Post by Steve on Mar 6, 2014 20:40:15 GMT -5
With this article, I factor in production. The National League is loaded with talented rotations.
Top 5 NL Starting Rotations:
1. Chicago Cubs- Kerry Wood/Johan Santana/Jim Pittsley/Gil Meche- 2.08 ERA- Wow, insanely good. Their average age is 29. Kerry Wood has been the best pitchers for a long time. His last 3 seasons have been legendary, and he’s stepped it up to another level somehow. Santana often is overshadowed by his teammate. He’s been amazing…he probably would have had multiple Cy Youngs if it wasn’t for Kerry Wood. Jim Pittsley as a #3 just isn’t right. He was a vital piece for some of Spencer’s teams. He could be a true Ace for a lot of teams in this league. After Jimmy, it’s Gil Meche…who is having a great year in his own right. Not fair when this guy is having a superb year. These guys tend to struggle in the Playoffs, though. That’s when you see Play get so angry…however, they put it together and ended that notion of not being able to perform when it truly mattered. Pittsley has been terrific in the Playoffs. These 3 guys have 56 starts between them. In the end, I fucking hate Kerry Wood.
2. Montreal Expos- Joseph Jackson/Mike Lincoln/Jeremy Blevins/Mark Mulder- 2.67 ERA (2.81 ERA including BJ RYAN)- Huge drop off here, but man, this Expos rotation is awesome. Two of the very best in Joseph Jackson and Mike Lincoln. Jackson won the Cy Young last year with a remarkable year, and one of the best we’ve seen from a Starting Pitcher. However, Wood is trying to pass that. Jackson is about to have another sub 2.35 ERA season. Lincoln the previous three seasons was literally hovering right around the 2 mark…so consistent, and such a stable part of this team that he won a championship with. He’s been money in the bank in the Playoffs with a 2.12 ERA. We move onto Jeremy Blevins who a lot of people loved in Anaheim, but felt he wasn’t prioritized. Anyway, no shocker when he puts together his best year with Kobe. He had 2 starts in the Playoffs, and flat-out dominated. Stud. Mulder is the weak link here, and what really separates the Cubs here. Mulder’s ERA will be sub 4 ERA, but he’s just not up to par with Gil Meche right now. They have the same average age as the Cubs arms.
3. Pittsburgh Pirates- Mark Prior/Jeremy Affeldt/Adam Pettyjohn/Patrick Schrum- 3.05 ERA- As you can see, the gap is pretty substantial as well. This is the youngest group of arms with an average age around 27. I think we’re finally seeing Mark Prior pitch like a top 10 guy in this whole league. Prior is by far putting together his best season yet. He’s never had an ERA under 3 until now. Look at his last 2 months. Sensational. Prior wasn’t too good in the Playoffs…We now turn to the best Strikeout pitcher in the league. He’s led the league in K’s for the past 4 seasons. He’s at least struck out 320+ batters the previous three seasons. Insane. He might do it again. Affeldt was solid in his only Playoff run. His development has been a huge key for our success. Next up is Pettyjohn…He’s been a good addition for our team. A great #3 SP for any team. Toronto had no use for him, and we’re making the most of it. I’m glad I acquired him for nothing much really. Schrum is the weak link right now…I need to IRI him, but I’m hoping he can reach some 7’s by himself…not likely, though. In the end, I like him.
4. New York Mets- Mike Kusiewicz/Jake Peavy/Dicky Gonzalez/Scott Wiggins- 3.34 ERA- Another gap here. Still, I like this rotation a lot. Kusiewicz is so dang good. In my top 15 NL SP value article, I show how much I think of him. He’s awesome. He had a 2nd half for the ages last season…and I would know. He burned my team to the ground. Next up is Jake Peavy whom also killed me with a great 2nd half. Peavy and the other guy are back at it again. That’s why they’re back in the race. Crazy shit. Peavy had a dominant no-decision start in the Playoffs last season. Dicky Gonzalez is doing his thing…He had a stellar year in 2003, but he’s going to be more around the 3.20 ERA for his career. Wiggins is obviously the worst guy here, but he’s had a nice season. Take away his May, and he’s been awesome for JMase…anyway, the Mets have been a major factor because of this really good pitching staff. Average age is around 28.
5. Florida Marlins- CC Sabathia/Leon Sabin/Will Cunnane/Santiago Casilla- 3.58 ERA- Sabathia is a true work horse. He recently just got bad PD, but he’ll be fine. Nearly 2,000 innings have been eclipsed. His struggled in the Playoffs are shocking. Really poor production there. Sabin is going to be the Ace of this staff very soon, but man, why is he shitting the bed? He’s regressed big time this season. In the end, he should bounce back, and could have a huge final two months. Cunnane was a luxury type signing for Ashes where he had a ton of money, and figured to just use it so he can get a valuable piece for his team. He’s done the job for Ashes with an ERA around 3. Casilla at one time looked like he had the potential to be a #2 type, but then he took multiple bad PD to his HRs…anyway, he’s still an unbelievable SP at the end of ANY rotation. This is a young rotation except for Cunnane that will be scary for teams in the NL.
Honorable Mention:
1. St. Louis Cardinals- Matt Morris/Carlos Zambrano/Braden Looper/Bob Wolcott/Nate Cornejo- 3.39 ERA- I would have put them 5th, but they traded Morris away at the deadline. Still, if Bosoxi used a brain…he’d make this a four man rotation, and this number would improve dramatically. Zambrano looks great, but seems not to SIM tremendously. Well, he is having a fine year, but man, he is getting no run supports from his teammates. Next up is one of my favorite under the radar types that just got traded…Matt Morris. I think he’s great, and you can now see why D2A made the acquisition. Love Matt Morris…he’ll do great in Detroit. A career 3.03 ERA. Looper has been another guy you don’t hear much about. Bosoxi needs to lobby attention for his guys. He’s been really good the previous few seasons. Cornejo should his #4 SP…Wolcott shouldn’t be in this rotation. Mute point now, though.
2. Cincinnati Reds- Josh Beckett/Rocky Biddle/Nick Neugebauer/Ian Snell- 3.62 ERA- Reds have a really nice rotation. Think about it…that ERA is exceptional when you factor in Ian Snell…he’s awful. Stutter will upgrade there with Bullington, and then he’s got the making of a really good rotation. Beckett’s an absolute stud. Biddle has turned into a monster now with awesome PD…Neugebauer will make for a great #3. Bullington is the key, and he’d probably would’ve been called up if he didn’t have that horrific injury.
Note: I didn’t include SF because he basically just acquired a lot of his guys. I might do the AL one…depends if I have the time.
Top 5 NL Starting Rotations:
1. Chicago Cubs- Kerry Wood/Johan Santana/Jim Pittsley/Gil Meche- 2.08 ERA- Wow, insanely good. Their average age is 29. Kerry Wood has been the best pitchers for a long time. His last 3 seasons have been legendary, and he’s stepped it up to another level somehow. Santana often is overshadowed by his teammate. He’s been amazing…he probably would have had multiple Cy Youngs if it wasn’t for Kerry Wood. Jim Pittsley as a #3 just isn’t right. He was a vital piece for some of Spencer’s teams. He could be a true Ace for a lot of teams in this league. After Jimmy, it’s Gil Meche…who is having a great year in his own right. Not fair when this guy is having a superb year. These guys tend to struggle in the Playoffs, though. That’s when you see Play get so angry…however, they put it together and ended that notion of not being able to perform when it truly mattered. Pittsley has been terrific in the Playoffs. These 3 guys have 56 starts between them. In the end, I fucking hate Kerry Wood.
2. Montreal Expos- Joseph Jackson/Mike Lincoln/Jeremy Blevins/Mark Mulder- 2.67 ERA (2.81 ERA including BJ RYAN)- Huge drop off here, but man, this Expos rotation is awesome. Two of the very best in Joseph Jackson and Mike Lincoln. Jackson won the Cy Young last year with a remarkable year, and one of the best we’ve seen from a Starting Pitcher. However, Wood is trying to pass that. Jackson is about to have another sub 2.35 ERA season. Lincoln the previous three seasons was literally hovering right around the 2 mark…so consistent, and such a stable part of this team that he won a championship with. He’s been money in the bank in the Playoffs with a 2.12 ERA. We move onto Jeremy Blevins who a lot of people loved in Anaheim, but felt he wasn’t prioritized. Anyway, no shocker when he puts together his best year with Kobe. He had 2 starts in the Playoffs, and flat-out dominated. Stud. Mulder is the weak link here, and what really separates the Cubs here. Mulder’s ERA will be sub 4 ERA, but he’s just not up to par with Gil Meche right now. They have the same average age as the Cubs arms.
3. Pittsburgh Pirates- Mark Prior/Jeremy Affeldt/Adam Pettyjohn/Patrick Schrum- 3.05 ERA- As you can see, the gap is pretty substantial as well. This is the youngest group of arms with an average age around 27. I think we’re finally seeing Mark Prior pitch like a top 10 guy in this whole league. Prior is by far putting together his best season yet. He’s never had an ERA under 3 until now. Look at his last 2 months. Sensational. Prior wasn’t too good in the Playoffs…We now turn to the best Strikeout pitcher in the league. He’s led the league in K’s for the past 4 seasons. He’s at least struck out 320+ batters the previous three seasons. Insane. He might do it again. Affeldt was solid in his only Playoff run. His development has been a huge key for our success. Next up is Pettyjohn…He’s been a good addition for our team. A great #3 SP for any team. Toronto had no use for him, and we’re making the most of it. I’m glad I acquired him for nothing much really. Schrum is the weak link right now…I need to IRI him, but I’m hoping he can reach some 7’s by himself…not likely, though. In the end, I like him.
4. New York Mets- Mike Kusiewicz/Jake Peavy/Dicky Gonzalez/Scott Wiggins- 3.34 ERA- Another gap here. Still, I like this rotation a lot. Kusiewicz is so dang good. In my top 15 NL SP value article, I show how much I think of him. He’s awesome. He had a 2nd half for the ages last season…and I would know. He burned my team to the ground. Next up is Jake Peavy whom also killed me with a great 2nd half. Peavy and the other guy are back at it again. That’s why they’re back in the race. Crazy shit. Peavy had a dominant no-decision start in the Playoffs last season. Dicky Gonzalez is doing his thing…He had a stellar year in 2003, but he’s going to be more around the 3.20 ERA for his career. Wiggins is obviously the worst guy here, but he’s had a nice season. Take away his May, and he’s been awesome for JMase…anyway, the Mets have been a major factor because of this really good pitching staff. Average age is around 28.
5. Florida Marlins- CC Sabathia/Leon Sabin/Will Cunnane/Santiago Casilla- 3.58 ERA- Sabathia is a true work horse. He recently just got bad PD, but he’ll be fine. Nearly 2,000 innings have been eclipsed. His struggled in the Playoffs are shocking. Really poor production there. Sabin is going to be the Ace of this staff very soon, but man, why is he shitting the bed? He’s regressed big time this season. In the end, he should bounce back, and could have a huge final two months. Cunnane was a luxury type signing for Ashes where he had a ton of money, and figured to just use it so he can get a valuable piece for his team. He’s done the job for Ashes with an ERA around 3. Casilla at one time looked like he had the potential to be a #2 type, but then he took multiple bad PD to his HRs…anyway, he’s still an unbelievable SP at the end of ANY rotation. This is a young rotation except for Cunnane that will be scary for teams in the NL.
Honorable Mention:
1. St. Louis Cardinals- Matt Morris/Carlos Zambrano/Braden Looper/Bob Wolcott/Nate Cornejo- 3.39 ERA- I would have put them 5th, but they traded Morris away at the deadline. Still, if Bosoxi used a brain…he’d make this a four man rotation, and this number would improve dramatically. Zambrano looks great, but seems not to SIM tremendously. Well, he is having a fine year, but man, he is getting no run supports from his teammates. Next up is one of my favorite under the radar types that just got traded…Matt Morris. I think he’s great, and you can now see why D2A made the acquisition. Love Matt Morris…he’ll do great in Detroit. A career 3.03 ERA. Looper has been another guy you don’t hear much about. Bosoxi needs to lobby attention for his guys. He’s been really good the previous few seasons. Cornejo should his #4 SP…Wolcott shouldn’t be in this rotation. Mute point now, though.
2. Cincinnati Reds- Josh Beckett/Rocky Biddle/Nick Neugebauer/Ian Snell- 3.62 ERA- Reds have a really nice rotation. Think about it…that ERA is exceptional when you factor in Ian Snell…he’s awful. Stutter will upgrade there with Bullington, and then he’s got the making of a really good rotation. Beckett’s an absolute stud. Biddle has turned into a monster now with awesome PD…Neugebauer will make for a great #3. Bullington is the key, and he’d probably would’ve been called up if he didn’t have that horrific injury.
Note: I didn’t include SF because he basically just acquired a lot of his guys. I might do the AL one…depends if I have the time.