ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick names 15 starters "on the brink" (The Jays have two.) Who will have the best career (top 9 listed alphabetically)?
| Brian Bannister |  26 (11.26%) |
| Zach Duke | 3 (1.30%) |
| Dana Eveland | 2 (0.87%) |
| Gavin Floyd | 2 (0.87%) |
| Zack Greinke | 42 (18.18%) |
| Edwin Jackson | 4 (1.73%) |
| Dustin McGowan | 130 (56.28%) |
| Joe Saunders | 3 (1.30%) |
| Edinson Volquez | 10 (4.33%) |
| Other (who?) | 9 (3.90%) |
231 votes | 7 featured comments
I was surprised to not see Johnny Cueto's name on the list. Speaking of the Reds, I don't see Volquez really panning out long-term. But then, I am almost always wrong about young pitchers.
The Jay not in our poll but on Crasnick's "Others" list is Marcum, of course.
I'd always prefer strikeout pitchers, which is why McG is my choice here. I was also surprised to see Cueto not on the list, but maybe that's because he's a year away (in Crasnick's mind?)
Crasnick seemed to infer that the likes of Cueto, Kershaw, Buchholz and Chamberlain are too much of a sure thing for what he was aiming at. He was looking at the pitchers between these types and the Carmona's who've already received the big extension.
I voted "Other-Marcum", but really it could be McGowan or Greinke or many of the others. It is pretty much a subjective judgment.
There is no such thing as a "sure thing" in pitchers, even Buchholz or Cueto. TINSTAPP is an overstatement, but there is a germ of truth there.
There is no such thing as a "sure thing" in pitchers, even Buchholz or Cueto. TINSTAPP is an overstatement, but there is a germ of truth there.
Can't argue with the Marcum selection. If you want to judge a pitcher by their highs, then Marcum is the guy you really want to look at.
He seems to put up 1-2 hitters through the first 4-5 innings more than anyone on that list. When he is on, he can flat out dominate and I've seen it more from him than anyone of these guys. The thing with Marcum is that he generally just makes that "1 mistake", but always seems to get bitten by it. I think with time and better pitch selection, he can be even better than he is right now.
He seems to put up 1-2 hitters through the first 4-5 innings more than anyone on that list. When he is on, he can flat out dominate and I've seen it more from him than anyone of these guys. The thing with Marcum is that he generally just makes that "1 mistake", but always seems to get bitten by it. I think with time and better pitch selection, he can be even better than he is right now.
I've never actually seen Bannister pitch but I had him on my fantasy team last year and he was an absolute stud despite his bad peripherals... I knew he was a top Mets prospect but they soured on him for some reason... well, this article explains the reason... but like the article explains... this guy is a sabermatrician... and that's why I'm rooting for him to have the best career... because he will adapt to an everchanging environment!
Go Bannister!
Go Bannister!
btw, here's the link to the Jeff Passan story
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=jp-springbannister030808&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=jp-springbannister030808&prov=yhoo&type=lgns