Padres News: The Padres Rotation Against The Rest of the NL West

Now that the San Diego Padres have given James Shields a four-year, $75 million dollar contract, let’s take a look at how the Padres’ starting five pitchers compare to the other teams in the division. The Padres have definitely improved their already formidable staff, and there depth is outstanding. The current starting staff consists of Shields, Andrew Cashner, Tyson Ross, Ian Kennedy, Odrisamer Despaigne and a hopefully healthy Brandon Morrow. That’s six total pitchers for a starting staff of five. Somebody has to go to the bullpen, your guess is as good as mine.

A lot will depend on how each pitcher throws during the spring. Robbie Erlin and Casey Kelly are two young pitchers that would probably be counted on in previous seasons. With the Padres’ incredible depth, those two young pitchers as well as Matt Wisler (the #53 ranked prospect in all MLB) just will not be counted on to throw in 2015 for the Major League team. Josh Johnson and Cory Luebke are coming off injury, and might be able to contribute come July or August. Rounding out the list of starters is Brandon Maurer who was acquired from the Seattle Mariners for Seth Smith. Maurer will most likely pitch out of the bullpen, but he could be a long shot to start. That kind of crazy depth is unreal.

If someone succumbs to injury, then it really wouldn’t be a big deal. A very nice position to be in. Very nice indeed. With A.J. Preller’s propensity for the dramatic, the rotation could change in a matter of a phone call or two. Andrew Cashner has already been rumored to be on the radar for a potential deal involving Cole Hamels. If or when that will happen remains to be seen, but just know that Preller’s tinkering hasn’t ended.

Perhaps he will look at all this depth and deal someone in the back end for a shortstop or upgrade somewhere else. Who really knows? The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants have above average rotations, while the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies are struggling to find identities to their respective rotations. The race does figure to go down to the Dodgers, Padres and Giants in the end. Now let’s take a look at each team’s rotation, excluding the Padres. It’s pretty obvious where each rotation ranks. Let’s delve into each rotation in an attempt to see how the Padres rank against them.  

 The Colorado Rockies

The Colorado Rockies will always have a problem with starting pitching, and there is no difference this coming season. The rotation consists of Jorge De La Rosa, Jhoulys Chacin, Jordan Lyles, Tyler Matzek and Kyle Kendrick. Absolutely nothing outstanding and impressive here at all. With that rotation, that is a tough year, no matter how you slice it. The lefty De La Rosa is a gritty pitcher, but is more like a number three starter than an ace of the staff. He received an extension this past September in the amount of two-years and $25 million dollars. Well-deserved as he started 32 games and won 14 of those. A 4.10 earned run average is pretty solid when you throw half your games at Coors Field. He is also slightly an injury risk.

Chacin is penciled in as the number two starter, but was injured last season and is certainly no given to retain his form. Lyles and Matzek give the Rockies youth and uncertainty. Both have shown flashes of brilliance, but have also been very hittable at times. Just like most young Rockies pitchers. The fifth spot is probably going to fall to Kyle Kendrick.

The journeyman right-hander started 32 games for the Philadelphia Phillies last season, with a 4.61 earned run average and a 10-13 record. The Padres’ staff just completely blows the doors off the Rockies’ staff. James Shields, Andrew Cashner, Tyson Ross and even Ian Kennedy would easily be the #1 starter on the Rockies’ staff. There really is no comparison, but the Rockies are a team built with offense in mind, not pitching.

They are built to win games with the three-run homer, not with complete game shut-outs. This year’s Padres’ team can rival the Rockies offensively and that’s why fans are going crazy for Padres baseball.

 The Arizona Diamonbacks

A franchise that has overhauled their front office and team, but have received little to no recognition is the Arizona Diamondbacks. Jeremy Hellickson and Josh Collmenter head up their rotation.

They are followed by Allen Webster and Rubby De La Rosa who were acquired via trade with the Boston Red Sox for Wade Miley. Also returning is Trevor Cahill, a veteran pitcher at the age of 27. Just seems like he has been around for ever.

Also competing for a spot is Vidal Nuno, who pitched very well the second half of 2014 after his acquisition from the New York Yankees, who posted a 3.76 ERA in 83 innings. Youngsters Randall Delgado and Chase Anderson also are slated to compete for a spot in the rotation.

That is basically eight guys for a rotation of five. Collmenter, Hellickson, and Cahill are most assuredly going to open the season in the rotation. That leaves the five remaining young pitchers to compete for the last three available spots. Also be sure to keep an eye on prospect Archie Bradley, who has ace stuff, but struggled last season. He will be given a long look this spring.

That is a good thing for the Diamondbacks, as they are assured to start the season with whomever is pitching well in Spring Training. It’s good to have selections to make, sometimes pitchers that are given a rotation spot instead of earning one, fail to put in a complete effort.

This rotation from top to bottom is nowhere near the San Diego Padres in terms of quality. Hellickson might turn out to be a great pick up and Collmenter is unorthodox, but effective. I like Nuno and Chase Anderson. The Diamondbacks will sneak up on some teams this season, but ultimately they are missing far too many pieces to compete in the end.

Never underestimate a team run by the likes of Tony La Russa (Chief Baseball Officer) and Dave Stewart (General Manager). They exude the winning way from their souls and can be great motivators. That is why I think this ball club can surprise some teams in the National League.

The Los Angeles Dodgers

This pitching staff is considered one of the best in the league. Rightfully so, as Clayton Kershaw and Zack Grienke at the top of the rotation are absolutely solid.

Hyun-jin Ryu is a very solid number three starting pitcher. The free agent signing of Brandon McCarthy is very curious though. I understand he is a ground ball pitcher and the middle infield has been upgraded, but McCarthy has never been able to consistently stay healthy. To give a pitcher of that ilk a four-year, $48 million dollar contract is absurd.

Brett Anderson is penciled in to the number five spot, but he too has a history of arm problems. He was awarded a one-year, $10 million dollar contract this past off-season. In my opinion these two pitchers will go down this year, and the Dodgers will be left scratching their heads. Especially with McCarthy’s four-year deal.

Kershaw is probably the best pitcher in baseball right now. Grienke is motivated to pitch well this upcoming season, as he can opt out of his current contract and effectively become a free agent.

Ryu is an important part of the Dodger rotation. He can be flat out dominant at times, but seems a little fragile too. Only throwing 192 and 152 innings in his first 2 seasons in the Major Leagues. Which brings me to my next point, Ryu being an Asian pitcher will have to get over the third-year hurdle. A 1.9 WAR number last year is terrible for a pitcher of Ryu’s ability.

Both Hideo Nomo and Daisuke Matsuzaka were an instant success when they first came to the major leagues. Their third year, each pitcher’s ERA skyrocketed and their numbers were never the same. The odd herky-jerky motions of a Japanese or Korean pitcher at first throw major league hitters off, but once they study the pitcher and see them, then they tee off on them.

I would not have to much confidence in Ryu. Shoulder injuries limited him last year to merely 152 innings and he was constantly pulled after throwing only 90 pitches. McCarthy has an extensive injury history too, but was very effective for the New York Yankees down the stretch last season. Brett Anderson is a left-handed pitcher who has too many injury issues. He threw only 41 innings last year because of back surgery. See a common theme here?

In my opinion the Padres staff is just as good as the Dodgers staff, maybe even better. Yes, I said it. I know Kershaw is a MONSTER and Grienke is a great pitcher, but I have no real confidence in the back end of their rotation. I am also slightly biased.

Just the fact that you can debate if the Padres staff is as good as the Dodgers staff brings joy to my heart. A.J. Preller has shown the Padres a creative way to field a great team, now it’s up to the players to perform…… STAY TUNED!

Next: Shields Makes Padres Instant Contenders In NL West

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