Top 5 Starters in Baseball

[Evil Bastard (aka Chris_L)]

I was wondering this morning whether Jon Lester of the Red Sox is one of the top 5 starting pitchers in baseball. I was amazed how difficult it is to name the top 5 because the competition is so tight.

Here are my top 5 pitchers - I wonder how this would differ from yours

1. Roy Halladay
2. Josh Johnson
3. Ubaldo Jimenez
4. Jon Lester
5. Cliff Lee

This means I had to leave off Felix Hernandez. I'm amazed that Johan Santana doesn't even come into consideration whereas just a couple of years ago he would have been top of the list.

 

[RickStain]

Are we measuring accomplishments? Or "who would you want starting for your team tomorrow?"

I think it's obvious who I'm referring to.

 

[Evil Bastard (aka Chris_L)]

Are we measuring accomplishments? Or "who would you want starting for your team tomorrow?"

I think it's obvious who I'm referring to.

Pedro Martinez?

 

[Captain_Kirk]

Chris Carpenter, Adam Wainwright and Tim Lincicum would like a word with you.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

Yeah, I don't know how anyone could not have Lincecum in their top five.

 

[Moderator1]

I was wondering this morning whether Jon Lester of the Red Sox is one of the top 5 starting pitchers in baseball. I was amazed how difficult it is to name the top 5 because the competition is so tight.

Here are my top 5 pitchers - I wonder how this would differ from yours

1. Roy Halladay
2. Josh Johnson
3. Ubaldo Jimenez
4. Jon Lester
5. Cliff Lee

This means I had to leave off Felix Hernandez. I'm amazed that Johan Santana doesn't even come into consideration whereas just a couple of years ago he would have been top of the list.

Tough to argue with your five - there are probably 15-20 pitchers who could make up a top 5 of some sorts.
You know who I'd put in there. Not really sure he's at that level yet, though you can make a case. He doesn't have the history yet.

 

[Evil Bastard (aka Chris_L)]

Daniel Nava?

 

[Evil Bastard (aka Chris_L)]

I went back and forth on Lincecum. The fact that he's having an off year (for him) and the fact that he hasn't done well in interleague play kept him off my list.

But he does illustrate how hard it is to isolate the top 5.

 

[Dick Whitman]

I'm going to look at this as who I would want as a dream starting staff for 2011, so that way there's a certain amount of weight given to right now, and a certain amount for consistent performance over time:

1. Tim Lincecum
2. C.C. Sabathia
3. Roy Halladay
4. Zack Greinke
5. Adam Wainwright

Jiminez is a close sixth.

Jamie Moyer was not included in this competition, for the same reason that fantasy basketball leagues used to not allow Shaq or Michael Jordan to be selected in their prime. Just not fair to the rest of the competition.

 

[heyabbott]

Strasburg?

 

[Dick Whitman]

Strasburg?

For 2012, yes. Not 2010 or 2010 just because of the severe innings limitations he'll probably still be operating under.

 

[Evil Bastard (aka Chris_L)]

The sponsorship for Johan Santana's Baseball-Reference.com page is pretty amusing

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/santajo02.shtml

 

[heyabbott]

Strasburg?

For 2012, yes. Not 2010 or 2010 just because of the severe innings limitations he'll probably still be operating under.

If a playoff team had him this season, don't you think they'd shelve him now and bring him back in September? If I managed a playoff team I'd find away to get him into the 3 or 4 man playoff rotation in 2010.

 

[mustangj17]

No love for Verlander eh?

 

[Evil Bastard (aka Chris_L)]

No love for Verlander eh?

Do you really think Verlander is one of the top 5 starters in baseball? Career ERA just under 4 and a playoff flop to boot?

 

[JackReacher]

Verlander is good. Real good. Just not top 5.

Strasburg won't be a top 5 guy in my mind until he can pitch 6-7 innings without throwing 100 god damn pitches. I know it's not his fault batters keep swinging and missing, it's just frustrating seeing his pitch count hover in the 80s and 90s in the fifth and sixth innings.

In no order...Halladay, Jiminez, Johnson, Lincecum, Sabathia/Lee.

 

[spnited]

In no order...Halladay, Jiminez, Johnson, Lincecum, Sabathia/Lee.

That sounds right to me

 

[JackReacher]

I can dig that.

 

[Evil Bastard (aka Chris_L)]

Unless you are judging by weight - CC Sabathia is not one of the top 5 starters in baseball

 

[rpmmutant]

1. Ubaldo Jimenez
2. Josh Johnson
3. Stephen Strasburg
4. Roy Halladay
5. Phil Hughes