Rating the Rotations

[Backtobanks]

The latest issue of Sporting News rates the starting rotations. Nothing surprising:

 

American League National League

1. Indians 1. DBacks

2. Red Sox 2. Padres

3. Angels 3. Dodgers

4. Blue Jays 4. Cubs

5. Tigers 5. Giants

 

White Sox 9th in AL, Brewers 7th in NL. Zambrano 3rd best in NL behind Peavy and Webb, ahead of Harang and Oswalt.

[10man]

It's always really difficult to predict or rank Z. He's good enough to be the best yet unpredictable enough to be just above average.

[rawaction]

Haren's not gonna like pitching in Arizona much. The rotations for Arizona and San Diego are really dependant on Owings taking the next step and Chris Young bouncing back, respectively.

[UMFan83]

If the Cubs have the 4th best staff in the NL, then the NL really blows.

 

That said I think the Giants should be ahead of the Cubs too. Possibly the Dodgers.

[CubColtPacer]

If the Cubs have the 4th best staff in the NL, then the NL really blows.

 

That said I think the Giants should be ahead of the Cubs too. Possibly the Dodgers.

 

The Cubs return the same pitchers who gave them the 2nd best staff in the N.L. last year. I think 4th is very fair even with the regression of some of the pitchers, especially if Zambrano steps up like the magazine thinks he will and becomes a top half #1 again. The only huge concern is the 5 spot. Z is a 1 or 2, Lilly is a 2 or 3, Hill is most likely a 2, Marquis is a 3 or 4 (he's been a 3 or better 3 of the last 4 years), and the last starter is a question mark. The Cubs ranking could vary wildly depending on who that last starter is (and which Marquis shows up, the one from 04/05/07, or the one from 03/06), but it is very likely that the staff will be above average once again.

[UMFan83]

If the Cubs have the 4th best staff in the NL, then the NL really blows.

 

That said I think the Giants should be ahead of the Cubs too. Possibly the Dodgers.

 

The Cubs return the same pitchers who gave them the 2nd best staff in the N.L. last year. I think 4th is very fair even with the regression of some of the pitchers, especially if Zambrano steps up like the magazine thinks he will and becomes a top half #1 again. The only huge concern is the 5 spot. Z is a 1 or 2, Lilly is a 2 or 3, Hill is most likely a 2, Marquis is a 3 or 4 (he's been a 3 or better 3 of the last 4 years), and the last starter is a question mark. The Cubs ranking could vary wildly depending on who that last starter is (and which Marquis shows up, the one from 04/05/07, or the one from 03/06), but it is very likely that the staff will be above average once again.

 

But its not the same pitchers because Marshall and his 3.92 ERA is seemingly being benched for Dempster. I just think the Giants and possibly Dodgers rotations are better.

[CubColtPacer]

If the Cubs have the 4th best staff in the NL, then the NL really blows.

 

That said I think the Giants should be ahead of the Cubs too. Possibly the Dodgers.

 

The Cubs return the same pitchers who gave them the 2nd best staff in the N.L. last year. I think 4th is very fair even with the regression of some of the pitchers, especially if Zambrano steps up like the magazine thinks he will and becomes a top half #1 again. The only huge concern is the 5 spot. Z is a 1 or 2, Lilly is a 2 or 3, Hill is most likely a 2, Marquis is a 3 or 4 (he's been a 3 or better 3 of the last 4 years), and the last starter is a question mark. The Cubs ranking could vary wildly depending on who that last starter is (and which Marquis shows up, the one from 04/05/07, or the one from 03/06), but it is very likely that the staff will be above average once again.

 

But its not the same pitchers because Marshall and his 3.92 ERA is seemingly being benched for Dempster. I just think the Giants and possibly Dodgers rotations are better.

 

True, but really it's Marshall+Guzman+Miller+Trachsel. Those 7 stats by Trachsel and Miller are killers on the overall ERA out of the 5 spot (5.10 combined out of the 5 spot last year). Whoever mans the 5 spot this year has a decent shot to come very close to that 5.10 if not a lot better. Now that it looks like we will sign Lieber, he has a very good shot at actually making the 5 spot better than it was last year.