If you had to build a team...

by uclabruin on Jun 18, 2008 12:05 AM PDT

If you had happened to catch any part of the postgame on the radio, the question that was posed was: If you had to build a team, and had a choice of any 3 pitchers from the league, who would they be?

Since we're talking aces lately, (Webb, although not very ace-like today, and Haren tomorrow), which five pitchers would you choose to build your starting rotation?

Requirements: Although you do have a choice of anyone in the league, assume that you are required to think about payroll (So having 5 Santana's probably isn't very realistic). Service time should be in the equation.

So here's my five:

SP1: Jake Peavy - Nasty stuff, great command, signed until 2012 on a very team friendly contract.

SP2: Brandon Webb - Best sinker in the planet, and friendly contract like Peavy's

SP3: Rich Harden - We all know about him.

SP4: Cole Hamels - Lefty version of Harden without the injuries, and not as disgusting stuff, but hard to argue with his fastball-changeup combo. (Still 3 more years till free agency)

SP5: Tim Lincecum - Rarely has a second year player dominate this much. (4+ more years till free agency)

So who's on your dream team?

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Somewhere on my list would be

Kazmir
King Felix
Lincecum
Cole Hamels
Verlander

or something like that. Peavy and Webb are good too. I wonder how good Wang really is. Or Buchholz. and every time I hear about Jared, it seems like he’s dominating, but maybe that’s only against the A’s

Let's have our Piazza and eat the Cust too - SPWC

by closetasfan on Jun 18, 2008 6:09 AM PDT 0 recs

Hmmmm....I'm thinking

in no particular order:

Scott Kazmir
Justin Duchscherer – I love that he actually ‘pitches’
Cole Hamels
Johan Santana – I only have one on my team
Brandon Webb – Even with last night’s performance (on the mound)

I’ll admit that Felix Hernandez is a great pitcher, but i’m just not on that bandwagon. Something about the dude, i just don’t like him.

"Put some ice on it. After that, there's nothing a few beers won't take care of. " -Pink

by OrlandoAsFan on Jun 18, 2008 6:40 AM PDT 0 recs

Is it the "he's not actually that good" part?

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jun 18, 2008 8:06 AM PDT up 0 recs

Not really

I’m not even going to attempt to make up a reason. I just think he is overrated. That and i just don’t like him. Haven’t you ever just not liked someone for no particular reason? That’s the situation here.

"Put some ice on it. After that, there's nothing a few beers won't take care of. " -Pink

by OrlandoAsFan on Jun 18, 2008 10:48 AM PDT up 0 recs

Yes

Rich Harden.

(see yesterday’s thread)

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jun 18, 2008 11:30 AM PDT up 0 recs

I've seen you go

off about him before. Personally, i like Rich Harden. Then again, i’m not privy to all the interviews and additional coverage that you guys on the west coast get to see and hear. I think part of my issue with Felix Hernandez is that he just looks like a cocky expletive. I just don’t generally get along well with people like that.

"Put some ice on it. After that, there's nothing a few beers won't take care of. " -Pink

by OrlandoAsFan on Jun 18, 2008 12:16 PM PDT up 0 recs

i want my pitchers

to think they are amazing…i have no problem with being cocky

"It's not my fault your team's so shitty." -Steve Friend, head coach, Chabot College, to Laney College's head coach, who asked why we scored so many runs after we beat Laney 30-3 in 2006

by flipgatey3 on Jun 18, 2008 3:28 PM PDT up 0 recs

To me there

is a huge difference between cocky and confident. Confidence is good. Cockiness is not.

"So there I am, getting it on with this perfect female body, but with the head of Abraham Lincoln. With the hat and the beard, everything." -Tony (Dazed and Confused)

by OrlandoAsFan on Jun 19, 2008 6:23 AM PDT up 0 recs

My group

Tim Lincecum
Dustin McGowan
Jake Peavy
James Shields
Dan Haren

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jun 18, 2008 8:10 AM PDT 0 recs

i like this one

"It's not my fault your team's so shitty." -Steve Friend, head coach, Chabot College, to Laney College's head coach, who asked why we scored so many runs after we beat Laney 30-3 in 2006

by flipgatey3 on Jun 18, 2008 9:11 AM PDT up 0 recs

can't argue much with 4/5

but McGowan really isn’t impressive right now.

by uclabruin on Jun 18, 2008 11:33 AM PDT up 0 recs

He's 26

He has great stuff.
He has an FIP of 3.76.
What’s not to like?

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jun 18, 2008 11:38 AM PDT up 0 recs

yes he is

"It's not my fault your team's so shitty." -Steve Friend, head coach, Chabot College, to Laney College's head coach, who asked why we scored so many runs after we beat Laney 30-3 in 2006

by flipgatey3 on Jun 18, 2008 3:29 PM PDT up 0 recs

I'd probably go

Kazmir
Harden
Lincecum
Peavy
Halladay

Try winning going up against that rotation ;-)

by Blez on Jun 18, 2008 8:25 AM PDT 0 recs

Kazmir can't go more than 6

Less than Harden

by uclabruin on Jun 18, 2008 11:34 AM PDT up 0 recs

The problem with your salary caveat

is that you’re biasing the selection heavily in favour of pre FA players, who, under the current system will always be cheaper, monetarily, than post FA players.

To balance that out, you need to consider what it would take to acquire a very good / great pre FA player. You aren’t going to get a Lincecum or a Hamels without paying a huge ransom in prospects to the team that has them.

ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524

by rfloh on Jun 18, 2008 8:59 AM PDT 0 recs

again...this is all hypothetical

just for fun you know.

by uclabruin on Jun 18, 2008 11:34 AM PDT up 0 recs

yea, I know it is for fun :)

Wouldn’t it be more fun if the exercise isn’t weighted so heavily against post FA or soon to be FA players? And guys like Santana, Halladay, Beckett, Lackey were also considered?

ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524

by rfloh on Jun 18, 2008 12:52 PM PDT up 0 recs

Well, I would want 3 good, fresh arms that are not going to get injured

In no order, probably something like;

Lincecum
Kazmir
King Felix
Peavy
Webb

Pessimism FTW! ... Wait what?

by Zonis on Jun 18, 2008 9:00 AM PDT 0 recs

Kazmir and Felix are fresh arms that aren't going to get injured?

by mikev on Jun 18, 2008 9:17 AM PDT up 0 recs

Felix Hernandez

191 IP, in 2006, his first full season, 190.3 IP in 2007, 103.3 IP so far. He’s hardly injury prone.

ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524

by rfloh on Jun 18, 2008 9:50 AM PDT up 0 recs

He does sit out a lot with niggly injuries. That said he is a prodigious talent.

Ok let’s give this lineup a whirl:

Brandon Webb,
John Lackey,
Tim Lincecum,
Dan Haren,
Felix Hernandez.

by OldhamA on Jun 18, 2008 10:52 AM PDT up 0 recs

Street almost picked Lackey too last night

But then he was Angel, so he changed his mind.

by uclabruin on Jun 18, 2008 11:35 AM PDT up 0 recs

Maybe.

Or it might be that the Mariners are just being extra careful with him.

ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524

by rfloh on Jun 18, 2008 12:53 PM PDT up 0 recs

These would be mine

1. Johan Santana
2. Rich Harden
3. Dan Haren
4. Scott Kazmir
5. Edinson Vólquez

6. Aaron Harang (as a spare)

by A'sfaninNC on Jun 18, 2008 9:04 AM PDT 0 recs

I see no criteria regarding retirement or zombie status, or peak vs career value

Steve Carlton
Walter Johnson
Pedro Martinez
Sandy Koufax
Greg Maddux

If we can’t fix the stupid, can we at least beat them senseless? @('.')@

by monkeyball on Jun 18, 2008 10:18 AM PDT 0 recs

+1

No Rocket

The Stockton Ports pitching staff is better than the Orioles.

by gdub171 on Jun 18, 2008 10:46 AM PDT up 0 recs

Ryan
Gibson
Koufax
Spahn
Ruth

The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus

by The Dogfather on Jun 18, 2008 10:58 AM PDT 0 recs

I almost put Gibby on my list

... but his era discounts his achievements a bit (though, admittedly, the same argument applies against Lefty; my response, of course, is “1973”).

Ryan, eh? If we’re going just by freak-show entertainment value, I’ll take the Mad Hungarian.

If we can’t fix the stupid, can we at least beat them senseless? @('.')@

by monkeyball on Jun 18, 2008 11:50 AM PDT up 0 recs

Wengert
Telgheder
Chouinard
Johns
Wojciechowski

I generally bemoan the profusion of Mr Sabermetric Sporks in the Scrabble ranks who don't know the meaning or usage of 50% of the words they use. -monkeyball

by JediLeroy on Jun 18, 2008 11:16 AM PDT 0 recs

I'll join the fantasy

Brad Rigby
Mike Oquist
Todd Van Poppel
Ariel Peitro
Steve Karsay

w/Billy Taylor as the closer

You have to include smiley faces - Poppy
;- ) :- ) :-O : -> : -] : -}

by micdog2001 on Jun 18, 2008 11:24 AM PDT up 0 recs

awesome

gil heredia
jimmy haynes
omar olivares
blake stein
mike mohler

and taylor at closer as well

"It's not my fault your team's so shitty." -Steve Friend, head coach, Chabot College, to Laney College's head coach, who asked why we scored so many runs after we beat Laney 30-3 in 2006

by flipgatey3 on Jun 18, 2008 3:33 PM PDT up 0 recs

ooo

Blake Stein – 4 k’s in one inining = awesome ; -)

man I remember playing baseball video games with these ~~losers~~ guys.

You have to include smiley faces - Poppy
;- ) :- ) :-O : -> : -] : -}

by micdog2001 on Jun 18, 2008 3:39 PM PDT up 0 recs

The great thing is I can do this with my 2 favorite teams!

Harden
Harang
Volquez
Duchscherer
Eveland

Well, we get 4 stars and a solid pitcher.

"To me, boxing is like a ballet, except there's no music, no choreography, and the dancers hit each other." - Jack Handey

by JJ on Jun 18, 2008 11:26 AM PDT 0 recs

not to judge, but...

I have to automatically disregard any list without Lincecum. He’s a freak of nature in every respect.

I miss Marco... :(

by Kallus on Jun 18, 2008 11:27 AM PDT 0 recs

just with H's

Hernandez
Hamels
Haren
Harden
Harang
Hudson
Halladay

by jakarta on Jun 18, 2008 11:43 AM PDT 0 recs

I'm going all Venzuelan team!

Johan Santana, King Felix, both zambranos, and I’m making Scott Kazmir Venzuelan! Although he’s well hated here on AN, K-Rod would be my closer.

Suprisingly no one has picked Kentucky Cupcakes!

by little A on Jun 18, 2008 12:07 PM PDT 0 recs

I'm assuming this is some species of sarcasm

but I’m having trouble identifying the genus.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jun 18, 2008 12:30 PM PDT up 0 recs

Sarcasm, how 'bout the last sentence

by little A on Jun 18, 2008 1:06 PM PDT up 0 recs

They asked Pres Bush who he'd pick...

...if he could pick one pitcher and one position player. He said Roy Holiday (He does even know the guy’s name) and Chase Utley.

You know I’d pick Santana and Hanley Ramirez

by little A on Jun 18, 2008 12:11 PM PDT 0 recs

I'd rather have Utley (as much as it pains me to agree)

And if I had to pick any single SP it’d be Peavy

by nevermoor on Jun 18, 2008 4:06 PM PDT up 0 recs

Why does it pain you to agree?

Did he run over your dog?

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jun 18, 2008 4:30 PM PDT up 0 recs

No, but he can't talk, think coherently (or, of course, lead a country)

by nevermoor on Jun 19, 2008 9:17 AM PDT up 0 recs

Oh

For some reason, I interpreted that sentence as meaning that it pained you to admit that Chase Utley was the best player in the NL. Instead of to agree with Dubya.

I’d take Ramirez long-term… but only because he’s younger by five years. No question Utley is the better player right now. Given the injury concerns swirling around Pujols, David Wright is really the only player who is close to Utley right now.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jun 19, 2008 10:08 AM PDT up 0 recs

did u mean HRamirez???

You can’t possibly be agreeing with me. BTW, I lived in Venzuela for 2 years, therefore I have a certain fondness for Venz players. Hramirez is actually from the DR, my mistake, but i do like him.

by little A on Jun 19, 2008 1:03 PM PDT up 0 recs