Who had a better year Joe Russell or Enrique Vazquez?  If you go monthly awards, Joe Russell had 3 pitcher of the months and 4 rookie of the months, while Vazquez won pitcher of the month 1 time.  I will present the stats here and you can make your decision.  The one thing that is obvious though is that both guys had a tremendous season.

In those stats, Russell wind 11-9.

During the season, Joe Russell had his worst game of the year in the 2^nd game of the season (also his 2^nd game ever in PEBA), when he lasted 3.3 innings verse London and gave up 6 runs.  After that game Russell only let up 4 or more runs twice all season, both times against the tough Kentucky Thoroughbreds.  While Vazquez didn’t give up 4 runs to any team, he did allow 6 runs 2x and 5 runs once.  One of the times he allowed 6 runs, he made it only .2 innings.  While Vazquez shined in the first half of the season with a 1.51 ERA and .98 WHIP, his second half was a 2.45 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP.  Russell on the other hand shined in the 2^nd half.  While he had a 2.83 ERA with a .91 WHIP in the first half, his second half he had a 1.63 ERA and .80 WHIP. In those stats, Russell wind 11-9.

Lastly Joe Russell has won 21 games in a row without a loss (would be 22 in not for Cruz) breaking a PEBA record.  So, is this article a little bias towards, Joe Russell?  Yes, it is, but if you take in all the factors, add that he is a rookie and he is even pitching better in the post season than Vazquez did, Joe Russell has had the better year.