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Best Rotation in the Bigs? (POLL)

Which team does have the best rotation in the Majors?  Now, with the addition of Harden, I think it is the Cubs.  Here's my analysisof the top rotations in the Bigs:

Chicago Cubs: Zambrano, Dempster, Harden, Lilly, Marquis.  The Cubs rotation last year was solid, and now in '08, the '07 two-slot starter (Lilly), has slipped into the 4 spot.  Between the big three (Zambrano, Dempster, and Harden), the highest ERA is Dempster's (3.25), proving to be the MLB's best trio.

Toronto Blue Jays: Halladay, Burnett, Marcum, Litsch, McGowan.  This rotation has been phenominal.  Halladay and Marcum are currently maintaining ERA's below 3.  However, the other three starters are fighting to get their ERA's below 4.  Despite Burnett's 10 Wins, he still has an ERA of 4.84.  Still, the dominance of Halladay and Marcum keep the Blue Jays in the Race for top Rotation in the Bigs.

Boston Red Sox: Jon Lester, Tim Wakefield, Josh Beckett, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Justin Masterson.  All five in the current Sox rotation maintain ERA's below 4.  Outside of Clay Buchholz (2-5 5.88), who has bounced in and out of the rotation, this rotation has been absolutely dominant.

Tampa Bay Rays: James Shields, Andy Sonnanstine, Matt Garza, Scott Kazmir, Edwin Jackson.  4 of 5 starters have ERA's below 4.  Tampa Bay pitching has kept the Rays in just about every game they compete in.  Although they are not all fully developed as players, look for this rotation to dominate for years to come.

Chicago White Sox: John Danks, Mark Buehrle, Javier Vazquez, Gavin Floyd, Jose Contreras.  Buehrle and Floyd both hover around 3.6 as far as ERA goes, while John Danks hovers in the 2.7 range.  Contreras and Vazquez have higher ERA's, 4.6 and 4.61 respectively, but they continue to keep their team in the game (both with 7 Wins).  The White Sox will continue to Win as long as thier pitching holds up.

Atlanta Braves: Hudson, Jurrjens, Campillo, Reyes, Glavine.  The loss of Smoltz has hurt the rotation, and injuries to Glavine have hurt as well.  However, the Braves pitching, led by Jurrjens, Campillo, and Hudson, continues to be a top rotation in the MLB.  All three of those pitchers have ERA's right around 3.

LA Dodgers: Lowe, Billingsley, Kuroda, Penny, Kershaw.  All pitchers, outside of Penny, have been dominant, and Penny is sure to come soon.  Young Clayton Kershaw hasn't quite dominated either, but he is soon to prosper as well.

LA Angels: Santana, Saunders, Lackey, Weaver, Garland.  Wow, this rotation is good.  If there's one team that has a better rotation than the Cubs, its the Angels.  Three of the listed starters are hovering around an ERA of 3 (Lackey, Saunders, Santana), while the other two are right around 4 (Garland, Weaver).

Those listed above are the top rotations in the Bigs, and I am led to conclude that with the addition of Harden, the Cubs are the best of the best.  The Athletics had one of the best rotations, but with the loss of Harden and Blanton, they were severly hurt.  Who do you think has the best rotation?

 

Poll
Who has the best rotation in the MLB?
Chicago Cubs
59 votes
LA Dodgers
1 votes
Atlanta Braves
0 votes
Boston Red Sox
16 votes
Tampa Bay Rays
8 votes
Toronto Blue Jays
1 votes
Chicago White Sox
6 votes
Oakland Athletics
1 votes
LA Angels of Anahiem
16 votes
Other
2 votes

110 votes | Poll has closed

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, editor-in-chief (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

0 recs | Comment 22 comments

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You left out

The Anaheim Angels:

Lackey
Garland
Weaver
Saunders
Ervin Sanata (who can suddenly pitch on the road!)

That’s a great rotation….too bad for them that their offense is TERRIBLE

Some people have 3 layers, like pie.

by berselius on Jul 19, 2008 12:47 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   1 recs

+1

Angels should be right up there with the best.

"Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball." - Jacque Barzun

by Bump Bailey on Jul 19, 2008 1:06 PM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

+1

"Prince Fielder Dies Of Inside-The-Park Homerun" - The Onion

by DTJchris on Jul 19, 2008 1:43 PM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

The Cubs have the best one two three

punch in the majors. No doubt.

"Check the magic of a winning season and there are always reasons beyond the talent." Ned Colleti

by wrigleyrocker12 on Jul 19, 2008 1:01 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

if this isnt biased

i dont know what is. considering the angels arent even on here and the A’s have had the lowest ERA in baseball pretty much all year…..also white sox pitching has had a considerably better year than the cubs has.

by thestudman76 on Jul 19, 2008 1:35 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

The D'Backs have possibly the best 1-2 in baseball

but not the best 1-2-3. Johnson has an ERA of 5.23 this year, sure he strikes people out, but he is a shell of his former self.

"Prince Fielder Dies Of Inside-The-Park Homerun" - The Onion

by DTJchris on Jul 19, 2008 1:39 PM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Toronto doesn't really belong on this list.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jul 19, 2008 1:38 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Neither do the Braves I would say

theirs is good, just not among the elite.

"Prince Fielder Dies Of Inside-The-Park Homerun" - The Onion

by DTJchris on Jul 19, 2008 1:42 PM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Ouch Al!

N/T

Can't wait for the Cubs in '08!!!

by fuzzycubfan on Jul 19, 2008 1:59 PM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

The angels are the best rotation in the MLB

but I do agree that the Cubs have the best trio if they are all on.

by lexmarklover on Jul 19, 2008 2:46 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

If they stay healthy...

The Brewers have a pretty dang good pitching staff as well… Cards aren’t that bad either… NL central (minus the “other teams”) are all pretty solid.

by lswaidz on Jul 19, 2008 2:47 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

yep

no idea why they’re not included in the poll.

CC
Sheets
Parra
Bush
McClung

It’s just lucky for us that Gallardo is out, otherwise they would have had a killer 1-4. But I would agree that the Cubs’ rotation matches up well with any team’s starters. Now let’s hope Hill can get himself right!

by Cubinator on Jul 20, 2008 4:44 AM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Not that impressed with Bush or McClung.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jul 20, 2008 5:47 AM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Angels have the best rotation,

BUT the Cubs have the most dominant rotation if you get what I’m saying.

If Zambrano is on and Harden’s healthy, our front 3 is litteraly unbeatable in a short series. I would be surprised to see those guys give up 3 runs.

Devin Hester, you are rediculous! -Jeff Joniak

by ARAM FOR MVP on Jul 19, 2008 5:36 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Some mistakes

Masterson has been sent to the minors , Smoltz and Penny have been on the DL
for a long time and it is not clear when they are coming off,

"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry

by Doggie Stalker on Jul 19, 2008 5:58 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Penny is coming back soon...

and I noted how Smoltz wasn’t in the rotation

"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living." - Alvin Dark

by cubs199235 on Jul 19, 2008 11:30 PM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

This is based alot on

pitcher VORP (baseballprospectus.com). That is why the Angels were left out. The only team on the list they have a higher VORP than is the Cubs. The Cubs VORP doesn’t include Harden, besides his one start as a Cub.

"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living." - Alvin Dark

by cubs199235 on Jul 19, 2008 11:32 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Nevermind...

That’s not true. I just looked it up again, and the Angels deserve to be on the list. That’s totally my fault. Ill fix it right now.

"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living." - Alvin Dark

by cubs199235 on Jul 19, 2008 11:33 PM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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