Baseball voters lost the plot with Dodgers’ Julio Urías Cy Young snub

Los Angeles Dodgers fans are not here to argue Julio Urías winning the NL Cy Young award over Miami Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara. While this fanbase is a proud bunch, they’re not that delusional.

They will, however, be up in arms about Urías finishing in third behind Alcantara and Atlanta Braves left-hander Max Fried. They will be furious about the left-hander receiving zero first-place votes and fewer second-place votes than Fried.

Alcantara was the runaway winner. There’s no disputing that. He finished the year with a 2.28 ERA, 2.99 FIP, 178 ERA+ and 0.98 WHIP while leading the league in complete games (6) and innings pitched (228.2) across 32 starts. He had the best full body of work.

But looking at Urías and Fried side by side, it’s obvious who was “better,” especially since Urías was tasked to shoulder the load for a starting rotation that was decimated by injuries.

All we’re wondering is why the 26-year-old continues to be disrespected in this manner after emerging as one of the best pitchers in the entire league since 2020.

Dodgers star Julio Urías was snubbed in the NL Cy Young race. What is this?

Tell us who you think should’ve won second place behind Alcantara just by looking at the numbers:

• Player A: 14-7, 2.48 ERA, 2.70 FIP, 164 ERA+, 1.01 WHIP, 170 strikeouts, 5.9 WAR in 30 starts (185.1 innings)
• Player B: 17-7, 2.16 ERA, 3.71 FIP, 194 ERA+, 0.96 WHIP, 166 strikeouts, 4.9 WAR in 31 starts (175 innings)

Player B is Urías, who led the league in ERA and ERA+. The only true discrepancies that hurt Urías here were FIP and WAR. Fried got him by a full point in FIP and a full win in WAR. But are those really the defining stats in a Cy Young race? Classic Braves, just stealing things left and right.

And honestly, Dodgers fans wouldn’t be this mad if Urías hadn’t been disrespected previously. In 2021, he went 20-3 with a 2.96 ERA, 3.13 FIP, 143 ERA+, 1.02 WHIP and 195 strikeouts in 32 starts (185.2 innings) … and finished SEVENTH in the Cy Young voting and didn’t get an All-Star nod. In 2022, he didn’t get an All-Star nod either despite an impressive first half.

Admittedly, there’s a crowded picture in the NL when it comes to the best starting pitching. But at some point, Urías needs to be deservedly recognized for what he’s done in his first two full seasons as a starter. Maybe finishing seventh in last year’s voting was justified, but third this year and zero All-Star nods feels criminal.

Dodgers fans arguing for Julio Urías’ Cy Young candidacy are wasting their time

Los Angeles Dodgers fans are wasting their time arguing about Julio Urías' Cy Young candidacy ... because he's much more than that.