Subscribe to SI
Give the Gift of SI
Extra MustardSI On CampusFantasyPhoto GalleriesSwimsuitVideoFanNationSI KidsTNT

Ranking the AL rotations (cont.)

Posted: Thursday February 10, 2005 1:45PM; Updated: Thursday February 10, 2005 2:01PM
Free E-mail AlertsE-mail ThisPrint ThisSave ThisMost PopularRSS Aggregators

CLICK HERE FOR PART II OF JACOB LUFT'S INSIDER

9. Texas Rangers
Pitcher Age 2004
IP ERA dERA BB SO
1. Kenny Rogers 40 211.2 4.76 4.47 66 126
2. Ryan Drese 29 207.2 4.20 4.01 58 98
3. Chan Ho Park 32 95.2 5.46 5.93 33 63
4. Pedro Astacio 35 8.2 10.38 -- 5 6
5. Chris Young 26 36.1 4.71 4.88 10 27

Three-year Ballpark in Arlington Indexes: Runs 124; HR 124
2004 Runs Allowed: 794, fifth in AL
2005 Outlook: Arlington isn't Coors Field, but it's close. The Rockies' runs and HR indexes for the past three years were 136 and 135, respectively. So the Rangers have a similar problem in evaluating their pitchers. Rogers and Drese gave them exactly what they needed -- lots of innings, not many walks. But the Rangers are giving valuable rotation spots to Park and Astacio, who are destined to disappoint. Young is a legit prospect, and expect Juan Dominguez and Ricardo Rodriguez to get a shot, too.

10. Detroit Tigers
Pitcher Age 2004
IP ERA dERA BB SO
1. Jason Johnson 31 196.2 5.13 4.38 60 125
2. Jeremy Bonderman 22 184 4.89 4.37 73 168
3. Mike Maroth 27 217 4.31 4.75 59 108
4. Nate Robertson 27 196.2 4.90 4.72 66 155
5. Wilfredo Ledezma 24 53.1 4.39 4.16 18 29

Three-year Comerica Park Indexes: Runs 90; HR 83
2004 Runs Allowed: 844, 12th in AL
2005 Outlook: What has all this rebuilding wrought? Well, at least we know Bonderman is a star in the making. The Tigers just have to hope they improve quickly enough to contend before he reaches the high-arbitration and free-agency years. Robertston was a revelation last year and look out for the youngster Ledezma, who is a legitimate sleeper after dominating at Class AA last season and earning a callup to Motown.

11. Baltimore Orioles
Pitcher Age 2004
IP ERA dERA BB SO
1. Sidney Ponson 28 215.2 5.30 4.49 69 115
2. Rodrigo Lopez 29 170.2 3.59 4.26 54 121
3. Bruce Chen 28 47.2 3.02 4.75 16 32
4. Daniel Cabrera 24 147.2 5.00 5.25 89 76
5. Erik Bedard 26 137.1 4.59 4.30 71 121

Three-year Camden Yards Indexes: Runs 99; HR 111
2004 Runs Allowed: 830, ninth in AL
2005 Outlook: Ponson and Lopez are a decent top two, but you might want to write off Chen's hot streak last season as a fluke. Look for progress from Bedard and Cabrera, whose trials by fire will continue. But stacked up against the big boys' lineups -- Red Sox and Yankees -- this isn't going to cut it.

12. Seattle Mariners
Pitcher Age 2004
IP ERA dERA BB SO
1. Jamie Moyer 42 202 5.21 5.65 63 125
2. Joel Pineiro 26 140.2 4.67 4.41 43 111
3. Bobby Madritsch 29 88 3.27 3.62 33 60
4. Gil Meche 26 127.2 5.01 4.81 47 99
5. Ryan Franklin 32 200.1 4.90 5.23 61 104

Three-year Safeco Field Indexes: Runs 88; HR 97
2004 Runs Allowed: 823, T-seventh in AL
2005 Outlook: Somehow, Moyer gave up a major league-worst 44 home runs last year despite pitching in Safeco Field half the time. He never had allowed 30 dingers in a year. The rest of the rotation doesn't stack up much better, with Madritsch the most intriguing of the four. But the bottom line is, there is no excuse for putting up crooked numbers like this in a pitcher's paradise. It's time to start the countdown for hotshot right-hander Felix Hernandez, currently an 18-year-old in Class AA.

13. Kansas City Royals
Pitcher Age 2004
IP ERA dERA BB SO
1. Zack Greinke 21 145 3.97 4.76 26 100
2. Runelvys Hernandez 27 DNP -- injury
3. Brian Anderson 33 166 5.64 5.84 53 70
4. Jimmy Gobble 23 148 5.35 5.72 43 49
5. Jose Lima 32 170.1 4.07 4.89 34 93

Three-year Kauffman Stadium Indexes: Runs 116; HR 102
2004 Runs Allowed: 905, 14th in AL
2005 Outlook: You had to know the Royals were doomed when the eminently hittable Anderson was their ace last season. The Royals will be fun to watch when the stud youngster (Greinke) and Mr. Electric Slide (Lima) pitch. Otherwise, it's not going to be pretty.

14. Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Pitcher Age 2004
IP ERA dERA BB SO
1. Mark Hendrickson 31 183.1 4.81 4.59 46 87
2. Dewon Brazelton 25 120.2 4.77 5.03 53 64
3. Scott Kazmir 21 33.1 5.67 4.33 21 41
4. Doug Waechter 24 70.1 6.01 7.49 33 36
5. Rob Bell 28 123 4.46 5.14 41 57

Three-year Tropicana Field Indexes: Runs 94; HR 87
2004 Runs Allowed: 842 runs, 11th in AL
2005 Outlook: It's a good thing the Rays suckered the Mets out of Kazmir last season, or else this would look even more grim. Kazmir proved he has a big-time arm. Brazelton ran out of gas at the end of 2004 but showed enough to merit a full season as a starter. Barring resurrections by scrap-heap pickup Hideo Nomo and Denny Neagle, there isn't much hope for the rest of the cast.

Jacob Luft is a Baseball Producer for SI.com.
Search