9:45 p.m. ET: FORGOTTEN FISH: OK, one last note on the Marlins-Mets game ... Beckett didn't get his shutout; instead he settled for eight shutout innings, with Armando Benitez finishing up with three quick outs. Here's the question that occurs to me: Why is nobody talking about Benitez as a Cy Young candidate? Is it because Eric Gagne has set the bar impossibly high for a Cy Young reliever? Or is it because baseball writers simply can't fathom the idea of Armando Benitez as the best pitcher in the league? Well, consider these facts ... Benitez now sports a 1.03 ERA. In 61 innings, he's allowed 28 hits (roughly the same ratio as Gagne's in 2003) and 20 walks, while striking out 58 hitters. Actually, that strikeout rate isn't particularly outstanding, relative to modern relievers. But while Benitez isn't racking up the K's as he once did, he's also not giving up home runs as he once did: only four all season long. I'm not saying Benitez is the best pitcher in the league. I just think it's strange that none of my colleagues are suggesting that he might be.

 

A short piece from an article on Insider by Rob Neyer.

I'll join the bandwagon that says closers/relievers dont deserve Cy Youngs

He wont get it.. I think.

 

But he should get some consideration.

Yeah I dont think he should get it but he should at least be considered because I dont think relievers should win Cy Youngs.

Only a relief season like Gagne's 2003 deserves a CY Young.

So basically he's saying 'why haven't the idiots that I work with said this already? I'm running out of ideas for columns. I need Buster Olney or Jim Caple to say something stupid already!'

ive always thought that relievers should not win cy youngs. starters are more important and have a harder job than closers

I doubt he'll get any votes. No way a reliever wins in back-to-back years. Plus, I agree with Neyer that alot of the thinking is "baseball writers simply can't fathom the idea of Armando Benitez as the best pitcher in the league".