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By Ben Watanabe
Contributing Sports Writer
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Sonny Gray was dealing again on Sunday, efficiently slicing through the Tampa Bay Rays in a one-run, five-hit, 91-pitch six-inning showcase on a lovely afternoon at Fenway Park.
Ho, hum.
What else is new? Such performances have been routine for the Boston Red Sox right-hander this season. His 2.48 ERA is second in the American League, and his 1.12 WHIP is tied for eighth in the AL among pitchers with at least 18 starts. His 12-1 record is the best in all of baseball.
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For some reason, however, recognition has eluded him this season.
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Exhibit A was Gray's curious omission from the AL All-Star team, which could have been chalked up to MLB not wanting to over-represent a team that was, at the time, still below .500. Ranger Suarez and Willson Contreras were initial selections, with Ceddanne Rafaela eventually going as an injury replacement. Yet Gray never made the cut.
The All-Star Game is a zero-sum equation, to be fair. Gray's inclusion would have warranted snubbing another worthy player. It's possible, if you squinted hard enough, to understand the rationale.
Do you know what's not a zero-sum game? TV show segments. If you want your studio analysts to discuss the AL Cy Young race, there's no limit to the names you can include. Got a list of six pitchers, but realize you forgot a seventh? Add him in. The world is your oyster.
Yet somehow MLB Network couldn't find room for Gray on the graphic while analyzing Cy Young contenders.
The "MLB Tonight" crew addressed four strong contenders: Cam Schlittler of the New York Yankees, Drew Rasmussen of the Rays, Joe Ryan of the Minnesota Twins and Dylan Cease of the Toronto Blue Jays. All four have cases, although Rasmussen has allowed more runs over fewer innings than Gray. They also left off Logan Gilbert, who has a 0.98 WHIP over 120 innings, so plenty of other worthy candidates didn't make the segment.
Regardless, it's hard to justify snubbing a guy who had 11 freaking wins at the time -- and has since improved to an even dozen.
It might be that Gray, at 36, is considered to be past the elite stage of his career. His 90 strikeouts might not be Cy Young material in the spin rate age. There also might be some bias against win-loss record, always a flawed stat, being detrimental to his case.
Whatever the reason, it's faulty. Gray keeps getting left out of the conversation of the best pitchers in baseball this season. Whatever else he needs to do to get some recognition, the Red Sox certainly hope he keeps doing it.
More MLB: Fenway Park In Line for All-Star Game, With One Giant Caveat: Report
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