Who would you take...?

[lonewolf371]

Re: Who would you take...?

Hard to go wrong with any of the guys mentioned. It is amazing to me how little talk Kershaw gets compared to Strasburg when they are essentially the same age. Kershaw has been doing it for 5 years now.

Anyway, as for my pick I'd probably go with Drew Butera...it's hard to find those hustle/heart guys who can't hit and you apparently can't win without them.

Kershaw doesn't have Strasburg's ceiling and Strasburg is already playing better.

[jth1331]

Re: Who would you take...?

People are picking Harper, Trout over guys like Miguel Cabrera, Carlos Gonzalez, Ryan Braun?

Give me the guy who's been doing it for 3+ years over someone who has done it for 2 months.

[jake44np]

Re: Who would you take...?

Without a doubt Joey Votto.
He does it all, great defense, great leader, and the best hitter in baseball.
If he played on a team with guys that could actually get on base in front of him his #'s would be unreal!
Love how even after signing his huge deal he has came back this year and has even taken his game up a notch.
Also love how he will get on a guy if he isnt hustling or giving 100%.
It is just sad that the average fan still has no idea how good he is.

[slickdtc]

Re: Who would you take...?

Funny, all us Reds fans are taking Joey Votto. But man, it's hard to argue against his numbers. And the intangibles. He is AWESOME.

There are some other younger guys who are enticing, but I love the full package Votto brings. And from all accounts, he's a great dude off the field as well. He's a perfect representative for the Reds. I'm confident with him, we'll see some postseason success before he hangs 'em up. And that's another great factor... he's locked up with us for years to come.

[55]

Re: Who would you take...?

Kershaw doesn't have Strasburg's ceiling and Strasburg is already playing better.

Strasburg is already better than Kershaw? That's ludicrous.

[lonewolf371]

Re: Who would you take...?

Strasburg is already better than Kershaw? That's ludicrous.

No it's not. He strikes out more, walks about the same, has a better ERA, better swinging strike rate, better velocity, better FIP, better xFIP, better home run rate, similar ground ball rate, better WAR, etc. He even has a better record. What else do you judge a pitcher on?

[55]

Re: Who would you take...?

No it's not. He strikes out more, walks about the same, has a better ERA, better swinging strike rate, better velocity, better FIP, better xFIP, better home run rate, similar ground ball rate, better WAR, etc. He even has a better record. What else do you judge a pitcher on?

While that is all fine and dandy, I want to see Strasburg pitch in more than 13 games in a single season (something he has never done yet) before I would take him over a guy like Kershaw.

[BatsareBugs]

Re: Who would you take...?

So no Matt Cain? He's been the league forever and has improved each season. Sure he doesn't have the K/9 like Kershaw, Strasburg (my homer pick), and Verlander, but he always gets it done.

Hard to believe he's still only 27.

[jake44np]

Re: Who would you take...?

So no Matt Cain? He's been the league forever and has improved each season. Sure he doesn't have the K/9 like Kershaw, Strasburg (my homer pick), and Verlander, but he always gets it done.

Hard to believe he's still only 27.

No, no Matt Cain.
Dude is a career .500 pitcher and his ERA is misleading considering the ballpark he pitches in. Way too many other pitchers that are better than him.

[TCM]

Re: Who would you take...?

No, no Matt Cain.
Dude is a career .500 pitcher and his ERA is misleading considering the ballpark he pitches in. Way too many other pitchers that are better than him.

Win loss record has absolutely NO effect on a pitchers skill level, and if you look at his home/road splits from 2009 to 2012 they aren't a drastic increase. I'm not saying I'd take him but at least give the dude some credit.

[Marino]

Re: Who would you take...?

Kershaw doesn't have Strasburg's ceiling and Strasburg is already playing better.

Kershaw is 23, left handed, has not had Tommy John surgery and already a Cy Young winner. What are you talking about?

For me, my favorite team already has the two players I would take, Kemp and Kershaw.

But Votto and Kemp are interchangeable.

[Marino]

Re: Who would you take...?

No it's not. He strikes out more, walks about the same, has a better ERA, better swinging strike rate, better velocity, better FIP, better xFIP, better home run rate, similar ground ball rate, better WAR, etc. He even has a better record. What else do you judge a pitcher on?

So you are just basing it on this year? Kershaw doesn't have an innings count this year. When he was winning the Cy Young last year, where was Strasburg? Thats right, the DL for 75% of the season.

[Chrisksaint]

Re: Who would you take...?

Win loss record has absolutely NO effect on a pitchers skill level, and if you look at his home/road splits from 2009 to 2012 they aren't a drastic increase. I'm not saying I'd take him but at least give the dude some credit.

This. Anytime I see the Marlins plays the Giants they always talk about this cause of how misleading wins are and i'm sure you can find plenty of other examples.

Ricky Nolasco 70-56 career W/L in 7 seasons
Matt Cain 77-75 career W/L in 8 seasons

No way is Ricky Nolasco better then Matt Cain if were judging wins/loses or if they even matter in looking at a pitcher. Cain is a nasty pitcher and it's not just because of the ballpark

[jake44np]

Re: Who would you take...?

Win loss record has absolutely NO effect on a pitchers skill level, and if you look at his home/road splits from 2009 to 2012 they aren't a drastic increase. I'm not saying I'd take him but at least give the dude some credit.

I will not give him credit as an option of the first player i would take in all of baseball to start my team. And that is what this thread is about. Let him pitch in Great American Ballpark for 1/2 his starts and we will see how good he does.

[Chaos81]

Re: Who would you take...?

Pitcher wins are awesome.