Which rotation would you rather have?

[markakis8]

I'm not talking about for the future, I'm talking about strictly the 2012 season:

Roy Halladay
Cliff Lee
Cole Hamels
Vance Worley
Joe Blanton/Joel Pineiro

or

James Shields
David Price
Jeremy Hellickson
Matt Moore
Wade Davis/Jeff Niemann

 

[Keyser Soze]

The Rays, and it isn't even close. They're younger, cheaper, and this season will be better.

 

[JoshHamilton]

Phillies

Is this some sort of joke?

 

[markakis8]

The Rays, and it isn't even close. They're younger, cheaper, and this season will be better.

Age really isn't a factor when you are talking about one season. Most, if not all, of those pitchers have proven to be durable. But they certainly are cheaper.

 

[markakis8]

Phillies

Is this some sort of joke?

I love how you stand on the completely opposite end of the spectrum as the person who posted above you :lol:

 

[nborton]

Phils. I'm thinking strictly this season, and the top 3 the Phils have is quite a bit better. The Rays have better depth, but I don't know that it would translate to more wins.

On a side note. I think the Rays need to trade a pitcher. There's no reason to have 5 good starters, especially if you make the playoffs. They would get more bang for their buck if they dealt someone for a hitter.

 

[Hallsgator]

Roy Halladay > James Shields
Cliff Lee > David Price
Cole Hamels > Jeremy Hellickson
Vance Worley < Matt Moore
Joe Blanton/Joel Pineiro = Wade Davis/Jeff Niemann

 

[Keyser Soze]

The Rays, and it isn't even close. They're younger, cheaper, and this season will be better.

Age really isn't a factor when you are talking about one season. Most, if not all, of those pitchers have proven to be durable. But they certainly are cheaper.

Maybe I weighed cost more than others. And I also had no idea that Worley's stats looked as good as they did. I still go Rays, but it's closer than i originally spouted off

 

[Hallsgator]

Phils. I'm thinking strictly this season, and the top 3 the Phils have is quite a bit better. The Rays have better depth, but I don't know that it would translate to more wins.

On a side note. I think the Rays need to trade a pitcher. There's no reason to have 5 good starters, especially if you make the playoffs. They would get more bang for their buck if they dealt someone for a hitter.

You can never have too much pitching.

 

[marterburn]

I took the 5 guys who I think will be really solid this year over the 3 aces.

I don't think Worley will repeat what he did last year. I think he'll slot into that #4 still, but with an ERA of around 4.20, not 3.00. Blanton and Pinero are just stopgaps in that #5 slot.

I'm going to guess the Rays have zero 20-start pitchers with ERAs over 4.00. IMO having those arms in 100% of games is more valuable than the Phillie arms that only throw in 60% of the games.

 

[P_Manning 18]

Ill take a proven track record for a one season run. Ill take Phillies.

Halladay, Hamels, Lee have all proven what they can do.

Shields and Price have proven themselves.... but Hellickson needs to show me one more season before I feel comfortable choosing him. And Matt Moore needs to show it over the long haul. He was very good in his 3 games.

 

[Huffamaniac]

I like the depth the Rays have. I think Alex Cobb would be an excellent #5 for most teams, and he currently is #7 on this team.

No reason to think the Phillies top 3 will get injured as they are very low injury risks, but in the event one does they would struggle to find a replacement while the Rays would not if one of there top pitchers get injured.

I wonder with Papelbon as closer if Halladay and Lee will have less compelte games since the Phillies should have a closer they trust.

Blanton is underrated and if healthy should pitch better then he did last year

 

[aminors]

I'm as much of a rookies/prospects/young stars guy as they come, but the Phillies have this one. Three aces on one staff, plus Worley and a decent five? Doesn't get much better on paper. This is from a talent standpoint, not factoring in money, injury risk, etc.

 

[TGutta]

If you're talking about one season then I would definitely go with the Phillies. I don't think anyone wouldn't take the Rays if you're talking about future potential, but for one season it should be the Phillies.

 

[craftysouthpaw]

I despise the Phillies and like the Rays but IMO the Phillies come out on top for 2012.

There is a fair bit of separation between their top 3 and the Rays' top 3. Price is the only true ace for the Rays while the Phillies have 2 for sure and I would put Hamels closer to one than Shields. And once playoff time rolls around, starting rotation depth loses a lot of the advantages gained over 162 games (see Braves - 1990's) and having a top three like the Phils is huge (to get back to the Braves, 2 of their 3 aces didn't have the one quality that seems to trump all during the playoffs which is a power arm - Halladay/Lee, while not classic power arms, fit that bill much more than Maddux/Glavine did).

Worley will almost certainly regress but so will Hellickson assuming his peripherals stay the same as 2011. Although, Hellickson does have the ability to up his K/9 based upon his MILB track record which could help mitigate an anticipated regression.

For all his talents, Moore is still a rookie and the typical uncertainties that come along with that - especially for pitchers. I think he will be an ace down the road but I wouldn't feel comfortable considering him one for 2012.

 

[nborton]

Phils. I'm thinking strictly this season, and the top 3 the Phils have is quite a bit better. The Rays have better depth, but I don't know that it would translate to more wins.

On a side note. I think the Rays need to trade a pitcher. There's no reason to have 5 good starters, especially if you make the playoffs. They would get more bang for their buck if they dealt someone for a hitter.

You can never have too much pitching.

I agree, but for them they need more hitting. They have the rare case where they could get better by dealing from their strength. Which is depth in pitching. I'm just saying they could get more out of a hitter that plays everyday, than a 5th starter who gets skipped in the rotation depending on scheduling.

 

[MisterT]

For 2012 only...Its the Phils. Give the edge to experience and track record.

Rays could be scary good in the future though...

 

[ThoseBackPages]

Phillies.

 

[Titans74]

Of the two, I'd take the Rays for reasons stated already. Younger, cheaper.

 

[Keyser Soze]

Of the two, I'd take the Rays for reasons stated already. Younger, cheaper.

WE AGREE!!!!!! :grouphug: