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Hearing Franz Ferdinand
Top 10 Starters Ready to Start Winning
SI's Tom Verducci posts a list -- top 10 pitchers ready to win 15 games for the first time that may be worth your while for two reasons, the first being that these guys may dictate which team becomes this year's White Sox (who had Jose Contreras and Jon Garland break through last year) and the second being that they may also dictate who wins your fantasy league. On to the list, with quick commentary from yours truly...
1. Rich Harden, OAK -- All he needs is 30 starts to get 'er done.
2. Chien-Ming Wang, NYY -- My anti-Yankee bias is shocked he's #2 on this list.
3. John Lackey, ANA -- With a 14-5 record 3.44 ERA and 199 K, he broke out last year.
4. Brandon Webb, AZ -- Each of his first three seasons was worthy of 15 wins.
5. Felix Hernandez, SEA -- I can't wait to see this kid pitch.
6. A.J. Burnett, TOR -- Darren Dreifort never won 15 either.
7. Jeremy Bonderman, DET -- Only 12 15-win seasons behind the last great Tigers starter, Jack Morris.
8. Dan Haren, OAK -- Despite winning 14 for the A's last year, his ESPN player card still has him in a Cards cap.
9. Gustavo Chacin, TOR -- If he wins 15 and Burnett stays healthy (two huge ifs), the Jays win the East.
10. (tie) Zach Duke, PIT and Franciso Liriano, MIN --The Pirates' great hope and the Twins' Johan Santana version 2.0.
So it looks like the A's and Jays are aligned to be this year's Southsiders and Lackey and Haren are your best bets for fantasy value at relatively low cost. As an O's and Nats fan, I'd like to see Erik Bedard, Daniel Cabrera and John Patterson on this list, but I become more of a realist with every passing, pennant-less year.
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I didn't say the Jays will finish 1st, I just said that if Chacin and Burnett combine for 30+ they will... and that's a huge if.
As for Liriano, I can't wait to see him pitch. I'm always partial to lefties. -
When the inevitable happens, and the Yankees sign Johan Santana, Liriano will be a great replacement.
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The Jays don't win the East if those guys win 15 each.. Come on now.. they finish second if they are LUCKY.. really lucky.
www.lushfactor.com
2/10/06 3:10 AM