Felix Hernandez or Masahiro Tanaka for AL ASG starter?

[seahawksfan234]

Their statistical comparison as of this post:

 

[navamind]

Justin Masterson

 

[Podunkparte]

This is a really hard decision to make without being a homer. I would usually say Felix because the NY pitcher gets the NY lineup behind him, but I'm pretty sure the M's lineup has been better than the Yankees this year.

I think the last 2 starts for either guy could determine the winner, especially if Tanaka pitches himself out of contention staying in the set rotation.

Right now though, I'll go with Felix based on him facing the likes of Oakland, LAA, and Texas (though they're not as formidable as years passed) over Tanaka who gets to face Boston and Tampa more often. Yes, Toronto is great, but I gotta split hairs I guess.

 

[Voltaire26]

I am not a homer in this choice. Felix Hernandez. I think a pitcher has an advantage in the rookie year. Hernandez has been great for a while. Homer pick Anibal Sanchez!!!

 

[steveringo]

Justin Masterson

I am not a homer in this choice. Felix Hernandez. I think a pitcher has an advantage in the rookie year. Hernandez has been great for a while. Homer pick Anibal Sanchez!!!

I wish Boston still had both of these pichers...

 

[StanMarsh51]

This is a really hard decision to make without being a homer. I would usually say Felix because the NY pitcher gets the NY lineup behind him, but I'm pretty sure the M's lineup has been better than the Yankees this year.

I think the last 2 starts for either guy could determine the winner, especially if Tanaka pitches himself out of contention staying in the set rotation.

Right now though, I'll go with Felix based on him facing the likes of Oakland, LAA, and Texas (though they're not as formidable as years passed) over Tanaka who gets to face Boston and Tampa more often. Yes, Toronto is great, but I gotta split hairs I guess.

Texas being a below average offense this year doesn't really help Felix' case.

For what it's worth, if you look at the quality of their opponents this year:
Felix - batters faced collectively have a .244 AVG and .711 OPS
Tanaka - batters faced collectively have a .251 AVG and .716 OPS

So you could argue that Tanaka's faced better hitters on the whole.

 

[depraved]

Either one of them is deserving and i'll be happy with whoever they choose. Being a Yankee fan I would rather Tanaka not start and just be an observer this year. Save his arm for the second half. Let King Felix start.

 

[Arizona_Sting]

ALWAYS take a proven commodity over a rookie. Felix has been doing it for years.

 

[ThruTheEyesOfRuby]

ALWAYS take a proven commodity over a rookie. Felix has been doing it for years.

Totally agree.

 

[Bulletz]

I thought Tanaka said he didnt want to/wouldnt pitch in the ASG?

 

[$500 Million]

This thread is irrelevant, the way the Yankee rotation is set up not only will Tanaka not start, it's highly unlikely that he'll even throw a single pitch in the ASG.

 

[Fountain City Blues]

This thread is irrelevant, the way the Yankee rotation is set up not only will Tanaka not start, it's highly unlikely that he'll even throw a single pitch in the ASG.

We have a winner here.

 

[mr.hockey4242]

Man it is close. Both have been incredible. Felix has started getting his crappy run support more recently but it's great to see his record at this point for a change.

 

[navamind]

Ricky Nolasco.

 

[broncosmitty]

Tanaka would really impress me if he's closing in on 2000 innings when's he's 28, like King Felix.

 

[navamind]

Tanaka would really impress me if he's closing in on 2000 innings when's he's 28, like King Felix.

Agreed, this is what annoys me about people mentioning Tanaka in the "is he the best pitcher in baseball?" discussions. Tanaka's been fantastic so far, don't get me wrong, but he doesn't even have a full season under his belt. People forget Nomo had a ridiculously good start himself in 1995. His '95 and '96 seasons were very good/great, but after that, he never really had another year on par with those (except '03 and maybe '02). A couple differences of course, such as run scoring environments (Nomo came up in a high run scoring era, the league ERA in Tanaka's first year is at it's lowest since 1992). Tanaka is putting up a much better K/BB ratio than Nomo ever did, so there's that.

We shall see...

 

[broncosmitty]

Absolutely. (I caught Nomo fever in high school. Ill admit it.) It takes a lot to get into the "best ______" conversation for me. Three months isn't going to do it for a position player and most definitely not for a starting pitcher. Hernandez has shown season after season that he's able to stay at top form. I KNOW he's going to be over 200 innings. Over 200 K's. with an ERA under 3.50. He puts up those numbers every year. And this season his WHIP is the best it's ever been. He has a proven track record and he's bettering it. A truely great starter. Tanaka is having a great first half. Huge difference to me.

 

[TDs3nOut]

I could care less about which of the two makes the All-Star game. I will take this opportunity, however, to point out how seemingly wrong headed fans who claimed that Tanaka was the "next Dice K" -- particularly Rangers fans -- were!

 

[broncosmitty]

Plenty of time for Tanaka to have injury issues. (Unless you meant walks)

 

[broncosmitty]

Like I was sayin'....