Youngsters are dominating the starting pitching rankings, and it all begins with Ubaldo Jimenez.
Just last week I wrote this about Jimenez:
I just don’t see anybody really knocking on the door of the top 10 right now. That first tier of starters is too good and has too much potential for anyone else to infiltrate their elite brotherhood – yes, not even one of the most hyped starters of 2010 who also just threw a no-hitter. Sometimes life isn’t fair.
It’s amazing what one or two starts can do for my confidence. Justin Verlander just isn’t doing it for me this season – although he will most definitely improve as his walk rate is higher than his career norms and his strand rate (LOB%) is a little low – and Jimenez compiled his third straight runless outing.
While we’re on the subject of LOB%, it is worth noting that Jimenez’s is an absurdly high 91.7 percent so that will certainly correct itself, but the Rockies’ ace still has worked an impressive 2.52 FIP so far.
But Jimenez isn’t the only young starter trending up. Jeff Niemann and Clay Buchholz both jumped at least five spots, and two of Niemann’s teammates, David Price and Matt Garza, continued their weekly ascent, moving up one spot apiece.
However, if youth isn’t this week’s main storyline, then injuries certainly are.
Cliff Lee made his first start coming back from injury/suspension this week, going seven strong innings allowing just three hits while striking out eight, and Ted Lilly worked has had two starts with mixed results.
On the other end of the spectrum are Jorge de la Rosa, Jair Jurrjens, and Brett Anderson who all have injury concerns of their own now. Anderson and de la Rosa find themselves on the DL, but Jurrjens is still expected to make his next start.
And sorry to all you NL only-ers. All of this weeks highlighted players are from the AL.
Surging
Francisco Liriano, Minnesota Twins
Back in week one, Liriano barely cracked the inaugural top 50 list, sliding in at number 46. In week two he moved up to 38, and week three saw him at 34. I’ve seen enough. The injuries are a lingering concern, but I can’t ignore Liriano’s potential anymore, especially if the likes of Cole Hamels and Javier Vazquez continue to disappoint… just to name two of this season’s early strugglers.
John Danks, Chicago White Sox
Danks is ranked fifth among all starting pitchers in my Yahoo! league right now, and he’s shut down some pretty potent offenses. The White Sox lefty has notched two wins, a 1.29 ERA and a 21-to-6 strikeout-to-walk ratio in three starts (21 innings) against Tampa Bay, Minnesota and Toronto who also rank first, seventh and 11th in runs scored, respectively. His next test? The New York Yankees.
Clay Buchholz, Boston Red Sox
Hopefully I don’t need to remind you of the immense potential Buchholz has, but I’ll do it anyway – this is the kid who threw a no-hitter in just his second Major League start. While minor league success hasn’t eluded Buchholz, maturity has, and most believe it’s the reason behind his slow and staggered development. I’m ready to believe his 2.19 ERA and 8.0 K/9 are signs he’s finally reaching that potential.
Falling
Josh Beckett, Boston Red Sox
Maybe it’s because I’m a Red Sox fan, but I’ve been holding out hope that Beckett would quickly turn things around. With 15 earned runs in his last two starts (10 innings), I had to drop him. His velocity is down (marginally), but it has also been on the decline each season since 2006. Still, he’s a proven strikeout pitcher with a solid defense and a pretty good offense backing him, so buy low if you can.
Javier Vazquez, New York Yankees
Big Apple, Part Two hasn’t gone as Yankees’ fans hoped. Vazquez’s control has be dreadful, evidenced by his 5.0 BB/9 so far, and his velocity is down from 91.1 mph last year to 88.9 mph this year. Interestingly, the average velocity of his curveball (74.1) and change-up (80.4) are both higher than last year. This means the gap between his fastball velocity and his off-speed velocity is narrowing, reducing the effectiveness of each. That’s not a recipe for success in the American League.
Jake Peavy, Chicago White Sox
No non-Yankee’s failures have made me happier than those of Jake Peavy, and I’m alright with admitting it. Why do I smile each time Peavy is taken yard or issues another walk? Maybe it’s because few people wanted to listen to reason when I explained that he’s never pitched well outside of Petco Park. Maybe it’s because I had the White Sox listed at 20th in my pre-season power rankings and I was absolutely assaulted by a few fans of the South Siders who claimed Peavy pushed their rotation over the top and into the echelon of St. Louis, Boston (although we aren’t seeing it), San Francisco, Seattle, and the Yankees. Or maybe, just maybe, it’s because I like being right.
On the mend
Brett Anderson, Oakland Athletics
On Wednesday, April 28, the USA Today reported that Brett Anderson will be shut down completely for two weeks with a strained flexor tendon. As you’ve noticed all season, I like Anderson’s top-20 potential, and he’ll likely miss four to five starts while on the DL. Anderson fell just two spots to 22 this week, but he’ll likely fall noticeably lower during his absence, especially if those around him pitch well.
Down on the farm
Chris Tillman, Baltimore Orioles
Tillman missed out on the Orioles’ Opening Day rotation, but it wasn’t for lack of talent. That talent was on full display Wednesday as Tillman threw a no-hitter for Triple-A Norfolk. Obviously this outing deserves mentioning, and it’s why Tillman is highlighted in this week’s column, but his 2010 season hasn’t been all rainbows and sunshine. Entering Wednesday, the Orioles’ top prospect had compiled a 6.11 ERA in four previous starts. With the Big League club fading fast and their rotation in shambles, Tillman could get an earlier-than-expected call-up, but he’ll need to show he’s ready first.
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