In Arrieta's last 20 starts, including the second half of June through October which is roughly 2/3 of the season, Arrieta logged 100% (20) straight quality starts, 147 innings, 76 hits, 27 BB, 14 ER. for an ERA of 0.86 and 16-1. It's bull to suggest he only arrived in the second half, imo. It is true that his first 82 innings of the season were not as strong but were still quite good.

No one has ever pitched so well for such a long stretch in one season, not even the great Bob Gibson in 1968 when the rules were stacked against the hitters like they have not been since.

i grew up in LA basking in the greatness of Sandy Koufax through the voice of Vince Scully. Sandy never did what Arrieta has done.

You'd have to go back to the pre Babe Ruth, pre home run, small ball, so-called dead ball era to find a picher who might have come close.

It is unfortunate that Zack Greinke had such a wonderful year when Arrieta had an incomparable one.

In 1941 Ted Williams hit .406 and led the league in homers and runs scored yet didn't win the MVP, i believe unjustly. But jolting Joe DiMaggio hit safely in 56 consecutive games and won MVP. The next year, Williams won the triple crown but still not friendly enough with the press to win the MVP. That award didn't come until 1946, after a 3-year layoff from baseball to fight in WWII. In 1949, Williams set a more important record than DiMaggio when he reached base safely in 84 games.

Justice often gets overlooked so i'm not so sure how it will turn out this year.