Starting Pitcher Rankings

Comments

20 responses to “Starting Pitcher Rankings”

1. 

   Mr. Tintle

   March 14, 2007

   Sexy new graphics on that ass!

2. 

   butch

   March 14, 2007

   Why is Harang so low. Makes little sense.

3. 

   Paul R

   March 14, 2007

   Contreras seems kind of high considering he was pretty bad after the all-star break last year. Also I’m not sure if Prior belongs on this list as he might not even make the Cubs rotation with the way he is pitching in spring training. I would draft a pitcher like John Maine or Chad Billingsley over Prior.

4. 

   butch

   March 14, 2007

   Also think Garland should be on this list.

   Analysis and insight here is usually A+, but this list seems rushed and sloppy.

   B-

5. 

   RotoScoop

   March 14, 2007

   Butch – Appreciate the comments (even the criticism). This list was not rushed. I stand by these rankings. You may disagree, but I assure you, it’s not b/c I rushed. Let’s go over the arguments one by one:

   Harang – Valid point. He’s a horse and a real asset in strikeouts. A flyball pitcher playing in Cincy isn’t ideal, however (20 HRs allowed in 113 1/3 innings pitched at Great American last year), and it suggests an ERA in the 3.8 range is as good as it gets, with a real possibility of it climbing to the 4.0 range this year. Still, a 4:1 K:BB ratio is elite, so I wouldn’t have one problem with you taking him over guys like Willis, Arroyo, Mussina and Bedard.

6. 

   RotoScoop

   March 14, 2007

   While I concede Harang could easily be bumped up 10 spots, I disagree that I was wrong omitting Garland. Winning 18 games back-to-back seasons is impressive and all, but he hasn’t been a very good pitcher while doing so. He pitches in one of the best hitters parks, for one, and also, that 2005 season is an outlier in an otherwise mediocre career. Other than that season, he’s never finished with a WHIP better than 1.36 or struck out more than 115 batters. To make matters worse, he’s working in the 85-88 MPH range this spring while pitching with a “knot” in his shoulder. I don’t see him as a top-60 pitcher (all right, maybe he’s better than Prior).

7. 

   Robby

   March 14, 2007

   Both Chris Young and Ted Lilly are waaaaay too low. Get your head out of your ass DDD.

   Grade: F-

8. 

   RotoScoop

   March 14, 2007

   Paul R – Judging by the drafts I’ve done so far this year, Contreras can be had much later than my ranking indicates (more on that in a minute). A back and hamstring injury can be attributed to his second half swoon last year, but he was one of baseball’s very best pitchers for a year and a half stretch before that. I think he’s being undervalued and can be a big help in WHIP and strikeouts when healthy.

   As for Prior, I just had to include him last on the list. You’re right, there are 40 safer options right now (after No. 60). I mean, there’s a chance he strengthens the shoulder and regains velocity and shows some of that huge potential, but the odds are, that “loosening of the joints” condition he has robs him of his career. It currently doesn’t look like he has a chance of breaking camp in the Cubs’ rotation, and the odds of him ever making another All-Star appearance probably falls in the five percent range (and I’m considered optimistic).

9. 

   RotoScoop

   March 14, 2007

   Ha ha thanks Robby. Check out Chris Young’s BABIP:

   http://www.rotoauthority.com/2007/03/chris_youngs_ba.html

   Good luck with that. No pun intended.

10. 

    RotoScoop

    March 14, 2007

    Overall, I’d say my rankings are overly optimistic regarding health. Guys like Ben Sheets, Cole Hamels, Rich Harden and John Patterson are probably higher than most lists b/c I like upside over safer, lower ceiling options. This list should be used relatively – if you are drafting in the 9th slot, and you think Schilling will go earlier than Harden, then go Curt first and take Harden on the way back.

    You win your league taking some risks, and there isn’t a better option than Sheets this year. While Myers/Zito are far more likely to throw more innings, if Sheets somehow manages 220, he’ll be a universal top-10 pick next year. Hamels and Harden fall in a similar boat.

11. 

    Paul R

    March 14, 2007

    Harang ended up 2nd in strikeouts in MLB behind only Santana last year. My take on him is if he could repeat that plus get over 15 wins again, he is easily a top twenty pitcher but can he repeat?

12. 

    Lister

    March 15, 2007

    swell list. i would agree that there is superb value in harden, who tends to be going closer to 100 than 50 in drafts i’ve seen, while sheets does seem to be on everyone’s radar earlier (a safer bet, it should be said). i would only contend that you’re undervaluing john lackey (21) pretty severely in my opinion… i’d have him just behind sabathia, and both of them ahead of hamels (injury concerns, terrible CBP to throw in) and weaver (injury concerns, still has question marks in my opinion with little pro track record)…

13. 

    RotoScoop

    March 15, 2007

    Lister – I like Lackey. I could be wrong, but I think ESPN has him rated insanely high, like top-8 or something. Anyway, good strikeout rate, entering the age pitchers typically start to peak, etc. In 96 post All-Star break innings last season, he did post a 4.41 ERA and 1.57 WHIP, however. (Admittedly, his first half was flat-out dominant). And when in doubt, I always choose NL hurlers (Hamels) over AL.

    Lackey is a fine target, and is a nice candidate to really break out this year, but I’d have a hard time picking him over my top-20.

14. 

    Jason

    March 16, 2007

    Hey guys, would it be possible to also get some dollar values for those of us who play in auction leagues?

15. 

    RotoScoop

    March 16, 2007

    Jason – I could maybe work that into a future article, but in all honesty, I mostly do draft leagues, so I’m afraid my $ rankings wouldn’t be all that expert anyway.

16. 

    johnnymac

    March 20, 2007

    IAN SNELL not in the top 60? Did I miss some clues on the other 30 websites that are pumping this guy up?

17. 

    RotoScoop

    March 20, 2007

    Snell would fall into the next tier, and he could be a sneaky source for Ks and won’t kill your ERA or WHIP, but I don’t see putting him above any of those listed (well, except for Prior). He’s dominating this spring, and it’s possible I overlooked him, but I don’t think it’s an insanely egregious omission. He plays for the Pirates, after all, and guys in the 55-60 range (Garcia, Millwood, Wang) are still pretty solid options.

    How much higher are these other Web sites ranking him?

18. 

    Stem

    March 28, 2007

    No offense, but I doubt many would consider you guys experts. Maybe with regards to betting and wagering, as you’ve given me some winning picks, but not at fantasy sports.

19. 

    RotoScoop

    March 28, 2007

    None taken. Although I have to disagree, since I was just in an “Experts Draft.”

    http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/fantasy/02/16/mock.draft.2/index.html

    In all seriousness, I’d be careful who to consider an “expert” or not. Just the other day I was watching ESPN’s Baseball Tonight, and they were debating whether Robinson Cano should be the No. 5 pick. No. 5 overall!

    Anyway, I hope you keep reading.

20. 

    Stem

    March 29, 2007

    Oh I’ll keep reading, you’re very entertaining and provide a nice break in my work day!