The National League prides themselves on on being more defense oriented. Where pitching and fielding are more highly regarded then with their DH/pound you into submission younger siblings in the AL. The NL East has plethora of different management strategies. The Mets spend money like it is going out of style and the Marlins are such tight wads that both MLB brass and the MLBPA forced them to loosen up the purse strings in the coming seasons. So who is doing it right? Which team has spent their money wisely on their pitching and which ones are just using their dollars as kindling?
Philadelphia Phillies: Historically the Phillies are one of the least successful organizations in baseball with dubious honor of being the first to reach 10000 losses. Yet in recent years they have been a force to be reckoned with. They seem to have taken on an American League style offensive attack matched with solid starting pitching. They have reached the World Series in back to back years and successfully won in 2008. They currently are spending $36.35 million on their starting rotation.
- Roy Halladay: He is arguably the best pitcher in baseball. He has been a consistent performer on teams that have not performed well. In 2009 Halladay had 2.79 ERA, 208 K’s, 239 IP and 35 walks. He is earning $15.75 million in 2010
- Cole Hamels: Hamels is a solid young pitcher with A+ stuff. He has had some injury issues that inflated his numbers slightly but their isn’t too much to worry about here. He won’t have the pressure of being the ace on the staff so he should blossom. He posted a 4.32 ERA, 168 K’s, 193.2 IP and 43 BB’s. He will earn $6.65 million in 2010.
- J.A. Happ: Happ exploded onto the scene in Philadelphia this past season. He threw for a 2.93 ERA, 119 K’s, 166 IP and 56 walks. He will make near the minimum for 2010.
- Joe Blanton: Blanton has continued to serve as a solid middle of the rotation pitcher. He threw for a 4.05 ERA, 163 K’s, 195.1 IP and 59 BB. He will earn $7 million in ’10.
- Jamie Moyer: At age 47 Moyer is getting to the point where he is old enough of to be some of his teammates father. Yet, he has been been a serviceable pitcher who will eat up quite a few innings and give you team a chance to win even if he is only topping out at 86 mph on his fastball. He threw for 4.94 ERA, 94 K’s, 162 IP and 43 walks. He will make $6.5 million in 2010.
Florida Marlins: The Marlins are an anomaly is the world of Major League Baseball. They consistently have one of the lowest payrolls year in and year out. Yet, they always find a way to stay competitive and have even won a couple of World Series championships. With the knack of developing good young pitchers that have success at the major league level other small market teams should look at their player development and take notes. The Marlins rotation is costing them $9.7 million.
- Josh Johnson: This young hurler is the aces of the Marlins staff. 2009 was the first season he was injury free and the dividends paid off. He threw for a 3.23 ERA, 191 K’s, 209 IP and 58 walks. Johnson earns $3.75 million in 2010
- Ricky Nolasco: Nolasco had a lot of buzz surrounding him entering the 2009 season but got off to a horrendous start and was options down to the minors. He regain his composure, was called back up and found success. He numbers for 2009 were 5.06 ERA, 195 K’s, 185 IP and 44 BB. He earns $3.8 million in 2010
- Anibal Sanchez: Sanchez has had injuries that has limited him to 49 starts and one relief appearance over the past four seasons but when healthy he has definitely has the stuff to be a success starter. He pitched for a 3.87 ERA, 71 K’s, 86 IP and 46 walks. He makes $1.25 million this season.
- Sean West: West showed a lot of promise in his rookie season. He is sure to have some growing pains having only thrown 167 inning above the Class A level. He posted a 4.79 ERA, 70 K’s, 103.1 IP and 44 walks. West will earn near the minimum in 2010.
- Chris Volstad: Volstad will be looking to rebound after going through a bad sophomore slump. He threw for a 5.21 ERA, 107 K’s, 159 IP and 59 BB. He will earn the minimum this season.
Atlanta Braves: The Braves have always been a team that has been known for pitching. With guys like Warren Spahn, Phil Neikro, Greg Maddux and company the Braves have come to expect a solid rotation year in and year out. This year will be no exception. They are paying $31.467 million in 2010 for these arms.
- Jair Jurrjens: Jurrjens is a work horse that has improved with each year he has been in the majors. He had a little scare with some shoulder soreness but there is nothing serious and he looks to be a leading candidate for the ace position. In 2009 he threw for a 2.60 ERA, 152 K’s, 215 IP and 75 BB’s. He is a steal at near the league minimum for 2010.
- Derek Lowe: Lowe signed a 4 year $60 million deal in 2009 to be the ace of the Braves staff. He did not perform up to their expectation and they subsequently were looking to trade him this off season. He posted a 4.67 ERA, 111 K’s, 194.2 IP and 63 walks. He will earn $15 million this year.
- Tommy Hanson: Hanson wasted no time in dominating the opposition in his rookie season. Look for Hanson to be not only the ace of the Braves staff for years to come but one of the top pitchers in all of baseball. He threw for a 2.89 ERA, 116 K’s, 127.2 IP and 46 walks. He will make near the minimum.
- Tim Hudson: Returning from Tommy John surgery last season Hudson proved that he is still capable of putting up great numbers. He will be a consistent veteran presence on the mound. He pitche for a 3.61 ERA, 30 K’s, 42.1 IP and 13 walks. He earns $9 million in 2010.
- Kenshin Kawakami: Kawakami rounds out the rotation for the Braves in 2010. He put up good numbers in his rookie season and makes for an excellent 5th starter. He threw for a 3.86 ERA, 105 K’s, 156.1 IP and 57 walks. He makes $6.667 million this season.
New York Mets: To say the Mets had a bad season last year is putting it mildly. The wheels feel off due to injuries and a new ball park seemed to effect the power numbers for the hitters. The Mets are biggest spenders in the NL East so are they getting their money’s worth at approximately $38 million for their starting rotation?
- Johan Santana: A perennial Cy Young contender Johan Santana is great arm to have at the top of your rotation. He was one of the many injuries the Mets sustained last year. He is expected to be back at full strength for 2010. He threw for a 3.13 ERA, 146 K’s, 166.2 IP and 46 walks. He earn a whopping $21 million in 2010.
- Mike Pelfrey: Pelfrey was a highly touted prospect in the Mets system. He showed promise in his first full season in ’08 but regressed in his sophomore campaign with a 5.03 ERA, 107 K’s 184.1 IP and 66 BB. He will earn $500 thousand in 2010.
- John Maine: Maine has struggles with the injury bug the past two season. When healthy he is tough to hit even though he can be wild. He threw for a 4.43 ERA 55 K’s, 81.1 IP and 38 BB. He will earn $3.3 million in 2010.
- Oliver Perez: Perez has been a thorn in the side of Omar Minaya and the Mets for quite some time. Notoriously wild with flashes of brilliance just doesn’t seem to be able to put it all together. Last season he threw for a 6.82 ERA, 62 K’s, 66 IP and 58 BB’s. He will make a painful $12 million in 2010.
- Fernando Nieve: Nieve was an effective pitcher for about a month until he went down with a torn right quad. He will be giving a chance at earning a rotation spot in 2010 and Jerry Manuel has indicated he is the favorite. He threw for 2.95 ERA, 23 K’s, 36.2 IP and 19 walks. He earns the minimum for 2010.
- Jon Niese: Niese tore a hamstring in 2009 but performed admirably when he was healthy. He will also compete for a rotation spot. He threw for 4.21 ERA, 18 K’s, 25.2 IP and 17 BB. He will earn the minimum in 2010.
- Hisanori Takahashi: A late comer to the competition Takahashi was signed from Japan where he threw for a 2.94 ERA. He will earn $1 million if he makes the Major League club.
Washington Nationals: While the Nationals are the cellar dwellers in the NL East they have take significant steps in improving their ball club. They have drafted top tier talent and have improved their offense as well. They still have a ways to go but they are by no means complete push over anymore. Their rotation will earn as much as $16 million in 2010.
- Jason Marquis: The Nationals made a splash (albeit small) in the free agent marketing this year by signing Marquis as the ace of their staff. Most places he would be a bottom of the rotation starter but he does provide some stability in a volatile rotation. He threw for 4.04 ERA, 115 K’s, 216 IP and 80 BB last year. He will earn $7.5 million this season.
- Chien-Ming Wang: Wang is just what the Nationals need. He is a consistent pitcher who will keep the ball in the ball park. He has struggled with an injury last season but he as an anchor in the Yankees rotation for years. He threw for 9.64 ERA, 29 K’s, 42 IP and 19 walks. He can earn up to $5 million in performance bonuses in 2010.
- John Lannan: As the aces for the staff last season Lannan performed quite well. He is young and has improved over the last two season. He eats innings and gets outs even if his strike out numbers aren’t stellar. He threw for a 3.88 ERA, 89 K’s, 206.1 IP and 68 BB. He makes near the minimum for this season.
- Scott Olsen: Olsen was once one of the most promising young starters in baseball but his career has been derailed by injury and ineffectiveness. He should be completely recovered from shoulder surgery. He threw for a 6.03 ERA, 42 K’s, 62.2 IP and 25 BB. He will earn $1 million in 2010.
- J.D. Martin: Martin was a serviceable starter for the Nationals last season. He will compete for a rotation spot again this season. He threw for a 4.44 ERA, 37 K’s, 77 IP and 24 walks. Martin makes the minimum.
- Garrett Mock: Mock is a servicable back of the rotation guy for the Nationals. His numbers are expected to improve this season but don’t hold your breath. He threw for a 5.62 ERA, 72 K’s, 91.1 IP and 44 walks. He earns near the minimum.
- Jordan Zimmermann: Zimmermann is one of the brightest prospects the Nationals have. He had to under go Tommy John Surgery in 2009 and doesn’t seem to factor into the rotation until mid season at the absolute earliest. He threw for a 4.63 ERA, 92 K’s, 91.1 IP and 29 BB. He earns near the minimum as well.
- Steven Strasburg: The crown jewel in the Nationals system at the moment Strasburg is a huge question mark. He performed well in the Arizona fall league but who knows how he will stack up against major league talent. He has 100 mph fastball but those can have a tendency to go a long ways if you aren’t fooling anyone. He will earn $2 million in 2010.
There is a lot of talented pitching in the NL East. It is a tough call for me on who is the best. Obviously the Marlins have a lot of talent for cheap but that talent is raw and injury prone. The Phillies and the Braves seem to be in the same ballpark talent wise and payroll wise. I would have to give the edge to the Braves. The have the potential to have 4 aces on their staff with Jurrjens, Hanson, Hudson and Lowe. Plus Kawakami has put up great numbers compared to the 5th starter on any of the other teams. At $31.467 million the Brave get my vote for best rotation in the NL East for 2010.
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