Turn Off Ads?
Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 38

Thread: Do we have the best rotation in the NL?

  1. #1
    Member dunner13's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Posts
    616

    Do we have the best rotation in the NL?

    Looking around the league I would have to say that these teams have the best rotations...
    Cubs
    1. Zambrano
    2. Harden
    3. Dempster
    4. Lilly
    5. Marquis

    DBacks
    1. Webb
    2. Haren
    3. Davis
    4. Scherzer
    5. Petit

    Phils
    1. Hamels
    2. Myers
    3. Blanton
    4. Moyer
    5. Happ

    Reds
    1. Harang
    2. Volquez
    3. Arroyo
    4. Cueto
    5. Owings/Bailey

    From my perspective I would have to say we are probably third right now, with the cubs as first and the phils are very close second. If either team gets lowe or if the cubs get peavy they would be pretty far ahead of everyone else.
    However if Harang regains form, Volquez and arroyo pitch like last year and Cueto and Bailey take some steps forward we could potentially have the best rotation in baseball.
    I didnt include the marlins but looking at their pitchers they might have the most talent there just really young and inexperienced.


  2. Turn Off Ads?
  3. #2
    Member mroby85's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Ohio
    Posts
    2,282

    Re: Do we have the best rotation in the NL?

    the cubs are better for sure imo, the Dbacks could be argue, but I would put the Reds 2nd in the NL behind the cubs.

  4. #3
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Posts
    79

    Re: Do we have the best rotation in the NL?

    I'd leave that order exactly how it is. The Reds have potential to be in the top 3 but they are not there yet.

  5. #4
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Lake Orion, MI
    Posts
    454

    Re: Do we have the best rotation in the NL?

    It really depends on what kind of year that Harang and the 5th starter has and the development of Johnny Cueto. I personally would say the the D' Backs have the best rotation looking at the xFIPs and ERA+ from last year, and I'll even use 2007 numbers to make Harang a little more comparable because he had an uncharacteristic down year last year.

    Webb - 139 ERA+ 3.46 xFIP
    Haren - 138 ERA+ 3.38 xFIP
    Davis - 107 ERA+ 4.46 xFIP
    Scherzer - 151 ERA+ 3.33 xFIP in 56 innings
    Petit - 107 ERA+ 4.65 xFIP in 56.3 innings

    Harang (2007) - 125 ERA+ 3.81xFIP
    Volquez - 140 ERA+ 4.02 xFIP
    Cueto - 94 ERA+ 4.62 xFIP
    Arroyo - 95 ERA+ 4.34 xFIP
    Owings - 77 ERA+ 5.06 xFIP in 100 innings

    So based on these numbers, it is wasy to see that Arizona has a huge edge, but if Cueto develops and Volquez does not revert back to his xFIP and Harang turns it around, the reds could challenge the D'Backs, but I would have to say now the D'Backs have the edge.

  6. #5
    Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Posts
    3,868

    Re: Do we have the best rotation in the NL?

    Nice thread idea dunner13. The rotation definitely has the potential and that alone could net us 82+ wins. Just like Slim, I could see the DBacks 1st if Scherzer doesn't have any problems.

  7. #6
    Future Fame of Holler WildcatFan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Lexington, KY
    Posts
    2,650

    Re: Do we have the best rotation in the NL?

    The biggest piece that sets the Cubs apart is that they don't have a question mark in the fifth spot. Knowing what you're going to get every single game from 1-5 really cements a rotation.

  8. #7
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Lake Orion, MI
    Posts
    454

    Re: Do we have the best rotation in the NL?

    Quote Originally Posted by WildcatFan View Post
    The biggest piece that sets the Cubs apart is that they don't have a question mark in the fifth spot. Knowing what you're going to get every single game from 1-5 really cements a rotation.
    Well, in my opinion the Cubs rotation will not be as good next year as they were this year. The Dumpster had a 2.96 ERA with a 3.94 xFIP and that will most likely normalize, and same goes for harden who had a 1.77 ERA with a 3.64 xFIP, plus harden is always a health risk and who knows how many innings he pitches next year. Marquis and Lilly are average, not great but average and Zambrano is not the ace he once was.

  9. #8
    Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Posts
    3,868

    Re: Do we have the best rotation in the NL?

    Marquis could easily underperform the other 5th starters at a much higher cost. Alot depends on what he does, how much Harden will pitch, and if Dempster can repeat his '08 success.

  10. #9
    Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    North Dakota
    Posts
    2,864

    Re: Do we have the best rotation in the NL?

    I think there's a distinct possibility the Reds could have the best rotation in the NL. (When's the last time we could wonder about this question? 1990?)
    I agree they're 3rd or 4th now. But it's not unrealistic to hope for the following:

    1. Harang returns to old self
    2. Cueto does what Volquez did in '08 (everyone seems to think he's got better stuff)
    3. Owings or Ramirez will do for the 5th spot (reliable performance) what Marquis does for the Cubs.

    Note: I'd take Bailey out of the equation for now.

  11. #10
    Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    North Dakota
    Posts
    2,864

    Re: Do we have the best rotation in the NL?

    Just realized we're forgetting some Cubs.

    It could be:
    Zambrano
    Dempster
    Harden
    Lilly
    Marshall/ or Rich Hill? (what's his situation?)

  12. #11
    Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Ohio
    Posts
    539

    Re: Do we have the best rotation in the NL?

    I would agree that we have the potential to have one of the top rotations......but we aren't there yet.

  13. #12
    Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Posts
    3,868

    Re: Do we have the best rotation in the NL?

    Quote Originally Posted by UPRedsFan View Post
    Just realized we're forgetting some Cubs.

    It could be:
    Zambrano
    Dempster
    Harden
    Lilly
    Marshall/ or Rich Hill? (what's his situation?)
    Marshall has been rumored in just about every Cubs trade for awhile so he may not even be there in march. Hill has fallen ...




    ALOT.

  14. #13
    Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Bloomington, Ind.
    Posts
    562

    Re: Do we have the best rotation in the NL?

    I'm hoping that Harang is having a great offseason with his workouts. Besides possibly being overworked last year, I thought he looked like he had gained some weight, which might be a problem given that his dramatic improvement with the Reds was credited in part to the weight he lost after leaving Oakland. I can't wait to hear what his velocity is in spring training because I think that will tell us a lot about whether he's back to his old self or not.

    I wish the Cincinnati media would get in touch with guys like Alex Gonzalez and Harang in the offseason to give us updates on how they're doing. Why does the current condition of Gonzalez have to be such a mystery? If he's doing well in his recovery, I don't know why he wouldn't be willing to talk about that.

  15. #14
    Member dunner13's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Posts
    616

    Re: Do we have the best rotation in the NL?

    I realize that our rotation has some questions (harangs health, can volquez repeat, does cueto pitch up to his potential, who is the 5th starter) but if you go look at the rotations of the other teams in the NL you can see how we could compete this year. I would take owings or bailey as my 5th starter over just about every other 5th starter in the NL including Jason Marquis. If our pitching is as good as it should be this year then we can surive our subpar offense and still compete.

  16. #15
    Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Bloomington, Ind.
    Posts
    562

    Re: Do we have the best rotation in the NL?

    Dunner, I generally agree with you about how the Reds' rotation could match up with the best in the NL if things go right with the questions you mention. I hope Owings will be the answer as the fifth starter, but if he's not I think Ramon Ramirez has a better shot to fill that spot well next season than Bailey. If you look at Bailey's numbers from last year, including AAA, I don't see much hope for him making a positive impact in the majors this year.

    Homer Bailey 2008
    AAA - IP 111.1, H 118, BB 46, K 96, ERA 4.77, WHIP 1.47
    Reds - IP 36.1, H 59, BB 17, K 18, ERA 7.93, WHIP 2.09

    Ramon Ramirez 2008
    AAA- IP 99.1, H 76, BB 34, K 93, ERA 3.08, WHIP 1.19
    Reds - IP 27.0, H 17, BB 11, K 21, ERA 2.67, WHIP 1.04


Turn Off Ads?

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

Board Moderators may, at their discretion and judgment, delete and/or edit any messages that violate any of the following guidelines: 1. Explicit references to alleged illegal or unlawful acts. 2. Graphic sexual descriptions. 3. Racial or ethnic slurs. 4. Use of edgy language (including masked profanity). 5. Direct personal attacks, flames, fights, trolling, baiting, name-calling, general nuisance, excessive player criticism or anything along those lines. 6. Posting spam. 7. Each person may have only one user account. It is fine to be critical here - that's what this board is for. But let's not beat a subject or a player to death, please.

Thank you, and most importantly, enjoy yourselves!


RedsZone.com is a privately owned website and is not affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds or Major League Baseball


Contact us: Boss | Gallen5862 | Plus Plus | Powel Crosley | RedlegJake | The Operator