Yesterday’s performance by Sabathia was without a doubt, MVP like. He pitched a complete game 4 hitter that was gutsy and purely entertaining. Going into the 9th inning, it looked as if Sabathia picked up more steam. He was throwing bullets in the 90’s, striking out one and getting a game ending double play to win the game.

Throughout the game against the Cubs yesterday, the Brewers had no offense. The only way they were going to win this game was with Sabathia giving up nothing and the Brewers’ offense just getting enough. It seemed at one point that Sabathia was there best offensive player too. In an at bat in the 6th he drove a ball deep to right field that just hooked right of the foul poll. Manager Dale Sveum showed just how valuable Sabathia was to this team in the 8th. With the score tied, Sveum left Sabathia in to hit despite having players on the bench to hit for him. Sveum kept him in knowing he’d need him for the 9th. And sure enough, it was the right choice.

The heart and determination that Sabathia has shown this season with the Brewers just shows that he is the best MVP candidate. The simplest way to solve the MVP debate is that the Brewers would not be in the playoffs without Sabathia. And, no other team in the NL can say that about one player.

The horse race has come down to Webb, Lincecum, and Sabathia. Webb has been looking for his 20th win for his last 3 starts and it seems dumb not to give the Cy Young to possibly the only 20 game winner in the National League. But, Webb has struggled in his last 3 starts, giving up at least 6 runs in each of them. Lincecum has shown the most talent and has been the most dominant but his numbers in the win column doesn’t show it. Sabathia has been remarkable, brilliant, unhittable and has had the most impact on his team compared to Webb and Lincecum.

I think that right there is why you have to pick Sabathia. He has turned the Brewers around and it seems like they will be a playoff team. I try to look at the Cy Young as the pitcher’s MVP. Which team would not be a contender without one of these pitchers. Lincecum and the Giants aren’t going to be a contender this season either way so I don’t think he should really be considered. Webb’s Diamondbacks play in the worst division in baseball and still struggle so he is needed.

But it seems to be that Sabathia has changed the entire dynamic of this team. They have a reliable pitcher in which they can chalk up a win on any day he pitches. If you want to use the ‘he didn’t play in the National League the whole year’ card, well at this pace he’s going to end up with like 14 wins any way so what more can you ask from the guy?