Best Rotations in the Game

[calsnowskier]

With the Giants locking down Cueto today, I think they are officially in the discussion for one of the best rotations in the game. Who are the best?

1) Mets (DeGromm, Harvey, Thor, Matz)
2) Diamondbacks (Greinke, Miller, Corbin)
3) Giants (Bum, Cueto, Samardzija)
4) Nationals (Scherzer, Strasburg, Gonzalez)
5) Cubs (Arrieta, Lackey, Lester)
6) ???


I do not really follow the AL, so I am not sure who would be their submissions, please add them here...

 

[Mondo Jay]

Good list. My initial impression is that the Cubs are probably number 2 or 3 now. Strasburg and Gonzalez don't impress me very much anymore.

 

[calsnowskier]

Good list. My initial impression is that the Cubs are probably number 2 or 3 now. Strasburg and Gonzalez don't impress me very much anymore.

Arrietta is a beast, but he is still only a 1-year beast. Lackey and Lester dont really scare me much. Outside of the Mets (who, I think, have the hands-down best rotation in the game) the Giants are the only team with 2 legit Aces (Zona MAY have two, but Miller does not have Cueto's track record).

 

[Clayton]

Mets #1.

Not sure about the rest just yet. Id be stunned if the Cardinals weren't top 5 by the all star break even with Lynn out

 

[calsnowskier]

Mets #1.

Not sure about the rest just yet. Id be stunned if the Cardinals weren't top 5 by the all star break even with Lynn out

I can agree with this. The Cardinal organization has a knack for inserting young guns and turning them into special pitchers.

 

[Arizona_Sting]

Good list. My initial impression is that the Cubs are probably number 2 or 3 now. Strasburg and Gonzalez don't impress me very much anymore.

Arrieta is unreal, but Lester has his ups and downs and Lackey is getting up there in age. Idk about 2 or 3. I'd say 5th is about right. Maybe 4th.

 

[Bolts]

I'd probably have the Indians ahead of the Nats in the top 5 with Kluber/Carrasco/Salazar.

 

[Clayton]

I can agree with this. The Cardinal organization has a knack for inserting young guns and turning them into special pitchers.

I'm not sure they have to insert a whole lot right now besides one Free Agent pitcher. Cards GM basically said there is no one worth big money on the market right now so...they are bluffing atm trying to devalue the market a bit. Wainwright, CarMart, Wacha, Garcia is decent top 4 with some real upside and some possible inconsistency. They'll probably add someone like a Wei-Yin Chen and call it a day.

 

[molsaniceman]

Mets #1 only team u listed 4 pitchers that 4th and 5th pitcher can mean alot to best rotation

 

[calsnowskier]

Mets #1 only team u listed 4 pitchers that 4th and 5th pitcher can mean alot to best rotation

4th and 5th in the rotation DOES mean a lot. But those are the questions that get answered in-season.

I actually REALLY like the Giants depth past their top 3. All 5 of their projected rotation have started an opening day (Bum(2), Cueto(4), Samardzija(3), Peavy(4), Cain(1)). Then they have Heston and a bunch of rooks who are kicking in the door (Blackburn, Mejia, Blach, Stratton) battling for the #6-10 spots. And Beede may be ready to bypass them all by mid-season.

 

[dredinis21]

4th and 5th in the rotation DOES mean a lot. But those are the questions that get answered in-season.

I actually REALLY like the Giants depth past their top 3. All 5 of their projected rotation have started an opening day (Bum(2), Cueto(4), Samardzija(3), Peavy(4), Cain(1)). Then they have Heston and a bunch of rooks who are kicking in the door (Blackburn, Mejia, Blach, Stratton) battling for the #6-10 spots. And Beede may be ready to bypass them all by mid-season.

I agree. The depth of young pitchers is certainly intriguing. Not intriguing enough to want to see them except for spot starts to give Peavy a breather, but intriguing nonetheless.

 

[dredinis21]

Mets #1.

Not sure about the rest just yet. Id be stunned if the Cardinals weren't top 5 by the all star break even with Lynn out

The Cards' ability to perfect the "next man up" concept is both enviable and admirable. Most of the time, the player stepping up performs as well or better then the incumbent. It's maddening.

 

[tducey]

Diamondbacks and Cubs.

 

[scoutyjones2]

Cards...Waino, Wacha, Martinez, Garcia...and does it matter?!

 

[Clayton]

Cards...Waino, Wacha, Martinez, Garcia...and does it matter?!

Cards are one arm short right now. They need one more starter somewhere. It doesn't have to be an Ace or anything but that might be an issue if/when they get to the playoffs. Martinez and/or Wacha is going to have to pitch like an Ace. Waino is hopefully going to replace Lackey's production from last year. Maybe the Cards get one more year where he is still an Ace but not anything to bank on.

Cardinals need a big name bat (read: HRs), though, or else they are going to lean on their pitching too much again and they'll all have dead arms by the end of the season. Thats the #1 issue.

 

[OutlawImmortal]

I'm guessing you think Kershaw, Iwakuma and Ryu are chopped liver.

 

[calsnowskier]

I'm guessing you think Kershaw, Iwakuma and Ryu are chopped liver.

I'm guessing you think they belong in this conversation.

 

[SFGRTB]

I'm guessing you think Kershaw, Iwakuma and Ryu are chopped liver.

I feel like Iwakuma disappeared over the Pacific ocean on his way to sign the contract. What's up with his situation?

Then Ryu is coming back from shoulder surgery. That is a HUGE question mark if he can get back to being the pitcher he was.

Too many unknowns after Kershaw.

 

[calsnowskier]

IMHO, in order to be considered a top rotation, you need AT LEAST 3 solid pitchers with few question marks.

The Mets have a legit Ace with DeGrom, a returning Ace with Harvey and two emerging STUDS in Thor and Matz. I dont think there are many who argue they are not the best in the game right now.

The Diamondbacks have a legit Ace in Greinke, a sold #1 in Miller and an emerging stud in Corbin.

The Giants have a legit Ace in Bumgarner, possibly the best #2 in all of baseball not named "Harvey" in Cueto, and a questionable stud in Scrabble.

The Cubs have a legit Ace in Arrietta, and two aging solid starters in Lester and Lackey. I personally think their top 3 is slightly over-rated, but still solid and in this discussion.

The Indians have a legit Ace in Kluber and two rising studs in Carasco and Salazar.

The Nats have a legit Ace in Scherzer and two questionable top-of-the-rotations guys in Strasburg and Gonzalez.

The Astros have a legit Ace in Keuchel, a young stud in McCullers and a solid 3 in McHugh.

The Dodgers have a legit Ace in Kershaw, and... A bunch of question marks.

The only thing keeping the Dodgers in any kind of consideration for top 10 is Kershaw and his brilliance. Past him, they got zero, zip, zilch.

 

[Chewbaccer]

Does a rotation of Julio Teheran, Matt Wisler, Williams Perez, Bud Norris and Mike Foltynewicz/Aaron Blair/Ryan Weber/Manny Banuelos/Sean Newcomb/Tyrell Jenkins not scare you?

Yeah, me neither, carry on.