Originally Posted by
HoustonGM
That he's being talked about in MVP and Cy Young discussions is a clear indicator that he's wildly overrated. Ignoring save chances, he's having what is easily the worst season of his career. His strikeout rate has "plummeted" from over 12 to 9.99. His walk rate has risen from an already high rate that fluctuated between 3.5 and 4.5 to over 5.
He's very good, and has been one of the top closers in the game, but he's a clear step below the top tier, simply because of his wildness. Joe Nathan, Mariano Rivera, Jokiam Soria and Jonathan Papelbon, are all better than him overall.
Put any other top closer in K-Rod's situation with an abundance of save opportunities, and they'd have just as much, if not MORE, saves than he has. He has no place in the MVP or Cy Young discussion, in my opinion. The Cy Young in the AL begans and ends with Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay.