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Atlanta Braves: Mike Soroka likely to just miss on multiple awards

By Alan Carpenter

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 13: Mike Soroka #40 of the Atlanta Braves pitches against the Washington Nationals during the first inning at Nationals Park on September 13, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 13: Mike Soroka #40 of the Atlanta Braves pitches against the Washington Nationals during the first inning at Nationals Park on September 13, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 04: Pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu #99 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws against the Colorado Rockies during the fourth inning at Dodger Stadium on September 4, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 04: Pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu #99 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws against the Colorado Rockies during the fourth inning at Dodger Stadium on September 4, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /

The Other Contenders

Hyun-Jin Ryu has already been written off by the media.  That’s also a shame, for this Dodger still sports the lowest NL ERA among qualifying pitchers (2.41; DeGrom and Soroka are 2nd and 3rd).

But Ryu’s candidacy has seemingly run out of gas… having games dropping 7 runs three times since late June and often being unable to come to the post every 5th day as expected.

Jack Flaherty may be another North-Eastern bias victim.  His Cardinal ERA is 4th at 2.85 and he’s carried the Cardinals’ staff through the Summer.  He even has the strikeout numbers if that’s what tickles your fancy.

Sonny Gray‘s work in New York in 2018 is enough to keep many writers from ever voting for him… even if he’d had a 0.00 ERA for Cincy this season.

Max Scherzer?  Sure:  he’d get votes (and he will), but he’s also too hard to justify with 5 other better ERA’s above his 2.92 rate… and he’d also split the vote with teammate Patrick Corbin (next on the list at 3.05).

Close, But No Cigar

It actually should be a very close contest with a difficult-to-determine outcome this year.  So while I’m touting Soroka’s entire body of work, I can’t simply declare the he’s best NL pitcher like others are saying for deGrom.

For the Rookie award?  Also close, but I’d argue that Soroka’s task as a pitcher has been made all the more difficult this season given the home run tendencies of many players… not just Alonso.

Heck, just the fact that Soroka indeed has a credible Cy Young consideration (over the entire season) should leap him to the top of the Rookie race this year.

One stat should cement that point:  few, if any, are touting Alonso for MVP since his fWAR is currently 13th in the league.

So for Mike Soroka… it was a bad year to be very good.  The rewards will have to wait for another day.  It is unfortunate, but it does come with the territory.

At least there’s the promise that he can continue this season in pursuit of the bigger ticket item:  a World Series ring.

A Great Braves Season Ends Early. dark. Next

That would be some awesome hardware.

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