re: Kevin Brown: One of the most underrated pitchers of modern era?

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he was amazing at his peak (96 was one of the great forgotten seasons - lost a cy young to smoltz that he should have won)

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He got screwed

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He got screwed

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Can you expand on this? I've seen a few others say the same thing in this thread but I don't remember it.

Article explaining it toward the end of that year...

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Cy Young is meant for the best pitcher that the smart vote is not the winningest pitcher, not the most-celebrated pitcher, not the most-dominating pitcher on the best team in baseball.

Not John Smoltz.

"Kevin Brown's the best in the league," said Chicago's Mark Grace after the Marlins' 9-2 win, using the same, bare-boned description that Cincinnati's Barry Larkin and Colorado's Don Baylor recently have in the visiting locker room at Pro Player Park.

Typically, it's wins that win the Cy Young, and Smoltz has 20 to Brown's 15. But Brown has a 1.88 earned-run average to Smoltz's 2.83.

From here, the sport of stats brings in some variables to heed, the most serious showing Brown has been as unlucky as he has been untouchable.

Smoltz has the 13th-best run support in the league at 5.3 runs an outing. Brown has the majors' worst at 3.33. The Marlins have scored 10 runs in his 10 losses.

"To put it in layman's terms, there's three ways to get guys out - in and out, up and down, fast and slow," Grace said. "Brown's excellent at all three. Nothing's straight. It's cutting. It's sinking. He busts you inside, he doesn't walk you."

Grace shook his head. "He's the best right now. He'd look great in a Cubs uniform."

Besides a few more runs from teammates this season, such a uniform might be all Brown lacks in the race for the Cy Young. Some place to appreciate his season. Somewhere that respects this magic.

Typically, to win the Cy Young on a non-contending team like the Marlins, there has to be a touch of the historic, the most dramatic example being Steve Carlton's 27 wins on the 59-win Phillies in 1972.

Brown has made no such loud statement. His has simply been a succession of melodious ones. Of his 28 starts, in just three starts have opponents scored more than three runs.

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Smoltz won 24 games and struck out 276, more than 100 more than Brown.

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I think Smoltz lead the league in Ks, wins, & innings pitched that year. I thought that Brown's first year in San Diego was his best.

Yes, he had an ERA advantage of 1.89 to 2.94. But if you're a stat geek, K/BB ratio is just as important to you (because a pitcher controls that n w away he cannot control hits) and Smoltz had the edge 276/55 to 159/33. 120 strikeouts is a massive, massive gap.

Also, look at the Park Factors.

Florida: 96
Atlanta: 104

Brown pitched in a far better environment for pitchers and preventing runs. I have literally no problem with Smoltz winning the award. You can make a case for Brown, but it's not nearly as overwhelming as the article suggests.

Fun fact: Brandon Weeden was one of the pieces swapped for Brown when Brown was traded from the Dodgers to the Yankees after the 2003 season.

Go Marlins!

Now Weeden is a Brown

I used to dominate on Triple Play '98 with his sinker.

Heard a story about KB. Some leather lung fan was getting personal with Ken Caminiti (when he was with Padres), supposedly Brown found the guy after the game and beat him down.

Roid rage or great teammate. You decide