I took a few minutes just now to look through some of the potential starting pitchers for the NL in the All-Star Game. Here is how I’d break down the candidates as of today:
- I would start the game with Jair Jurrjens. His 9-3 record and 2.11 ERA makes this an easy call as of right now.
- The 2nd guy I’d pick is Cole Hamels, who is having a great season (9-3, 2.51 ERA, 0.93 WHIP).
- Roy Halladay (9-3, 2.56) would be next. No way he isn’t taken.
- Tommy Hanson (8-4, 2.48 ERA) is my 4th pretty easy pick.
- It gets a little dicey from here but I think Ian Kennedy would be my 5th starting pitcher selected. He’s 7-2 with a 2.98 ERA and has been a huge part of the D-Backs resurgence.
- Dillon Gee (7-0, 2.86 ERA) would be #6 on my list as of right now. I think it’ll take a few more good starts before the break to get him on the team. He hasn’t pitched nearly as many innings as the other guys (obviously) so it’s important for him to continue pitching well into the break. If he finishes the first half 10-0 or 10-1 with a sub 3 ERA he would then have to be considered a lock.
- Other candidates are Jhoulys Chacin (8-4, 2.81 ERA), Shaun Marcum (7-2, 2.85 ERA), Cliff Lee (…I guess) and a few others I’m too lazy to list.
How would you rank them?
Tags: All-Star Game
June 21, 2011 at 10:44 pm |
First, don’t let tonight’s start scare you from Gee in this discussion. Did anyone really believe he was going to go undefeated? I think he’ll bounce back.
For the sake of argument, I think Anibal Sanchez should be added to the list of candidates. He is 6-1 with a 2.90 ERA.
I would probably put Sanchez in Kennedy’s spot at this point.
June 21, 2011 at 11:11 pm |
Disagree. Maybe it’s just that I get to watch Ian pitch every 5th day so I have a local bias of sorts, but he’s been a key reason the D-Backs are in first. Besides, they’ll pick the hometown guy for the ASG. Book it.
June 21, 2011 at 11:27 pm
Hard to argue with that logic. Maybe I have an aversion to the name Ian.