting lots of attention back then.
Yankees do almost have an embarrassment of riches behind the plate.
***
LGY,
That’s because their have been very, very few seasons for a CF like Granderson had since the Griffey days. Great outfielders don’t grow on trees and don’t become free agents.
revisionist history GF
Villa Nova Ya,
So what do the Yankees do with the catching wealth? I doubt Cervelli would bring much in trade especially with his concussion history. Romine seems the most likely to be moved, but I wonder what he alone or with others could bring. I hope Noesi and him for Danks.
Donnybrook,
I agree,, Grandy had more history than ipk,
But obviously pitchers are hard to find…
Hard to say how ipk would do in AL.
But it would be sweet to have him .
Loved IPK from his first start in September 2007.
I guess we’ll never know for sure how he’d have done in the AL East, but I think he’d have done fine. Every pitcher’s stats take a hit in the AL because of the DH, but IPK was impressive, the false start in 2008 notwithstanding.
Kate,
Many people did get vocally down on Kennedy when he didn’t express enough remorse and shame for a bad game. Silliness. Everyone deals with stress and struggle in their own way. Wish the Yankees still had him but not at the cost of Granderson.
Hard to find is a CF who is a plus defender, can hit 41 homers, steal 25 bases, and be in double digits in both triples and doubles. Got on base at .364 clip, too.
austinmac -
Ugh that’s the million dollar question, isn’t it?
Cervelli would be a small part of a bigger package, or a part of a smaller trade, if he’s traded.
Romine I think is worth most in trade (in a package, of course), if they are not going to trade Montero.
I like them all and want to find a way to keep them all!
I don’t have “faith” in any pitcher, to tell you the truth. They are a shaky lot. Too many moving parts, too many things that can go wrong. I’d just as soon develop what they have than bring anyone new in who isn’t a bonafide ace. I’d rather get a guy for money alone, though, so Buerhle over Danks. I wasn’t even sure I wanted them to get CC at the time.
I would like to keep Noesi, because he’s had some experience here, but that is exactly what would make him more attractive in a trade than a Warren or Phelps. So, if a trade happens, I’d guess Romine & Noesi would be mostly likely components. And I’d get used to it soon enough. But I’m not a good judge of other teams’ pitchers. I don’t watch them enough and I don’t always trust the stats. They’re like a photograph in time, and don’t always tell an entire story.
I always liked IPK and was sorry to see him go, but I love the Grandyman.
I’m glad Ian had a great season but there is NO WAY he would have come close to that in the AL East. Kei Igawa would have won 15 games in that lousy hitting NL West
upstate kate November 17th, 2011 at 3:14 pm
revisionist history GF
——–
You’ve got that right. Go back to the 2008/09 offseason and these walls were loaded with trade proposals involving Kennedy nearly everyday.
Now it’s Hughes who is getting that almost daily scorn.
Happy for Ian…….It’s a rather elitist point of view around here to rag on the NL as being inferior, however one thing to keep in mind is that The NL has won 3 of the past 4 World Series and the winner came from a different NL Division…….I certainly don’t want to get into a some long winded debate, but that fact should be kept in mind……..
another rat deserts the ship?
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/bl.....lb-wp27090
Ken_Rosenthal Source tells me and @jonmorosi that Valentine has met with at least one #RedSox owner and will meet with others. #mlb
Pat M -
IPK had a great game this season against none other than the great Roy Halladay. And beat him!! He had to consistently go up against the #1s and #2s of the Dodgers and Giants – not an easy task.
how often do 1′s and 2′s actually match up against each other out of a 36 start season? 6 or 7?
ID
wonder if any of the red sox players will follow her to CA
Oh, whatever.
He pitched really well.
Question: Why do people want Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum? Why do they want Clayton Kershaw?
Have THEY ever pitched in the AL East? Have they ever pitched with the type of pressure and attention that comes in NY?
villa – not a jab, i’m genuinely curious how much it happens and if it’s even that much of a factor.
Joelsherman1 Lucchino has long admired Valentine, so it makes sense if #Redsox r looking for experience that Bobby V is in play. #Mets
LA or Boston ??? Not a difficult choice really……
Irreverent -
I made the comment off the cuff. I always forget I will be challenged. LOL So I took your comment as a challenge. But, yeah, I do wonder exactly how often it happens, too.
Plus, I really should be doing other more important things than commenting here, but I can’t drag myself away today…must be the rain. I hate gray days.
villa – i’ll never leave you in the dark as to if i’m taking a jab at you or not… i’m a very direct person.
when i post questions like that they are usually just questions i’m curious about.
Irreverent -
I should know better though…if you say somethiing here, ya gotta be able to back it up.
I appreciate direct.
Pat M is correct……the difference between the two leagues is greatly overstated.
“I have an interest in both Freddy and Bartolo,” Cashman said.
Striving for mediocrity. What a strategy.
That strategy helped the Yanks win the most games in the AL last season.
It’s not like the Yanks targeted Garcia and Colon first. Those guys were Plans C, D, E, and F after Lee signed with Philly and Pettitte retired.
Having an “interest” in specific players does not mean they are the Yanks’ top targets.
Good morning (afternoon) everyone.
What’s with the Sox? Amateur hour. Players and candidates for positions in the club are not going to knock each other down in order to play for the Sox. It’s quite the opposite as the exodus of people & talent continues in the wrong direction for them. If they wanted “managerial experience” then why not pick a better pool of candidates? Would love to see Bobby V go to the Sox. I can picture the vets tuning him out before he’s even introduced.
As for the NL vs. AL, it’s not as close as some would like to believe.
1. The AL dominates interleague play.
2. With the exception of this year, the AL has dominated the ASG for over a decade.
3. Pitchers moving to the NL seem to dominate, while pitchers moving to the AL drop off.
4. Pitcher vs. DH. DH makes the team stronger.
I think Halladay was actually a little better than Kershaw, and the vote should have at least been a lot closer, but it’s not egregious.
“That strategy helped the Yanks win the most games in the AL last season.”
Next time I’m in the stadium I’ll look for the won the most games banner. Must have missed it.
Wonder, since Dale Sveum was the Brewer’s hitting coach, if Fielder might follow him to the Cubs?
Next time I’m in the stadium I’ll look for the won the most games banner. Must have missed it.
——————————
Oh, was it Garcia and Colon that lost it for us in the playoffs? Must have been watching a different game lol
RI Attorney – You can look for the Phillies’ banner for “second best rotation in the history of baseball” while you’re at it.
Who mentioned the Phillies? Not I.
RI Attorney November 17th, 2011 at 4:28 pm
Next time I’m in the stadium I’ll look for the won the most games banner. Must have missed it.
———-
Nobody is forcing you to go to games. Perhaps you can whine about Cashman at home in front of the TV instead of paying for a ticket.
Since interleague play began in 1997 (does not include 2011), it’s AL 1808 wins vs NL 1652 wins (.522 win %).
Last 5 years (2006-2010) it’s AL 712 wins vs NL 548 wins (.565 win %).
On a more positive note, there’s a pretty good utility infield option I hope we go after. He hit .276 with 16 home runs.
Oh, never mind, brain freeze. He already plays 3rd base for us.
Okay, dominates was the wrong word.
How about, “They win, like, every year”?
The Yankees account for a good number of those AL interleague wins, tho.
The gap is closing, I agree. Especially with the NL teams using Yankee $$ to lock up their top players.
But, I still think the AL is better and part of that is having a pitcher in your lineup.
Just read about the addition of two more playoff teams – what a horrible idea. A one game play in is just stupid. I don’t get it, but perhaps if my team hadn’t made the playoff in ages, or nearly made it but not quite, then I would be thrilled. But I already hate the 5 game series let alone a one game series.
I think the NL has won the last two AS games (thank you, Phil Hughes
).
I agree that the AL is better and harder over the course the long season. I don’t think the results of an annual exhibition game and the WS are the best way to prove it or disprove it either way.
RI Attorney November 17th, 2011 at 4:33 pm
Who mentioned the Phillies? Not I.
No, but you implied that having better starters than Colon and Garcia in your rotation would have won the world series. This is not true.
I implied no such thing.
Can I please get out of my drawer now ? The season is over.