[Charlie Hough]

The issue of middle reliever vs. closer has nothing to do with the save stats. I never talked about save stats. I talked about VALUE. The best reliever on a roster is typically going to be put in the closer's role because the overwhelming perception in baseball is that the most valuable time for getting relief outs is in the last couple of innings when the game is considered truly on the line and has to be closed out.

Whether that perception or the stats associated with it is correct is an entirely different subject. And I'm a believer in using your best reliever at any time of the game when you need to get critical outs and preserve a lead or give yourself a chance to come back. So I wouldn't even use the closer role on my staff. But that doesn't mean that my 'stopper' reliever should win the Cy Young over a starter who posted stats that were every bit as good but did it over far more innings and when facing the other team's best hitters multiple times in every start.

I think it's demonstrable from the fact that a middle reliever has never won the Cy Young that a pitcher in that role is probably never going to get the votes. Besides, if he was as good as this pitcher was in OOTP, the manager would almost certainly move him into the closer's role.

But, at the end of the day, my argument is that a starter that pitches 6 or 7 innings of 1.02 WHIP baseball with fantastic control and excellent stats is more valuable than a middle reliever OR a closer who pitched far fewer innings, was used in spots, and didn't have to face the opposition's best hitters multiple times in every appearance. I would probably never vote for a closer for the Cy Young either.