March 18, 2015: For Starters

So we’re all hyped up about the baseball season, eh?  I’m thinking Cubs playoffs… Sox fans are thinking playoffs.  What’s really going on?

One thing I’m concerned about is the starting pitching.  Yes, both teams have upgraded there, but yes, both teams are still not that strong.  You need solid starting pitching to be considered contenders; do we really have what it takes in that department?

Look at the team picked to win the most games this year, the Washington Nationals.  Scherzer, Strasburg, Gonzalez, Zimmerman, and Fister.  There is a reason they are the pre-season favorites; you’re looking at it.  Neither team has a rotation of that caliber, that’s a fact.  How good are the rotations?

You can’t ask for better aces on either side of town.  The Sox have Chris Sale, one of the best left handed pitchers in the game.  Meanwhile, the Cubs acquired their own top flight lefty in Jon Lester.  You don’t get much better than those 2 guys at the top of your rotation.  So in the Ace department, that #1 starter, both teams get a check mark.

Your doctor is likely familiar with all of them, it is surely Kamagra cialis 40 mg http://amerikabulteni.com/2011/10/10/video-wall-street-eyleminin-kalbi-zuccotti-park%E2%80%99taki-hayata-bir-bakis/ treatment. Nowadays, even medicines might be ordered ordine cialis on line http://amerikabulteni.com/2013/01/12/abd-temyiz-mahkemesi-karari-polise-hakaret-tutuklama-gerekcesi-olamaz/ on line. Generally, when the medication acts negatively, a person has to put additional strain while urinating, which can lead to http://amerikabulteni.com/2015/11/23/abd-sinemalarinda-haftasonu-en-cok-izlenen-10-film-3/ levitra sale increased risk of osteoporosis and weakened bones leading to fractures. The bile comprises order cialis from india of water, electrolytes, bicarbonate, cholesterol, bile pigments, lecithin, bile acids, and bile salts. Moving right along to our #2 starters, it’s not so clear.  It’s not so bad either.  I thought Samardzija could be a solid #2 starter all along; you can question the “ace” status all you want, but he doesn’t have to be that.  He can definitely be a solid #2, so the Sox are looking pretty good at the 2 spot.  As far as the Cubs, we turn to Jake Arrieta.  Similar to Samardzija, I think he can perform very well at this position.  He was the ace of the staff last year, after it was torn apart.  Again, he isn’t asked to be that this year with the addition of Lester.  Can he repeat last year’s performance?  That’s the question, and I think the answer is yes.

So 1-2 are solid… now things get tricky.  Maybe not so tricky on the South Side.  Jose Quintana is hands down enough at this slot.  I’m not necessarily sold on him, but most people are, and for the Sox, that gives them a solid 1 through 3.  The Cubs on the other hand turn to Jason Hammel, last year’s sign and dump guy.  It’s nice to look back on that trade, and think we really only gave up Samardzija for Russell & McKinney at the end of the day.  Yet Hammel at #3…. mmm, that’s average at best.  Yeah, he did well last year in his time in a Cubs uniform; hopefully he can repeat that.  Still, I was hoping to add someone like Hamels to this rotation, and bump everybody after Lester down a slot.  THAT would be a way better rotation.  As it stands now, Hammel is very average for your #3 guy.

Looking at your last two guys in the rotation on both sides of town, it gets dicey.  The Sox still have Danks… ok.  The Cubs still have Travis Wood and Edwin Jackson in the running… ok.  Sox have Noesi (why?), Penny, and Carroll fighting for a spot too.  The big question mark for the Sox is Rodon.  Will he pitch this year?  At what point will he pitch?  Will he be on a pitch count?  He could be great.. just not sure how much he’ll see of the mound this year.  I like Hendricks for the Cubs at #4.  He’s a pitcher’s pitcher.  Doesn’t really have overpowering stuff, just knows how to change speeds and locate.  He did well last year, he’ll be asked to do the same this year.  Then you have Wada, Turner, and prized prospect CJ Edwards waiting in the wings.  4 & 5 on both sides of town is definitely a toss up.

So when you want to talk about playoffs, you have to start with the starters.  Looking at the rotations, they are definitely improved.  They are both pretty top heavy.  If you can get great years from your 3-5 guys, now we’re talking.  That is a big IF though.  Yes, there’s the bullpen and offense, but starting pitching is key.  For starters, there are definitely some question marks there.