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Indians Lee Wins AL Cy Young Award
By Administrator | November 14, 2008
In 2007, Indians southpaw Cliff Lee was so bad that he was exiled to the minor leagues and left off the team’s post-season roster. This afternoon, the Baseball Writers Association of America officially named him the AL Cy Young Award winner for 2008.
Lee received 24 of 28 first-place votes and finished with 132 points… Toronto Blue Jays righty Roy Halladay received the other four first-place votes and a total of 71 points. Lee is the second Indians pitcher to win the award in as many years (CC Sabathia won it last year) and only the third ever to win it (Gaylord Perry was selected in 1972).
He went 22-3, 2.54, in ‘08. He led the league in victories, ERA and winning percentage… he walked 34 and struck out 170 in 223-1/3 innings.
Last season, he missed spring training because of a strained abdominal muscle. He scuffled when he came back… but after a four-game losing streak in July he was sent to Class AAA Buffalo. When he returned to the major leagues in September, he was put in the ‘pen and didn’t make the postseason roster. [He ended the year at 5-8 with a 6.29 ERA]
When he reported to spring training, he was told he would have to compete with Jeremy Sowers and Aaron Laffey for the fifth spot in the rotation. But Lee started the season fast and never slowed up. He was 6-0, 0.67, after seven starts. He won 11 straight decisions from July 11th through September 12th. It was the longest winning streak by an Indian since Perry won 15 straight in 1974.
Topics: MLB Annual Awards |
