MLB Showdown Cards

MLB Showdown 2012: Starters +600 points 

                This class of “elite” pitchers is not what year’s class was. Verlander was a slightly milder version of himself this year. He played great this year but didn’t have that same aura of invincibility this year that he had last year. His 2.40 ERA last year ballooned up to 2.64 (though he went from fourth to third in the league). If he had the same 24 wins as last year I wonder how we would have viewed his year. Clayton Kershaw has figured something out (like how to face the Giants or Padres every other game). He has learned to throw strikes and trust that stuff. David Price has also proven to be an elite pitcher consistently. Everything about him is elite besides his pickoff move. Max Scherzer is not the ERA title contender the other three are. However, no one struck out more players per 9 than Scherzer with 11 per 9 innings. That is the 19^th best in a single season every behind the following names, Martinez, Wood, Gooden, Ryan, Schilling and Randy Johnson.

                Since this is a small crew each player is going to get their own look. The first one is David Price as a 6, 6 IP, 16-20 1B, 13-15 FB, 9-12 GB, 3-8 SO for 600 points. Last year I would have hated this guy because of the league wide speed of the best players. A minimum of 25% of lead-off hitters get on base against Price. His 3-8 SO gives you a chance to get of jams. The 9-12 GB will get a lot of double-plays. He is just a very average 600 point player. I don’t see him throwing a lot of scoreless games. He seems just as vulnerable to bad games as other 600 pointers. I don’t like him as a number one starter. He could be a force as a number 2. The question is can you afford 1,200 points for 2 starters. He is versatile and go deep into games if your offense has taken a sizeable lead. He is the lowest rated player for me in this bunch.

                Max Scherzer for the same 600 points you can get the same 6, 6 innings pitched. The difference is the chart being a 20 2B, 17-19 1B, 16 BB, 12-15 FB, 11 GB, 3-10 SO. The 1 double and 1 walk on the chart comes to about a wash compared to Price. The difference for me is 10% better chance of getting a SO on the chart. The double play is not a weapon for Scherzer. I still don’t think he is a legitimate number one starter at 600 points. He won’t get many shut outs like Price. He is a hair better than Price in my estimation. I also would put him as a second starter. I would put a more dominant 550-600 point starter as the one in that situation… unless you got one of the following.

                Clayton Kershaw is a legitimate number one starter. His 5, 7 IP, 18-20 1B, 17 BB, 12-16 FB, 10-11 GB, 3-9 SO is the most well rounded of these four. His 630 points makes him the most expensive starter. He can throw shut outs and complete games without help. He doesn’t have an extra base hit on his chart, He has a bigger K than Price. His 17 BB makes it harder to create runs against him. I am not sure I would take him in the first round but someone will because he is the best or at worst second best pitcher in the class. He has the ability to throw complete games which is expected at over 600 points. His only competition is…

                Justin Verlander as a 4, 8 IP, 20 2B, 19 1B, 18 BB, 14-17 FB, 12-13 GB, 3-11 SO for 630 points. Verlander has the advantage of refreshing the bullpen in most games except maybe your closer, which makes him worth a good portion of the 630 points. The big strikeout keeps runners from being created against him. The 18 BB is a great trap door. I would take Verlander first if I wanted to go pitching heavy. I think he would beat anyone straight up and allow me to save on the bullpen to add to my line-up. His only weakness is he is the most susceptible to power, especially the power 8’s.

                No matter who you pick this guy needs to win 75% of their games or more. This number needs to be even high if you put one of these guys as a number 2. Pairing any two of these guys should be intimidating and lead to a 500 point or less bullpen. Last year’s class only had 2 600+ point players but was more appealing this more expensive class. I am interested in seeing how the draft and league info comes back on these four.