Baseball's Best Starters
by Allen Eastman
In my last article I talked about the importance of a bullpen to the outcome of a game (and potential profit or loss). This week I'll take a look at some of baseball's best overall pitching staffs.
First off, when backing a starter, go back three or four starts to get a true read on a pitcher's recent performance.
There is no better example than the Dodgers' Brad Penny, who had a great first half last year as he earned the start in the 2006 All-Star Game and then tanked in the second half of the season. Had you taken Penny's pre and post all-star break starts, you would have had a better and more realistic reading on his current form.
With my "lesson" out of the way, lets take a look at this season's top five money making pitchers.
1 C.C. Sabathia
2 Josh Beckett
3 Matt Chico
4 Claudio Vargas
5 Brad Penny
While Sabathia, Beckett and Penny have made money the old fashioned way (they earned it with stellar performances), Chico and Vargas were given incredible run support. Either way, when those five head to the hill, keep an eye out for a possible bargain.
Breaking down the top five pitching staffs:
1 San Diego
2 NY Mets
3 Oakland
4 LA Dodgers
5 Arizona
Interesting enough, the Padres, Mets and Dodgers were listed in our top five bullpens in an earlier article.
When it comes to making money with baseball, it's not all about the pitching, but having that information handy can help you a more informed decision.
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