The Big Day
In about 90 minutes, we learn whether the BBWAA has awarded Felix Hernandez the 2010 AL Cy Young. In about 95 minutes, you’ll be reading a non-stop series of articles about what this vote means. You’ll be told that if Felix wins, it will be the culmination of the baseball writers acceptance of newer statistical analysis. If Sabathia wins, it will be cast as evidence that the voters are standing their ground and refuse to move off of traditional dogma.
In reality, both narratives are probably wrong. I talk about this a bit at FanGraphs today and made some of these same points in September here, but I think it’s important to keep in mind that today’s results are simply a poll of 28 people. Are those 28 going to be representative of the entire membership of the writer’s association? Maybe, maybe not.
If we avoid the litmus test idea, and instead look at the bigger picture, I think we can see some remarkable progress in how the mainstream media covers the sport. If you think about what the local coverage was like five years ago, we essentially had Larry Stone, Art Thiel, and a lot of cringing. There is simply no comparison when you look at the types of coverage provided today compared to what used to pass for analysis in the dailies. It’s not just Seattle, either – writers around the country have taken stock of what they believe and been willing to question whether some of the old cliches were actually true.
I know Felix wants to win the award, and for his sake, I hope he does. But even more for the sakes of guys like Larry Stone and Ryan Divish, I hope Felix wins – their industry deserves recognition, not scorn, for how well they’ve recently adapted to changes in the understanding of the game.
What a great point. As easy as it is to bash on, well, certain local writers that are still terrible, there is some good stuff to read out there.
I’m nervous. Excited. I wish I could be in the room to see Felix’s reaction if he wins. You know a big fist pump and howl happens.
If he does take the award, then Bob Engle’s a pretty big winner too for being the scout that signed both Cy Young winners this season.
My wife just called saying her coworker got a breaking news text from KJR saying Felix won the Cy Young!!
I thought we weren’t going to find out until 11am, so I hope it’s true!!
All hail The King!!!
Venezuelan newspapers are reporting already that he has won, nothing offical from the M’s/MLB till 11:00am
Please, please, please be the truth.
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?topic_id=6261176
MLB stream.
Wooohooo!!!
FELIX!!!!!!
It is OFFICIAL!!! WTG King Felix!!!!
21 of 28 first place votes.
TV talking head:
“The scary part for the AL is, what is he now, 25 years old?”
Nope, he’s 24! Be afraid, be very afraid!
2 stupid voters didn’t have Felix in the top 3. They shouldn’t have a ballot.
Hahaha and the Voters who voted for CC were big homers they should be bashed. Also one of the Price voters were from Tampa. Anyways Congratz Felix.