I know the world revolves around New York. New York has to be the best and greatest at everything, yatta yatta yatta. But here in Seattle, we have a saying, “New York Sucks!”. I know you cannot wear those shirts at Safeco field, but who cares. I am here to tell you, that the Seattle Mariners has the best rotation in baseball. Not the New York Yankees, or Mets (even with Santana) or even those babies in Boston (waaa waaa, the patriots lost, get over it!) The best is in the west, and to be more exact, the pacific northwest.
How many teams can claim that they have a 16 game winner as their number 5 starter? Not very few. I can name a team that does have a 16 game winner as their number 5. The Seattle Mariners, thanks to Miguel Batista. You can read about it more here. Miggy, as we in Seattle like to call him, posted a 16-11 record with a 4.29 ERA last year. You may tell me, “So what? Its not like he won the Cy young or anything.” Go look at your number 5 and get back to me in the morning.
Miggy!
All this talk about how good the M’s number 5 is, I forgot to mention our 1 and 2 starters. Erik Bedard (I know, if you read from a few days ago, my fellow writer Robby bitched about this pick up, and if you havent read it, check it out here,) and the “King” Felix Hernandez. Only a few times can claim a front two that is as anywhere as good as that. (Mets and Dbacks maybe?). Felix last year, at 20 years old mind you, posted 14-7 season, 3.92 ERA and 165 K’s in 190 innings. Thats sexy. Combine that with newly acquired ace, Erik Bedard, the Mariners will be a forced to deal with.
Quick prediction – Felix Hernendaz and Erik Bedard will combine for over 3 million strikeouts!
Rounding out the starting 5, is Carlos Silva, a FA pickup from the Twins, who is known as an inning eater. He may have not had the best numbers last year, but pitching in the Metrodome very few do (unless your name is Johan Santana). Crafty lefty Jarod Washburn is the number 4. Although, he has been quite a disappointment for the Mariners, he is being dropped from the number 2 spot to 4, where we will benefit greatly from the removed pressure being the number 2.
The Mariners starting 5 with last years stats.
Erik Bedard – 13-5. 3.16 ERA
Felix Hernandez – 14-7. 3.92 ERA
Carlos Silva – 13-14. 4.19 ERA
Jarod Washburn – 10-15. 4.32 ERA
Miguel Batista – 16-11. 4.29 ERA
Filed under: Baseball, Erik Bedard, MLB, Mariners, Seattle | Tagged: Baseball, Erik Bedard, Felix Hernandez, Mariners, Miguel Batista, MLB, Seattle, Seattle Mariners
Nice! I Begrudgedly look forward to many 2-1 games in Safeco.
While I applaud the boastfulness, it’s not really fair to compare Miggy to other fifth starters. Jarrod Washburn is our real 5, and at 10-15 (4.32 ERA), he’s not exactly a standout. He’s only been placed at four to split up the lefties. However, I do think Washburn will improve over last year thanks to the removal of Ramirez – but there’s always the chance he stinks it up down in Peoria and McLaren’s forced to go with Batista in the 4-slot.
What’s really intriguing (and what I like most about the positioning) is how Miggy can be used out of the bullpen when he gets skipped in the rotation. It’s like having a bonus floating roster spot – as long as he isn’t spent cleaning up a Washburn mess every time. The M’s can really benefit from Batista’s versatility this season; dude’s like the Reggie Bush of pitchers. Does. It All.
If I remember correctly, Miggy came out of the bullpen often when you played for Toronto.
But I like your thinking, you ever want to display your thoughts on here?
Yeah, and I’ll spend the next six months crafting my diatribe against moving toward a college football playoff.
Psh – BCS rules!
Why would anyone be against it!!!! I am still pissed about 2000. We beat MIAMI!