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Our
All Star Ballots - Part II - Pitchers and mid season awards
By Ray Flowers (co-ordinator), Laura Nist, Daniel
Paulling , Frank Bundy, Brian Roth, Matt Souders, Brandon Wilson and Jonathan Leshanski
June 21, 2005
PART I – FIELDERS
PART II – PITCHING / AWARDS
PART II – PITCHING/AWARDS
STARTING PITCHERS
NL
Ray - Pedro Martinez
Any question that he is the best pitcher in the NL? If he were to
maintain his current WHIP of 0.73 and pitch 162 innings this year,
he would produce the lowest WHIP figure ever. Batters are
also hitting .151 off him. I would take him over any pitcher in
baseball right now.
Laura - Pedro Martinez
Leading the league in strikeouts and he has an ERA well below 3.00.
Frank - Pedro Martinez
Is this the Pedro of old?
Bryan - Pedro Martinez
You think he's trying to prove something? 107 Ks is second only
to Santana in the majors.
Matt - Pedro Martinez
107 Ks, 17 BB, and a 2.56 ERA in 95 Innings…that is astoundingly
good for a guy who was supposed to be a huge injury risk and on
the decline.
Brandon - Pedro Martinez
Leads the NL in strikeouts and is having a rebirth of sorts coming
back to the National League this year. He has also been remarkably
efficient this season, making me think he can keep it up all year.
Jonathan - Pedro Martinez
Unbelievable - He should run for office in NYC right now.
Daniel - Pedro Martinez
General Manager Omar Minaya gave Pedro one year too many, but the
first year of this contract is excellent. The right hander from
the Dominican Republic has 107 Ks in only 95 IP, with an ERA of
2.56 and a WHIP of 0.73. He does not give hitters anything, literally.
AL
Ray - Roy Halladay – 10-3, 2.33 ERA, 75 K, 0.94 WHIP
Remarkable comeback from injury, a repeat of his 2003 Cy Young season
is possible (22-7, 3.25, 204, 1.07).
Laura - Roy Halladay
See Willis.
Frank - Roy Halladay, Toronto Blue Jays
--He just needed 2004 off…now he’s back!
Bryan - Roy Halladay
Why not keep up with resurrected seasons? After an off-year, he's
back to Cy Young form.
Matt - Roy Halladay
Back to full health, Halladay has helped lead the Blue Jays back
into contention in the hotly contested AL East.
Brandon - Roy Halladay
Already has five complete games and two shutouts, the guy is an
unbelievable workhorse. Looks just as good as he did in 2003 when
he won the Cy Young.
Jonathan - “Doc” Halladay
It’s like 2004 never happened. Johan it’s not a one horse
race anymore.
Daniel - Roy “Doc” Halladay
The staff ace of the Jays, Halladay, lessened his off season workload,
which has translated into him having better stuff this year. His
ERA stands at 2.33 with a WHIP of 0.94. He also leads the majors
in IP and has 10 wins to his credit, good for second in the ML.
SP
NL
Ray - Roger Clemens – 4-3, 1.64, 87, 0.93
As much as I don’t want to, you have to give the old man his
due. Making the other 40+ power pitcher, Randy Johnson, look average.
Only 4 other pitchers in baseball get less run support (2.56 per
game).
Laura - Roger Clemens
Too bad he has no run support – his ERA and WHIP are phenomenal
Frank - Roger Clemens
Too bad he gets no run support.
Bryan - Roger Clemens
No pitcher does more for his team and is let down more often. If
the bats weren't so anemic in Houston, we'd be talking another Cy
Young.
Matt - Roger Clemens
This guy just refuses to get older. It is truly remarkable how he’s
endured.
Brandon - Roger Clemens
Only starter in the majors with an ERA under 2.00. Still striking
out almost a batter per inning. Better than his 4-3 record (the
Astros never score). The guy is a robot, and I mean that in a good
way.
Jonathan - Roger Clemens
You may not like him, you may think he’s a headhunter, but
you sure can’t hit off him.
Daniel - Roger Clemens
The Astros went to arbitration with Roger Clemens where the future
Hall of Famer secured an 18 million dollar paycheck, the biggest
to come from the arbiter’s office. The Astros are not going
anywhere, but Clemens is one of the greatest aces in the game currently
and of all time.
AL
Ray - Mark Buehrle
Quietly consistent. Despite the hoopla with John Garland, this guy
has been the best pitcher in Chi Town (7-1, 2.91, 61, 1.06). 4 straight
no-decisions with an ERA of 2.01.
Laura - Kenny Rogers
Is he making a comeback? He has 8 wins and an ERA of 2.02.
Frank - Mark Buehrle
As always, quietly one of the best pitchers in the AL.
Bryan - Chris Young
He doesn't jump at you, but if you've watched him pitch this year,
he can dominate a lineup when he's on, and that's been often.
Matt - Kenny Rogers The ageless wonder is having another outstanding
year for the Rangers complete with a 2.02 ERA and only 1 HR allowed
in a homer happy home park.
Brandon - Kenny Rogers
Give the old man some props. Even if you do not believe Rogers can
carry it through the second half, his first half is worthy of recognition.
Jonathan - Bartolo Colon
His talent has never been the question but has he ever been this
good? He’s a Cy Young contender if he can sustain this pace.
Daniel - Johan Santana
This left hander has put up excellent numbers. Yes, that is an understatement.
In slightly over 100 innings, Santana has 121 strikeouts. Batters
swing and miss a lot. He rarely walks anyone and has a WHIP of 0.90.
Doesn’t that spell ace for you?
SP
NL
Ray - Dontrelle Willis – 11-2, 2.06, 71, 1.10
Grew up 25 miles from me, glad I didn’t have to hit off him.
Though I would have taken my chances in wiffle ball.
Laura - Dontrelle Willis
11 wins and his ERA is hovering close to 2.00!
Frank - Dontrelle Willis
The D-train keeps the Marlins above .500.
Bryan - Dontrelle Willis
Already surpassed last year's total wins (10) with 11 and is in
the top 15 in the NL in K.
Matt - Dontrelle Willis
This is one tantalizing prospect. He’s just 23 and already
in his third full season and dominating baseball.
Brandon - Dontrelle Willis
11-2 2.06 with 2 shutouts and 3 complete games. He is also hitting
.264 with 4 RBI in 38 at bats. Is there any other starter more fun
to watch?
Jonathan - Dontrelle Willis
It was a toss up between him and Jake Peavy who has also been just
nasty, but Dontrelle has managed to turn the majority of his starts
into wins. That earns him the nod.
Daniel - Brett Myers
So this new park in Philly is a hitter’s park? Someone forgot
to tell Myers that. The 23-year-old righty has put up ridiculous
numbers, along the lines of 92 Ks in 94 innings with a 2.19 ERA
and 1.02 WHIP. Congrats to those of you that drafted him. (My apologies
to Dontrelle Willis, he definitely deserves a spot somewhere on
here.)
AL
Ray - Johan Santana – 7-2, 3.32, 121, 0.90
Has upped his K per 9 IP this year to 10.85 (from last years 10.46).
Also ha lowered his WHIP to 0.90 (from 0.92). D-O-M-I-N-A-N-T.
Laura - Johan Santana
Leading the AL in strikeouts and has an incredibly low WHIP.
Frank - Kenny Rogers
40 year old pitcher in Ameriquest Field…this is a recipe
for disaster, right?
Bryan - Johan Santana - Reminds me of Pedro, circa 1999-2001. Always
dominates and always gives the Twins a chance to win.
Matt - Johan Santana
There is no one in baseball racking up Ks at the rate of Santana.
In the DIPS categories, only Pedro can compete.
Brandon - Johan Santana
Leads the planet in strikeouts and is still just filthy. At this
time last year his ERA was 4.84, but he was starting an unbelievable
run that would continue through the end of the season and result
in a Cy Young. His ERA is currently 3.32 and a week ago he had his
first shutout of the season. Is a repeat in the future?
Jonathan - Johan Santana
I’ve never seen anyone with his kind of stuff . Just naaasty,
gives you chills to watch him.
Daniel - Randy Johnson
Sure, he has struggled quite a bit. Everyone has heard how the struggling
Unit was done, how he is no longer the same. Well, for a guy whose
career is pretty much over, he does have 7 wins and an ERA of 3.51.
He has been a horse, pitching 100 innings exactly for the Yankees,
as well as striking out 91 over that span. Many guys wish their
career would go out like this!
RP
NL
Ray - Chad Cordero – 2-1, 1.06 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 21 SV
Leads MLB in saves, and how often do you see an ERA below a pitchers
WHIP?
Laura - Chad Cordero
First closer to rack up 21 saves and he has an ERA of 1.06.
Frank - Chad Cordero
He was pitching in college in 2003!
Bryan - Chad Cordero
The Nationals are in first and Cordero is a big part of it. He's
closed out 19 games and is striking out nearly a batter per inning.
Matt – Chad Cordero
Brandon - Chad Cordero
The closer for the surprise team in the NL, Cordero has 21 saves
in 23 chances. He is not quite as dominant as Brad Lidge (or a healthy
Eric Gagne) but he has been every bit as effective so far and has
far and away the most saves in the majors.
Jonathan - Chad Cordero
How can you not like this guy? He came out of nowhere to be a key
to the Nats success.
Daniel - Chad Cordero
This guy is the reason guys like Huston Street and Craig Hansen
get so much money. At Cal State Fullerton, Cordero set the school
record with number of saves and the then-Expos drafted him for RP
help. Well, Cordero has definitely done that, leading the Majors
with 21 saves with a 1.06 ERA. This guy can really throw the ball,
even on three or four consecutive nights.
AL
Ray - BJ Ryan – 0-1, 1.93, 1.04, 17 SV
Guess he can close after all. ERA is 0.52, WHIP 0.81 at Home (17.1
IP).
Laura - Joe Nathan
Too bad the Giants don’t have him in their bullpen…oh
wait – they did.
Frank - BJ Ryan
Did you see that K/9?
Bryan - .J. Ryan
51 Ks in 32.2 IP and opponents are hitting .207 against him. Filthy.
Matt – BJ Ryan
Brandon - B.J. Ryan
51 strikeouts in 32 plus innings and 17 saves. What more can you
ask for? He is the new “Billy Wagner-like” closer (lefty
and hard throwing) and looks like a keeper. Where would the Orioles
be without him?
Jonathan - B.J. Ryan
I drafted this guy in three fantasy leagues and I had no idea he
could be this good. Seems his daily line is one inning pitched,
one save, three strikeouts.
Daniel - B.J. Ryan
Ryan has been a dominating force out of the bullpen with that crazy
hair of his. On the year, Ryan has 17 saves (more then Gagne and
Rivera combined), with 51 strikeouts in only 32 innings (more than
Ben Sheets). Talk about dominating!
MVP
NL
Ray - Derrek Lee
Laura – Derrek Lee
Frank – Derrek Lee
Bryan - Derrek Lee
Matt - Derrek Lee
Brandon - Derrek Lee
He is on pace to win a triple crown which has not been done in decades.
Lee has also been responsible for keeping the Cubs in the race despite
the injured pitchers. He has to be the first half MVP.
Jonathan - Bobby Abreu
Has kept the Phillies afloat while they waited for their pitching
to turn things around and for the real Jim Thome to come back. Derrek
Lee has been great but the Cubs are not even real Wild Card contenders.
Daniel - Derrek Lee
This wasn’t even a challenging choice. Lee has been the best
player in all of baseball. The Cubs lose Prior, Wood, Borowski,
Hawkins, Remlinger, and Garciaparra? Who cares! D-Lee has bashed
enough to keep the Cubbies winning while everyone else comes back
at their own pace. Without a question, he has been the biggest offensive
force in the majors so far this year.
AL
Ray - Miguel Tejada
Laura – Alex Rodriguez
Frank – Alex Rodriguez
Bryan - Miguel Tejada
Matt – Alex Rodriguez
Brandon - Brian Roberts
Seems appropriate to give the MVP to a member of the team that is
leading their division and was perhaps least expected to do so.
Baltimore has thrived with Roberts at the top of the order and has
the best offense in baseball.
Jonathan - Brian Roberts
Can’t argue with a .361-11-35 with 41 runs scored - and for
a winning team. Take that Alex Rodriguez!
Daniel - Brian Roberts
Everyone knew just how great the Orioles offense was because of
what they did last season. However, the O’s offense has put
the club into first. The difference? Brian Roberts. The scrappy
second baseman already has 11 homers and 13 steals, all the while
hitting for average and getting on base. This kid is pretty good
and he’s the reason the Orioles offense goes.
CY YOUNG
NL
Ray - Pedro Martinez
Is he the best pitcher ever? I think he seriously has to be considered
in the top 5 all-time. Nothing he has done this year has changed
that perception of him.
Laura- Dontrelle Willis
Frank - Roger Clemens
Bryan - Pedro Martinez
5:1 strikeout to walk ratio, opponents are hitting .159 against
him and he's finished two games on his own. Pedro's baaaaaaack.
Matt – Pedro Martinez
Brandon - Dontrelle Willis
Has slowed down a little bit in June, but there has not been a more
Cy Young worthy first half in the NL. Roger Clemens could make a
case, but he will have to get more wins to have a chance. Martinez
is my pick to be there at season’s end.
Jonathan - Pedro Martinez
One of the best of the modern age and perhaps of all time.
Daniel - Roger Clemens
Clemens finally deserves this Cy Young award. On the season, he
managed to bring his ERA down to 0.32, but it currently stands at
1.53. That number is an average of slightly less than seven innings
pitched allowing only one earned run. Clemens keeps his strikeout
numbers high and his WHIP low.
AL
Ray - Roy Halladay
Laura – Roy Halladay
Frank - Kenny Rogers
Bryan - Johan Santana
He edges out Halladay on stats alone right now. This race will go
down the wire, but it's going to one of them.
Matt – Johan Santana
Brandon - Roy Halladay
Jon Garland made and early case and leads the league in wins, but
Halladay has been more dominant. It will be interesting to see who
has the better second half between Halladay, Santana and Buehrle
or will it be someone else?
Jonathan - Johan Santana
Gets the nod because the Twins will win the central.
Daniel - Roy Halladay
We know from last year’s NL fiasco (Clemens being picked over
Unit) that the Cy Young award winner is supposed to come from a
team in first place. Who cares? Halladay has been nothing short
of brilliant, having pitched the most innings in the majors and
getting 10 wins on a ballclub that really isn’t that good.
He has kept his team in the game quite a few times, and that is
all you can ask for from a starter.
FANTASY MVP
*** Not necessarily the best player, but the one who has provided
the most value for your buck.
NL
Ray - Nick Johnson
Out of nowhere to hit .325-8-39-38 with a .964 OPS. I’m sure
he’ll get hurt, but for what you paid (nothing), he has been
tremendous.
Laura - Derrek Lee
Wish I had him!
Frank – Derrek Lee
Bryan - Derrek Lee
Only makes sense. On top of his insane hitting numbers, he's stolen
nine bases. We're talking about a first baseman here. You won't
get this kind of production anywhere else. RIP Ryan Klesko.
Matt – David Wright
Brandon - Bobby Abreu
Putting up the numbers that most expected from Carlos Beltran, but
was probably available at then end of the first round instead of
#1 or #2 overall.
Jonathan - Derrek Lee
I got him for $4 in one league. He’s given a lot more bang
than my second choice guy - Morgan Ensberg.
Daniel - Derrek Lee
Derrek Lee is just amazing, both in fantasy and in real life. D-Lee
leads all first baseman in homers, RBIs, steals, batting average,
and is tied for first in runs scored (Albert Pujols and Mark Teixeira).
Folks, he is dominating every single category, literally. All this
from a guy many people skipped over on draft day.
AL
Ray - Brian Roberts
Come on now…if any of us had listed someone else would you
still read our site? Wonder how my brother knew when no one else
did?
Laura - Brian Roberts
I have him!
Frank – Brian Roberts
Bryan - Brian Roberts
A 20-20 season will most likely happen and he may end up hitting
at least .340 on the year. For a second baseman who went in the
last three to five rounds of any draft, it's an easy choice.
Matt- Brian Roberts
Brandon - Brian Roberts
You can make a good argument that Brian Roberts is the best fantasy
player so far and he is by far the best bargain given that he was
available in the later rounds of most drafts. This one is a no-brainer.
Jonathan - Torii Hunter
Brian Roberts is the easy answer, but he hasn’t provided as
much bang for the buck as Torii Hunter who went several rounds later
in my drafts and cost a lot less in auction leagues.
Daniel - Brian Roberts
I’m sure many owners of deep leagues bid one dollar on Roberts
and hoped he could give them an occasional stolen base or two. Many
leagues had Roberts drafted him as a bench player or not at all.
Then Roberts goes out and puts up numbers any second baseman in
the Majors would be proud to have.
FANTASY CY YOUNG
*** Not necessarily the best pitcher, but the one who has provided
the most value for your buck.
NL
Ray - Brett Myers
I’m not sold on this guy long term, but fantastic thus far
(5-3, 2.24, 88, 0.98). Had a similar start in 2003 (9-6, 3.65, 84,
1.23) , but faltered badly in the 2nd half (5-3, 5.72, 59, 1.82).
Laura – Dontrelle Willis
Frank – Brett Myers
Bryan - Dontrelle Willis
Had a sub-par season in 2004 and has become one of the top pitchers
in the league in 2005. For someone who didn’t go until the
middle rounds in most leagues, he’s been a first or second
round quality pick
Matt - Glendon Rusch
This guy was a waiver wire grab in most leagues, and now he’s
in the top five in the NL in ERA…hard to beat that.
Brandon - Brett Myers
Myers had high expectations headed into last season and did not
breakout. Perhaps he just bloomed a year late. In any case, he was
available late in most drafts and has delivered the goods so far.
Jonathan - Brett Myers
I don’t believe he’ll last but what a first half...
Daniel - Dontrelle Willis
A few GMs thought enough of Willis to bid a few bucks for him. After
all, Carlos Delgado had recently signed with the team, so a slight
increase in wins might be possible. Owners thought that Willis was
a flash in the first half, dies in the second half pitcher. In some
leagues that I’m in, Willis went undrafted. No one expected
him to do anything crazy like win 12 games before the halfway mark
or pitch with such Cy Young award talent. Wait…he did.
AL
Ray - John Garland
Tempted to pick Chris Young, but going with Garland for that Win
total (11). One more and he ties his career high set the past 3
years.
Laura – John Garland
Frank – Kenny Rogers
Bryan - Chris Young
Gotta stick with my boy on this one. I guarantee he’s on the
waiver wire somewhere. You can find free agent pitchers to win you
six games anywhere, but can you find those that will help you in
every other category? ’Tweeners are where leagues are won or
lost.
Matt - Jon Garland
Another freebie off the wire who’s having an outstanding season
including bunches upon bunches of wins for a great White Sox club.
Brandon- Chris Young
It would be easy to list Kenny Rogers again in this spot, but if
anything Young was available cheaper. On top of that, Young has
delivered strikeouts and is 3rd in the AL in ERA. I would have picked
Erik Bedard had he not decided to take off a couple of months with
an injury.
Jonathan - Chris Young
Come on. This guy was available for free while Buehrle and Colon
cost money.
Daniel - Roy Halladay
I bet many people discounted Roy because of his injury shortened
2004 season. Many player ratings in different fantasy leagues ranked
the right hander quite far down on their lists, and many fantasy
owners took their advice and did not shell out a lot for him. His
stats have already been mentioned, so no use going over those again.
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT
NL
Ray - Todd Helton
Do I even need to bother with why? Todd, what happened…Brandon
and I want to know.
Laura – SF Giants
Frank – Jason Schmidt
Was injured for a short time…is walking everybody(36 in
60.1 IP)…could be traded.
Bryan - Oliver Perez
He’s starting to turn it around, but too little too late. After
a blistering 2004 campaign with 239 Ks and 12 wins, we expected
more from the young fireballer. Much more than a 5.88 ERA and 1.56
WHIP with only 68 Ks.
Matt - Barry Bonds
Teams across America counted on Bonds to produce year in and year
out…and it’s not happening in 2005.
Brandon - Barry Bonds
I do not care what the reasons are for his missed time, depending
on when you drafted, he was taken anywhere from the 1st round to
the 4th or 5th round and that is a lost investment. Plus this gives
me yet another forum to make light of his misfortune. Does anyone
outside of San Francisco like this guy
Jonathan - Barry Bonds/Jason Schmidt
A waste of picks or money, even if he does come back at this point.
Of players who actually have taken the field it’s gotta be
Jason Schmidt - 3 wins, 6.12 ERA, and 1.67 WHIP for a bad team.
Danny Kolb is a close second.
Daniel - Todd Helton
Finally, I decided, I was going to draft offense, offense, offense.
Well, here’s a fellow named Todd Helton. Wow, look at all those
extra base hits! Whoa, look at his power, RBI, and batting average!
He’s got a career .334 average and always hits over 30 homers.
To make a long story short, I picked Helton and he’s thanked
me with a .253 average and only six bombs. That’s a major disappointment.
AL
Ray - Victor Martinez
I never pick C early in a draft, but no matter when you picked him,
.211-6-21-21 is awful after last years .283-23-108-77.
Laura – Bobby Crosby
Frank - Adrian Beltre
Wow…this could get ugly.
Bryan - Adrian Beltre
Oh how the mighty have fallen. Those contract years sure can be
a pain in the hangover afterward. Sorry Seattle.
Matt - Adrian Beltre
I still believe he will eventually turn his season around, but to
date, he has got to be the greatest failure in baseball.
Brandon - Eric Chavez
Many will list Adrian Beltre, but I expected him to come down from
last year’s high. Chavez on the other hand, was my AL MVP pick.
I have had Oakland fans tell me that Chavez appears disinterested
at times. That does not sound good. His numbers have started to
improve over the last few weeks, but if you are a Chavez owner in
fantasy baseball like me, you have been gritting your teeth for
two months.
Jonathan - Curt Schilling/Adrian Beltre
Again the off the field guy. On the field Adrian Beltre - get that
man a can of spinach.
Daniel - Curt Schilling
I’ll admit it, I was stupid enough to draft Curt Schilling.
“Oh the ankle injury, that’ll last for what, one month?
He’ll dominate in no time!” I told myself. So all I, and
many unfortunate owners who picked Schilling in the 2nd or 3rd round,
got was two bad starts and a DL spot used up Feel free to comment on this article in our forums
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