There are many different effective strategies when it comes to drafting starting pitchers. Some will hoard the top talents in the year after the year of the pitcher, while others will rely on weekly spot-starts. Both approaches work, but I have employed a much different scheme in recent seasons:
Ideally, you own just one or two reliable starters. They must maintain a consistently low ERA (preferably no higher than 3.50—3.75) and WHIP (Carl Pavano was a great example last year). Strikeouts aren't important...
As a fantasy baseball writer, I evaluate countless advanced statistics every day. Most of the time, I get my information from FanGraphs. However, I recently found another useful site in MoneyStats.
MoneyStats has created a starting pitcher game log using a “runs received” number to better help you with your starting pitcher decisions. They also track leads/deficits when pitchers exit a game, and no decision totals. Perhaps most valuable is their original MoneyStats Value player rating system.
Here is a quick taste of the unique stats MoneyStats has to offer...
The Verducci Effect has become a popular phenomenon within baseball circles in recent seasons. While young hurlers such as Tim Lincecum and Felix Hernandez have bucked this trend in recent years, its worth noting the risk and effect it may have on pitchers in 2011.
More than 10 years ago under the advice of former pitching coach Rick Peterson, Tom Verducci developed this rule of thumb: 25-and-younger pitchers should not increase their workload by 30 innings or more from one season to the next. Pitchers who are pushed past this limit are subject to an injury or regression in the following season.
Not surprisingly, the results have generally supported this theory...
Over the past few weeks, we’ve announced the top 80 players on our 2011 big board. Click on each player’s name for a more in-depth analysis, including 2011 projections!
In 2009, David Price was arguably the top prospect in the minor leagues. Baseball America claimed the young southpaw possessed two plus-plus pitches in his “mid-90s fastball and biting slider.”
Price mowed down A.L. hitters in 2010, throwing his 94 MPH fastball 74 percent of the time, the second highest rate among qualified starter. It was the ninth-best heater in 2010, checking in at 23.5 runs above average...
Thursday, March 31, 2011
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