I want to give a few, quick honorable mentions to some of the great starters that I couldn't include: Dan Haren, John Smoltz, Roy Oswalt, Tim Lincecum, Fausto Carmona, Ben Sheets, and many, many more.
Wang would be one of the honorable mentions. However, I don't think he really compares to the top seven pitchers on the list, and it's questionable as to whether or not he'd be ranked ahead of Zambrano, Hernandez, and Young. I'd, personally, rank Wang as the fifteenth best right-hander, or so. He's inconsistent and far from dominant, and I don't really see him making a leap upwards. I could certainly eat these words, though.
I don't include 'other' options, because I feel that they may encourage homerism and the like. Moreover, my rankings are based off of statistics and rankings and ratings from Baseball Prospectus, Baseball America, PECOTA, and the like - I try to make the list fairly objective, in that sense. As a Dodgers fan, I wanted to list Penny here - however, I don't think he really deserves to be there, statistically speaking.
I chose Jake Peavy. I had four possible candidates to choose from going in, and only three made the list: Jake Peavy, Brandon Webb, Felix Hernandez, and Dan Haren.
Jake Peavy is the most successful of the bunch, and even though last year was easily his most productive, I don't doubt that might change in the next five years. His pitching has gotten better with his age and at only 27 I have to think he'll be the best of the bunch, in terms of wins and era (which are the statistics I'm basing my belief in him on).
Brandon Webb is a very good pitcher, and will probably challenge Peavy over the next 5 seasons for this spot. He can put in a good year, consistently, and probably will for a few more seasons. I picked Peavy over him for manly the reason that Webb is 29, and has less area to grow. With this less area, and the thought that he's not a great pitcher, so most likely won't be able to put up his number for too long, I had to pick Jake over him.
Felix Hernandez was a possibility, with his young age and great arm I think he'll be a definite contender for the next 5 years. I remember games from his first season, and he was truly impressive at times, I remember thinking he could be something special one day. Since then he hasn't really put together a Cy Young style season, but I'm thinking he's due. Last year he started off 2007 with a great stretch, throwing 17 straight innings with only 3 hits and one run given, while striking out 18 batters. He looked to be off to a remarkable start, but couldn't keep it going as he was injured the next game, took a month off, and just wasn't the same when he came back. His possibility of injury is the only thing that keeps him away from the top, for me, but he will surely be pretty good over the next 5 seasons.
Dan Haren, I feel, should have been on the list. I think he might become the best pitcher on the Diamondbacks staff, and that's no easy feat on the same rotation as Brandon Webb. Personally I think he'll be one of the premier pitchers over the next couple of seasons.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kitty
No Wang on that list? That's crazy....other should have been added where you can post who you perfer.
I agree. How is Wang not on this list? He has been the Yankee ace for the past two seasons and looks to be this year as well. He's better than Aaron Harang, and even though he wouldn't get a vote in my opinion, he deserves a nod.
__________________ "Vlad's The Man"
"Correct me if I'm wrong, because I know I can't be right."
"Did they tell me how to pitch to (Ted) Williams? Sure they did. It was great advice, very encouraging. They said he had no weakness, won't swing at a bad ball, has the best eyes in the business, and can kill you with one swing. He won't hit anything bad, but don't give him anything good." - Bobby Shantz
Last edited by Vlad's The Man : 04-14-2008 at 04:50 PM.
I seemed to have forgotten about Justin Verlander. He, much like Felix Hernandez, has a very good future before him; a future that most likely will be better than Hernandez. I personally think he'll be better than Webb over the next five seasons and will probably be the second best right handed starter in baseball, if not the best.
I still however stick behind my vote of Peavy.
__________________ "Vlad's The Man"
"Correct me if I'm wrong, because I know I can't be right."
"Did they tell me how to pitch to (Ted) Williams? Sure they did. It was great advice, very encouraging. They said he had no weakness, won't swing at a bad ball, has the best eyes in the business, and can kill you with one swing. He won't hit anything bad, but don't give him anything good." - Bobby Shantz
Wang has a slight advantage in ERA, and gives up less extra base hits. Harang gives up less hits, less walks, and strikes out more batters. Personally, I'd take Harang over Wang - especially considering that Harang's successes have come in a much tougher park on pitchers.
I chose Jake Peavy. I had four possible candidates to choose from going in, and only three made the list: Jake Peavy, Brandon Webb, Felix Hernandez, and Dan Haren.
Jake Peavy is the most successful of the bunch, and even though last year was easily his most productive, I don't doubt that might change in the next five years. His pitching has gotten better with his age and at only 27 I have to think he'll be the best of the bunch, in terms of wins and era (which are the statistics I'm basing my belief in him on).
Brandon Webb is a very good pitcher, and will probably challenge Peavy over the next 5 seasons for this spot. He can put in a good year, consistently, and probably will for a few more seasons. I picked Peavy over him for manly the reason that Webb is 29, and has less area to grow. With this less area, and the thought that he's not a great pitcher, so most likely won't be able to put up his number for too long, I had to pick Jake over him.
Felix Hernandez was a possibility, with his young age and great arm I think he'll be a definite contender for the next 5 years. I remember games from his first season, and he was truly impressive at times, I remember thinking he could be something special one day. Since then he hasn't really put together a Cy Young style season, but I'm thinking he's due. Last year he started off 2007 with a great stretch, throwing 17 straight innings with only 3 hits and one run given, while striking out 18 batters. He looked to be off to a remarkable start, but couldn't keep it going as he was injured the next game, took a month off, and just wasn't the same when he came back. His possibility of injury is the only thing that keeps him away from the top, for me, but he will surely be pretty good over the next 5 seasons.
Dan Haren, I feel, should have been on the list. I think he might become the best pitcher on the Diamondbacks staff, and that's no easy feat on the same rotation as Brandon Webb. Personally I think he'll be one of the premier pitchers over the next couple of seasons.
I like Webb and peavey Webb being two years older then peavey turns 29 in may and peavey 27 in may... they both have many years left in their arms as pitchers go, my guess is they will battle 1 and 2 in the NLcy young allot over the next few years!
I dissagree when you say peavey had a more successful career while justifying peavy.. peavey came up in 2002 and webb in 2003... but webb has a lower career ERA and thrown 1 more inning coming up a year later.. I like you like ERA but wins is a team stat i prefer ERA webbs career ERA is 3.20 which is lower then peaveys throw in Webb pitches in the 2nd highest elevation in baseball and chase field is a hitters paridise while peavey throws in a pitchers paridise! and if your a starter and you give your team 230 innings like webb does every year that means your helping save your bullpen.
over the last 4 years webb has the best ERA his worst season was a 3.59 while peavey's been in the 4's twice. Verlanders best year would have been webbs worst year! Peavey and webb both have a cy young webb got robbed his rookie year when the gave dontrelle the ROY that was webbs he got screwed. Webb has more quality starts the last 4 years then anyone in baseball! anyhow my favorite two righty's are webb and peavey so being a dback fan i went homer in my voting but i think anyone who voted for webb or peavey made a good choice! In closing Webb throws in one of the most hitter friendly parks in baseball and peavey has always thrown in a bigtime pitchers park...probally why webbs Road ERA is quite a bit lower then peaveys since webb came up in 2003
Dan Haren, I feel, should have been on the list. I think he might become the best pitcher on the Diamondbacks staff, and that's no easy feat on the same rotation as Brandon Webb. Personally I think he'll be one of the premier pitchers over the next couple of seasons.
I really don't understand where all this love for Dan Haren is coming from - he's a solid pitcher, but his All-Star status was predicated upon one stellar half. In 2007 he had an ERA of 2.30 in the first half, and 4.15 thereafter - in fact, his performance decreased in each successive month: 1.60 ERA, 1.67, 2.55, 4.10, 4.15, and 4.82. Most of his other rates dropped successively, to boot.
Coming into the 2007 season, his ERA was 4.05. Drop his first half of 2007, and his career ERA is 4.10. While it isn't terrible, and is actually quite solid, I feel that there needs to be a great deal of scrutiny in evaluating his career numbers.
Best Right-Handed Starter in Baseball
Best Right-Handed Starter in Baseball
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