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This is a post I started on my old site. I think it remains relevant because there is a very high chance (at least in my opinion) that Cliff Lee could be shopped this offseason. Note that it was originally posted in April this year, so some names may be irrelevant now.
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Posted 24 April 2012 - 02:34 AM
Before we all piss and moan on each other over Kyle Kendrick...
Is what we've come to believe really true anymore? IS pitching the "best and only" way to get to the post seson?
From what I've seen so far, the successful teams have a 50/50 balance or so between hitting and pitching talent - especially in the NL. The Phils and SF have all the pitching yet they're sub-.500.
Meanwhile Atlanta's having no problem while one of their starters has even been out for a month. Same with the Mets - they're certainly not wowing anybody with their arms. St Louis, Dodgers, etc. Look at them all. They all have 1-2 good starters, with minimal pitchers to fill out the rotation. BUT, they have good bats to make up the difference, and these bats - unlike starters - do go every day.
I thought the Phils had overkill in the staff when they got Cliff Lee after already having Roy, Cole and Oswalt. To me it was overkill last year and the bat would have helped more. This year, it's becoming more and more glaringly obvious. You still have to hit to win games - and then deal with the postseason.
ERA Leaders this year....
Brandon Beachy
Ross Detwiler
Kyle Lohse
Steven Strasburg
Joe Saunders
Jordan Zimmerman
Jake Westbrook
Ryan Dempster
Lance Lynn
Wandy Rodriguez
That is hardly a who's who list of future HOFers. Yet each is succeeding very well. Why? Because the rest of the NL - other than 1-3 teams - cannot hit. You don't need aces to pitch in this league right now - just guys who throw strikes.
I think we'll see this when the regular season ends this year. Mediocre pitchers putting up well-above numbers because the offenses suck and won't be much worse than what the Phils are currently paying about $80M to do the same.
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As is, most of these names are at the top of the leaderboards. It has to make one think about the overall makeup of a team.
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Posted 24 April 2012 - 02:34 AM
Before we all piss and moan on each other over Kyle Kendrick...
Is what we've come to believe really true anymore? IS pitching the "best and only" way to get to the post seson?
From what I've seen so far, the successful teams have a 50/50 balance or so between hitting and pitching talent - especially in the NL. The Phils and SF have all the pitching yet they're sub-.500.
Meanwhile Atlanta's having no problem while one of their starters has even been out for a month. Same with the Mets - they're certainly not wowing anybody with their arms. St Louis, Dodgers, etc. Look at them all. They all have 1-2 good starters, with minimal pitchers to fill out the rotation. BUT, they have good bats to make up the difference, and these bats - unlike starters - do go every day.
I thought the Phils had overkill in the staff when they got Cliff Lee after already having Roy, Cole and Oswalt. To me it was overkill last year and the bat would have helped more. This year, it's becoming more and more glaringly obvious. You still have to hit to win games - and then deal with the postseason.
ERA Leaders this year....
Brandon Beachy
Ross Detwiler
Kyle Lohse
Steven Strasburg
Joe Saunders
Jordan Zimmerman
Jake Westbrook
Ryan Dempster
Lance Lynn
Wandy Rodriguez
That is hardly a who's who list of future HOFers. Yet each is succeeding very well. Why? Because the rest of the NL - other than 1-3 teams - cannot hit. You don't need aces to pitch in this league right now - just guys who throw strikes.
I think we'll see this when the regular season ends this year. Mediocre pitchers putting up well-above numbers because the offenses suck and won't be much worse than what the Phils are currently paying about $80M to do the same.
--------------
As is, most of these names are at the top of the leaderboards. It has to make one think about the overall makeup of a team.