With those dang Yankees winning the World Series this year after spending boy-band money to acquire two of the best starters in the game. (CC Sabathia and AJ Burnette) I thought it would be fun to look at the League as a whole to see who else has two top dogs at the top of their rotation. It has become pretty much common knowledge that no matter how good your offense is (Texas...NY Mets) you have to have good pitching to even have at a shot at the ultimate crown. These days, it isn't enough to have 1 bona fide No.1 starter, but it seems atleast 2 are necessary to get where you need to go.
So here is my list....
1. Seattle Mariners (Felix Hernandez and Cliff Lee) - One of the biggst offseason deals puts these sleepers at the top of this list. I am not convinced they will win the World Series because Seattle is just a tough place to play. However, Cliff Lee was the anchor of Phillies rotation this past year and King Felix is equally as electric in his own right. Two All-star Caliber, Cy-Young candidates in the same rotation...can't beat it)
2. New York Yankees (CC Sabathia and AJ Burnette) - I really don't like the Yankees for a multitued of reason, sometimes I even have trouble respecting them. However, there is no denying just how good they were this year. You cannot ignore the fact that they have largely the same lineup (including these two) coming back. Expect them to lead the way back to the playoffs at least. The only reason these two were not my number one pick is Burnette's tendency to be a bit erradic at some points of last season.
3. Arizona Diamondbacks (Brandon Webb and Dan Haren) - This pick may surprise some because of how poorly the Dbacks faired this past year. However, we cannot ignore the fact that former Cy-Younger Webb only started 1 game last year. In the previous year, he was the most devastating pitcher in baseball. With Haren anchoring an otherwise mediocre staff, he lead the team and most of the MLB in ERA. Expect a healthy Webb this year to regain form and pair with Haren just as well as anyone else on this list.
4. Philadelphia Phillies (Roy Halladay and Cole Hamels) - Had this list come out last year and this two guys were on the same team, they may have grabbed the number one slot. My only reservations this year are will Cole Hamels having such a mediocre season. There is no denying Halladay's Cy Young award winning talent. He might be one of the best ever. If Hamels returns to 2008 World Champion status, then the Phillies will be unbeatable in the playoffs. However, if he melts again like this year, then these guys fall off my list entirely.
5. Josh Beckett and Jon Lester (Boston Red Sox) - I happen to love Josh Beckett from a mechanical pitching stand point. Most of the season this year, the results are there. If you look at Lester, he is, in many ways, the left handed version of Beckett. Both power pitchers with power breaking pitches. Unfortunately, both hit patches of irregularity this past year. If they can avoid these stretches when it matters this year, then they are both capable of dominating all who cross their paths...even those Yankees.
So there is my top 5. Let me hear who else needs to be on the list...Its ripe for a debate.
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