#5 starters

by Adam J. Morris on Mar 28, 2007 10:53 PM CDT in News Comment 24 comments

With the #5 starter situation with the Rangers being such a hot topic of discussion, I thought it would be worthwhile to look at who the #5 starters for the rest of MLB will be on Opening Day, just as a point of comparison.

The list, as best as I can determine:

Dustin Moseley -- Anaheim
Matt Albers -- Astros
Joe Kennedy -- A's
Josh Towers -- Blue Jays
Kyle Davies -- Braves
Claudio Vargas -- Brewers
Braden Looper -- Cardinals
Wade Miller -- Cubs
Casey Fossum -- D-Rays
Edgar Gonzalez -- D-Backs
Brett Tomko -- Dodgers
Russ Ortiz -- Giants
Fausto Carmona -- Indians
Jeff Weaver -- M's
Sergio Mitre -- Marlins
Mike Pelfrey -- NY Mets
Matt Chico -- Nationals
Jaret Wright -- Orioles
Brandon Duckworth -- Kansas City
Clay Hensley -- Padres
Jamie Moyer -- Phillies
Tony Armas, Jr. -- Pirates
Julian Tavarez -- BoSox
Matt Belisle -- Reds
Josh Fogg -- Rockies
Chad Durbin -- Tigers -- Update [2007-3-30 16:33:45 by Adam J. Morris]: Changed because Rogers is now on the d.l.
Sidney Ponson -- Twins
John Danks -- ChiSox
Jeff Karstens -- Yankees

0 recs | Comment 24 comments

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Comments

Nice....

Good job on this...

John Danks... my luv for over 4 years can go to hell

I'm so angry that Kam didn't get the 5th starter.

I hate the fact that JD screwed this up for Kam

JD and Wash might just be the worse we've ever had

by hurlerhurley on Mar 28, 2007 11:18 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I assume...

...you've never heard of Joe Klein and Doug Rader.

by Adam J. Morris on Mar 28, 2007 11:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

hahaha

whoa, dude. Take a step back from the hyperbole machine for a second.

What's there to be angry about? Wright will flame out after his first 3 starts and Loe will be right there (with decent long relief experience) to step into the rotation.

Ease up.

Obama '08

by RangerMoto on Mar 28, 2007 11:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

So....

This team is good enough to throw three games?

by BurntOrange on Mar 29, 2007 1:09 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

uhhhh...

Wright's first three starts last season he was 2-0 with a 2.91 ERA and his team won all three games. Admittedly, he was lucky (he walked a bunch of guys in those games), but the point is, I don't think you can argue that we are just "throwing" the games that he starts. Unless you are also going to argue that we are "throwing" the bad starts that McCarthy and Tejeda are bound to have this year.

by Brandon Wilson on Mar 29, 2007 9:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

a list of

has-beens, soon-to-bes, and wannabes.

by t ball on Mar 28, 2007 11:18 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

well said

by coolaid on Mar 28, 2007 11:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not happy with Ron Washington

Ron Washington and JD are going to send the Rangers back to the Cold Cellar. I have NO faith in JD as the Rangers GM

by hurlerhurley on Mar 28, 2007 11:25 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

He hasn't managed a regular season game yet

by Dustin on Mar 28, 2007 11:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wow

I thought I was Mr. Negative.

Thanks for making me feel more at home.

by 3Bagger on Mar 29, 2007 12:24 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Quite a Marred List

I find this list to be one that upsets my stomach quite a bit. The only thing that would make it upset more is to actually include Jamey (W)right next to Jaret Wright.

On this list I count really only 6 pitchers (Albers, Gonzalez, Pelfrey, Chico, Danks, and Karstens) that I would list as young players I would get excited about.

I count one higher, 7 pitchers (Moseley, Davies, Mitre, Hensley, Belisle, Fogg, and Maroth) as mildly interesting non-veterans (although Maroth might be a bit of a stretch) at the 5th spot that I would be comfortable with.

I count 7 un-interesting 5th starters, whether they be re-converted relievers or just uninteresting youngsters (Kennedy, Towers, Looper, Miller, Carmona, Tavarez and Duckworth)

I count only 3 veterans that I would feel extremely comfortable with in the 5 spot (Tomko, Moyer, and Armas Jr.)

Then I count 7 people who I just can't believe to continue getting jobs. They have at most one or two decent seasons in their careers and somehow continue to get jobs. Of course they Vargas, Russ Ortiz, Weaver, Jaret Wright, Ponson, and Fossum. Of course added to this list is the other Wright, who has sucked his entire career. I'm glad that guys like Matt Garza and Kameron Loe aren't able to get jobs because guys like Ponson and Wright have a decent month (both Garza and Loe of course having sub 2 ERA's in the same month). Ridiculous.

"The history of a man is documented not by his words but by his actions."

by Heebs on Mar 28, 2007 11:44 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Tomko

I don't really think he's any better than Jamey Wright.

by Adam J. Morris on Mar 28, 2007 11:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Tomko

Our number five starter is just as good as Brett Tomko. That makes me feel good.

by BurntOrange on Mar 29, 2007 1:12 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe not

But Kameron Loe is and that is all that really matters.

Milk, milk, lemonade, around the corner fudge is made.

by Chris Martin on Mar 29, 2007 1:39 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Tomko

Perhaps Tomko isn't excitable, much like Wright...however he has been a serviceable big league pitcher for years. He has pitched for a number of teams and continues to post sub 5 ERA's, not bad for a 5th starter. He isn't exciting and won't strike guys out but he will go out there and give you a decent chance to win. Jamey Wright has not shown near that ability across a season (we cannot count 2003 and 2004).

I'd take Tomko and his grey hair over Wright in a heart beat.

"The history of a man is documented not by his words but by his actions."

by Heebs on Mar 29, 2007 12:03 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Tomko

sucks

by JBImaknee on Mar 29, 2007 12:15 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Tomko Sucks?

Please tell me what makes Tomko such a terrible pitcher? Aside from a slight tendency to give up the gopher ball now and again, his numbers are pretty consistent. Not terribly above average but across a whole bunch of years quite serviceable. Hideki Irabu sucked. Chan Ho Park sucked. These guys couldn't keep runs from crossing the plate. Tomko is just consistently average. I'd take that over Jeff "The Savior" Weaver.

"The history of a man is documented not by his words but by his actions."

by Heebs on Mar 29, 2007 12:21 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Tomko

is a 4.50 - 5.00 ERA pitcher who always plays in the biggest pitchers parks in baseball (LA, San Fran, SD, Seattle). In ballparks where homeruns are almost impossible (esp. if Bonds is on your team), he always is good to give up 20 or 30.

The guy, if he played in Arlington, would be a 6.50 ERA guy threatening Blylevens HR allowed record (if we left him in the whole season). Sure he is serviceable when you play in damp foggy air, but the guy would be worthless to the Rangers, and always has been.

As for Weaver - who has ever referred to him as "the Savior?"

There are at least six guys in the Rangers system I'd rather have than Tomko: Loe, Rupe, Chen, Wright, Volquez, Koronka.

by JBImaknee on Mar 29, 2007 12:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

And a slight P.S.

Boof Bonser is actually slated to be the Twins 5th starter as opposed to Sidney Ponson. Ponson should check in at #4 behind Santana, Silva, and Ortiz.

"The history of a man is documented not by his words but by his actions."

by Heebs on Mar 29, 2007 12:27 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I believe..

Bonser is the #2 Starter. I watch the game on ESPN yesterday, and they said that on the broadcast. I nearly fell out my seat. Injuries have caught up with the twinkies.

by Parman on Mar 29, 2007 7:38 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I didn't even realize

how much the Twins' rotation sucks. the rangers should feel gifted compared to them. it sucks too, I really like that team.

by acgunter on Mar 29, 2007 1:07 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Great List

Seeing those guys all lined up like that really shows that the fifth spot, no matter who's in it, is not really much to get excited about.

(Nobody has a great one.)

ScoutingBook: Top Prospects, Closer Updates and more!

by scoutingbook on Mar 29, 2007 4:37 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Actually the Twins' 5th starter is

Carlos Silva. The apparently more talented and younger Matt Garza was recently sent to AAA Rochester.
Boof Bonzer is the #2 starter.
The rotation would be
Santana
Bonser
Ortiz
Ponson
Silva
Prospects, Garza, Kevin Slowey, Glen Perkins, and Scott Baker are waiting in the wings in AAA.

by BAIT956 on Mar 29, 2007 7:39 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs