Cy Young Award

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.

Doug Drabek abstains from the word "retirement" but the 1990 National League Cy Young Award winner and Orioles starting pitcher concedes he has likely made the final appearance of a career as consistent as it was understated.In the same week that fellow Orioles starter Jimmy Key called an end to a 15-year career, Drabek said, "Everybody comes to that point, some sooner than others. You just have to realize when it is and try not to overstay your position where you're just hanging on."A free agent after 13 years, five teams, three division championships and 398 appearances, Drabek says he has received tepid interest from only two teams since struggling through an injury-marred 6-11 season.

It was an interesting scene. Five-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens called a news conference Tuesday to announce that he was rescinding his trade demand and would report to spring training with the Toronto Blue Jays.The well-orchestrated announcement was designed to counter the widely held impression that Clemens had demanded a trade as a pretext to reopen his contract and negotiate a megabucks extension with the team that eventually acquired him.Clemens clearly didn't like being portrayed as just another greedy ballplayer trying to break the bank and -- to use the words of Houston Astros general manager Gerry Hunsicker -- "squeeze the last nickel out of the industry."

The Orioles apparently have entered the bidding for five-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens by offering a package of at least three players to the Toronto Blue Jays earlier this week, a source familiar with the trade talks said yesterday.Committed to obtaining a premier starting pitcher as the off-season's No. 1 objective, Orioles general manager Frank Wren is prepared to deal a left-handed reliever, believed to be Arthur Rhodes, along with two significant prospects, second baseman Jerry Hairston and third baseman Ryan Minor.

Quote: "I've had a few cycles -- motorcycles." -- Athletics manager Art Howe after Oakland's Mike Blowers hit for the cycle yesterday.It's a fact: Rangers catcher Ivan Rodriguez is playing with a sprained ligament in his left thumb, probably the reason for his four passed balls. He is having a problem catching sinkers.Who's hot: The Tigers, who have won seven of their past 11 games, have homered in 12 straight, their best streak since setting a major-league record of 25 in 1994.Who's not: The Blue Jays' Roger Clemens allowed nine earned (( runs and 10 hits in five innings, only the third time in his career that the four-time Cy Young Award winner has given up nine earned runs in a game.

As welcoming parties go, the Orioles threw a monster last night for Doug Drabek. They scored in double digits, gave him solid defense and asked only that he cruise for 7 1/3 innings to gain the decision in a 10-2 win over the stumbling Detroit Tigers before 39,634 at Camden Yards.The Tigers left the dugout to hold two team meetings. Armed with a third consecutive win, the Orioles celebrated the arrival of a one-time Cy Young Award winner who last night resembled his former reputation."That," said Orioles manager Ray Miller, "is the Doug Drabek I know."

The Orioles provided conclusive evidence yesterday that when they promoted Ray Miller to manager, they were also willing to take his advice.Acting at Miller's urging, the Orioles signed former Cy Young Award winner Doug Drabek to a one-year, $1.8 million contract that cements their starting rotation more than two months before the opening of spring training.While Drabek becomes the Orioles' lowest-paid starter, it is not clear whether he or Scott Kamieniecki will open the season as the club's No. 4 starter.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The battle for Pedro Martinez suddenly may take a back seat. The Seattle Mariners shocked the general managers' meetings yesterday by saying they have been unable to reach a multi-year deal with All-Star left-hander Randy Johnson and will start entertaining trade offers for him.Johnson reportedly seeks "Greg Maddux money" -- $11.5 million a season. Seattle is to pay him $6 million next season."We are weighing our options," general manager Woody Woodward said. "Do we go ahead and compete for postseason play?

FORT WORTH, Texas -- Every five days, the Seattle Mariners send to the mound pitcher Randy Johnson, the American League's All-Star starter and 1995 Cy Young Award winner.Every five days, the Mariners also send out Bob Wolcott, a pitcher with a 5-4 record and 5.02 ERA. They send him to the mound that is, unless they are sending him to the bullpen or back to the minors. In those cases, they're out desperately searching for another candidate for their fifth starter spot.They're not alone. The Atlanta Braves have a starting rotation of Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz and Denny Neagle, but haven't settled on a fifth starter.