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Biggio509 · 06-14-2010, 12:25 PM

Fist off SP is just a label. I think sometimes we get hung up on this. AI teams will have a lot of SPs in the low minors who will never start in the majors even if they make it. So the real issue is here is are there too many stud relievers, which are what these 2 pitch "starters" are and not enough good starters.

I am not sure. Modern baseball in reality has a lack of good starting pitching. You can blame it on a lot of things but IMO the reality is a good starter is a rarity and quality has declined with expansion because we have gone from 80 SP in the majors in 1960 to 150 SP in the majors today. Along with that baseball has less popularity in the US among kids and we have fewer prospects. I believe that is really due to expansion of sports now. We just to have football, baseball, and basketball. Today schools have everything from soccer to lacrosse to offer. Looking at ERAs and IP there is no doubt SP has declined over the years. It isn't just because of the juiced era either.

My gut feeling is the game is closer to realistic than we want to admit. You find SPs today pitching whole seasons with near or over 5.00 ERAs in the 1980's those guys would not be on the team. MLB average ERAs today are in the mid 4 range. Again an ERA that a guy would have sent back to the minors for back in the 80's. There are just simply a lot more good relievers out there, percentage wise, than good starters. It is frustrating but it is realistic.

Today, any decent SP in free agency ask for a boatload. Just look at how much the Randy Wolf wanted and he isn't elite. Even in a down economy when teams aren't spending as much he got 10 million a year. Look at Jason Marquis getting 7 million a year with a career ERA of 4.57 including a year over 6. Look at Jeff Suppan in 2006 16 million a year for a guy who in his 15 year career has only had an ERA under 4 3 times! No .250 hitting batter would make that. The free agent market shows there is very little starting pitching talent in the majors. The average stats show there is a lack of SP in the majors today as well.

I am not sure I like it but honestly it is realistic. Unless you are one of the top 3 or 4 payrolls or have a bunch of top prospects on the farm your 4 and 5 guys are going to be guys your fans think shouldn't be in AAA. That is today's reality.

06-14-2010, 12:25 PM	#9
Biggio509 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 2,027	Fist off SP is just a label. I think sometimes we get hung up on this. AI teams will have a lot of SPs in the low minors who will never start in the majors even if they make it. So the real issue is here is are there too many stud relievers, which are what these 2 pitch "starters" are and not enough good starters. I am not sure. Modern baseball in reality has a lack of good starting pitching. You can blame it on a lot of things but IMO the reality is a good starter is a rarity and quality has declined with expansion because we have gone from 80 SP in the majors in 1960 to 150 SP in the majors today. Along with that baseball has less popularity in the US among kids and we have fewer prospects. I believe that is really due to expansion of sports now. We just to have football, baseball, and basketball. Today schools have everything from soccer to lacrosse to offer. Looking at ERAs and IP there is no doubt SP has declined over the years. It isn't just because of the juiced era either. My gut feeling is the game is closer to realistic than we want to admit. You find SPs today pitching whole seasons with near or over 5.00 ERAs in the 1980's those guys would not be on the team. MLB average ERAs today are in the mid 4 range. Again an ERA that a guy would have sent back to the minors for back in the 80's. There are just simply a lot more good relievers out there, percentage wise, than good starters. It is frustrating but it is realistic. Today, any decent SP in free agency ask for a boatload. Just look at how much the Randy Wolf wanted and he isn't elite. Even in a down economy when teams aren't spending as much he got 10 million a year. Look at Jason Marquis getting 7 million a year with a career ERA of 4.57 including a year over 6. Look at Jeff Suppan in 2006 16 million a year for a guy who in his 15 year career has only had an ERA under 4 3 times! No .250 hitting batter would make that. The free agent market shows there is very little starting pitching talent in the majors. The average stats show there is a lack of SP in the majors today as well. I am not sure I like it but honestly it is realistic. Unless you are one of the top 3 or 4 payrolls or have a bunch of top prospects on the farm your 4 and 5 guys are going to be guys your fans think shouldn't be in AAA. That is today's reality.