Best Playoff Rotation in Baseball?

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Stark says Cubs

http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=22114

[UMFan83]

I think its close. I'm honored they picked the Cubs, but the DBacks and Angels are right there with us. It will be interesting to see the debate.

[otis89]

Some of the comments so far are ridiculous. Oliver Perez is "Big Game Ollie?" Give me a break!

[otis89]

Ha ha!

 

John (Vegas): Couldn't agree more. But how would a Rich Harden trip to the DL in October affect your rankings?

 

SportsNation Jayson Stark: (1:30 PM ET ) A trip to the DL by Harden, Sheets, Kazmir or anybody else in any team's top three would completely change this argument, obviously. But I forgot to consult my Ouija Board on which of these pitchers is going to get hurt. We're stuck with assessing how they all shape up right now.

[C.C.]

Jonathan(New York, NY ): You honestly can not pass the starting rotation for the Diamondbacks. If you are going to play a 5 game series you will face Webb and Haren twice. In a 7-game series you could face Webb 3 times, it is a little ridiculous to think there is a better one.

 

SportsNation Jayson Stark: (1:35 PM ET ) Hey Jonatthan, it isn't ridiculous, or we wouldn't be having this debate. I agree that nobody wants to face Webb and Haren in October. But why is it "ridiculous" to argue the Cubs have a better rotation? Ryan Dempster actually has a lower opponent OPS than Haren, and a similar strikeout rate. Anybody who is overlooking him as a potential October force hasn't paid close enough attention. And since we're arguing top four starters, not top three, I think it's ridiculous to argue that Arizona's fourth starter is better than the Cubs' fourth starter (Lilly).

[C.C.]

Rob (Stamford): The biggest problem with this debate is that if you don't get a chance to watch Cubs games than you have a tough time believing in Dempster. I don't and I am astonished by how good his numbers out compared to when he was killing my fantasy team as a closer last year.

 

SportsNation Jayson Stark: (2:02 PM ET ) That's why we're having this debate, Rob -- to point out that if you stopped paying attention when your fantasy team tanked, of if you stopped paying attention in, say, 1908, you may not have noticed how dominating the Cubs' pitching has been. And we haven't even talked about their bullpen yet. This has a chance to be a fun October for this franchise. And I think they're slightly due for one of those!

 

=D>

[David]

My favorite stat is the winning percentage with Harden, Demp, & Z (plus Lilly since May). It probably doesn't mean a whole lot, but that's SEXY.

 

Especially considering the fact that those are the only guys that would start for us in the playoffs.

[RedVerbs]

Cubs are up there.

 

Though I'd rather face Zambrano, Harden and Dempster, then face Webb, Haren and Randy Johnson.

[Clem Fandango]

I like how the Brewers fans justify Ben Sheets by saying he started the All-star game. There couldn't be a more meaningless statistic to throw in to justify a player's ability.

[abuck1220]

would webb really be able to throw three games in a seven game series w/o going on short rest at least once?

[abuck1220]

lol...jamie moyer is described as a "title craving stud."

[Clem Fandango]

would webb really be able to throw three games in a seven game series w/o going on short rest at least once?

 

That was another thing that was ridiculous. A 7 game series, at the most, would probably last 9 or 10 days or so, if that. pitchers go on 5 days rest regularly, and can often go on 3 days rest in emergency situations. Would you really want to start your ace 3 times in 9 days? What happens in the next series when he's too fatigued to be effective? That's a horrible horrible idea, IMO

[abuck1220]

man, there are some TERRIBLE points being made in that chat. wow.

[Old Style]

I like how the Brewers fans justify Ben Sheets by saying he started the All-star game. There couldn't be a more meaningless statistic to throw in to justify a player's ability.

I think it's a great argument. No bad players could start the AS game, right Kosuke?

[jersey cubs fan]

would webb really be able to throw three games in a seven game series w/o going on short rest at least once?

 

That was another thing that was ridiculous. A 7 game series, at the most, would probably last 9 or 10 days or so, if that. pitchers go on 5 days rest regularly, and can often go on 3 days rest in emergency situations. Would you really want to start your ace 3 times in 9 days? What happens in the next series when he's too fatigued to be effective? That's a horrible horrible idea, IMO

 

National League Championship Series

Game 1: Oct. 9

Game 2: Oct. 10

Game 3: Oct. 12

Game 4: Oct. 13

Game 5: Oct. 15

Game 6: Oct. 17

Game 7: Oct. 18

 

Assuming he doesn't pitch a game 5 in the division series, Webb should be good to start Oct 9 on extra rest (having pitched game 1 Oct 1). If he pitched game 4, it would be 3 days rest, then normal rest for game 7. If he pitched game 5, it would be 5 days rest.

[biittner77]

Webb or most anyone else is not as good on short rest. Though I don't have any stats to back that up I'm pretty sure recent history bears out that.

 

How many series go 7 games anyway.

[jersey cubs fan]

Webb or most anyone else is not as good on short rest. Though I don't have any stats to back that up I'm pretty sure recent history bears out that.

 

How many series go 7 games anyway.

 

6 of the last 10 LCS have gone 7.

 

I am not sure of the data myself, but I would prefer the opposition tries to pitch guys on short rest, especially if they go deep the game before.

[Bote McBoteface]

Rob (NYC): How about the Yankee rotation.... oh wait. You said post season staffs. Sorry.

 

SportsNation Jayson Stark: Sorry, Rob. We're not allowing gratuitous Yankees cheap shots in this chat. Please strike this one from the record, your honor.

 

 

That made me laugh a bit.

[biittner77]

Webb or most anyone else is not as good on short rest. Though I don't have any stats to back that up I'm pretty sure recent history bears out that.

 

How many series go 7 games anyway.

 

6 of the last 10 LCS have gone 7.

 

I am not sure of the data myself, but I would prefer the opposition tries to pitch guys on short rest, especially if they go deep the game before.

 

Thanks. I rarely watch the playoffs after the Cubs are eliminated. Who was the last pitcher to start 3 games of a 7 game series?

[UMFan83]

Webb or most anyone else is not as good on short rest. Though I don't have any stats to back that up I'm pretty sure recent history bears out that.

 

How many series go 7 games anyway.

 

6 of the last 10 LCS have gone 7.

 

I am not sure of the data myself, but I would prefer the opposition tries to pitch guys on short rest, especially if they go deep the game before.

 

Thanks. I rarely watch the playoffs after the Cubs are eliminated. Who was the last pitcher to start 3 games of a 7 game series?

 

Schilling in the 2001 World Series

Beckett pitched in 3 games of the 2003 NLCS, starting 2 of them and pitching 4 innings in game 7 (:()

[jersey cubs fan]

Webb or most anyone else is not as good on short rest. Though I don't have any stats to back that up I'm pretty sure recent history bears out that.

 

How many series go 7 games anyway.

 

6 of the last 10 LCS have gone 7.

 

I am not sure of the data myself, but I would prefer the opposition tries to pitch guys on short rest, especially if they go deep the game before.

 

Thanks. I rarely watch the playoffs after the Cubs are eliminated. Who was the last pitcher to start 3 games of a 7 game series?

 

Schilling in 2001?

[bukie]

Thanks. I rarely watch the playoffs after the Cubs are eliminated. Who was the last pitcher to start 3 games of a 7 game series?

 

I know Tim Wakefield did in the 2003 ALCS, but he doesn't exactly tax his arm with his pitches.

 

Becket pitched in 3 games of the 2003 NLCS, but didn't start game 7.

 

Schilling started 3 games of the 2001 World Series.

[javy knows my name]

Ha ha!

 

John (Vegas): Couldn't agree more. But how would a Rich Harden trip to the DL in October affect your rankings?

 

SportsNation Jayson Stark: (1:30 PM ET ) A trip to the DL by Harden, Sheets, Kazmir or anybody else in any team's top three would completely change this argument, obviously. But I forgot to consult my Ouija Board on which of these pitchers is going to get hurt. We're stuck with assessing how they all shape up right now.

a little snark from stark

[jersey cubs fan]

Thanks. I rarely watch the playoffs after the Cubs are eliminated. Who was the last pitcher to start 3 games of a 7 game series?

 

I know Tim Wakefield did in the 2003 ALCS, but he doesn't exactly tax his arm with his pitches.

 

Becket pitched in 3 games of the 2003 NLCS, but didn't start game 7.

 

Schilling started 3 games of the 2001 World Series.

 

Wakefield pitched in extras in game 7, he did not start 3 games.

[UMFan83]

Thanks. I rarely watch the playoffs after the Cubs are eliminated. Who was the last pitcher to start 3 games of a 7 game series?

 

I know Tim Wakefield did in the 2003 ALCS, but he doesn't exactly tax his arm with his pitches.

 

Becket pitched in 3 games of the 2003 NLCS, but didn't start game 7.

 

Schilling started 3 games of the 2001 World Series.

 

Wakefield pitched in extras in game 7, he did not start 3 games.

 

And he only threw one pitch!

 

Edit: Oh wait, he threw the inning before