# MVP and Cy Young ballots

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mvp-and-cy-young-ballots/597687>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Created:** [September 26, 2011, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mvp-and-cy-young-ballots/597687 "2011-09-26T19:35:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\
**Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mvp-and-cy-young-ballots/597687/61 "2011-10-04T02:30:10Z")

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It’s just FIP.

Sabathia throws more ground balls, Verlander gave up more home runs in a more favorable park, and Sabathia had a much higher BABIP. Verlander’s was freaking .236.

Same explanation gives you Halladay over Kershaw in WAR (over everyone, in fact).

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**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\
**Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mvp-and-cy-young-ballots/597687/62 "2011-10-04T17:52:51Z")

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The thing is, I actually agree with the Halladay over Kershaw argument. I think Halladay was the better pitcher this year. Better ERA+, better SO/BB ratio - just played in a tougher ballpark and had worse luck (.305 BABIP for Halladay, .274 for Kershaw).

Note that both versions of WAR have Halladay ahead of Kershaw - only Fangraphs formula has CC over Verlander.

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