When the Washington Nationals repeatedly put runners on base Wednesday night, then kept failing to score, the sense that they were running out of time was amplified by Zach Britton sitting in the Baltimore Orioles’ bullpen.
The left-handed Britton has deployed his power sinker this season to heartbreaking and statistically stunning success. It’s a 96-mph pitch that he throws 92.2 percent of the time. The Orioles closer could well shout to the batter what is coming. It just does not matter.
Entering Wednesday, Britton had allowed three earned runs this season, all in April. The Nationals scored against him when Bryce Harper charged home during a too-late rally in the bottom of the ninth inning, snapping an almost four-month spotless run. Britton’s dominance coupled with no starting pitcher slicing through the American League has brought up a question: Can a closer win the Cy Young Award?
Harper crossing the plate on Wednesday ended a staggering run by Britton. He had not allowed a run in 41 innings during 43 appearances. The 43 appearances without allowing a run is the longest streak without allowing an earned run in major league history. Following the run — which came after Britton was loosening in the Orioles’ bullpen then sat back down because he figured his night was over with Baltimore up by seven runs in the ninth inning — his ERA is 0.69. His WHIP is 0.83. Opponents are hitting a why-bother .149 against him.
No clean reliever has won the Cy Young Award since Dennis Eckersley in 1992. Eric Gagne won the award when he was the Los Angeles Dodgers’ closer in 2003, but he later admitted using the performance-enhancing drug HGH during his career. So, Eckersley is the model here.
Like Britton, Eckersley’s dominance during the season changed how opponents viewed his team. The right-hander finished with 51 saves and a 1.91 ERA. He struck out 10.5 per nine innings and walked just 1.2. He had to be more wily than Britton since he mainly used a fastball and slider.
Also like Britton, the starting pitching field around him was decent but not spectacular. Eckersley easily won the award and was even named MVP.
“The Cy Young’s the Cy Young,” said Eckersley, an MLB on TBS analyst. “It’s not a reliever’s fault they put up those kind of numbers. Incredible numbers. He couldn’t pitch any better, could he?”
The voting was not close in 1992, an era where the “save” received much more weight than it does in current day. Eckersley received 19 first-place votes. Jack McDowell, who finished second, received two first-place votes. Roger Clemens, who finished third, received four.
“The starter doesn’t necessarily have a great year, so the reliever slides in there,” Eckersley said.
Looking around the American League shows spread out leaders. Of the top five ERA leaders in the American League, only Kansas City’s Danny Duffy is also in the top five in a second major category. Duffy is first in ERA and WHIP. But, he has thrown just 138 innings, splitting his time as a reliever and a starter. Chicago White Sox starter Chris Sale and Cleveland Indians right-hander Corey Kluber appear to have the most well-rounded case for AL Cy Young consideration, though each has negatives, much like the field in 1992.
Kluber and Sale are eighth and ninth, respectively, in ERA, coming into Thursday. They sit at fourth and fifth in strikeouts. Sale is second in WHIP and Kluber is fourth. Neither lead the league in any pitching category, creating the muddled scenario that adds weight to Britton’s candidacy.
“Then it comes to me, what’s more valuable? Seventy-five innings or 225 innings?” Eckersley said. “I hate to get into that debate because now when you get some distance from it, you can appreciate a starting pitcher would be pissed if he didn’t win it. I get that.”
Thursday afternoon, Washington Nationals closer Mark Melancon learned he finished eighth in last season’s National League Cy Young voting when a reporter told him. Melancon also learned about Britton’s streak before noting how the Nationals were talking about the power sinker that has been so difficult for hitters.
“I mean, [the Cy Young is for] best pitcher,” Melancon said. “If he’s the best pitcher, it makes sense.”
Melancon mentioned WAR, wins above replacement, as a consideration. When that statistic, something not in the minds of voters back in 1992, is considered, Kluber comes out on top at 4.7. Sale is second at 4.3 Britton’s WAR entering Thursday night was 3.2, reflecting the workload difference between a starter and a closer.
Eckersley thought he had a chance for the Cy Young Award in 1992. He was “shocked” when he also won MVP and doesn’t think a pitcher should be receive the MVP award.
“It’s easy to say now, but I’m not giving that thing back,” Eckersley said.
It’s easy to see Britton take the same stance should he win the Cy Young.
• Todd Dybas can be reached at tdybas@washingtontimes.com.
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