Over the past couple days, I have seen questions arise within fantays chats asking about $1 end game starting pitchers. While I have not been thrilled with the names, that doesn't mean they are not good suggestions. One shouldn't expect $1 end-of-draft starting pitchers to be anything but a 1-in-3 or -in-4 proposition.
Gambling on these pitchers is of more importance if you have eschewed more established pitchers in favor of building a good/great offense. In this case, you need to hit on more than 25% of your gambles. You can't win, emphasis win, your league otherwise.
Last season, James Shields was the type of starter that helped hitting-heavy strategists win, emphasis win, their leagues, but who will be this seasons's Janes Shields?
I don't know, but here are a few guesses.
- TB Rays Andrew Sonanstine: His WHIP is too good for the ERA, and he should be a contributing piece if the Rays breakout to 80 wins.
- Baltimore Orioles Daniel Cabrera: He did throw 200+ innings last year. Stats aside, shouldn't this indicate he can be much better?
- Kansas City Royals Brian Bannister: If the Royals surge under new manager Trey Hillman, the brainy Brian should continue to be the exception to the rule of high strikeout succes.
- New York Mets Mike Pelfrey: The 15+ expected wins each of starting four ahead of him in the rotation, along with his inauspicious 2007 season, should keep him in the weeds at draft time.