Brandon Webb improved to 6-0 with a win over the Pirates, becoming the first player in the majors to do so. He's greatly improved his control since two years ago, when he led MLB in walks, and his sinker ball is even more deadly with the improved defense the Diamondbacks have up the middle.

So the question is: How many games does Webb need to win to take down the Cy Young? Is anything less than 20 a recipe for disaster? And how many total wins (or what place they finish in the lackluster NL West) does Arizona need to have for him to be considered?

Alternatively, who are your early season favorites for the Cys in both leagues, and who do you ultimately think will win it?

(Something to consider: Randy Johnson was 16-14 for the Diamondbacks in '04 -- with a 2.60 ERA, 290 K's, a career-low .90 WHIP, and a perfect game -- and nearly won the award despite playing for an abysmal 51-111 team. Granted, I'm not saying Webb is in the same league as Unit.)

Well...as for Webb...yeah, he's one of the early favorites......I'd say you gotta at least get to 17 wins most likely to be considered usualy......I think it depends more on ERA though.


As for my early favorites (despite the fact that it's way too early to make an actual reasonable guess..)

AL - Roy Halladay (Yes, I know that Contreras has been rediculously good lately, but that doesn't mean it'll stay that way, plus he is now injured and who knows how he'll bounce back)

NL - Pedro Martinez



But really...there's no telling. Ask me in early August..lol.

Any pitcher who gives up 3 hits to open the game against the Pirates with Jack Wilson out of the lineup is immediately disqualified from Cy Young contention. Sorry, that's the rule.

My early favorites are of course Jose Contreras and Pedro Martinez/Oswalt/Carpenter...

I like Brandon Webb but I just don't see him winning it unless the diamondbacks win their division. I would say he needs at least 20-23 wins, which I don't see happening.

It's May freaking eleventh

So we can talk about every Red Sox/Yankees series having playoff implications and if Pujols will break Bonds' record this season because of the pace he's at -- despite it being May -- but this is out-of-bounds? I see.



I would agree in most circumstances, but Webb struggles so much in the first inning I'm inclined to think he couldn't get a lineup full of Little Leaguers out without giving up a hit or something. I don't really have the time to research this right now, but I'm curious when the last time Webb went through the first inning without a hit or a walk was. For whatever reason, from 2-6, 2-7, 2-8 he's got ace-quality stuff on the mound, but the first inning he never seems loose.

Lol...yes, I'd actually MUCH rather talk about possible Cy Young award winners for the year then have to talk about Sox-Yanks again.

OMG DID YOU HEAR A-ROD MADE TWO ERRORS THAT ONE GAME OMG HE'S OVERRATED HE'S DONE!!

OMG DID YOU HEAR THAT RANDY JOHNSON HAD A BAD OUTING OMG HE SUCKS HE WILL NEVER BE GOOD AGAIN!!

OMG DID YOU HEAR THAT SCHILLING HAD A BAD OUTING OMG HE IS LOSING HIS STUFF AND ISN'T THAT GOOD ANYMORE OMG OMG OMG!!

OMG DID YOU HEAR THAT A-ROD HIS A HOMERUN OMG HE'S THE BEST HE REALLY SHOWED STEINBRENNER OMG OMG OMG OMG HE'S MY HERO!!!

OMG DID YOU SEE BARRY BONDS HE PULLED A PITCH AND HIT THE BALL TO CENTERFIELD OMG OMG OMG OMG HE'S HEALTHY NOW AND WILL PLAY FOR THREE MORE YEARS OMG OMG OMG OMG

OMG DID YOU HEAR ABOUT JOHNNY DAMON HE WAS A RED SOX (SOCK?) AND NOW HE IS A YANKEE OMG OMG OMG TRADE OF THE CENTURY BOSTON SUX NEW YORK RULZ OMG OMG OMG OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Boy...I really wish ESPN would show some variety in their games.....how about the ChiSox-Angels game or something.....NY-Boston is just stale...

...oh, sorry, I was going to continue my post, but Barry Bonds is about to take a sh*t and ESPN is interrupting their programming for a live look-in, so I must watch, as it is the law.

If I had seen those threads, I would say the same thing

way to early to tell. From like June-end of August last year Carpenter dominated, sending the Cards to the division crown. Before that he wasn't really on anyone's radar, it was all man-crush on Clemens. I was actually surprised Carpenter didn't lose it when he all but gave up the last month getting mentally prepped for the playoffs. I thought Dontrelle had overtaken him right at the end.

you won't have to worry about him this year..

I really hope the Moose can hold it down, even though it won't happen.

As a jay fan I don't see Roy winning it this year, he's starting to get a little injury prone and it's starting to take it's toll.He's nowhere near as consistent as he was when he won.

My pick (dark horse kinda) for AL Cy Young is Kelvim Escobar. He has a decent ERA and is very consistent, he's the only one with a hot start that has the potential to keep the consistency going. He can make it another Blue Jay castoff to win a Cy Young.

NL Cy Young I think is going to Oswalt. He's over 60 innings already. As good as Pedro is, I see Oswalt taking it down.

Escobar really? That seems like a stretch to me..

Contreras doesn't have the potential to keep the consistency going?

Escobar has done really well the last 2 years. He's unlocking all that potential that all us Blue Jay fans were waiting on for his whole career here. His stuff when he was good was one of the best in the Majors, only problem was he was bad more often than good. But slowly he's starting to get more consistent, and I think he's really close to his peak right now.

As for Contreras, I'm not trying to rag on him, but a lot of his starts this year has been against teams without a really good offense (Minus Detroit). I know he's really good, but I don't think this is his year. We'll see though.

I am of course biased but I think any of the Sox starters besides Garland right now could win the Cy Young. Buehrle is always solid, but has had a few problems this year. Freddy Garcia is 6-1 this year. Contreras of course is 5-0 and is one of the best this year and was at the ending of last year. When Vazquez is on he is dominant and has great stuff..

With Randy Johnson struggling this leaves more room for guys like White Sox or even Escobar.. or (Schilling)

It may be a stretch to win the NL Cy young this year but Brett Myers has been remarkably consistent the last two years and is off to another great year. Maybe not this year, but he has the stuff to be apart of the race.

His ERA was 5.52 in 2004, are you serious?

Brett Myers.....

His ERA is good for now, but his 2-2 record so far ain't gonna get him that award....good young pitcher, but not Cy Young quality yet.

Tom Glavine looking good as a possibility so far..7-2 with a 2.48 ERA......good stuff. I hope he wins, he's a personal favorite of mine because I got to shake his hand one time.

Good game Wednesday...Mr. 8-0 BrandonWebb vs. 5-1 Pedro(should be 7-1 without Wagner blowups).

Looking like a 2-1 win for the Mets or something. Their offense is a bit better than the Diamondbacks' right now, even though Delgado is slumping lately.

Still, Webb is 8-0 with a 2.18 ERA and nearly has less walks (9) than wins. Not bad for the guy who led the NL in walks just two years ago. He's completely gotten rid of the control problems with his sinker.

I'm thinking Roy Halladay and Brandon Webb. However, I'm hoping for Mike Mussina. Sophmore Justin Verlander and Tom Glavine are also making some great runs. I sure hope the race for the AL Cy Young is better this year. Last year, I felt that Rivera deserved it after how bad all the starters were. Although he had like 20 wins seeing Colon win it was dissapointing with his ERA in the mid 3's.

How bad the starters were? I agree that Bartolo didn't deserve it, but you shouldn't ignore Santana's season.

I agree that Santana was a much better choice then Colon. I would of liked to see him or Rivera win it.

Jose Contreras

I hate to say it, but if the season ended now (and I somehow ended up with a vote), Mike Mussina would get my vote.

Ugh...I feel dirty for even typing that.

The funny (sickening?) thing is that Schilling would get some serious votes because he has eight wins.

7 shutout innings from Webb, 8 from Pedro...that went just about as should have been expected.

Yep, great game last night. Frustrating for a quasi-Mets fan like myself cause Mr. Webb has one nasty sinker and the Mets couldn't really touch it. Great to see a pitchers dual tho.