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Happy Wednesday, Athletics Nation!
As I write, the Phillies are leading the Astros 7-0 in the bottom of the sixth of game 3. How sweet would it be if this thing never got back to Houston?
Pretty darn sweet, says me.
Okay, on to today’s topic: I asked the AN community to vote on the A’s 2022 Cy Young winner, aka the team’s best pitcher of the year, and Cole Irvin was your near-unanimous pick. Here’s the line that earned the honors:
- Irvin, 2022: 3.98 ERA, 181 IP, 128 K, 36 BB, 25 HR, 4.21 FIP, 4.35 xFIP
Those aren’t the kind of numbers that will win an MLB CYA, but Irvin was a rock on the mound for the A’s through a very tough 60-102 season, and he deserves a lot of credit for putting in the work needed to steadily improve through the ups and downs of his four seasons in the big leagues.
Irvin began his career in the Phillies organization and put up a 6.75 ERA in 45⅓ MLB innings through 2019 and 2020 before coming to Oakland ahead of the 2021 season. He’s carried full workloads through both of his seasons with the A’s, logging 62 starts and 359⅓ innings. I think it’s safe to say at this point that Irvin has been well worth the cash considerations the A’s yielded to net him.
Only one other pitcher earned a nomination for the AN CYA: Frankie Montas. Now in pinstripes, Montas put up much higher quality numbers than Irvin for the A’s this season, including a 3.18 ERA and 25.8% K rate. But quantity matters too, and Montas got traded to the Yankees, so I concur with the hive mind that Irvin was the A’s most valuable pitcher in 2022.
I don’t think this discussion would be complete without considering Paul Blackburn for a moment—I’m a bit surprised that the A’s lone 2022 All-Star didn’t even get nominated for the award. But his Cinderella season was derailed after the Midsummer Classic by a string of terrible starts followed by a season-ending finger injury. Paul sure was great through the first half, though, and I hope he can recapture some of that magic next year.
Athletics Nation congratulates its 2022 Cy Young winner, Cole Irvin! And since WS game three ended while I was writing, congrats to the Phillies on recapturing the World Series lead! I’m going to guess there are zero of you pulling for the Astros. Correct me if I’m wrong!
A’s Coverage:
- Brazil: How lessons from Raiders are impacting A’s ballpark pursuit
- Shea: Rob Manfred waiving relocation fee for A’s a real threat or ‘cheap talk’? ($)
- Ostler: Rob Manfred’s Halloween scare for A’s fans? Just following John Fisher’s orders ($)
MLB News & Interest:
- AP: McCullers 1st to give up 5 home runs in World Series game
- Franco: MLB Announces 2022 Gold Glove Winners
- McDonald: Super Two Status Set At 2.128 Years Of Service
- Woo: Why Nolan Arenado is staying in St. Louis: ‘I fit in that city and I fit on this team’ ($)
- Adams: White Sox To Name Pedro Grifol Manager
- Ardaya: Dodgers’ Justin Turner wins Roberto Clemente Award ($)
- Buchanan: ‘My eye over yours’: Ball-and-strike challenges, possibly coming to an MLB game near you ($)
- Hampton: Albert Pujols Officially Files For Retirement
- Deeds: The Opener: World Series, Pujols, Orioles
- Gelb and Blum: Rainout in Game 3 of the World Series could give an advantage to the Phillies ($)
- Today in Baseball History
Best of Twitter:
Yesterday was not one old fan favorite’s birthday..
Happy birthday, Coco! pic.twitter.com/RZ97uKbjVk
— Locked On A’s (@LockedOnAs) November 1, 2022
..it was two old fan favorites’ birthdays!
Happy birthday, legend. pic.twitter.com/sP23TkMqN2
— Locked On A’s (@LockedOnAs) November 1, 2022
Altered WS schedule.
Game 3 of the #WorldSeries has officially been postponed. Here is an updated look at the Series schedule:
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 31, 2022
- Game 3: Tuesday
- Game 4: Wednesday
- Game 5: Thursday
- Travel Day: Friday
- Game 6 (If Necessary): Saturday
- Game 7 (If Necessary): Sunday pic.twitter.com/a61nzKUBM5
PHI scheduled starters.
Phillies rotation going forward:
— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) October 31, 2022
Suarez games 3-7
Nola game 4
Syndergaard game 5
Wheeler game 6
The Astros plans are less clear.
Dusty Baker says the Astros will still start McCullers in Game 3.
— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) October 31, 2022
Game 4 is “probably” Christian Javier
Politics.
In other words: a bunch of republicans (none serving the Bay Area) are trying to keep federal infrastructure dollars away from Oakland. https://t.co/JmgnoOnOfA
— Casey Pratt (@CaseyPrattABC7) October 31, 2022
Flashing back.
Jason Giambi hits his first Major League home run off of David Cone on July 8th 1995! #RootedInOaklandpic.twitter.com/llWbS4mGFu
— Amazin’ A’s Craze (@AmazinAsCraze) October 31, 2022
LOL, Jose. You tell him.
By the way Aaron judge I can still hit a softball further than you can hit a baseball anytime you want to find out contact me
— Jose Canseco (@JoseCanseco) November 1, 2022
You tipping pitches, Lance?
Lance McCullers Jr. in 2022:
— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) November 2, 2022
242 batters faced before tonight*, 0 HR
20 batters faced tonight, 5 HR
(*regular season + postseason)
Harper got hot at just the right time.
Bryce Harper #FunFact
— Katie Sharp (@ktsharp) November 2, 2022
Harper is the first player in MLB history with at least 20 hits, including 6+ HR and 6+ doubles, in a single postseason.
Winter is coming.
This year, for the first time, more World Series games will be played in November than in October.
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) October 31, 2022
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