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**Evangelion** · 01-04-2006, 08:32 AM

I just notice how good the 2B are in AL East. :noidea

A.J. Burnett over Mussina? Sure...

h

I'll have to say, I like Shawn Chacon being the top choice for the number 3 starter. He's showing some respect to Chacon and he also know what Chacon has the ability to do when he's in the rotation. Chacon a very solid number 3. I do believe I would put him over Chacin, for the time being. Wells should be below Lopez though. I like Lopez and he's an overall solid pitcher and I thought he was the number 2 starter of the O's staff? :noidea

Red Sox got the spot they deserve in the closer ranking, but it's been said that Foulke will be the closer at the start of the next season.

That was a pretty entertaining ranking system. I do like that he mention he had trouble ranking Jorge Cantu, Carl Crawford, Jonny Gomes, and Scott Kazmir, because we don't know how much better these players are going to get. Devil Rays fans might have something to look forward to in the next few years.

**bballkrazy2922** · 01-04-2006, 08:38 AM

haha nice little setup for the viewers, however, i hope that this doesnt mean the blue jays will overtake 2nd place in the AL East because they wont...look for them to come in third once again...its the Yanks and Sox that are top 2 (or Sox and Yanks

)...

**DoubleX** · 01-04-2006, 10:05 AM

Originally posted by Evangelion

I just notice how good the 2B are in AL East. :noidea

A.J. Burnett over Mussina? Sure...

h

I'll have to say, I like Shawn Chacon being the top choice for the number 3 starter. He's showing some respect to Chacon and he also know what Chacon has the ability to do when he's in the rotation. Chacon a very solid number 3. I do believe I would put him over Chacin, for the time being. Wells should be below Lopez though. I like Lopez and he's an overall solid pitcher and I thought he was the number 2 starter of the O's staff? :noidea

Red Sox got the spot they deserve in the closer ranking, but it's been said that Foulke will be the closer at the start of the next season.

That was a pretty entertaining ranking system. I do like that he mention he had trouble ranking Jorge Cantu, Carl Crawford, Jonny Gomes, and Scott Kazmir, because we don't know how much better these players are going to get. Devil Rays fans might have something to look forward to in the next few years.

One major thing that this project did cause me to notice is just how good the Blue Jays pitching is. Their rotation could probably go toe to toe with just about anyone in the AL (even Oakland and Chicago).

As for your comments...

You're probably right about Mussina and Burnett. I don't like Burnett at all. I don't think his make-up is very good. But Mussina has been madly inconsistent in recent years, has been bothered by arm trouble, and is getting up there in years. This was one of the rare circumstances in which I allowed potential to trump past performance.

I like Chacon, a lot, but it was tough putting him over Chacin. This was one that really could have gone either way for me, but Chacon got the edge because he has a bit more history, he pitched well as a Rockie last year and pitched tremendously as a Yankee. Chacon should only improve as he spends more time away from Coors Field, but on the other hand, perhaps AL hitters just need time to adjust to that curveball of his.

I left Foulke out because ESPN.com left Foulke out. I went strictly by their projections. I could also see strong arguments for Timlin being ranked ahead of Baez, but I went with the closer experience and youth and gave Baez the slight edge.

The Devil Rays got some tremendous young talent in the field, especially when you add BJ Upton and Delmon Young to that list. Their rotation, however, leaves a lot to be desired after Kazmir (who at only 22, seems destined for greatness), and unless that rotation is addressed, the team will struggle. But with Crawford, Cantu, Gomes, Upton, Young, and Baldelli, the Devil Rays have a tremendous core all under the age of 25.

**Evangelion** · 01-04-2006, 10:42 AM

I do think it's about time that people do pay attention to Blue Jays rotation. I think most people forget that Halladay was the 03 Cy Young winner. While I think Burnett over-rated, since he was not brought into be the ace of this staff, I think he can post an above 500. record. Chacin should do the same, but I expect better results from Chacin than Burnett. Lilly just a very quiet, but good pitcher. He also has the chance to post an above 500. record. Towers is just there, but for a number 5, not a horrible option. As it stand, this rotation is very good and might be the best in AL. Just depend on how Halladay, Burnett and Chacin do in my mind if they're going to be a contender in this league or not this season.

While I do know Mussina is getting up there in age and had injury problems last year, he still manage to start 30 games last season, which quite a lot young pitchers haven't been able to do, like Burnett, who manage to do it once in his six year career. Outside of 04, Mussina has start 30 or more games each season since being a Yankee. So, he'll start games and keep the team in the game and most important, he'll win the games for the team. One thing that's been consistent with Mussina is he yet to post a losing season with the Yankees since coming to New York in 2001 and I expect him to have another 12-15 season again this season and start between 25-30 games.

Until Burnett can prove to me that he not just some fluke, I'm not ready to rank him over a pitcher like Mussina, who might be old, but still continue to be consistent, even with the injuries lately. Unlike Mussina, Burnett had injuries that have side-line for some time while Mussina's injuries have only kept him out of a few starts. I'm not giving another fluke pitcher like Burnett the potential pass myself.

Not disagree with you, I just don't like ranking the more reliable Mussina over Burnett until Burnett can go out there this season and prove he can pitch two seasons of 30 plus starts and consist pitching the field. Until then, Burnett below Mussina in my book.

See, I don't worry about Chacon all that much since he was in a hitter friendly part in Coors Field, so I think the switch to AL would have effective his numbers and overall performance. Chacon prove that so far. While I think AL East teams might get use to him at some point, that being might. He's still going to be an effective number 3. In the long run, I would say Chacin would move up and be the better pitcher as his career mature, but as we move into 05 season, Chacon get the thumbs up.

Also, I still find it funny that the Mets trade Kazmir away for a bum like Victor Zambrano. I still don't understand that deal today. Anyway, Kazmir is going to emerge at some point. I think he's got the owning of the Red Sox down at this point. Granted, he went 1-1 last year, but his ERA was impressive 3.68 against that offense, if only the Devil Rays offense could have provide some support. Though, I still remember his great start against the Sox when he first came to Tampa in 04. I know this kid got talent, just when is he going to peak is the question.

There's another dark horse young pitcher the Devil Rays have in Doug Waechter. While he has show very little signs of talent, like his complete game 1 run win over New York in August last season. He does have the talent, from what I heard, to be a good pitcher in MLB level. Last year was his first full season. I think another season will do him good to grow into the game and he's also a young age of 26, not youngest age, but pretty young to have growing pains at MLB level like he did last season.

The rest of that rotation are just players that are there. Nothing much to talk about there.

That's it all I got to say for the time being, as long wind as that was.

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