Chris “When He’s Healthy, He’s Virtually Unhittable” Carpenter: NL Cy Young Favorite?

A week ago Monday night, as Chris Carpenter labored through his first two innings at Dodger Stadium, the ESPN commentators claimed “something wasn’t right.” Apparently they were wrong, as Carpenter dominated the NL’s best team the rest of the way en route to eight innings of two run ball and another win.
 
My father, who attended the game and has watched baseball for nearly 60 years, emailed me the following morning:

“This guy is a classic pitcher – gets stronger as game goes on, which is rare these days.”

 
Carpenter was strong again all Saturday night on San Diego — seven shutout innings on just three hits — prompting this Sunday afternoon email from a good friend who works in the Padres scouting department:

“When he’s healthy, he’s virtually unhittable.  Completely shut us down on Saturday.”

 
Carpenter’s continued success has enabled Tony Larussa to confidently “bump him up” to start this Thursday afternoon vs. Houston due to injuries in St. Louis’ back end of the rotation. There, ”Carp” will seek his seventh consecutive win. He has not lost a decision since July 22, and despite missing over a month, is now tied for the NL lead in wins at 14. 
 
Chris has the league’s lowest ERA as well, putting him, in my view, in the driver’s seat for Cy Young — though many believe Tim Lincecum is right there as well. Lincecum has struggled his last four starts and, even with four extra starts, has two fewer wins and a higher ERA than does the durable St. Louis righty. It’s therefore Carpenter’s to lose, though the media has been favoring Lincecum all season to this point.
 
Not bad for a 34 year old who basically missed the past two seasons entirely after a World Series winning season (2006) and Cy Young prior (2005).
 
I shall endeavor to personally watch the potential two-time Cy Young winner Labor Day weekend in Pittsburgh.

Who should win the NL Cy Young?

• Chris Carpenter (0%, 0 Votes)
• Tim Lincecum (0%, 0 Votes)
• Kevin Gregg (0%, 0 Votes)
• I thought about answering Kevin Gregg and then realized I'm an idiot. (100%, 0 Votes)

Total Voters: 0

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* – Chris Carpenter fist pump photo credit: Mike Shannon’s Cardinals Blog

* – Chris Carpenter cap wave photo credit: Arches and Ivey

LOTD: All Star Game Starting Pitchers, Lineups, and TV Schedule

The starting pitchers and lineups for the 2009 MLB All Star Game were announced earlier today.  Before I bring you those, as well as some other great links from around the web today, here are the viewing particulars for tomorrow’s All Star Game:

2009 MLB All Star Game Schedule

• All Star Game Date: Tuesday, July 14th
• All Star Game Start Time: 8:00 ET
• All Star Game TV: FOX
• All Star Game Announcers: You don’t want to know…they’ll suck

And now, the starting pitchers and lineups, courtesy of ESPN.com:

American League Starting Pitcher and Lineup:

1. RF Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle Mariners
2. SS Derek Jeter, New York Yankees
3. C Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins
4. 1B Mark Teixeira, New York Yankees
5. LF Jason Bay, Boston Red Sox
6. CF Josh Hamilton, Texas Rangers
7. 3B Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays
8. 2B Aaron Hill, Toronto Blue Jays
9. SP Roy Halladay, Toronto Blue Jays (for now)

National League Starting Pitcher and Lineup:

1. SS Hanley Ramirez, Florida Marlins
2. 2B Chase Utley, Philadelphia Phillies
3. 1B Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals
4. RF Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers
5. LF Raul Ibanez, Philadelphia Phillies
6. 3B David Wright, New York Mets
7. CF Shane Victorino, Philadelphia Phillies
8. C Yadier Molina, St. Louis Cardinals
9. SP Tim Lincecum, San Francisco Giants

And here are a few of my own quick-hit predictions:

• The NL will dominate the Home Run Derby, but the AL will win the All Star game, running its record in the last 15 All Star games to 100-0-1.  I know that the math doesn’t match up exactly, but doesn’t it feel like that?
• Josh Hamilton will jack a home run in his second at-bat (once Lincecum is out) nd end up being named the MVP.  One of the tools I work with is crowing about how I have a “man crush” on Josh Hamilton…to which I reply, what baseball fan does not have a man crush on Josh Hamilton?
• If Nelson Cruz actually makes it into the game, I will throw my remote at the TV in disgust that he is there over the far more deserving Jermaine Dye.
• The announcers will not do anything to make the game more exciting.

And now, some links from around the sports blogosphere from some of my friends who do this blogging thing a hell of a lot better than me:

15 extremely painful looking PARKOUR accidents — (Hail Mary Jane)

Marisa Miller gets naked in GQ for real this time — (The World According to MoonDog)

Some comic relief: Archie and the whores — (GadJunk)

How To: Pick up a woman — (Straight Pinkie)

The Cowboys may actually have a chance this season (Romo-Jessica break up) — (Dallas Sports Fans)

A history of big white stiffs for the Mavericks — (Dallas Sports Fans)

Kobe: You ‘aint dunking on me at my camp — (You Been Blinded)

Do hitters decline after the Home Run Derby? — (Hardball Times)

The average All-Star makes less than the average Yankee — (Bugs and Cranks)

Matt Bush has seen better days (like when he wasn’t crying like a baby while being arrested) — (Josh Q. Public)

It’s on: Cliff Lee v Eric Wedge — (Waiting for Next Year)