We're now 16 days away from pitchers and catchers reporting to their respective Spring Training sites, which means the 2012 MLB season is not too far off from us. Last season produced arguably the most dramatic playoff push and postseason that we've seen in years, arguably one of the best of all-time, and the St. Louis Cardinals won the World Series in an unprecedented turn of events over the Texas Rangers in a thrilling 7-game series.
But enough about all of that summation. It's time to start thinking about the 2012 MLB season. And with that said, this is the beginning of a Top 10 series that I'm beginning. Today, we're going to look at starting pitchers.
The criteria for this Top 10 is simple: I've done my best to look at all their stats and stuff that each throw, and compiled what I think are the ten best pitchers in baseball. No, this list is not living in the moment. No, this list does not reflect who I believe will be the American League and National League Cy Young Award winners. Simply put: if I had to assemble a team today, here's how I would look at all the pitchers in Major League Baseball, and how I would rank them in terms of who I'd want to play for my team and go out on the mound once every five days and give me the best chance to stay competitive during that game. I'm a Yankees fan, and CC Sabathia ranks low on this list. Why? Because there're several other pitchers who I would take before him. I'm not going to be biased. I'm not going to go with the flavors of the month. I'm also not going to try and please everybody. So if you find yourself getting pissed off reading this, congratulations. That means I've done my job well.
Without futherado, here we go.
The Great... but not "Great":
I had a tough time omitting several great pitchers as I was going through this process mainly because, well, there are a lot of great pitchers in Major League Baseball right now. 2010 wasn't "The Year of the Pitcher" just for kicks, and 2011 was damn good as well for the men on the mound. Here are pitchers who didn't quite make the cut, in no particular order:
- Cole Hamels (PHI)
- David Price (TB)
- Jered Weaver (LAA)
- Mat Latos (CIN)
- Ricky Romero (TOR)
- Tommy Hanson (ATL)
- Josh Johnson (FLA)
- Yovani Gallardo (MIL)
Honorable Mentions:
Jon Lester: Boston's crafty, chicken-wing eating, beer drinking, cancer survivor checks in as our first honorable mention. I apologize to Lester for not putting him within this Top 10, as he's Boston's best pitcher on the staff and has shown he can be considered a Top 10 pitcher for much of his career. But there's too many good pitchers in front of him. Make no mistake though, Lester has proven he's got "ace-like" stuff and has put up incredibly solid numbers for the last 3 seasons including a gem of a 2010 campaign that netted him a couple of Cy Young votes.
2011 Season: 15-9, 3.47 ERA, 191.2 IP, 182 K, 75 BB, 1.257 WHIP
My 2012 Projection: 16-7, 3.37 ERA, 201.2 IP, 189 K, 75 BB, 1.201 WHIP
Zack Greinke: Another pitcher who didn't make the cut is one that is a former Cy Young Award winner (and beast in MVP Baseball 2005) and one that could be argued for Top 10 positioning. I would agree. There are occurrences where he could be placed on a Top 10 list. Not here, however. I'm not quite sure why as I feel like he's incredibly interchangeable within some of the pitchers on this list, but for the sake of it, I'll give him the HM. Greinke's got lethal and potent stuff, and is probably going to be known as Milwaukee's Best this year (see what I did there?).
2011 Season: 16-6, 3.83 ERA, 171.2 IP, 201 K, 45 BB, 1.200 WHIP
My 2012 Projection: 14-7, 3.62 ERA, 215.0 IP, 220 K, 60 BB, 1.250 WHIP
The Top 10:
10. Adam Wainwright: The first entry into the Top 10 is an iffy one and one main variable depends on whether or not this will blow up in my face, or make me look like a genius. Adam Wainwright is coming off of Tommy John Surgery. This procedure is either a kiss of death for some pitchers, or can help rebuild them almost immediately and turn them back into their great form. Wainwright was a stellar pitcher before TJS and was a perennial Cy Young candidate. Jury out.
2011 Season: N/A (Tommy John Surgery - out for the season)
My 2012 Projection: 18-6, 2.69 ERA, 220.2 IP, 205 K, 67 BB, 1.173 WHIP
9. Dan Haren: There's a few reasons why the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have one of the best rotations in MLB. Dan Haren is absolutely one of them. Despite the fact that his second halves have been notoriously down from his spectacular first halves, Haren is still one of the most underrated pitchers in the league in my opinion. Haren brings a great #2 pitcher to the Angels' staff and might be the best former St. Louis Cardinal on the Angels' roster. (OK, maybe a stretch)
2011 Season: 16-10, 3.17 ERA, 238.1 IP, 192 K, 33 BB, 1.024 WHIP
My 2012 Projection: 15-7, 3.03 ERA, 230.0 IP, 185 K, 35 BB, 1.107 WHIP
8. Matt Cain: Matt Cain is poised to be a very sought after free-agent this coming offseason. And for good reason. Cain is best remembered for his incredible 2010 postseason, when he didn't allow a single earned run in three starts and didn't lose a start either. Cain's got spectacular stuff, and has a ridiculous amount of upside as he's still only 27. Despite playing for an offensively-challenged team, Cain's averaged 178.25 K the last 4 seasons, and a 3.16 ERA. Yeah, this man is damned good and will have no problem finding a suitor if the Giants happen to let him go.
2011 Season: 12-11, 2.88 ERA, 221.2 IP, 179 K, 63 BB, 1.083 WHIP
My 2012 Projection: 13-10, 2.90 ERA, 222.1 IP, 175 K, 66 BB, 1.090 WHIP
7. CC Sabathia: If the word "workhorse" was in the dictionary, no man should represent that word more than CC Sabathia should. The stud ace for the New York Yankees has had Cy Young-caliber seasons every year for the last 5 seasons, including his 2007 campaign where he actually won the prestigious award. Make no mistake about it: CC is the Yankees' ace even with the additions of Michael Pineda and Hiroki Kuroda and is one of the best southpaws in the entire league. And he will once again be in Cy Young contention this season in my estimation.
2011 Season: 19-8, 3.00 ERA, 237.1 IP, 230 K, 61 BB, 1.226 WHIP
My 2012 Projection: 19-7, 3.23 ERA, 236.1 IP, 215 K, 65 BB, 1.210 WHIP
6. Tim Lincecum: The ace of the Giants' pitching staff locked up a quick 2-year extension with the team by the bay in the offseason and avoided a near-disaster for Brian Sabean & Co. The 2-time 2-time National League Cy Young winner is still a fantastic pitcher despite the obscure sub-.500 record he posted last year. Lincecum still posted 220+ K for the fourth consecutive season, had an ERA below 2.75 for the third time in four seasons. Don't let the eye test fool you: he's still damn good and should be a force to be reckoned with again this season.
2011 Season: 13-14, 2.74 ERA, 217.0 IP, 220 K, 86 BB, 1.207 WHIP
My 2012 Projection: 15-10, 3.05 ERA, 218.1 IP, 227 K, 79 BB, 1.215 WHIP
5. Justin Verlander: Verlander had a 2011 to remember: leading the AL in wins, ERA, and K to earn the Triple Crown and went on to win the Cy Young Award as well as the American League MVP. So why is he #5 on this list? Simple: not overreacting. Having a marvelous 2011 doesn't mean he's going to replicate those numbers or continually be the best pitcher in the AL. That doesn't mean he won't, but it's nothing to automatically claim. Being a Top 5 pitcher in MLB is no disrespect. I just think there are 4 pitchers better. Elite company either way.
2011 Season: 24-5, 2.40 ERA, 251.0 IP, 250 K, 57 BB, 0.920 WHIP
My 2012 Projection: 17-9, 3.21 ERA, 230.2 IP, 227 K, 65 BB, 1.150 WHIP
4. Clayton Kershaw: If you're one of those people that doesn't pay attention to anything out west, start getting to know this 23-year old southpaw from Dallas. Clayton Kershaw also matched Justin Verlander, in that he attained the Triple Crown in the NL, and also won the NL Cy Young. Kershaw impressed the hell out of me from the get go of the 2011 season in his outing against the Giants. I started watching more Dodgers games, and was amazed at how he worked on his control issues that he had. This man is dominant, and his potential is skyrocketing.
2011 Season: 21-5, 2.28 ERA, 233.1 IP, 248 K, 54 BB, 0.977 WHIP
My 2012 Projection: 19-6, 2.45 ERA, 232.2 IP, 232 K, 55 BB, 1.075 WHIP
3. Cliff Lee: The game's best left handed pitcher checks in at 3 on this Top 10 list. Lee has been on four teams in the last three seasons and it sure isn't about his ability. After obscure years in Cleveland featuring a Cy Young and a trip to the minors, Lee flaunted his stuff in 2009 for the Phillies and was the main arbitrary reason that the Phillies nearly won the World Series that season. After a season in Seattle and Texas, Lee returned back to Philly and just dominated inside the bandbox of Citizens Bank Park. Expect that not to change in 2012.
2011 Season: 17-8, 2.40 ERA, 232.2 IP, 238 K, 42 BB, 1.027 WHIP
My 2012 Projection: 18-6, 2.45 ERA, 230.1 IP, 234 K, 47 BB, 1.015 WHIP
2. Felix Hernandez: "The King" regressed a
bit last season after winning the Cy Young in 2010. But if you look close to the #'s, the "dip" is somewhat exaggerated. Despite posting an ERA a full run above his ERA in 2009 and 2010 and his strikeouts dipping by 10, Felix was close to his numbers from a year ago. What does this mean? Don't think that Felix isn't one of the best in the league because his W-L record isn't the greatest, or because of a "dip in his numbers." The King stay the King, and if you come at him, you best not miss.
2011 Season: 14-14, 3.47 ERA, 233.2 IP, 222 K, 67 BB, 1.220 WHIP
My 2012 Projection: 15-9, 2.66 ERA, 220.0 IP, 227 K, 70 BB, 1.101 WHIP
1. Roy Halladay: Be honest, who were you expecting? Certainly there's really no other real answer to this right? Roy Halladay is probably on his way to Cooperstown at this point with how dominant he's been for the last several years and the switch from the AL to the NL was incredibly seamless. If it were not for the Triple Crown year from Dodger pitcher Clayton Kershaw, Roy Halladay would have been a runaway choice for the Cy Young Award winner in 2011. The verdict's in: Roy Halladay is still the best pitcher in Major League Baseball.
2011 Season: 19-6, 2.35 ERA, 233.2 IP, 220 K, 35 BB, 1.040 WHIP
My 2012 Projection: 21-7, 2.35 ERA, 220.0 IP, 201 K, 31 BB, 1.035 WHIP
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