Who has the best 2 rotations in the American League

[jabrch]

And specifically, once the playoffs start and teams go to 4 man rotations, then who is best?

NYY - Mussina, Vazquez, Brown (DL), Lieber, Contreras
Boston - Pedro, Schilling, Lowe, Wakefield, Aroyo
Minnesota - Radke, Santana, Lhose, Silva, Guerrier
Sox - Loaiza, Buehrle, Garcia, Garland, Rauch
Oakland - Zito, Mulder, Hudson (DL), Harden, Redman
Anaheim - Colon, Escobar, Washburn, Lackey, Sele

I'd say Oakland is #1 both now as a 5 man (with Hudson healthy in a few weeks) and once they go to a 4 man rotation, even though Zito has been a mess all year. I'd say the Sox are next best, possibly tied with the Yanks. Boston may have the best 1/2, but they are soft after that. Minny is weak after #3. Anaheim is in real trouble with how bad Colon has been all year.

Given that we know our offense can bang with anyone out there, this rotation is also now as good as anyone (except Oakland) in the AL. This team is now built to win - this year. And the great thing is - since Seattle sent us money this year in the Garcia deal, we are clearly not done spending.

[Philo-Sox-er]

How much money did Seattle throw into the deal? Anybody know?

[Flight #24]

Originally Posted by Philo-Sox-er

How much money did Seattle throw into the deal? Anybody know?

I saw a report somehwere that they basically picked up Ben davis contract. Not a lot of benefit there financially.

[Mickster]

My understanding is that Seattle threw in about $700K to cover the remaining costs of Ben Davis' contract. It's not like they are sending over $6M......

[markp8867]

Originally Posted by jabrch

And specifically, once the playoffs start and teams go to 4 man rotations, then who is best?

NYY - Mussina, Vazquez, Brown (DL), Lieber, Contreras
Boston - Pedro, Schilling, Lowe, Wakefield, Aroyo
Minnesota - Radke, Santana, Lhose, Silva, Guerrier
Sox - Loaiza, Buehrle, Garcia, Garland, Rauch
Oakland - Zito, Mulder, Hudson (DL), Harden, Redman
Anaheim - Colon, Escobar, Washburn, Lackey, Sele

I'd say Oakland is #1 both now as a 5 man (with Hudson healthy in a few weeks) and once they go to a 4 man rotation, even though Zito has been a mess all year. I'd say the Sox are next best, possibly tied with the Yanks. Boston may have the best 1/2, but they are soft after that. Minny is weak after #3. Anaheim is in real trouble with how bad Colon has been all year.

Given that we know our offense can bang with anyone out there, this rotation is also now as good as anyone (except Oakland) in the AL. This team is now built to win - this year. And the great thing is - since Seattle sent us money this year in the Garcia deal, we are clearly not done spending.

Right now I would say the White Sox have the best rotation especially when Schoenweis is healthy again. Oakland and the Yankees are pretty close too though. Contreras has one good game and he is suddenly the greatest pitcher ever? I don't think so. He might turn it around for the rest of the season but that remains to be seen. One thing is for sure, the White Sox are in good shape as far as starting pitching goes!

[fquaye149]

let's not go too overboard. We have the most bipolar rotation in baseball.

Sure, when our top guys are on their game they're studs, but they have some appallingly bad stretches.

I like our rotation though a lot. throw in another big time starter (ortiz) and we would have hands down the best, but right now, i'd take the a's, the angels and probably the red sox or yankees over us, though they all have their weaknesses as well.

[Dadawg_77]

Reg and Playoffs Season

A's
Yank
Boston - The Sox' are close together, but their top is better then our top so they get the nod.
Sox
Angles
Twins.

[kojak]

I'd say we are a solid 3rd. But what is scary is facing the Angels' starters head-to-head. Sele and Lackey both own the Sox...


Go Rangers!

[nasox]

Originally Posted by fquaye149

let's not go too overboard. We have the most bipolar rotation in baseball.

Sure, when our top guys are on their game they're studs, but they have some appallingly bad stretches.

I think that goes for any rotation in baseball, not just to ours. Every team, rotation, lineup, etc. is going to have rough spells.

[HomeFish]

Originally Posted by kojak

Sele and Lackey both own the Sox...

I'll give you Sele, but we beat the snot out of Lackey last time he was here.

[JoseCanseco6969]

Originally Posted by jabrch

Sox - Loaiza, Buehrle, Garcia, Garland, Rauch
.

dont count out schoenweis. he's already proved he can pitch well this season, and hopefully after his stint on the DL he can be solid at the end of that rotation.

[kojak]

Originally Posted by HomeFish

I'll give you Sele, but we beat the snot out of Lackey last time he was here.

Then what the hell was I thinking?????

[TomParrish79]

Playoff wise, I think I would take my chances with Pedro and Schilling. Two great starters can win you the world series, just look at what Schilling and Johnson did.

[jabrch]

Originally Posted by TomParrish79

Playoff wise, I think I would take my chances with Pedro and Schilling. Two great starters can win you the world series, just look at what Schilling and Johnson did.

Assuming you need a 4 man rotation, I'd take our 4 as tied with, or better than any 4 in the AL except Oakland. And given that Zito has sucked and Hudson is hurt, it isn't by such a large margin.

[TaylorStSox]

Originally Posted by jabrch

And specifically, once the playoffs start and teams go to 4 man rotations, then who is best?

NYY - Mussina, Vazquez, Brown (DL), Lieber, Contreras
Boston - Pedro, Schilling, Lowe, Wakefield, Aroyo
Minnesota - Radke, Santana, Lhose, Silva, Guerrier
Sox - Loaiza, Buehrle, Garcia, Garland, Rauch
Oakland - Zito, Mulder, Hudson (DL), Harden, Redman
Anaheim - Colon, Escobar, Washburn, Lackey, Sele

I'd say Oakland is #1 both now as a 5 man (with Hudson healthy in a few weeks) and once they go to a 4 man rotation, even though Zito has been a mess all year. I'd say the Sox are next best, possibly tied with the Yanks. Boston may have the best 1/2, but they are soft after that. Minny is weak after #3. Anaheim is in real trouble with how bad Colon has been all year.

Given that we know our offense can bang with anyone out there, this rotation is also now as good as anyone (except Oakland) in the AL. This team is now built to win - this year. And the great thing is - since Seattle sent us money this year in the Garcia deal, we are clearly not done spending.

Assuming everyone is healthy, I'd say we're 5th. Loaiza really isn't the pitcher from last year. Garland hasn't developed like I thought he would. Shchoney hasn't really proven anything.