Superior League Cy Young

The candidates:

David Lefevre, Miami

Lefevre leads the league in wins with 19. This is the 4th time in his career he's won 19, but he's never won 20. On Thursday he lost his first attempt at #20 against the Sluggers. He has 3 starts left. His ERA is at 3.45. Dave is no stranger to the Cy Young award, having won 3 already.

Jim Farmer, Miami

Not a big name at all, Farmer came into 2006 with a 115-118 career record. He was 9-16. 4.71 with the Snow Sox last year. He's the surprise leader in ERA at 2.89 and has an 11-7 record. Farmer has succeeded this year by keeping the ball in the park, allowing only 9 homers in 184 innings.

Tom Groovine, New York

I get to see Groovine pitch a lot, as the Herman's New York office is right across the street from Knights stadium. Groovine is still going strong at 16-11 with a 3.45 ERA. He also has 8 complete games. He just knows how to win, even on an unimpressive 4th place team.

Steven Hyde, Springfield

His 14-14 record won't get him a lot of votes, but Hyde has been the ace of the first place Isotopes. His ERA (3.35) is better than Lefevre's and he's been a workhorse with 209 innings and 8 complete games.

Elvis Rodriguez, Toledo

He's kept Toledo in the playoff hunt with a 15-11 record and 3.12 ERA

Kevin Millhouse, Chicago

He won't win it thanks to poor offensive support and a 9-10 record, but Millhouse has a 3.03 ERA, within striking distance of the league lead, and has been the toughest pitcher in the league to hit. He deserves a better record than what the last place Winds have given him.

Bob Zimmerman, Utah

Bob has been the only reliable starter for the Utes with a 14-8 record and 3.08 ERA. He has allowed 22 unearned runs though, a rather high total.

Joe Callahan, Las Vegas

Pitching for the worst team in the league, with a terrible defense behind him, Callahan has an impressive 14-6 record. His ERA is at 3.49, and he's second in the league with 213 strikeouts. He could have more but Las Vegas has been careful to limit his workload after he missed half of 2005 due to injury.

Paul Williamson, Toledo

Has 31 saves with a 2.42 ERA and 93 innings pitched. Williamson doesn't have as many saves as some others, but he gets more 2 inning saves than anyone in the league and pitches far more innings than standard closers.

Chad Anderson, Louisville

Has 42 saves and a 2.40 ERA.

Bob Belardi, Miami

Closing in on a team record with 48 saves, K-Bob hasa 2.73 ERA in 58 innings, and 68 strikeouts. After struggling early, Belardi has put together an impressive streak, with 39 consecutive saves.

My Ballot:
1. Belardi
2. Lefevre
3. Callahan

In a year where no starter has put up unquestioned Cy Young numbers, I'll give it to a reliever who has been instrumental to Miami's success. Belardi will pass 50 saves, and even has an outside chance at Bernie Grayson's record of 56.