Can Cole take the Cy Young from LA?

New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole had a good season in 2021. However, critics, and even Cole, have argued that it was not what was expected of the right-hander.

With a balance of 16 wins and eight setbacks, the Newport Beach, California-born had a 3.23 ERA in 181.1 innings pitched, with 243 opponents fanned and 5.7 WAR.

At one point during the first days of September, it seemed that Cole with a couple of good starts, could establish himself as the favorite for the award, but his last five appearances were unfavorable and in them, he finished with a 6.15 ERA, allowing 18 earned in 26.1 tickets thrown.

Did Gerrit Cole’s Cy Young get out of hand in September?

Let’s talk about your competition in this award. As of this column, the finalists for the Cy Young Award have not been announced, but names like Robbie Ray, Carlos Rodón and even the White Sox reliever, Liam Hendricks, may be among the names to discuss the trophy. .

Ray of the Blue Jays had a great season and appears to be one of the strongest candidates to win it. Although he won 13 games (3 fewer than Cole), his 2.84 ERA was better than the Yankees’ pitcher and also struck out five more opponents than Gerrit (248). Robbie also outscored the Bronx right-hander in WAR with 6.7.

Rodon had a dreamy 2.37 ERA, the best of any starter. If you could look for a weak point in the great season of the Chicago southpaw when it comes to comparing him with his colleagues Cole or Ray, it would be the fact that he only pitched in 24 games, while Cole did so in 30 and Ray in 32.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see Liam Hendricks of the Bigfoot as a finalist. The reliever shone with 38 saves, 2.54 ERA and 113 strikeouts in 71 innings of work.

By way of opinion I think Gerrit Cole could win the award, but I would be surprised if he passes. Ray was better in many categories and Rodón, despite fewer presentations, surpassed him in several places. If Cole did not raise the award, it seems to me that far from disappointing him it would serve as motivation for the 2022 season, a year where his performance will be key in his team’s purpose to win the long-awaited World Series 28 in the glorious history of the franchise.