Numbers tell the story

With roughly five weeks left in the regular season, there are roughly five Cy Young candidates in the American League (according to a method that will be revealed in good time). Two of them -- in fact, the two best of them -- are relievers. "That's crazy talk!" you're saying. "Relievers don't win Cy Young Awards!"

It's true, they don't. Not often. Since the Cy Young was invented in 1956, 86 awards have been handed out, and only eight have gone to relievers. A year ago, Eric Gagne was the first reliever to win a Cy Young since 1990, and all he had to do was convert all 55 of his save opportunities.

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