2011 NL Cy Young Race: Philadelphia Phillies Arms Are All But Out Of the Running

It pains me to write this almost as much as it pains me to say it but the winner of the 2011 NL Cy Young will not be a pitcher from Philadelphia.

At the beginning of the season it was pretty certain that this would not be the case. With Hamels, Halladay and Lee all looking good enough to win it, Phillies odds were through the roof. All looked well for Philly having two years in a row with a Cy Young.

As the season began, Roy Halladay once again separated himself from the pack going 4-1 in the month of April with a 2.14 ERA. He has remained consistent all season never recording a month where his winning  percentage was below .500. The Phillies also have an incredible 74% winning percentage in games that Halladay has started. With only six losses Halladay has kept the Phillies is every game and given them a chance to win. When on a skid, Halladay is called on to stop it and nine times out of ten, he delivers. What is funny is that on paper Halladay's stats from this year and his Cy Young award winning year in 2010 are comparable. He might even be a little better this year but not helping him out is that his competition has been a lot better too.

Cole Hamels was the wildcard. Out of the three Phillies pitchers who looked like Cy Young material he was the one that everyone least expected to win it. He is still young and in some eyes still has a lot to learn. Also, Halladay and Lee had both won Cys before so they were favored over Hamels in that respect. It is not that Hamels didn't have a chance at it early on. In fact after starting 9-2 he was even considered a favorite to win it. What has plagued Hamels however and what seems to plague him every year is run support. In the month of June, Hamels did go 2-2 but had a 1.31 ERA. In his two losses he went 7 and 8 innings giving up only two runs a start. His inconsistencies however have also cost him. Hamels has at times on the season been great but at other times not good at all and this lack of continuity has shown and is part of what he needs to improve on to go from being a good pitcher to a pitcher the ranks of his teammates, Halladay and Lee.

Then there is Cliff Lee. Lee had a very up and down season including two sub .500 months and two near flawless months. His record of 16-8 isn't telling of the both high points and low points of Lee's season. It also isn't telling of the two home runs Lee hit but unfortunately for him that doesn't help in the case to win the Cy Young. Silver slugger on the other hand, that should be his to lose.

Lee and Halladay still had an outside shot at Cy Young when September began but both in my opinion have not done enough in their past two starts. Both of them have put together great seasons that in any other year would be Cy Young worthy but this year the competition is elevated and neither Lee nor Halladay will win the award. Both the Dodgers Clayton Kershaw and Diamondbacks Ian Kennedy have been studs this year. Most of the pitching categories have these two towards the top and both of them are really the only great pitchers on their teams.