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Posted By: Rob

It can be tough to pick THE most important stat in determining which pitcher had the best season.

Wins/Losses can be deceiving if you have a high-powered (or Low-powered) offense behind you. You could pitch every game 9 innings and give up 1 run and get the loss. Likewise, give up 8 runs and get the win. W/L isn't the best indicator of individual performance.

Likewise, a low ERA might be a factor of having an all-star defense behind you that makes plays that a normal defense wouldn't make. Also, your home-field park can increase/decrease your ERA.

Strikeout stat can definately be overrated, but you won't need a defense behind you if you strike the batter out (much like Satchel Paige, hee hee). And it can be an indicator of how much you are fooling the batters, or overpowering them.

Sabathia was helped (IMO) by pitching so many innings this year, showing he's a workhorse yet still kept his ERA down.

Its a team sport - who needs individual honors!?
Rob