Yanks vs Bravo's Top Three SP
Posted: Thu May 21, 2009 3:33 am
Accepting my assertion that, given a team makes the playoffs, the top three in the rotation will carry the load of the IP and the responsibilty to keep their teams in the game, so important in a short series scenario.
This is not a statement that the Yanks or the Braves will make the playoffs (though each could), I have been struck by how similar the two teams were this spring in that each went out and got two key veteran FA pitchers and each had one extremely talented young guy. In short, each team's top three have similar make-ups. The Yankees have CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett, and minimum wager Joba Chamberlain. The Braves have Derek Lowe, Javier Vazquez, and another pitcher the Tigers wish they had back, Jair Jurrjens.
Collectively, the Braves top two cost a little more than 43% less than the Yankee top two as Jurrjens and Chamberlain are about at the ML minimum. So, what are the results? Are the Yanks getting more for their "enhanced" investments?
In the early going, the Braves top three have pitched 168.7 IP, with 13 wins, 142 K's, ERA 2.9881 and a WHIP of 1.1443 all for about $26.5m (not including the ML minimum). The Yanks have gotten 155.7 with 8 Wins, 127 K's, ERA 4.0593 and a WHIP of 1.3273 all for about $38.0m (also excluding the ML minimum).
It is early, but even adjusting for the DH, the Braves investments have paid higher returns so far. As for the Yanks, well what is $10m or so between friends.
This is not a statement that the Yanks or the Braves will make the playoffs (though each could), I have been struck by how similar the two teams were this spring in that each went out and got two key veteran FA pitchers and each had one extremely talented young guy. In short, each team's top three have similar make-ups. The Yankees have CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett, and minimum wager Joba Chamberlain. The Braves have Derek Lowe, Javier Vazquez, and another pitcher the Tigers wish they had back, Jair Jurrjens.
Collectively, the Braves top two cost a little more than 43% less than the Yankee top two as Jurrjens and Chamberlain are about at the ML minimum. So, what are the results? Are the Yanks getting more for their "enhanced" investments?
In the early going, the Braves top three have pitched 168.7 IP, with 13 wins, 142 K's, ERA 2.9881 and a WHIP of 1.1443 all for about $26.5m (not including the ML minimum). The Yanks have gotten 155.7 with 8 Wins, 127 K's, ERA 4.0593 and a WHIP of 1.3273 all for about $38.0m (also excluding the ML minimum).
It is early, but even adjusting for the DH, the Braves investments have paid higher returns so far. As for the Yanks, well what is $10m or so between friends.