18-2!

Before I get into Cliff Lee, let me start by offering condolences to the families of Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones and NFL players union Executive Director Gene Upshaw. They both did and said things I disagreed with, but they worked hard to get where they were, and they both died too young.

Ladies and gentlemen, Cliff Lee is going to win the Cy Young award this year. Lee won his 18th game today, in a 10-3 laugher over the Royals. He's now 18-2 with a 2.43 ERA. His nearest competitors are miles behind him. According to Bill James' Cy Young Predictor, he has only a slim lead over Francisco Rodriguez, but I think the formula has changed somewhat for relievers because the Cy voters have come to value them less (as they should). Rodriguez might break the saves record, but Lee could win 23 or 24 games. The voters aren't going to pass over that for a reliever, no matter what the reliever did.

The other star of the game was Mr. Sizemore, who hit his 29th home run, stole his 31st base, and knocked in seven runs from the leadoff spot. That's not easy to do. And with about 5 1/2 weeks left in the season, he's got a legitimate shot at 40-40. I'm betting he falls short in home runs, but we'll see.

Getting back to the Cy Young race, loyal reader Jeff Brown points out that last year's AL Cy winner, CC Sabathia, has been beyond amazing with the Brewers so far in the second half, and asked whether I think CC has a shot to follow up his AL Cy with an NL Cy the following season.

It brings to mind Rick Sutcliffe winning the Cy Young in 1984. The Indians, as you recall, traded Sutcliffe to the Cubs in the middle of that season, along with George Frazier and Ron Hassey, for Don Schulze, Mel Hall and Joe Carter. Hall was seen as the linchpin of the deal, but of course, Carter would go on to have the greater career. He won the RBI title in 1986, as you also recall. But I digress.

Sutcliffe was traded on June 13, 1984, at which point he was 4-5, 5.15 ERA, 58 Ks in the American League; and after which he went 16-1, 2.69, 155, in the senior circuit, for an overall total of 20-6, 3.64, 213. CC was traded almost a month later in the season, on July 7, after amassing a record of 6-8, 3.83, 123, with the Tribe; and since which he's gone 8-0, 1.60, 69, with the Crew, for a total of 14-8, 2.99, 192. Sabathia's six wins behind Ricky-boy, and has more losses, but by any other measure, CC is having a better season than Sutcliffe did the year Sutcliffe won the Cy. There's still about six weeks left in the season, so he'll undoubtedly pass him in strikeouts -- and he could reach 20 wins, though it's not likely.

But we must not forget that the Cy Young is a league award, and as such, must be based solely on what the pitcher accomplished in that league. And while CC has been unbelievable, he's likely to regress somewhat, and I predict he'll finish with a record of about 12-2 with an ERA around 2.00, and about 100 to 110 strikeouts. Those are great numbers, but can you give a guy a Cy for winning a dozen games and striking out about 100? In theory, yes, but only if there aren't strong candidates who spent the whole season in that league.

Brandon Webb's numbers right now are 18-4, 2.85, 145. He's the obvious front-runner for the award, and would almost have to fall on his face to lose it. And even if he did, Tim Lincecum, Edinson Volquez, Ryan Dempster and Danny Haren are also having Cy-caliber seasons in the NL.

Would I like to see Carsten Charles Sabathia win the NL Cy Young this year? You bet I would. But it won't happen. Maybe next year, when he's back in Cleveland. (A man can dream, can't he?)