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Indians: Ranking all Tribe Cy Young winners from 2007 and on

By Chad Porto

CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 10: Starting pitcher Corey Kluber #28 is presented his 2014 Cy Young award from former Cleveland Indians pitcher Gaylord Perry prior to the game between the Detroit Tigers and the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field on April 10, 2015 in Cleveland, Ohio.(Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 10: Starting pitcher Corey Kluber #28 is presented his 2014 Cy Young award from former Cleveland Indians pitcher Gaylord Perry prior to the game between the Detroit Tigers and the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field on April 10, 2015 in Cleveland, Ohio.(Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND – APRIL 30: Cliff Lee of the Cleveland Indians pitches during the game against the Seattle Mariners at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio on April 30, 2008. The Indians defeated the Mariners 8-3. (Photo by John Reid III/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
CLEVELAND – APRIL 30: Cliff Lee of the Cleveland Indians pitches during the game against the Seattle Mariners at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio on April 30, 2008. The Indians defeated the Mariners 8-3. (Photo by John Reid III/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /

2008 – Cliff Lee

Stats: 22-3, 2.54 ERA, 4 CG, 223.1 IP, 170 Ks, 36 BB

Cliff Lee’s season tops C.C. Sabathia’s season for just one major reason, Lee gave up fewer runs than Sabathia. Sabathia was the flamethrowing lefty, while Lee was the perception lefty; finding his place and drilling it time and time again.

As mentioned before, Lee was coming off of four really up and down seasons. This was the first year Lee would look like an All-Star and franchise Ace. He’d put up remarkable numbers and a great winning percentage, and he single handily made up for 27% of the teams 81 wins that year. The team fell off from their ALCS appearance the year before, mostly due to injuries of three of the team’s best offensive players; Victor Marinez, Casey Blake, and Travis Hafner.

While the team didn’t make the playoffs, and would not make the playoffs again for five more years when Terry Francona took over the team in 2013, Lee was instrumental in setting up the team for success. See, after his Cy Young-winning year, he was traded away for a bunch of bums again and a kid named Carlos Carrasco. A player who would be a Cy Young candidate in 2017 for the Indians.

Carrasco and Lee also share other honors, they’re both former Comeback Players of the Year. The only two Indians to win the award (Carrasco won it twice).

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