Hernandez wins Cy Young by the numbers

SELECTING Mariners pitcher Felix Hernandez as the American League Cy Young Award winner recognizes the artistry he brought to the craft of pitching. The choice also reflects the insight of the voters.

Hernandez dazzled in a season with a three-digit loss record. The Mariners struggled, to put it mildly, but Hernandez and his 13-12 performance created opportunities to prevail. Even as the team stumbled, Hernandez was posting numbers that made winning a possibility, if only his teammates had mustered a little offense.

Hernandez was as dominant in the voting as he was on the mound. Ballots cast by the Baseball Writers' Association of America gave him 21 of 28 first-place votes, and he topped the second-place finisher by 56 votes.

Kudos to the writers who looked beyond raw win-loss numbers into the statistics that define the excellence signified by the award.

Hernandez led the American League in earned-run average (2.27), innings pitched (249-2/3) and quality starts (30). He was second in strikeouts (232) and had six complete games. A quality start means completing at least six innings with no more than three earned runs.

Hernandez combined tenacity and capacity with superb performance. He showed up for work ready to pitch, and consistently delivered at the highest standards of his sport.

The award will rub a few the wrong way. No pitcher has previously won with fewer than 15 victories. Remember, some teams actually score runs to provide aid and comfort to their pitchers, even the mediocre ones.

Yes, win-loss records do indeed count, but the dynamic can be a bit complicated. The award is named for Cy Young, who pitched for 22 years on five teams. He had more than 500 wins. Young also owned Major League Baseball's record for losses. Hitting legend Babe Ruth, who famously aimed a home run over the fence, would not have pointed toward his epic strikeout numbers.

In the excitement of the moment, one might marvel at the magic Hernandez works on the mound. No abracadabra involved. Rather, it was enormous skill and discipline revealed in quantifiable results that deeply impressed people who watch a lot of baseball.