Houston Astros: Dallas Keuchel, AL Cy Young Award Candidate?
Dallas.
The word alone generates a frown by myself when it comes to sports — it makes me think of that forsaken city up to the north that thinks that they’re all that.
With their plethora of state-of-the-art, multi-million — even billion — dollar playpens coupled with their robust economy they’ve got reason to feel that way.
But you know what?
The true winners are down here in the Bayou City — where ingenuity is king, while we find innovative ways to keep our beer cold and to stay dry during a daily thunderstorm.
That and that our economy is just as strong as theirs.
We may not have the grandeur of having such cavernous facilities but the intimacy of ours coupled with warm southern hospitality is second to none in comparison to any other place in the world!
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Take that Big D!
Now couple the word “Dallas” with the name “Keuchel.”
My frown starts to transition into a wide grin.
Why?
Because that name is associated with greatness, hard work, dedication and the desire to be the best.
And he happens to be the ace for the Houston Astros.
For the second time this season, Keuchel took home the honors of winning the AL Pitcher of the Month for his May performance.
Keuchel had already started going on a tear dating back to last season and for this season?
He has picked up right where he left off.
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He’s functional, not effervescent, he’s cerebral and doesn’t fly by the seat of his pants.
Just look at his pitches — he is always a step ahead.
Although he does have a 90+ mph fastball in his repertoire, he can do just as much damage with a curve ball or a slider hovering in the mid-80s.
Every time he comes up to the mound, you know it’s going to be a treat.
Last Saturday afternoon, there were many that were witnesses to a storm that made tough for those that were inside the bowels of Minute Maid Park.
I’m not talking about that thunderstorm that flooded the ballpark’s spacious concourses, I’m talking about Keuchel’s shutout, 11-strikeout, complete game performance that caused more destruction than any storm could have that day.
Sometimes you know when you’re on and he felt in every sense of the word.
The Chicago White Sox were clueless in regard to how to stop him and looked quite pitiful as they were defenseless as he kept reaching into his proverbial toolbox, dismantling each batter he faced one-by-one.
But this poses another question.
Is he an early AL Cy Young Award candidate?
Let’s take a look at the past two winners…oh wait a minute…it’s one person that has won it in back-to-back seasons.
That’s none other than Clayton Kershaw — winner of the NL award — another name associated with success at the bump.
Here’s his stat line from the past two seasons:
2013: 16-9, 1.83 ERA, 232 SO, 0.915 WHIP
2014: 21-3, 1.77 ERA, 239 SO, 6 CG, 10.8 SO/9, 0.857 WHIP
Whew — those are stats that people dream of and he was able to do it with ease!
But for 2015, his start has been a bit bumpy with him putting together for a 4-3 record, 3.73 ERA, 90 SO and a 1.134 WHIP.
Here’s the stat line for Corey Kluber — the AL winner last season:
2014: 18-9, 2.44 ERA, 269 SO, 1.095 WHIP
Kluber’s start has been bumpy too with a 3-6 record, 3.61 ERA, and 1.134 WHIP but he’s still running at breakneck pace with his SO’s at 105.
In comparison, here’s Keuchel’s numbers — 7-1, 1.76 ERA, 2 CG, 60 SO, 0.906 ERA.
Those said numbers are good for tops in the league and it goes to show that he’s off to a roaring start.
It’s time for new blood for this award and I believe Keuchel is a candidate for it.
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Yes, I mean it!
His name deserves to be mentioned along with a guy that terrorized many on the mound, churned up batter-after-batter in his wheelhouse during an era where knickerbockers and five-and-dime stores where commonplace.
If he keeps up his tenacity, I think he can sway and influence the minds of baseball writers alike and give them no choice but make him the recipient of such a prestigious award and be the first Astros’ pitcher since Mike Scott (1986) and Roger Clemens (2004) to get the win.
Just keep doing what you’re doing Keuchy, you’ll get there.
By the way, your Beard is a bonus — it not only completes Dallas Keuchel, the person but Dallas Keuchel, the brand.
Go ‘Stros!