Being a San Francisco Giants fan isn’t hard right now. It’s easy to fawn over Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Jonathan Sanchez, and for the more criminally insane of us, Barry Zito. Plus, we’ve got the Panda Bear.
The rotation is deep, as has been noted many times over. Even with the exodus of certain prized, yet perennially injured members of the elite group. (Ahem, Noah Lowry.) Or the retirement of a future hall of famer (Randy Johnson).
But how does the Big Three stack up with the rest of the majors going into the 2010 season? One would argue that if you look outside the National League bubble, there’s only two teams that are easily more stacked in all of the right places.
The Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees each have the ability to have six-man rotations this year (in fact, that’s what the Red Sox are doing), with prized prospects waiting in the wings. We’re talking aces at the No. 3 spot for each team (John Lackey and Andy Pettitte).
Their scraps are other teams’ sought after trade bait.
So which rotation is the best? If you’re wondering where I stand, you shouldn’t. I still think the Giants are the cream of the crop. And yes, the basis of my reasoning is the lousy run support the Big Three have received in years prior. I’d like to see how the Yankees or the Red Sox could do without an A-Rod or Big Papi in their lineup.
What do you think?
Eric
/ March 31, 20101. Braves
2. No one else even comes close
3. Mariners
4. Phillies
5. BoSox
David
/ March 31, 2010Red Sox, hands down. In all seriousness…does anyone have the 1-2-3 punch they have? Becket/Lester/Lackey would be the staff Ace on almost any other team.
David
/ March 31, 2010…basically, get this team to the playoffs, and good luck facing those 3. Not sure why Eric forgot to mention the Yankees above.
Eric
/ March 31, 2010Yanks would actually be sixth for me. Or well fifth if I had to put a legit No. 2 in there.
It’s a weird argument. I mean, do I take Team A’s No. 1 vs. Team B’s No. 1 and so on down the line through No. 5 and whichever team has the majority wins? Or do I say “Team A’s first and second starters would be straight money on any other team (even though their back-end stinks” and put them first?
Zuri
/ March 31, 2010Does it even matter that the Giants’ rotation has poor run support and are still dominant? And you can’t tell me that the top two Atlanta boys can even match up squarely against Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain. Or will surprise you with gems like Jonathan Sanchez. I’m not hearing it. If anything, St. Louis should be on the list as a No. 4 with the Phillies coming in fifth.
Eric
/ March 31, 2010Admittedly, I didn’t even think of the Cards. I’m an idiot.
The Giants, however… I like the Giants a lot and if we’re going top two, they’re hard to beat. I’m going more top-to-bottom, myself. And I’m not a Sanchez fan, really.
David
/ March 31, 2010Haha, Zuri, nobody remembers the SF Giants now that Barry is gone, c’mon nowwww! jk…but yes, they do have a solid staff. Us Boston fans know all about Sanchez as he came up through our system and was part of the Beckett deal. I’ve actually seen him pitch in the minors. He’s solid and last year was his first year back from injury. Good strikeout guy, with good stuff. BUT, like you said…they lack power hitting. If anyone needs Prince Fielder next year, it’s the Giants.
Eric, def up for debate because there’s so many ways to think about how you compare a staff. Def forgot the Cards, they’re up in there as well.
Zuri, I still like that Phillies rotation, Hamel could easily have a great comeback year and they already have the best pitcher in baseball.
Eric
/ March 31, 20101. STL
2. ATL
3. SEA
4. PHI
5. BOS
Yanks, ChiSox and LAD are up there, too.
David
/ March 31, 2010So I’m really curious. How do you not rate the Red Sox higher than 5. I mean, for real? AND, if we’re talking an entire pitching staff, Sox hands down #1. They are only adding 1 new pitcher to their entire staff…not sure any team can say they essentially have the same crew back. AND, should someone get hurt, Wake is in the Pen and can spot start. Is anyone really better than Beckett, Lester, Lackey? For real..
Zuri
/ March 31, 2010Dude, Wake is a part of the 6-man rotation. Yes, the Sox are going with six. Bucholz is officially in the mix.
Zuri
/ March 31, 2010Also, Eric, you’re totally making me feel like you’re just discounting the Gigantes. (Yeah, I totally went all Spanish on you.) Barry Zito is getting better and the new kid (Wellemeyer) isn’t as shitty as advertised. He’s actually having a phenomenal spring.
David
/ March 31, 2010Zuri, you have any semi-reliable websites to share that break down 2010 pitching staff’s?
Zuri
/ March 31, 2010Ummmm, ya David, I think it’s called Boston.com….. hahaha. No seriously, comparing each team is difficult. I go to each official team page and just rake the coals of each rotation. It’s part of the job, part of the joy.
David
/ March 31, 2010Dice-K makes it 7.
David
/ March 31, 2010Time to package Bucholz for a power hitter.
Eric
/ March 31, 2010Giants are close, too. Top 10, I’m sure. I’m a borderline fan of the Giants (Bonds is my favorite player of all-time), but I really don’t think Sanchez is that good. And Wellemeyer’s spring may be something, but I wouldn’t want him in the Rangers – my favorite team – rotation.
It’s not as though fifth-best rotation is a poor ranking, David. Their top three are filthy nasty, but not better – to me – than Seattle’s top three (if healthy). I’d take King Felix and Cliff Lee over the best three on the Red Sox on a case-by-case basis and I’d take Erik Bedard over two of them. The Phillies have, as you said, the best pitcher in baseball and a dynamite, young No. 2. I’m not calling the Red Sox rotation scum, it’s actually quite great, it’s just, to me, not as good as the other four.
David
/ April 1, 2010Good point with Seattle and I’m a big Felix fan, I wanted him to be a Sox, they almost traded for him last season. Bedard healthy is solid, but in my opinion not better than any of the Sox top 3. Cliff Lee is a stud, I’ll give you that. He and Josh Beckett are almost a wash in my mind…can’t argue with Beckett’s numbers and success. Perhaps these 2 teams will meet in the playoffs since if Seattle stays healthy, no Lackey leaves the door open for Seattle to be the playoff team in the AL West.