CanadianChris 0 Report post Posted November 9, 2004 If it's possible, Houston Astros pitcher Roger Clemens' stature shot up another notch Tuesday when he was named NL Cy Young Award winner. The 42-year-old future Hall of Fame right-hander won his record seventh award. It was his first in the National League, becoming only the fourth pitcher in major league history to win a Cy Young in each league. Clemens was the only pitcher named on all 32 ballots cast by two writers from each NL city and received 23 of a possible 35 first-place votes. Houston's only other Cy Young winner was Mike Scott in 1986. Clemens won the AL Cy Young in 1986, '87 and '91 with the Boston Red Sox, in '97 and '98 with the Toronto Blue Jays, and in 2001 with the New York Yankees. "He is amazing," St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said during the NL Championship Series. "As I say, I enjoyed it when he wasn't in our league." In his first season in the NL, Clemens was 18-4 with a 2.98 ERA and 218 strikeouts and practically willed the Astros to the postseason. He won his first nine decisions this year and his final six as Houston reached the playoffs and beat Atlanta for its first postseason series victory. Clemens led the league in winning percentage and was ranked among the leaders in wins, ERA, strikeouts and innings pitched (214 1/3). The future Hall of Famer ran his career victory total to 328. Randy Johnson fell short in his bid to win the award for a sixth time. He finished second in balloting with 97 points, receiving eight first-place votes, 18 seconds and three thirds. Johnson led the NL in strikeouts (290), was second in ERA (2.60) and pitched a perfect game while posting a 16-14 record for last-place Arizona. The other first-place vote went to Astros right-hander Roy Oswalt, the league's leading winner (20-10, 3.49 ERA), who finished third. Dammit. Once again, who you pitch for matters more than how you pitch. Johnson got shafted. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the pinjockey 0 Report post Posted November 9, 2004 I am not shocked that he won. But the fact that Johnson was not listed on every ballot is a joke. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HarleyQuinn 0 Report post Posted November 9, 2004 Johnson totally got shafted...He had 72 more strikeouts then Clemens all while posting an ERA almost .40 points better too. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bored 0 Report post Posted November 9, 2004 Ben Sheets gets just one third place vote and I'm guessing it was a Milwaukee writer. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Man in Blak 0 Report post Posted November 9, 2004 Johnson beat Clemens in strikeouts, innings pitched, K/9, WHIP, opposing batting average, and had four complete games (including a perfect game against an eventual playoff team) to boot. Idiots. I'm still not sure how Pavano and Zambrano got so much more consideration than Sheets either. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest MentallyNormal Report post Posted November 9, 2004 Indeed the big unit got shafted. WTF does he need to do kill a couple more seagulls? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Special K 0 Report post Posted November 9, 2004 Unfortunately, he probably has to be more 'lovable'. Baseball seems to love the warm fuzzy story, as it gains fan interest. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Slayer 0 Report post Posted November 9, 2004 Unfortunately, he probably has to be more 'lovable'. Because nothing says lovable like Roger Clemens! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Precious Roy 0 Report post Posted November 9, 2004 But Clemens is a family man with a hot wife and cute kids whose name's all begin with K. The media eats that shit up. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted November 10, 2004 Clemens over Johnson, I don't agree with, but I can see it. Although it is worth noting that Clemens only won two more games than Johnson. It's also worth noting that 11 of Johnson's 14 losses came when Johnson threw a quality start (6+ IP, 3 earned runs or less). Ben Sheets really gets the shaft here. ONE VOTE?! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the max 0 Report post Posted November 10, 2004 But Clemens is a family man with a hot wife and cute kids whose name's all begin with K. The media eats that shit up. Koby, Kobra, Kornonthekob... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest LooneyTune Report post Posted November 11, 2004 Since we're judging that you have to be on a good team to win it, weren't the Blue Jays still a pretty bad team when they had Clemens? (Not Arizona bad, but not playoff contenders good either) He still ended up winning 2 Cy Youngs there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Slayer 0 Report post Posted November 11, 2004 Well, considering Pat f'king Hentgen, of all people, won a CYA... I'd just blame Canada Also, I think in '97 they just wanted to have both CYA winners in Canada Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Anglesault Report post Posted November 11, 2004 Unfortunately, he probably has to be more 'lovable'. Baseball seems to love the warm fuzzy story, as it gains fan interest. What in the hell is lovable about Roger Clemens? Johnson was a better pitcher in just about every recpect this year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Precious Roy 0 Report post Posted November 11, 2004 What in the hell is lovable about Roger Clemens? Kasey, Karly, Kancer, Kunta, Kinte..... Anyone catch that commercial where they combine Unit and Clemens? Good shit. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Slayer 0 Report post Posted November 11, 2004 If PR is aiming for a joke with the "Clemens is a lovable because he named his kids K*" bit, it's way off the mark Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Precious Roy 0 Report post Posted November 12, 2004 If PR is aiming for a joke with the "Clemens is a lovable because he named his kids K*" bit, it's way off the mark It's not a joke. Have you followed the media's coverage of Clemens since his "retirement year" in New York? He's been recast as a hardworking everyman dad, where in the past he was painted as a headhunting goon. The K names is just the cherry on top, sportswriters cream for that shit. And the "what is loveable about Clemens?" question had ALREADY been asked in this thread by you and I gave the same answer, prompting Max to riff on the K names. Then Anglesault asked the same question, so I gave the shortform answer by stealing Max's bit. That's what is lovable to writers and fans about Clemens, he takes time off to be with his family. He loves his kids. He's no longer a "headhunter" he's a "throwback to the good old days." You may not like it, but it's the truth. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Slayer 0 Report post Posted November 12, 2004 Have you followed the media's coverage of Clemens since his "retirement year" in New York? That's just it... I pay a good amount of attention to sports media, and I've seen no example at all what you're talking about All I remember seeing was more of the same ol' Roger (see also: incident at son's ball game), hence why I thought it was a big joke Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the max 0 Report post Posted November 12, 2004 I didn't see anymore Clemens then I normally see. I'd love to agree with you, Roy, my Clemens hatred has been fairly well documented, but it's just not there. He shouldn't have beaten Unit, but there was no additional media coverage for Clemens than there was for Unit. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Anglesault Report post Posted November 12, 2004 If PR is aiming for a joke with the "Clemens is a lovable because he named his kids K*" bit, it's way off the mark It's not a joke. Have you followed the media's coverage of Clemens since his "retirement year" in New York? He's been recast as a hardworking everyman dad, where in the past he was painted as a headhunting goon. You seem to forget that he managed to reasert his "two faced, lying jackass" image almost immediately after that. Clemens is very much like Sammy Sosa. They can try to paint whatever picture of themselves that they want. But they suck at keeping the image. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Precious Roy 0 Report post Posted November 12, 2004 Have you followed the media's coverage of Clemens since his "retirement year" in New York? That's just it... I pay a good amount of attention to sports media, and I've seen no example at all what you're talking about All I remember seeing was more of the same ol' Roger (see also: incident at son's ball game), hence why I thought it was a big joke Are you kidding me, you really saw none of it? There was an in-depth article in Sports Illustrated about his wife, kids and his life in Texas right after he signed with the Astros, constant Sportscenter segments and ESPN mentions about his family life and desire to be a stay at home dad, a far greater focus on his friendship with Pettite than there ever was when they played for New York (I'm a Yankees fan in NY and I heard more about this after they left the team), even the little league incident was explained away days after the story and rebuffed by several "eye witnesses," the media went out of their way to cover for Roger there. There's also been constant focus on his elderly parents and his desire to retire in time for them to see him enshrined in Cooperstown. Not to mention the constant love and defense he gets from commentators and from MLB, like at the last two all-star games. NONE of this existed in the media until 2003 when 300 was in sight, and they've definitely tried to humanize him and make him a likeable figure simply because he's a legend for the ages. I'm not making this stuff up, this is what you hear when Clemens is discussed, where in the past it was all about him throwing inside and being cantankerous. On the other hand, Unit got no real love from the press this past season, except when it had to do with a possible trade. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest LooneyTune Report post Posted November 12, 2004 Unit's only coverage is this: What animal does he look like more; and Ostrich or a Vulture? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Slayer 0 Report post Posted November 12, 2004 There was an in-depth article in Sports Illustrated... Well, there's the first problem right there... I don't read SI anymore Clemens is very much like Sammy Sosa. They can try to paint whatever picture of themselves that they want. But they suck at keeping the image. Ding ding ding Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest LooneyTune Report post Posted November 12, 2004 Clemens is very much like Sammy Sosa. They can try to paint whatever picture of themselves that they want. But they suck at keeping the image. Ding ding ding What do we have for him, Johnny? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
