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Ranking the NL rotations

Hudson, Martinez boost hopes of Braves, Mets

Posted: Monday February 14, 2005 1:09PM; Updated: Monday February 14, 2005 3:41PM
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If you like pitching, then you will love the National League East this season. The Braves, Marlins and Mets rank in the top five NL starting rotations, with the Cubs and Astros fighting for space in there as well. Read on for the entire rankings.

Check out the the AL rankings from last week for an explanation of dERA (DIPS) and Park Indexes. All ages listed are for June 30, 2005.

1. Atlanta Braves
Pitcher Age 2004
IP ERA dERA BB SO
1. John Smoltz 38 81.2 2.76 2.75 13 85
2. Tim Hudson 29 188.2 3.53 3.58 44 103
3. Mike Hampton 32 172.1 4.28 4.47 65 87
4. John Thomson 31 198.1 3.72 3.93 52 133
5. Horacio Ramirez 25 60.1 2.39 5.01 30 31

Three-year Turner Field Indexes: Runs 97; HR 101
2004 Runs Allowed: 668, third in NL
Outlook: Bringing Smoltz back into the rotation should have been done a couple of first-round flameouts ago. Now they have Hudson, too, creating a duo that will make Atlanta formidable in October again. Why the Braves instead of the Cubs here? Smoltz and Hudson have proven themselves as aces year after year. Mark Prior and Kerry Wood have not. Last year's numbers are about the best you can expect from Hampton and Thomson, but look out for Ramirez if he can recover from his shoulder injury.

2. Chicago Cubs
Pitcher Age 2004
IP ERA dERA BB SO
1. Mark Prior 24 118.2 4.02 3.43 48 139
2. Kerry Wood 28 140.1 3.72 3.78 51 144
3. Carlos Zambrano 24 209.2 2.75 3.62 81 188
4. Greg Maddux 39 212.2 4.02 4.06 33 151
5. Glendon Rusch 30 129.2 3.47 3.65 33 90

Three-year Wrigley Field Indexes: Runs 102; HR 120
2004 Runs Allowed: 665, second in NL
Outlook: Is it heresy to suggest Zambrano might be the best pitcher in this group? At the very least, he appears to be the most durable after posting back-to-back seasons of 200-plus innings. He ranked second in the NL in fewest home runs allowed per nine innings (0.60) last season and first in 2003 (0.38). The starters did the job last year, leading the NL in ERA (3.72) and innings (1,007), but the same bullpen that derailed the team's playoff chances hasn't gotten any better.

3. Florida Marlins
Pitcher Age 2004
IP ERA dERA BB SO
1. Al Leiter 39 173.2 3.21 4.98 97 117
2. Josh Beckett 25 156.2 3.79 3.70 54 152
3. A.J. Burnett 28 120 3.68 3.39 38 113
4. Dontrelle Willis 23 197 4.02 4.02 61 139
5. Ismael Valdez 31 170 5.19 5.84 49 67

Three-year Dolphins Stadium Indexes: Runs 96; HR 84
2004 Runs Allowed: 700, sixth in NL
Outlook: Beckett had trouble flashing that Game 6 form with consistency last season. Burnett dominated for a stretch after a slow start coming back from Tommy John surgery. If they can harness their talents this year, the Braves' run of division titles will be in jeopardy. Willis has been up-and-down his first two years, but he battled his way close to the 200-inning mark in 2004 and posted decent numbers all around. The former Rookie of the Year should get better. Leiter's main role might be helping these three kids keep it together.

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