Best Starting Pitcher In MLB?

[IAWarnerFan]

I saw a different pitcher a few days ago than the one I had thought, but who do you think is the best starting pitcher in baseball?

 

[JS22]

[Homer] Dan Haren [/Homer]

But realistically, at least top 5.

 

[IAWarnerFan]

I was going to make it in poll form, but decided the list would be to numerous. My vote would be between Zack Grienke and Dan Haren right now.

 

[HooverDam]

Grienkes fallen off here recently.

I would say Webb, but since he's not healthy its harder to make the case. Roy Halladay is pretty damned good, he gets tons of complete games.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Haren
Santana
Halladay
Grienke

 

[DiamondBacks5117]

Tim Lincecum probably up tehre.

 

[BC867]

Here are the Major League pitching leaders statistically according to MLB.com.

MLB PITCHING: TRIPLE CROWN LEADERS

WINS

1. Halladay TOR 10
1. Slowey MIN 10
3. BillingsleyLAD 9
3. 2 more tied with 9

STRIKEOUTS

1. Lincecum SF 112
1. Vazquez ATL 112
3. Verlander DET 110
4. Greinke KC 106

ERA

1. Greinke KC 1.96
2. Weaver LAA 2.08
3. Cueto CIN 2.17
4. Haren ARI 2.23
5. 2 more tied with 2.39

 

[82CardsGrad]

Tim Lincecum probably up tehre.

Good catch!

 

[IAWarnerFan]

Here are the Major League pitching leaders statistically according to MLB.com.

MLB PITCHING: TRIPLE CROWN LEADERS

WINS

1. Halladay TOR 10
1. Slowey MIN 10
3. BillingsleyLAD 9
3. 2 more tied with 9

STRIKEOUTS

1. Lincecum SF 112
1. Vazquez ATL 112
3. Verlander DET 110
4. Greinke KC 106

ERA

1. Greinke KC 1.96
2. Weaver LAA 2.08
3. Cueto CIN 2.17
4. Haren ARI 2.23
5. 2 more tied with 2.39

Enough said?
Haren has 90+ K's tho, so he's right there too.

 

[IAWarnerFan]

My Top 5 statistically thus far: (Names omitted)

1. 1.96 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, .228 BAA, 106-18 Ks-BBs, 8-3 W-L, 101 IP, 5 CG, 2 SO
2. 2.23 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, .193 BAA, 96-13 Ks-BBs, 6-4 W-L, 101 IP, 2 CG, 0 SO
3. 2.53 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, .246 BAA, 88-12 Ks-BBs, 10-1 W-L, 103 IP, 3 CG, 1 SO
4. 2.72 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, .237 BAA, 112-26 Ks-BBs, 6-2 W-L, 96 IP, 1 CG, 1 SO
5. 2.08 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, .203 BAA, 74-25 Ks-BBs, 7-2 W-L, 90 2/3 IP, 3 CG 1 SO

Agree?

 

[brutus1303]

My Top 5 statistically thus far: (Names omitted)

1. 1.96 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, .228 BAA, 106-18 Ks-BBs, 8-3 W-L, 101 IP, 5 CG, 2 SO
2. 2.23 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, .193 BAA, 96-13 Ks-BBs, 6-4 W-L, 101 IP, 2 CG, 0 SO
3. 2.53 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, .246 BAA, 88-12 Ks-BBs, 10-1 W-L, 103 IP, 3 CG, 1 SO
4. 2.72 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, .237 BAA, 112-26 Ks-BBs, 6-2 W-L, 96 IP, 1 CG, 1 SO
5. 2.08 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, .203 BAA, 74-25 Ks-BBs, 7-2 W-L, 90 2/3 IP, 3 CG 1 SO

Agree?

If we're just going off of this season, I think you would have to move weaver up to at least 4, maybe 3.

 

[IAWarnerFan]

If we're just going off of this season, I think you would have to move weaver up to at least 4, maybe 3.

Yeah, I can see that and it's a very close call. Batters haven't been hitting off of him, but his strike outs to walks slide him down to 5th.

 

[Brandon_Webb]

I'd love to see what Chris Carpenter can do if he ever can ever get fully healthy again.

 

[HooverDam]

WINS

1. Halladay TOR 10
1. Slowey MIN 10
3. BillingsleyLAD 9
3. 2 more tied with 9

Does anyone really put any credence into this statistic anymore? It seems like one of the most meaningless in baseball.

 

[IAWarnerFan]

Does anyone really put any credence into this statistic anymore? It seems like one of the most meaningless in baseball.

Some, but you're right and there's much more meaningful stats. Quality Starts is one that is often overlooked.

 

[brutus1303]

Yeah, I can see that and it's a very close call. Batters haven't been hitting off of him, but his strike outs to walks slide him down to 5th.

What's amazing to me is Haren's record. The man has by far the best numbers outside of the strikeout-walk ratio.

 

[DWKB]

If you're talking the last year and a half then it's Lincecum, Halladay, and Cliff Lee

 

[Ronin]

Matt Cain
Tim Lincecum

 

[BC867]

Does anyone really put any credence into this statistic anymore? It seems like one of the most meaningless in baseball.

MLB.com does. If wins were the only statistic they highlighted, I would not have quoted it. But they did feature ERA and strikeouts as well.

It may be said that a high strikeout total should not single out a pitcher. That tends to run up pitch counts and lower innings pitched per game.

Just as homerun stats should not get in the way of a batter with high averages and RBI figures being considered among the best.

But I don't think you'll ever see the run for 20 wins or 40 homeruns omitted from stats. Announcers still glorify it every chance they get.

How many times have we heard D'back announcers wish for a homerun on the air when a line drive into the alley would be easier to achieve and keep a rally going?

 

[DWKB]

MLB.com does. If wins were the only statistic they highlighted, I would not have quoted it. But they did feature ERA and strikeouts as well.

It may be said that a high strikeout total should not single out a pitcher. That tends to run up pitch counts and lower innings pitched per game.

Just as homerun stats should not get in the way of a batter with high averages and RBI figures being considered among the best.

But I don't think you'll ever see the run for 20 wins or 40 homeruns omitted from stats. Announcers still glorify it every chance they get.

How many times have we heard D'back announcers wish for a homerun on the air when a line drive into the alley would be easier to achieve and keep a rally going?

You'd have to prove strikeouts raise pitch counts and lower inning totals for pitchers.

It's interesting that you think HRs are equivalent to Pitcher Wins and would prefer to look at RBIs instead. Pitcher Wins and RBIs are context driven while HRs are individual statistics like strikeouts.

If anything you should ignore RBIs and Wins and focus on Strikeouts and HRs.

 

[MigratingOsprey]

halladay - year in and year out just a force

 

[Ryanwb]

This guy has the best name of any starting pitcher.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=30105

 

[trueherotillman]

consistently this year, Haren has been the best. Lincecum is close. Greinke was great to start, but isn't showing that consistency.