Jake Peavy has been one of the best pitchers in the National League for years. This season, he pulled away from the pack. Complete Story...
C.C. Sabathia beat Josh Beckett at last — albeit a few weeks later than he hoped. Sabathia won the AL Cy Young Award on Tuesday, topping Boston's ace and two other worthy contenders by a comfortable margin to become the first Cleveland Indians pitcher in 35 years to earn the honor.
Roger Clemens is ready to join the Houston Astros — as a consultant. In a sign that Clemens' pitching career could be over, his agent told the Astros on Wednesday that the seven-time Cy Young winner is set to start his personal-services contract with the team.
Jose Guillen ended his slump at the plate against the one pitcher he's always had trouble hitting against — until Saturday night. Guillen, who was in an 0-for-11 slide and came in batting .133 (2-for-15) against Greg Maddux, hit a two-run homer in the first inning and a two-run double in the second against the four-time Cy Young award winner to help the Seattle Mariners beat the San Diego Padres 7-4.
John Smoltz was angry at himself for letting a lead shrink. He was upset by what he called a "rough infield," his explanation for teammates' miscues. So when he left what would be a 6-4 victory for his Atlanta Braves over the Washington Nationals in the seventh inning Tuesday night, Smoltz threw a bit of a tantrum, taking out some of that frustration on the visiting dugout at RFK Stadium.
Minnesota's Cy Young winner wasn't at his best. The MVP certainly was, hitting a home run on the second pitch he saw. Though the Twins prefer not to single out any of their stars, they have plenty of them these days.
Luis Gonzalez wants one going-away present — a Cy Young award for teammate Brandon Webb. "The icing on the cake for me as I end my career here with Arizona is to see him win an award," Gonzalez said, "because I've been here since he walked into this locker room." Webb is doing his part. The right-hander threw his second complete game in a row Friday night, a six-hitter in a 5-1 Diamondbacks victory over the Colorado Rockies that made him the National League's second 16-game winner.
The Minnesota Twins will have to make their playoff push without Francisco Liriano. A strong Rookie of the Year candidate, Liriano walked off the mound because of elbow trouble Wednesday in his highly anticipated return to the Minnesota rotation. After a 1-0 loss to Oakland, manager Ron Gardenhire said Liriano was done for the year.
The National League's best offense had no luck against Chris Carpenter. The St. Louis Cardinals' right-hander had stuff reminiscent of his 2005 Cy Young season.