Cy Young Award

For some reason, there is the mistaken impression around baseball circles that there is a weak field for the American League Cy Young Award.This, of course, is ridiculous.There also is the mistaken impression that there is no clear-cut front-runner for the AL half of baseball's most coveted pitching trophy.This also is ridiculous.It is true that there will be no surplus of 20-game winners in either league, but the pertinent statistics tell a very simple story.Boston Red Sox pitcher Roger Clemens will win the Cy Young, even though he probably will finish a victory or two shy of the magical 20. The rest of his resume overwhelms the rest of the field, but a weak field it is not.True, there were three 20-game winners last year, including 27-game winner Bob Welch, but there were only six pitchers with 18 victories or more.

Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette, newly locked in along with manager Buck Showalter until 2018, said Thursday that he has fielded “umpteen” trade proposals from other teams desiring the Orioles' top young players. But this offseason, the Orioles' leadership has decided that, in order to build a winning club long term, they wouldn't entertain any deals involving top young talent such as third baseman Manny Machado and right-hander Dylan Bundy. Orioles ownership representative Louis Angelos, who announced contract extensions for Duquette and Showalter on Tuesday Thursday, applauded the duo's commitment to avoid making a move this offseason that might jeopardize the future.

For Roger Clemens, winning the American League Cy Young Award has become a November habit.The Boston Red Sox right-hander, who led the league in ERA and strikeouts, collected his third yesterday, easily beating the Minnesota Twins' Scott Erickson."

Four years into his major league career, Jim Palmer had gone from being a 19-year-old phenom to a World Series hero who outpitched Sandy Koufax before his 21st birthday to a sore-armed 23-year old trying to figure out a suddenly clouded future. Sidelined after tearing his rotator cuff, Palmer took classes at Towson State. He earned his license to sell insurance. He even planned to stay active in baseball if he couldn't pitch again. "I thought I was going to become a coach," Palmer recalled.

The leaves are falling throughout New England and the air has turned cooler, but somehow September doesn't have the usual feel to Roger Clemens.The Boston Red Sox right-hander is as dominant as ever, ranking in the top five in the American League in seven different pitching categories and seemingly on target to contend for his fourth Cy Young Award.But, for perhaps the first time since he became a regular with the Red Sox, Clemens, who faces Rick Sutcliffe this afternoon at Oriole Park, and his teammates are playing out the string, waiting for a long season to end.It's not a feeling Clemens is accustomed to."

Mike Flanagan's journey through the Orioles' organization has taken him from the pitching mound to the coaches' office, and from the broadcast booth to the owner's ear. Now he's ready to get into the jewelry business. Sitting with reporters at the Camden Yards warehouse yesterday, Flanagan removed his World Series ring from his right hand and spun it on a table. He doesn't usually wear it, but the moment seemed right with his introduction as one half of the replacement for Syd Thrift, the club's outgoing vice president of baseball operations.

Even before Erik Bedard started an eight-decision winning streak that elevated him to an American League Cy Young Award candidate, the Orioles vowed to explore signing their 28-year-old ace to a long-term contract extension. Bedard is under contractual control by the Orioles through the 2009 season, but with each dominating outing the pitcher delivers, securing him for the long term might be more and more of a priority. "We have him for the next couple of years, but I think it is very appropriate to consider him in that Cy Young caliber," said Andy MacPhail, Orioles president of baseball operations.

HACKENSACK, N.J. -- Acting commissioner Bud Selig has rejected free agent Dwight Gooden's request to shorten his one-year suspension from baseball for violating his drug after-care program, the former Cy Young Award winner said yesterday in the Record."

Seven-time American League batting champion Rod Carew and the major-league career record holder for saves, Rollie Fingers, are expected to be in the forefront when the 1991 inductees to baseball's Hall of Fame are announced tonight.Both players were on the ballot for the first time this year.In 19 seasons with the Minnesota Twins and California Angels, Carew posted a lifetime batting average of .328 with 3,053 hits. He was AL Rookie of the Year in 1967 and Most Valuable Player in 1977.Fingers, who played for the Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers, recorded 341 saves in 17 seasons.

Dontrelle Wilis Marlins pitcher Willis is 8-0 with a 1.82 ERA and three complete games in 12 April starts since coming to the majors in 2003, the only pitcher since 1960 with at least 10 starts in April to be undefeated in the month. Johan Santana Twins pitcher The 2004 AL Cy Young Award winner is 0-2 with a 5.73 ERA after giving up three runs, four hits and three walks in 5 1/3 innings.

Former Orioles great Jim Palmer had his three Cy Young Award plaques hanging on his wall. His Gold Glove awards are in storage. They're mementos of accomplishments he will always remember and cherish, but Palmer says he didn't need them to validate a 19-year Hall of Fame career. So Palmer is auctioning them off. Palmer isn't in financial need, but said the sale of the trophies would help him care for his 15-year-old autistic stepson and his grandchildren. A portion of the profits will also go to the autism project of Palm Beach County.

Verlander deserves it Jeff Schuler Morning Call The award isn't for most outstanding player, or player of the year. It's for the most valuable player, and last time I checked, pitchers were players too. Justin Verlander is on the verge of winning pitching's version of the Triple Crown, leading the American League in wins (by five), in strikeouts (by 20) and in ERA. Sixteen of his 24 wins have come after Detroit losses. The argument is that pitchers have their own award.

No pitchers for MVP Steve Gould Baltimore Sun We'll start by throwing pitchers out of the MVP talk — deserving or not, they get overlooked by voters for what are, realistically, hitters-only awards. In a tight American League MVP race, we'll guess the three Red Sox contenders — Jacoby Ellsbury, Dustin Pedroia and Adrian Gonzalez — steal enough votes from one another to eliminate them all. Jose Bautista has had a better season than Curtis Granderson by most measures, but Granderson gets the nod because he's on a playoff team.

More than two years after Roger Clemens told Congress that he had never taken steroids or human growth hormone, the seven-time Cy Young Award winner pleaded not guilty Monday in federal court to charges that he lied about the alleged doping. Clemens uttered just one phrase to U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton: "Not guilty, your honor. " He had arrived at the courthouse more than 4 hours before his 2 p.m. arraignment. Walton set a trial date for April 5. The charges stem from a 2007 report on doping in baseball that alleged Clemens had used anabolic steroids on multiple occasions in 1998, 2000 and 2001, and human growth hormone on multiple occasions in 2000.

Former National League Cy Young Award winner Eric Gagne, 31, and the Milwaukee Brewers finalized a one-year, $10 million contract yesterday. The right-hander, who finished last season with the World Series champion Boston Red Sox, can earn an additional $1 million in performance bonuses. Gagne joins a bullpen that lost closer Francisco Cordero, who agreed to a four-year, $46 million contract with the Cincinnati Reds. Derrick Turnbow and Gagne are the top candidates to close for the Brewers.

Even before Erik Bedard started an eight-decision winning streak that elevated him to an American League Cy Young Award candidate, the Orioles vowed to explore signing their 28-year-old ace to a long-term contract extension. Bedard is under contractual control by the Orioles through the 2009 season, but with each dominating outing the pitcher delivers, securing him for the long term might be more and more of a priority. "We have him for the next couple of years, but I think it is very appropriate to consider him in that Cy Young caliber," said Andy MacPhail, Orioles president of baseball operations.

Kids AskWhich pitcher has won the most Cy Young Awards?Eric G., 13Newtown, PennsylvaniaNew York Yankee Roger Clemens won his fifth Cy Young Award last season. Two other pitchers have won the award four times.The Cy Young Award is given each season to the best pitcher in the American League and the best pitcher in the National League.Roger won the Cy Young with the Boston Red Sox (1986, 1987, 1991) and with the Toronto Blue Jays (1997, 1998).Motorcycle MadnessJohnny Vroom is racing Lou Streak for the motorcycle youth championship.

Former National League Cy Young Award winner Eric Gagne, 31, and the Milwaukee Brewers finalized a one-year, $10 million contract yesterday. The right-hander, who finished last season with the World Series champion Boston Red Sox, can earn an additional $1 million in performance bonuses. Gagne joins a bullpen that lost closer Francisco Cordero, who agreed to a four-year, $46 million contract with the Cincinnati Reds. Derrick Turnbow and Gagne are the top candidates to close for the Brewers.

An Orioles Hall of Famer and the first Cy Young Award winner to garner a general manager-level position in baseball, Flanagan was promoted to executive vice president of baseball operations Oct. 11, 2005. Before that, he spent three seasons as vice president, sharing duties with Jim Beattie. Flanagan went 167-143 with a 3.90 ERA in 18 seasons with the Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays and won the American League Cy Young Award in 1979. Flanagan was the last Oriole to throw a pitch at Memorial Stadium.

Dontrelle Wilis Marlins pitcher Willis is 8-0 with a 1.82 ERA and three complete games in 12 April starts since coming to the majors in 2003, the only pitcher since 1960 with at least 10 starts in April to be undefeated in the month. Johan Santana Twins pitcher The 2004 AL Cy Young Award winner is 0-2 with a 5.73 ERA after giving up three runs, four hits and three walks in 5 1/3 innings.