Who are your Top 5 Starting Pitchers in MLB?

[GiambiJuice]

For the purpose of this thread, you have to choose a starting staff for the 2013 season only - not for the next 3 years or 5 years or whatever.

What would your 5-man rotation look like?

Here's mine, in no particular order:

Felix Hernandez
Clayton Kershaw
Stephen Strasburg (assuming no innings limit)
Justin Verlander
CC Sabathia

I understand that Sabathia is borderline, but I chose him for two reasons: 1) I wanted another lefty in addition to Kershaw, and 2) he's very consistent and durable and he's an innings eater. I could probably have gone with Cole Hamels instead of Sabathia, but I think my top 5 will be tough to beat.

[EnterSandman]

Justin Verlander
Felix Hernandez
Jered Weaver
Clayton Kershaw
Cole Hamels

[RaysFan_98]

For the purpose of this thread, you have to choose a starting staff for the 2013 season only - not for the next 3 years or 5 years or whatever.

What would your 5-man rotation look like?

Here's mine, in no particular order:

Felix Hernandez
Clayton Kershaw
Stephen Strasburg (assuming no innings limit)
Justin Verlander
CC Sabathia

I understand that Sabathia is borderline, but I chose him for two reasons: 1) I wanted another lefty in addition to Kershaw, and 2) he's very consistent and durable and he's an innings eater. I could probably have gone with Cole Hamels instead of Sabathia, but I think my top 5 will be tough to beat.

CC over price?

Price
Kershaw
Verlander
Stras
Haren

[GiambiJuice]

Justin Verlander
Felix Hernandez
Jered Weaver
Clayton Kershaw
Cole Hamels

Good list. I considered Weaver, but had a hard time justifying him over the three other righties. He's definitely underrated.

[GiambiJuice]

CC over price?

Price
Kershaw
Verlander
Stras
Haren

CC's more consistent. Price has higher highs, but also lower lows.

I'd love to hear a justification for Dan Haren over Felix Hernandez, though :-)

[RaysFan_98]

CC's more consistent. Price has higher highs, but also lower lows.

I'd love to hear a justification for Dan Haren over Felix Hernandez, though :-)

Haren or Weaver Felix has moments of greatness but look at the trend of those that throw perfectos they tend to go into major slumps after doing so. Haren and weaver are extreamly consistent may not of Thrown perfect games but haren leads the AL in most of the pitching statistics.

On the Price deal Even though price had a bad year if you can call it that last year he was still very good and effective Prices bad year still is no where near CC's bad year this year CC is having the more downs then price so far Prices 2010 and 2012 have been amazing.

[GiambiJuice]

Haren or Weaver Felix has moments of greatness but look at the trend of those that throw perfectos they tend to go into major slumps after doing so. Haren and weaver are extreamly consistent may not of Thrown perfect games but haren leads the AL in most of the pitching statistics.

On the Price deal Even though price had a bad year if you can call it that last year he was still very good and effective Prices bad year still is no where near CC's bad year this year CC is having the more downs then price so far Prices 2010 and 2012 have been amazing.

CC has pitched 1,800 more innings than Price and STILL has a better ERA+. CC hasn't had a bad year in nearly a decade.

Also, CC is NOT having a bad year, most of his rates this season are the best he's had since 2008.

[RaysFan_98]

Haren or Weaver Felix has moments of greatness but look at the trend of those that throw perfectos they tend to go into major slumps after doing so. Haren and weaver are extreamly consistent may not of Thrown perfect games but weaver leads the AL in most of the pitching statistics.

On the Price deal Even though price had a bad year if you can call it that last year he was still very good and effective Prices bad year still is no where near CC's bad year this year CC is having the more downs then price so far Prices 2010 and 2012 have been amazing.

Weaver* not haren up too late last night

[RaysFan_98]

CC has pitched 1,800 more innings than Price and STILL has a better ERA+. CC hasn't had a bad year in nearly a decade.

Also, CC is NOT having a bad year, most of his rates this season are the best he's had since 2008.

So a mid 3's ERA and a 1.21 whip is normal for CC is that what you are trying to tell me? I am used to seeing him mid 2's high twos even low low 3's but not that high.....

[GiambiJuice]

So a mid 3's ERA and a 1.21 whip is normal for CC is that what you are trying to tell me? I am used to seeing him mid 2's high twos even low low 3's but not that high.....

I'm talking about the rates that are not as affected by variance. K-rate, k:bb, etc.

[wu-tang clan]

The only one I know for sure is in the top five is Verlander.

[chicagowhitesox1173]

1. Justin Verlander
2. Clayton Kershaw
3. Jered Weaver
4. Felix Hernandez
5. Stephen Strasburg

[Zito75]

1. Justin Verlander
2. Clayton Kershaw
3. Jered Weaver
4. Felix Hernandez
5. Stephen Strasburg

Ditto. My choices.

[Cap78]

CC over price?

Price
Kershaw
Verlander
Stras
Haren

Think haren is more of a question mark on your list than cc is on others...u chose a guy that isnt even at the top of his own rotation

[Edgartohof]

1. King Felix - Clearly one of the best, can lead the league in IP, SO, CG, SHO and ERA...
2. Jered Weaver - Underrated for sure but he is leading the AL in ERA at the moment can't be that bad
3. Justin Verlander - His numbers this year are not far off from last year (where he won the Cy Young and MVP)
4. Stephen Strasburg - Young and dominant. High SO rate and has room to improve
5. Clayton Kershaw - Only 24 and very consistently great. Sub 1.000 WHIP the past 2 seasons.