Power Pros Forum

This is basically my opinion on the best pitching staffs using the default rosters of MLBPP ‘08. I’ll say who their best starter is, best reliever, and then give a short pitching staff summary for each.

30. Rangers
Best Starter: Kevin Millwood
Best Reliever: C.J. Wilson

Summary: Kevin Millwood is this team’s ace… yikes. The rest of the rotation is awful, and the bullpen isn’t any better.

29. Marlins
Best Starter:
Anibal Sanchez
Best Reliever: Kevin Gregg

Summary: This starting rotation is AWFUL, with Anibal Sanchez and Scott Olsen leading the way. The bullpen is much better, with strong options like Kevin Gregg and Lee Gardner at the back end, but it’s not enough to make up for a terrible rotation.


28. Nationals
Best Starter: Shawn Hill
Best Reliever: Chad Cordero

Summary: This team has some interesting starters such as Shawn Hill, Matt Chico, and Tim Redding, but most teams won’t be sweating seeing those names either. The back of the bullpen is pretty decent with Luis Ayala and Chad Cordero.

27. Orioles
Best Starter: Jeremy Guthrie
Best Reliever: Chad Bradford

Summary: Jeremy Guthrie is decent enough, and Daniel Cabrera is inconsistent but has potential, however this rotation is pretty bad. The bullpen is possibly worse, however, as Chris Ray isn’t what most would call closer material.

26. Rays
Best Starter: Scott Kazmir
Best Reliever: Troy Percival

Summary: It’s hard to believe a staff headlined by Scott Kazmir and James Shields could rank so low, but the rest of the rotation is lackluster and the bullpen is the worst in the game.

25. Cardinals
Best Starter: Adam Wainwright
Best Reliever: Russ Springer

Summary: Adam Wainwright is a great player to have, but he’s the only threat in this very weak rotation. The bullpen is much better, with Ryan Franklin, Russ Springer, and Jason Isringhausen forming and impressive trio to hold leads.

24. Pirates
Best Starter: Ian Snell/Zach Duke
Best Reliever: Matt Capps

Summary: Ian Snell and the immortal Zach Duke headline this rotation, and Tom Gorzelanny and Paul Maholm are interesting options as well. The problem is the bullpen is very, very poor, and they could use a 5th starter as well.

23. Reds
Best Starter: Aaron Harang
Best Reliever: Francisco Cordero

Summary: Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo are a good duo, and the back end of the bullpen is pretty solid. Almost everything in between isn’t so hot, though.

22. Phillies
Best Starter: Cole Hamels
Best Reliever: Brad Lidge

Summary: Cole Hamels is an outstanding ace, and Brad Lidge is a big addition at closer. There are still quite a few holes in the rotation and bullpen however, and some veterans such as Tom Gordon and Jamie Moyer nearing retirement.

21. White Sox
Best Starter: Mark Buerhle
Best Reliever: Bobby Jenks

Summary: Mark Buerhle and Javier Vazquez headline the rotation, but Jose Contreras and John Danks are inconsistent options. The bullpen is very poor outside Bobby Jenks and Scott Linebrink, so some upgrades are needed.

20. Astros
Best Starter: Roy Oswalt
Best Reliever: Jose Valverde

Summary: Roy Oswalt is one of the top pitchers in the game, but the rest of the rotation is quite poor. The bullpen isn’t anything special, but Jose Valverde is a lock down closer.

19. Brewers
Best Starter: Ben Sheets
Best Reliever: Carlos Villanueva

Summary: Ben Sheets and Yovani Gallardo headline a mid-tier rotation. The bullpen has some good options in Carlos Villanueva and Solomon Torres, but some extra arms are needed here.

18. Mariners
Best Starter: Felix Hernandez
Best Reliever: J.J. Putz

Summary: This team has some lock down pitchers in King Felix and Eric Bedard, not to mention one of the best closers in the game in JJ Putz. However, there’s a big drop off from there, preventing them from being higher.

17. Tigers
Best Starter: Justin Verlander
Best Reliever: Todd Jones

Summary: The Tigers’ rotation is quite solid with Verlander and Dontrelle Willis at the top, and Jeremy Bonderman, Nate Robertson, and Kenny Rogers all being decent options as well. The bullpen is quite weak, which drags them down.

16. Athletics
Best Starter: Joe Blanton
Best Reliever: Huston Street

Summary: Joe Blanton is one of the most underrated pitchers in the game (and one of the better aces in general), and Chad Gaudin finds himself under the radar as well. Huston Street is a very solid closer, but a few more bullpen pieces would go along way.

15. Twins
Best Starter: Fransisco Liriano
Best Reliever: Joe Nathan

Summary: The loss of Johan Santana is a huge blow, so Fransico Liriano is the one best suited to carry the torch. There are some other decent options in Scott Baker and Kevin Slowey. The bullpen is excellent, Joe Nathan is a top-tier closer and Matt Guerrier and Pat Neshek are very good as well.

14. Royals
Best Starter: Gil Meche
Best Reliever: Joakim Soria

Summary: Gil Meche and Brian Bannister are both underrated starters at the top of this rotation. The bullpen has the elite Joakim Soria and the up-and-coming Zack Grienke leading the charge. This team is a few pieces away from having a top-ten staff.


13. Yankees
Best Starter: Chien-Ming Wang
Best Reliever: Mariano Rivera

Summary: Chien-Ming Wang and Andy Pettitte form a formidable one-two punch, but the team suffers from some relative inexperience at the back end, relying on Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy. The bullpen is solid at the back end, as LaTroy Hawkins and Joba Chamberlain set up the future HOF Mariano Rivera and his ridiculous cutter.

12. Braves
Best Starter: John Smoltz
Best Reliever: Rafael Soriano

Summary: Tom Glavine joins John Smoltz and Tim Hudson to form an impressive trio at the top of the rotation. Rafael Soriano and Peter Moylan are solid options out of the pen, but the bullpen definitely needs some work.

11. Mets
Best Starter: Johan Santana
Best Reliever: Bobby Wagner

Summary: Johan Santana is a huge acquisition to headline this rotation, providing stability at the top. John Maine, Orlando Hernandez, and Oliver Perez are all solid- but can be upgraded. The back of the bullpen is set with Bobby Wagner and Aaron Heilman, but some middle innings guys would go a long way.

10. Rockies
Best Starter: Jeff Francis
Best Reliever: Manny Corpas

Summary: Jeff Francis and Aaron Cook are a formidable one-two punch, and Ubaldo Jimenez and Franklin Morales have electric stuff at the back end of the rotation. The bullpen is deep as well, with Manny Corpas, Brian Fuentes, Matt Herges (Great Clark), and Taylor Buchholz all capable of working late innings.

9. Giants
Best Starter: Matt Cain
Best Reliever: Brad Hennessey

Summary: The Giants sport some exciting arms in Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum, and Noah Lowry and Barry Zito are quite solid as well. The bullpen isn’t dominant, but it’s decent, as Brad Hennessey, Vinnie Chulk, and Brian Wilson are all capable options.

8. Dodgers
Best Starter: Brad Penny
Best Reliever: Takashi Saito

Summary: This rotation is excellent- Brad Penny, Derek Lowe, and Hiroki Kuroda are all great pitchers. The bullpen is arguably better, as Chad Billingsley, Jonathan Broxton, Joe Beimel, and Takashi Saito make late-innings difficult against any opponent.

7. Angels
Best Starter: John Lackey
Best Reliever: Francisco Rodriguez

Summary: John Lackey is as solid an ace as they come, and Kelvim Escobar and Jered Weaver are good starters as well. The bullpen is quite deep too, headlined by Scot Shields and K-Rod.

6. Cubs
Best Starter: Carlos Zambrano
Best Reliever: Michael Wuertz

Summary: You’ll be hard pressed to find a more consistent trio of starters than Carlos Zambrano, Ted Lilly, and Rich Hill. The ‘pen has a lot of good options too, with Michael Wuertz, Carlos Marmol, and Kerry Wood being a few names to its credit.

5. Diamondbacks
Best Starter: Brandon Webb
Best Reliever: Brandon Lyon

Summary: Brandon Webb and Dan Haren are both elite pitchers that instantly put this team into contention, and let’s not forget about Randy Johnson as well. The bullpen is very deep as well- Juan Cruz, Tony Pena, Chad Qualls, and Brandon Lyon are all very good options.

4. Blue Jays
Best Starter: Roy Halladay
Best Reliever: Jeremy Accardo

Summary: Roy Halladay is an elite pitcher, and A.J. Burnett is a great number two. Dustin McGowan and Shaun Marcum are both underrated options that most teams would love to have. The bullpen is quite strong, with Jeremy Accardo, Scott Downs, Casey Janssen, and Jason Frasor being capable options.

3. Padres
Best Starter: Jake Peavy
Best Reliever: Heath Bell

Summary: Jake Peavy is the best pitcher in the game, sporting elite stamina and control to go along with ridiculous stuff. Chris Young and Greg Maddox are great options to follow him, and even Justin Germano is underrated. Heath Bell is as dominant a reliever as they come, and he can take over in the future for Trevor Hoffman, who still has a bit left in the tank.

2. Indians
Best Starter: C.C. Sabathia
Best Reliever: Rafael Betancourt

Summary: This rotation is ridiculous, with C.C. Sabathia and Fausto Carmona both being elite starters, and Jake Westbrook and Paul Byrd providing value as well. The bullpen has one of the best relievers in the game in Rafael Betancourt and Rafael Perez is great as well. However, another option in the bullpen is needed here, as there’s quite a drop from there.

1. Red Sox
Best Starter: Josh Beckett
Best Reliever: Jonathan Papelbon

Summary: The Red Sox have the top pitching staff by virtue of the most balance between rotation and bullpen. Josh Beckett, Curt Schilling, and Daisuke Matsuzaka form an excellent 1-2-3, and Tim Wakefield and Jon Lester solidify the back end. Hideki Okajima and Jonathan Papelbon are the best set-up-closer combo in the game, and Manny Delcarmen and Mike Timlin take care of the middle innings.