The Cauldron

Cliff Lee

Marking the end of the 2008 Major League Baseball season, the award for the best pitcher in the American League will come back home to the Cleveland Indians. The Indians' south-paw Cliff Lee won the Cy Young Award last week, becoming only the third pitcher in Cleveland Indians history to win the honor.

Coming off a terrible 2007 season (5- 8, 6.29), that Lee finished the year in AAA Buffalo, was not put on the playoff roster, and questioned his return to the majors in an Indians uniform, Lee got himself together and out of nowhere started the season with one of the greatest performances of any pitcher.

With that motivation from last year, Lee's first seven starts saw him only give up a 0.67 ERA and tallied wins against Oakland twice, Minnesota, Kansas City, Seattle, and the New York Yankees. His seventh start of the year was a nine inning battle against Shaun Marcum and the Toronto Blue Jays, but the Jays would win in Cleveland in extra innings, 3-0.

Toronto's ace Roy Halladay finished second in the voting behind Lee but was a distant runner-up receiving only 71 points (four first place votes) to Lee's 132 points (24 first place votes. Lee led the league with 22 wins and a 2.54 ERA. Lee accomplished this feat in 31 games and had a career 11 game winning streak lasting from Jul. to Sept.

This award may seem special for any club and player, but the Indians have not seen this amount of success in their pitchers for a long time.

Other than C.C. Sabathia winning the same award for the Tribe last year, you would have to go back to 1972 when Indians' spitballer Gaylord Perry won the award (24-16, 1.92 ERA). Perry was also the last Indian to win 20+ games for Cleveland when he won 21 decisions in 1974 and 24 in 1972.

Cleveland Indians General Manager Mark Shapiro summed up the season that Cliff Lee had. "[Lee] was already a good Major League pitcher," Shapiro said. "This year, he took the step to greatness."

With his step to greatness, the Indians will look to contend for the American League crown in 2009 and beyond.

American League Cy Young Cliff Lee (22-3, 2.54) Cleveland 132 Points (24 First Place Votes) Roy Holladay (20-11, 2.78) Toronto 71 (4) Francisco Rodriquez (2-3 [62 Saves], 2.24) Los Angeles 32

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