who would you pick?
TIM LINCECUM, RHP, SAN FRANCISCO
G IP H ER BB SO W-L WHIP BAA ERA OPS
34 227.0 182 66 84 265 18-5 1.17 .221 2.62 .612
18 wins on team that only won 72 games. 1st in the majors in strikeouts, 1st in k/9 ip by a full k, 1st in baa, 2nd in wins, 2nd in opponents ops, 3rd in era, 3rd best win %, 2nd in quality starts, 3rd in % of quality starts, 3rd most ip, top 10 in whip, first pitcher in the history of the San Francisco franchise to lead the majors in strikeouts in a single season.
JOHAN SANTANA, LHP, NY METS
G IP H ER BB SO W-L WHIP BAA ERA OPS
34 234.1 206 66 63 206 16-7 1.15 .232 2.53 6.48
Won his last nine decisions. 1st in ip, 1st in quality starts, 2nd in era, 2nd in k's, 2nd in % of quality starts, top 10 in k/bb, top 10 in win %, top 10 in whip, top 10 in baa, and top 10 in opponents ops.
BRANDON WEBB, RHP, ARIZONA
G IP H ER BB SO W-L WHIP BAA ERA OPS
34 226.2 206 83 65 183 22-7 1.20 .242 3.30 6.36
22 wins on team that only 82 games. Won his first nine starts and didn't take a loss until May 21, won 13 games before the All-Star break. 1st in wins, 3rd in opponents ops, 3rd in quality starts, 4th best in Win %, 4th in ip, 6th in % of quality starts, 10th best era among starters with 170+ ip.
CC SABATHIA, LHP, MILWAUKEE
G IP H ER BB SO W-L WHIP BAA ERA OPS
17 130.2 106 24 25 128 11-2 1.00 .222 1.65 .553
Sabathia led the Brewers to their first playoff berth in 26 years and tossed seven complete games in only three months with the brew crew to lead NL. 1.65 era led all NL starters by almost a full run, 1st in % of quality starts, 2nd in k/bb, 1st in winning %, 2nd in baa, 1st in opponents ops, top 10 in k/9 ip.
BRAD LIDGE, RHP, PHILADELPHIA
G IP H ER BB SO W-L SV BS WHIP BAA ERA OPS
72 69.1 50 15 35 92 2-0 41 0 1.23 . 198 1.95 .565
Lidge was perfect for the world champion Phillies, going 41-for-41 in save opportunities, a comeback season worthy of the Comeback Player of the Year award. 1st in k/9 ip among NL closers.
Others:
Ryan Dempster: 17-6, 33 starts, 206.2 ip, 174 hits, 187 k's, 1.21 whip, .227 baa, 2.96 era, .642 ops, ranked among the top five in wins, era, winning percentage, baa, and opponents ops. ranked in the top 10 in innings, strikeouts, and quality starts.
Edinson Volquez: 17-6, 32 starts, 196 ip, 167 hits, 206 k's, 1.33 whip, .232 baa, 3.21 era, .681 ops, finished in top 5 in k/9 ip, finished in top 10 in wins, era, strikeouts, hits/9 ip, and winning percentage.