There are many different effective strategies when it comes to drafting starting pitchers. Some will hoard the top talents in the year after the year of the pitcher, while others will rely on weekly spot-starts. Both approaches work, but I have employed a much different scheme in recent seasons:
Ideally, you own just one or two reliable starters. They must maintain a consistently low ERA (preferably no higher than 3.50—3.75) and WHIP (Carl Pavano was a great example last year). Strikeouts aren't important...
Over the past few weeks, we’ve announced the top 80 players on our 2011 big board. Click on each player’s name for a more in-depth analysis, including 2011 projections!
The 2008 and 2009 seasons suggested Roy Oswalt’s ace status had been stripped after proving to be the best pitcher in baseball not named Pedro or Johan from 2002 to 2007, posting a 7.26 K/9, 2.12 BB/9, 3.11 ERA and 1.22 WHIP in 212 innings per year.
Oswalt dominated the first half of 2010 in Houston, however, to the tune of a 3.42 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP. He was traded to the Phillies in late July, and stepped his game up even further while continuing to show why he’s the best second-half pitcher in baseball. In 12 starts (82 2/3 innings) with Philadelphia, Oswalt posted a ridiculous 1.74 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 7.95 K/9 and 2.29 BB/9.
So is that it? Should Oswalt be drafted as an elite starter in 2011?
In one of the most anticipated deals of the summer, the Houston Astros traded pitcher Roy Oswalt to the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday in exchange for J.A. Happ and two minor league prospects.
Oswalt will make his Phillies debut Friday night against the Washington Nationals.
From a fantasy perspective, Roy Oswalt’s value should receive a slight boost. Despite a 3.42 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in 129 innings with Houston this season, Oswalt owns a 6-12 record. With the N.L.’s third best offense in terms of runs-scored (opposed to the 15th) behind him, Oswalt has a great chance to double his win total in the last two months of the season with Philly.
On the surface, it may seem as though Oswalt’s new home ballpark may hinder his fantasy value. A closer look, however, says otherwise...
Saturday was the most exciting day of the 2010 baseball season thus far. Not only did Ubaldo Jimenez deliver a no-hitter against the Braves, but the the Mets and Cardinals played a 20-inning marathon; a game this Insider was lucky enough to score.
Game No. 13 & 14 – New York Mets vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Two dominant pitching performances by Johan Santana and Jamie Garcia were overshadowed by the 20-inning affair Saturday night at Busch Stadium...
Thursday, March 31, 2011
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