[轉錄][外電] The top 5 rotations in the majors
※ [本文轉錄自 MLB 看板]
作者: Belladonaa () 看板: MLB
標題: [外電] The top 5 rotations in the majors
時間: Mon Dec 21 16:18:28 2009
Chris Bahr
1. Red Sox
Strengths: With the free agent acquisition of Lackey, the team boasts three
aces atop its rotation. Josh Beckett and Jon Lester already gave Boston one of
the best 1-2 punches in the majors, and Beckett has extra motivation in a
contract year. Boston will have six starters, barring a trade, and can use that
depth to its advantage. Clay Buchholz, 25, never has pitched a full season in
the majors, and the 43-year-old Tim Wakefield's health issues make him a likely
DL candidate at some point.
Biggest question: Which Daisuke Matsuzaka will show up this season: the one who
went 18-3 with a 2.90 ERA in 2008, or the injury-riddled one who went 4-6 with
a 5.76 ERA in 2009?
2. Braves
Strengths: This past season, three of the Braves' five starters finished with a
sub-3.00 ERA. And that quintet didn't even include Tim Hudson, who returned in
September following Tommy John surgery and posted a 3.61 ERA in seven starts.
Atlanta features a great mix of veterans in Hudson and Javier Vazquez and
youngsters in Tommy Hanson and Jair Jurrjens. Kenshin Kawakami was a tough-luck
loser (12 losses, 3.86 ERA) and should be better in his second major league
season. But with six starters, someone has to go.
Biggest question: Will Derek Lowe be dealt, and if not, will he be effective?
The Braves would love to unload the $45 million they owe Lowe over the next
three seasons, especially given his 5.59 ERA in his final 21 starts of 2009.
3. White Sox
Strengths: The top of their rotation features a former NL Cy Young winner who
will enter the season completely healthy, as well as a lefthander who threw a
perfect game in 2009. Jake Peavy wasn't acquired solely for last season's
stretch run, though he did go 3-0 with a 1.35 ERA in three starts in late
September/early October. Mark Buehrle has two no-hitters on his resume, in
addition to nine consecutive seasons with at least 10 wins and 200 innings
pitched. Up-and-comers Gavin Floyd and John Danks are among the best third and
fourth starters in the game.
Biggest question: How much does Freddy Garcia have left? Chicago's fifth
starter has made only 23 starts over the past three seasons because of shoulder
problems.
4. Yankees
Strengths: As they proved in the postseason, the trio of CC Sabathia, A.J.
Burnett and Andy Pettitte is as good as they come. One of those three started
every playoff game, and they combined for eight of New York's 11 postseason
wins en route to the franchise's 27th World Series championship. Any concerns
about Sabathia's ability to handle the pressure of New York and a monstrous
contract disappeared quickly following his perennially poor April.
Biggest question: Are Joba Chamberlain and/or Phil Hughes ready/best suited
full-time rotation roles?
5. Cardinals
Strengths: It never hurts to have the pitchers who finished second and third in
the NL Cy Young voting anchoring your rotation. Chris Carpenter led the NL with
a 2.24 ERA in his exceptional comeback season in 2009, and Adam Wainwright
(2.63 ERA) led the league with 19 wins. Newcomer Brad Penny, who posted a 2.59
ERA after returning to the NL with the Giants in 2009, should be another fine
pupil for pitching coach Dave Duncan. And Kyle Lohse, whose 2009 season was
derailed by injuries, will be healthy and is capable of returning to 2008 form
(15-6, 3.78 ERA).
Biggest question: Who's the fifth starter? Re-signing John Smoltz is an option,
and the door hasn't slammed shut on free agent Joel Pineiro yet.
Five that just missed the cut
Phillies: Roy Halladay is a huge addition, but will Cole Hamels ever return to
2008 form?
Rockies: The return of Jeff Francis could be enough to boost this unit into the
top five by the summer.
Mariners: Felix Hernandez and Cliff Lee are arguably the top 1-2 punch in the
majors, but things drop off quickly after that.
Giants: Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain are superb, but Jonathan Sanchez and Barry
Zito still are inconsistent.
Angels: Even without Lackey, they still have Jered Weaver, Joe Saunders, Ervin
Santana and Scott Kazmir.
http://www.sportingnews.com/mlb/article/2009-12-19/top-5-rotations-majors
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