5 Questions: Willis Should Win NL Cy Young

1. Who should win the Cy Young in the National League?

What seemed like a great battle between two pitchers who kept getting better and better, has turned into a great battle at the end of the year -- for the wrong reasons. Cardinals pitcher Chris Carpenter and the Marlins' Dontrelle Willis seem to be trying to pitch themselves out of the Cy Young award.

Carpenter has been blasted in three of his last four starts and has seen his ERA leap from 2.21 to 2.83 since Sept. 8. He has also allowed 36 hits and 25 runs in that time. But he will finish 21-5.

Willis, on the other hand, was hammered by the Nationals on Tuesday but also finished 22-10 with a 2.59 ERA.

In the end, the best choice is still Willis. His rotation fell around him, leaving him to have to carry the Marlins much of the way toward the postseason. Carpenter's sudden decline could be a mental fatigue left from pitching so well earlier in the year. But he has been surrounded by a good team and a good staff. Plus his bullpen has been far more dependable than Florida's.

One stat to keep in mind: Willis had 12 wins after a Marlins loss this year.

2. Will the Braves sweep MVP, Manager of the Year and Rookie of the Year awards?

It could very easily happen. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution interviewed one voter in each of the National League's 16 cities to come to get an idea of which way the elections were heading. The poll had Atlanta's Andruw Jones beating the Cardinals' Albert Pujols, 11-5, for MVP. It had Bobby Cox getting all but one vote for Manager of the Year and the Braves Jeff Francoeur (whose average has dropped to .306) just edging past Philadelphia first baseman Ryan Howard for the rookie award.

As an aside, the poll showed Willis was beating Carpenter, 11-4, for the Cy Young.

Remember, this is very informal but seems to be tracking the way a lot of baseball writers seem to feel. They see Jones as having to do more to carry Atlanta rather than Pujols, who was blessed with a deeper team. Cox has had to endure countless injuries and Francoeur stunned people in baseball with his amazing start after being called up in the summer.

The last team to sweep MVP, Manager of the Year and Rookie of the Year? St. Louis in 1985 when Willie McGee, Whitey Herzog and Vince Coleman took the awards.

3. What happens to Jimmy Rollins' hitting streak if it goes on to next year?