Mike Marshall’s 1974 season remains one of the most remarkable in Major League Baseball history. In one of the rarest feats for a reliever, Marshall won the National League Cy Young Award by working an astounding 200 innings in relief. This accomplishment set a precedent that relievers can not only contribute significantly but also dominate in a mostly starter-centric award category.
Sparky Lyle added to the legacy of relievers excelling on the mound, capturing the 1977 American League Cy Young Award. Similarly, Bruce Sutter earned his place in history by winning the 1979 NL Cy Young, establishing himself as one of the most formidable closers of his era.
Among the very few relievers who have transcended their specialized roles to achieve top honors, Rollie Fingers stands out for his 1981 season. Fingers achieved a dual win, securing both the AL MVP and Cy Young with 78 impeccable innings pitched. Three years later, Willie Hernandez would replicate this dual honor, closing out the 1984 season with a 1.92 ERA and 140 1/3 innings pitched, solidifying his all-star status.
Steve Bedrosian’s 1987 campaign further emphasized the impactful role of relievers in baseball. With 40 saves in 48 chances and 89 innings pitched, Bedrosian clinched the NL Cy Young Award. Two years later, Mark Davis mirrored Bedrosian’s success, taking home the 1989 NL Cy Young Award after converting 44 saves in 48 opportunities and pitching 92 2/3 innings.
Dennis Eckersley’s 1992 season would be memorable not just for his contributions to the Oakland A’s but also for the accolades that followed. Eckersley claimed both the AL MVP and Cy Young Awards, thanks to his pristine 80 innings of relief work. This marked a significant moment, as no closer since Eckersley had achieved such accolades until Eric Gagne broke through in 2003, capturing the NL Cy Young Award.
Gagne remains the only reliever to secure a Cy Young Award post-Eckersley, underscoring the increasingly rare feat amid a sport dominated by starting pitching. This rarity brings to light the exceptional seasons of closers and the debate around the criteria for major pitching awards like the Cy Young.
Modern-Day Relievers Making Their Mark
Today’s game has seen the rise of other consistent and dominant closers. Craig Kimbrel, for instance, has been a stalwart in the bullpen ever since being drafted as a reliever. Remarkably, Kimbrel did not start a single game in the minors until a rehabilitation stint in 2016.
Another notable reliever, Aroldis Chapman, seamlessly transitioned to the bullpen in 2010 and has never looked back. Emmanuel Clase, a formidable force on the mound, exemplifies the role of a modern closer. Clase never started beyond rookie ball, with the exception of two opener situations, and has saved 38 games in 41 chances. His 0.59 ERA and 0.67 WHIP, combined with 53 strikeouts and only seven unintentional walks over 61 1/3 innings, illustrates his dominance.
The War of WAR
Despite Clase’s stellar statistics, some analysts compare his season to that of pitchers in the 180-200 inning range rather than the 225-240 inning range typically required to be in Cy Young consideration. Pitchers like Tarik Skubal, Erick Fedde, Tyler Anderson, and Cole Ragans all rank higher than Clase in AL pitcher WAR. However, looking deeper into these comparisons reveals nuances. For example, Fedde has transitioned to the National League, Skubal is expected to take a cautious approach through September, Anderson pitches with a 4.46 FIP and 1.23 WHIP on a struggling team, and Ragans, despite his recent injury, is expected to continue his strong performances.
Evaluating Exceptional Relievers
This intricate landscape forces a conversation among baseball aficionados and the Cy Young voting committee about recalibrating the award’s criteria. Can exceptional relievers like Clase redefine what it means to be considered the best pitcher in the league? If history tells us anything, it’s that redefining the status quo is no easy task, but it’s possible and sometimes, necessary.
As the 2023 season progresses, all eyes will remain on the performance and resilience of these elite closers. Perhaps, with evolving perspectives and voting criteria, the remarkable feats of pitchers like Emmanuel Clase will once again earn the recognition they deserve, cementing their place in baseball history alongside the greats who have come before them.