Post by bigbuhner on Feb 10, 2013 15:17:51 GMT -5
With the 1997 All Star game quickly approaching, let's take a look at with National League starting pitchers are gearing up to take the hill at the break.
First, a few criteria:
-with only the exception of the top winning team in the NL thus far this season, each club is only allowed to send forward their best overall starter.
-with only 5-8 starters to be selected in the All Star game, we are keeping our list down to approximately a dozen pitchers who have the best chance at the current time. Cases may be made during the next month as dark horses may start to emerge and make strong cases for themselves.
-we tried to pick the top starting pitcher from each club, but some teams will find themselves without an entry, as their overall pitching staff does not merit an entry (we're looking at you Colorado!)
Let the arguments begin!
TIER I: Sure Fire Selections
#1: Greg Maddux: Atlanta Braves
Maddux has been nothing short of spectacular this season, and is the primary reason the Braves are slowly moving up the standings in the NL East. With only one loss in the season (11-1) Maddux has been nearly untouchable, tossing an 0.82 WHIP with a 8/41 BB/K ratio. His 2.19 ERA places him in the top 3 of pitchers on this list. He is a shoo in, and candidate to start for the NL this year.
#2) Kevin Brown: Florida Marlins
At the age of 32, Brown will be looking for his first All Star nod. The top of this list is ripe with first timers, and Brown is right on the heels of Maddux. With the Marlins a few games up on the Braves division wise, a case could be made for him to be first overall. 2.06 ERA actually trumps Maddux, and his .084 WHIP and 17/74 BB/K ratio could actually be argued as better than what Maddux has done so far. His overall 7-5 record is what places him just below Maddux on this list, but he is also a top candidate to take the bump as the NL starter.
#3) Takashi Saito: Chicago Cubs
Saito is in the prime of his career, at age 27, and has a 10-2 record for a poorly performing 27-41 Cubs team. His 1.94 ERA is good for 2nd overall in the NL, and he has only given up 77 hits in 120 innings pitched thus far. If the Cubs had a winning record, or at least .500 showing, he might just jump up to number one on this list. Surely, the Cubs international flavor will go a long way to making their case for him to be the starter in the NL AS Game.
TIER II: What if you only get to take one?
#4: Jeff Fassero: Montreal Expos
Fassero is 34 years old, and this might be his best last chance to make an AS game. 10-4 record with a 2.45 ERA on the arguably top team in the NL, Fassero has put it all together this season and is more than deserving of an NL representation.
#5: Ugueth Urbina: Montreal Expos
Urbina is a young phenom, aged a mear 23 years old, and is a huge reason as to why the Expos are starting to run away with the NL East title. Posting 10 wins himself (to match 3 losses), Urbina has a slightly higher 2.93 ERA than his teammate, and has many more years to show his stuff than Fassero does. Needless to say, with the Expos winning games, both of these men deserve to make the All Star trip.
#6: Kevin Rogers: San Francisco Giants
Nobody expected Rogers to come out throwing this way after being nearly tossed away from the Yankees in a cost cutting deal. At age 28 Rogers has put the Giants in the playoff hunt with his 10-2 record and 2.95 ERA. One wonders just where the Giants would be without him in their rotation, and even more so, how many more games the Yanks may have won already if they had not jettisoned him westward. He may not be as deserving as the next name, but his story makes him All Star game material, and puts him ahead of....
#7) John Smiley: San Francisco
Last year's Cy Young winner was one of the top trade stories of the past season, coming over to SF from Cincy in a quick and easy deal. Several other clubs had been rumored to turn down the Reds demands, but Frisco had no trouble making the deal, and his 8-3 2.86 season gives him a high probability of making his 2nd straight AS game, but perhaps not as the starter. His 0.92 WHIP puts him right up there with the top 3 on this list, but is he even the best pitcher on his current team?
TIER III: Odds are in their favor to round out the roster.
#8: Hideo Nomo: Los Angeles
The Dodgers, despite the deal to move Piazza, are a winning organization, and Nomo is one of their best young players. Also in his prime at age 28, Nomo matches Maddux as only losing one game so far (8-1) and his 2.32 ERA with 100 K in 108 IP's is truly impressive. Putting him on the NL roster with Saito would bring a strong contingent of media to the All Star game, which commisioner Erbes would surely love. He is as sure a thing in this tier as there is.
#9: Sid Fernandez: Philadelphia Phillies
At age 34, this may be El Sids best shot to represent the NL. The
Phills are barely at .500, and they have 4 starters with ERA's between 3.05 and 3.31, making them one of the best overall staffs, and Fernandez is the best of that bunch. Current stats: 9-5, 3.09 ERA. He is looking to make his 1st AS Game, and is at the cut-off cusp, so he must continue to pitch at a high level if he wants to make the roster.
TIER IV: We got game... and we deserve to be in it!
#10: Donovan Osborne: St. Louis Cardinals
6-7 record. 3.21 ERA. 0.94 WHIP. That WHIP is what stands out and puts him in this discussion. If the Cards can go on a nice winning streak over the next month, and Donovan plays a big role, he can, and should, easily make the NL roster.
#11: Zane Smith: Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pirates are currently holding on to first place, and Zane may not have the numbers that some of the above have, but first place teams deserve All Star representation. Now, that could quickly change in the closest division in the game, and Zane is a couple of poor starts away from just falling off this list. Current numbers: 7-5, 4.14 ERA.
#12: Mike Hampton: Houston Astros
Having a solid season at age 24, if the Astros can jump over the Pirates at the AS break, he might be the guy to get in over Smith. 2.91 ERA and 8-3 record beg him to be in the game, but Houston is gonna have to put up some more wins for him to move up another Tier, which could easily happen in the NL Central.
#13: Mark Gardner: San Diego Padres
If he were on one of the contending clubs, he would be a near sure shot. Gardner has been holding the Padres together this season, what with his 8-3 record and 3.03 ERA. Most impressive is his only 71 hits over 92 innings pitched. He is perhaps the least known name on this list, and that is a huge negative he will have to overcome.
There you have it gentlemen! The top baker's dozen in the mind of this media member. Some could drop out and others could enter in the next few weeks. So make your case below for your posted player, or perhaps for one you feel has been slighted and left off the list.
All Star Game.... here we come!
First, a few criteria:
-with only the exception of the top winning team in the NL thus far this season, each club is only allowed to send forward their best overall starter.
-with only 5-8 starters to be selected in the All Star game, we are keeping our list down to approximately a dozen pitchers who have the best chance at the current time. Cases may be made during the next month as dark horses may start to emerge and make strong cases for themselves.
-we tried to pick the top starting pitcher from each club, but some teams will find themselves without an entry, as their overall pitching staff does not merit an entry (we're looking at you Colorado!)
Let the arguments begin!
TIER I: Sure Fire Selections
#1: Greg Maddux: Atlanta Braves
Maddux has been nothing short of spectacular this season, and is the primary reason the Braves are slowly moving up the standings in the NL East. With only one loss in the season (11-1) Maddux has been nearly untouchable, tossing an 0.82 WHIP with a 8/41 BB/K ratio. His 2.19 ERA places him in the top 3 of pitchers on this list. He is a shoo in, and candidate to start for the NL this year.
#2) Kevin Brown: Florida Marlins
At the age of 32, Brown will be looking for his first All Star nod. The top of this list is ripe with first timers, and Brown is right on the heels of Maddux. With the Marlins a few games up on the Braves division wise, a case could be made for him to be first overall. 2.06 ERA actually trumps Maddux, and his .084 WHIP and 17/74 BB/K ratio could actually be argued as better than what Maddux has done so far. His overall 7-5 record is what places him just below Maddux on this list, but he is also a top candidate to take the bump as the NL starter.
#3) Takashi Saito: Chicago Cubs
Saito is in the prime of his career, at age 27, and has a 10-2 record for a poorly performing 27-41 Cubs team. His 1.94 ERA is good for 2nd overall in the NL, and he has only given up 77 hits in 120 innings pitched thus far. If the Cubs had a winning record, or at least .500 showing, he might just jump up to number one on this list. Surely, the Cubs international flavor will go a long way to making their case for him to be the starter in the NL AS Game.
TIER II: What if you only get to take one?
#4: Jeff Fassero: Montreal Expos
Fassero is 34 years old, and this might be his best last chance to make an AS game. 10-4 record with a 2.45 ERA on the arguably top team in the NL, Fassero has put it all together this season and is more than deserving of an NL representation.
#5: Ugueth Urbina: Montreal Expos
Urbina is a young phenom, aged a mear 23 years old, and is a huge reason as to why the Expos are starting to run away with the NL East title. Posting 10 wins himself (to match 3 losses), Urbina has a slightly higher 2.93 ERA than his teammate, and has many more years to show his stuff than Fassero does. Needless to say, with the Expos winning games, both of these men deserve to make the All Star trip.
#6: Kevin Rogers: San Francisco Giants
Nobody expected Rogers to come out throwing this way after being nearly tossed away from the Yankees in a cost cutting deal. At age 28 Rogers has put the Giants in the playoff hunt with his 10-2 record and 2.95 ERA. One wonders just where the Giants would be without him in their rotation, and even more so, how many more games the Yanks may have won already if they had not jettisoned him westward. He may not be as deserving as the next name, but his story makes him All Star game material, and puts him ahead of....
#7) John Smiley: San Francisco
Last year's Cy Young winner was one of the top trade stories of the past season, coming over to SF from Cincy in a quick and easy deal. Several other clubs had been rumored to turn down the Reds demands, but Frisco had no trouble making the deal, and his 8-3 2.86 season gives him a high probability of making his 2nd straight AS game, but perhaps not as the starter. His 0.92 WHIP puts him right up there with the top 3 on this list, but is he even the best pitcher on his current team?
TIER III: Odds are in their favor to round out the roster.
#8: Hideo Nomo: Los Angeles
The Dodgers, despite the deal to move Piazza, are a winning organization, and Nomo is one of their best young players. Also in his prime at age 28, Nomo matches Maddux as only losing one game so far (8-1) and his 2.32 ERA with 100 K in 108 IP's is truly impressive. Putting him on the NL roster with Saito would bring a strong contingent of media to the All Star game, which commisioner Erbes would surely love. He is as sure a thing in this tier as there is.
#9: Sid Fernandez: Philadelphia Phillies
At age 34, this may be El Sids best shot to represent the NL. The
Phills are barely at .500, and they have 4 starters with ERA's between 3.05 and 3.31, making them one of the best overall staffs, and Fernandez is the best of that bunch. Current stats: 9-5, 3.09 ERA. He is looking to make his 1st AS Game, and is at the cut-off cusp, so he must continue to pitch at a high level if he wants to make the roster.
TIER IV: We got game... and we deserve to be in it!
#10: Donovan Osborne: St. Louis Cardinals
6-7 record. 3.21 ERA. 0.94 WHIP. That WHIP is what stands out and puts him in this discussion. If the Cards can go on a nice winning streak over the next month, and Donovan plays a big role, he can, and should, easily make the NL roster.
#11: Zane Smith: Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pirates are currently holding on to first place, and Zane may not have the numbers that some of the above have, but first place teams deserve All Star representation. Now, that could quickly change in the closest division in the game, and Zane is a couple of poor starts away from just falling off this list. Current numbers: 7-5, 4.14 ERA.
#12: Mike Hampton: Houston Astros
Having a solid season at age 24, if the Astros can jump over the Pirates at the AS break, he might be the guy to get in over Smith. 2.91 ERA and 8-3 record beg him to be in the game, but Houston is gonna have to put up some more wins for him to move up another Tier, which could easily happen in the NL Central.
#13: Mark Gardner: San Diego Padres
If he were on one of the contending clubs, he would be a near sure shot. Gardner has been holding the Padres together this season, what with his 8-3 record and 3.03 ERA. Most impressive is his only 71 hits over 92 innings pitched. He is perhaps the least known name on this list, and that is a huge negative he will have to overcome.
There you have it gentlemen! The top baker's dozen in the mind of this media member. Some could drop out and others could enter in the next few weeks. So make your case below for your posted player, or perhaps for one you feel has been slighted and left off the list.
All Star Game.... here we come!
