145 14 The Olde English Ds's Blog Thread Ghost of Chet Lemon Re: Upcoming Schedule and Starting Pitching [Reply to #14] 2/25/06, 2:16pm As for the rest of the pitching in the AL Central, I agree with OE on the quality. In fact, I would make the case that the division has the best pitching, top to bottom, of any division in the league. This is how I rank them out 5.Royals - The only team in the division whose pitching rates as below average. Out of everyone in the rotation, Denny Bautista is the only one I would grade as above a number 3 starter, and he is still largly untested. However, nobody on this staff is a dog, and the offseason pick-ups Elarton and Redman give them a good Veteran presance that at least won't lose ballgames for them. Greinke is the wildcard on this staff, who took a big step backwards last year trying to live up to his "Can't Miss Prospect" billing. This staff could survive with good run support, which they will not get. 4. Tigers - This will be the first year in the recent future when the Tigers will go into the season with an above average staff. As many have pointed out, Robertson and Bonderman are the keys to the staff. I look for them to develop as promised, and lead the Tigers to the promised land (that being above .500 of course.) 3. Cleveland - I would have rated them #1 in the division if they had kept, or properly replaced, Millwood. But they didn't, and now there faced with journeyman Paul Byrd, who is solid but unspectacular, and Jason Johnson, whose already been batted around the AL Central for the past two years. Sabathia is still an ace, and at 26 could still be coming into his own. Cliff Lee managed to post a very quite 18 wins last year with a 3.79 ERA, and is arguably the best #2 starter in the league. If Westbrook can eliminate his horrid outings (maybe if he just doesn't pitch against the Tigers, who torched him in two early season contests last year), they could be solid enough to lead the Indians to the Wild Card. 2. Chicago - Ahh, maybe I'm just fooling myself, but I think the Chicago staff reached it's pinnicle last year. Buehrle is the Anonymous Ace of MLB, and his track record shows he will contiue to be if his shoulder can handle his tremendous workload (over 230 innings the past three years). Contreras is 34 (is that in dog years !?) and I believe he hit his ceiling last year, though you could probably pencil him in for 13-14 wins still. Garcia is consitent, but unremakable, and will have a tough time keeping his ERA under 4 in an improved AL Central. Garland returned to earth in the second half last season (5-6 in his last 15 starts) and I see him continuing his "Average" trend. Both Vazquez and McCarthey are interesting, one as a top prospect, and the other as a lost star. If either of them have a career season, this staff could be elite. 1. Minnesota - Santana is the top pitcher in baseball period. If he can avoid the early season swoons of the past two years, he could push 25 wins. Radke, Silva, and Lohse are all solid number two pitchers who had down 2005 seasons. The real key here is Scott Baker and Fracisco Liriano, who are closer to the top then any other prospects in the Central, and possibly the majors. If even one of them lives up to their billing (I believe both of them will) Minnesota will have one of the top three staffs in the Majors, if not, they probably grade out to number three in the central. No matter how you look at it, the Central is stocked with pitching. Cleveland, Minnesota, and the ChiSox are very close to each other, and look forward to seeing them all pitch in CoPa this year. [Ghost of Chet Lemon from Milan/MI] Replies: 23