Week 3 - Gekko Jeopardy

Gordon Gekko · Post by **Gordon Gekko** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 10:12 am

Each week I will pick the poster with the best response (as judged by Gekko) to my question. After ten weeks is up, I (or Greg) am going to put each weekly winner's name on a piece of paper, throw them into a hat, and pick an overall winner AT RANDOM. The overall winner will win free entry into the Web Content Panel Draft in March where the format is winner-take-all for a $500 NFBC credit.

Week 1 Winners = EliGrimmett & duggan

Week 2 Winner = EliGrimmett

Week 3's question...

This pitcher never had 20 wins in a season until 2007.

Message Board posters: In your opinion who is this player and why?

[ January 02, 2007, 04:12 PM: Message edited by: Gordon Gekko ]

poopy tooth · Post by **poopy tooth** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 1:07 pm

The pitcher I'm thinking of has won 17 and 18 games in separate seasons, and never more than 13 in other seasons. He's won 13 games 4 different seasons.

His new offense was 4th in runs scored in NL, while leading the league in average by 6 points. The offense has improved with players aging and coming back from injuries.

More importantly, he has a bullpen with set up man and closer who struck out 97 in 76.1 IP and 107 in 78.1 IP respectively...while these totals, seem impressive (204 K's in 154.2 IP) what is even more impressive is 109 Hits they have given up in those 154.2 IP. Being in a 7 inning game will make things even easier for Jason Schmidt to win more games, as he is learning how to become a pitcher and not just a power guy. He may seem old, but he'll be 34 this season.

Jason Schmidt 22 Wins!!!

Ballfour · Post by **Ballfour** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 1:42 pm

Any San Diego Padre pitcher. They haven't had one since 1978 (Gaylord Perry) .........they're due.

GOD Loves You · Post by **GOD Loves You** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 1:47 pm

Scott Kazmir. Easily 20+ wins, combining the next 3 years.

KJ Duke · Post by **KJ Duke** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 2:43 pm

For all the Cubs fans out there, based on their rationale for signing him to a a $21 million 3-year deal - Larry Rothschild might have you believe that, with a little luck, it could be Jason Marquis.

JohnZ · Post by **JohnZ** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 3:34 pm

Originally posted by GOD Loves You:

Scott Kazmir. Easily 20+ wins, combined in the next 3 years. I fixed this for you

GOD Loves You · Post by **GOD Loves You** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 3:47 pm

Originally posted by UFS:

quote:Originally posted by GOD Loves You:

Scott Kazmir. Easily 20+ wins, combined in the next 3 years. I fixed this for you

[/QUOTE]No need to fix as this is what I was saying. Add the next 3 years and he will easily have 20+ wins! I'm hoping for 15 wins and around 200 K's for Scotty this season.

GOD Loves You · Post by **GOD Loves You** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 3:54 pm

No reasons why, but I'll throw out a couple names.

Brandon Webb, Chien-Ming Wang & possily Chuck James

[ January 02, 2007, 09:55 PM: Message edited by: GOD Loves You ]

SluggoJD · Post by **SluggoJD** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 8:53 pm

Mark Prior - healthy at last, Prior goes 21-5 in the regular season, and leads the Cubs to their first World Series win in over 2000 years, thanks in large part to Piniella's strict pitch-count management, and Kerry Wood's amazing revival as the top closer in baseball

bjoak · Post by **bjoak** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 10:23 pm

Thanks to Matsuzaka's pitch the gyroball, which separates into mere dust on its way to the plate and then rematerializes in the catcher's glove--for a strike every time--he should have no problem winning 20 games.

Gordon Gekko · Post by **Gordon Gekko** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 12:44 pm

not too many people want a chance at the free entry into a $500 winner-take-all league i guess??? let's get some more posts....i need to take this info and generate my draft day cheatsheets.

where is EliGrimmett? poopy, did you kidnap him?

EliGrimmett · Post by **EliGrimmett** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 2:46 pm

I'm still here...formulating my next reply. Trying to make sure that it's a pitcher that I actually really hate while at the same time pump him up through ludicrous statistics to make him look amazing and capable of 20 wins. Not an easy task!

duggan · Post by **duggan** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 3:46 pm

KJ Duke and Sluggo JD have the right team but the wrong pitcher,,, Marquis? come on we are trying to have a serious contest here. Prior? healthy?? sure your a cub fan but there are limits. The answer is or i should say question is: WHO IS CARLOS ZAMBRANO? He is your man. He put up 16 wins with a offense that broke down last year. He is starting to mature and control his emotions much better, another year of experience, throw in a Soriano and a healthy D Lee and the cubs will put up some serious numbers on the scoreboard. Zambrano will have no problem adding 4 W's giving him his first 20 win season. Carlos Zambrano is the Cub ACE not Prior, not Marquis.

Cooperstown · Post by **Cooperstown** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 3:51 am

No Cub will win 20 games this season. Not without a legit closer.

Justin Verlander is the pick. Sure he tailed off a bit at the end of the season, but that is normal with a rookie. He'll be stronger this year and won't tire out like last year.

In addition, they signed some guy named Mr. Sheffield, and will have Casey for a full year.

With Rodney, Zumaya and Jones, their bullpen is lights out from the 7th inning on.

And if Verlander pitches in the 3 or 4 hole he'll be up against their opponents 3rd or 4th best pitcher.

3 more wins for Verlander seems to me like a walk in the park.

Chest Rockwell · Post by **Chest Rockwell** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 5:01 am

Is Having Casey all year long a good thing?

headhunters · Post by **headhunters** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 5:58 am

ok i will take my shot- who is ervin santana? only 24, santana went 16-8 in his sophmore season. while many pitchers regress in their sophmore seasons ( see webb, duke, and gekkos favorite- f. hernandez.) - santana went from 12- 16 wins took 1/2 point off his era and lowered his walk and homer rates. the only slight negative was a slightly lower k rate. at 6'2" and 160 he has a body type to go along with a throwing motion that suggest he will be able to handle a 200 inning workload without breaking down. he was 10-3 pre allstar and also left 4 other games tied or leading- only to have the bullpen fail him. with a little better run support and bullpen help, ervin could have been 14-3 at the break. he won his first game after- then "hit the wall" and was bad for the next 6 weeks. he finished strong- winning 4 of his last 5 starts and giving up only 1 run in 7 innings in his penultimate start and pitching 8 shut out inninmgs in his last start. that shows mental toughness and also the physical ability to "go the distance" in his 3rd season. he could easily progress in k's and era and his whip was 1.23 last year. shields and rodriquez provide a good pen and with hendrick going full time the offense should be better. moving up 4 wins should be doable. who is ervin santana?

bjoak · Post by **bjoak** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 7:10 am

Originally posted by Chest Rockwell:

Is Having Casey all year long a good thing?

I don't know that headhunters sold me on anything but he's certainly had the most complete answer to date. Could be tough to beat.

Chest Rockwell · Post by **Chest Rockwell** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 7:27 am

Originally posted by bjoak:

quote:Originally posted by Chest Rockwell:

Is Having Casey all year long a good thing?

I don't know that headhunters sold me on anything but he's certainly had the most complete answer to date. Could be tough to beat. [/QUOTE]I agree with everything except the Casey part- I am bullish on Verlander. I read an article a few months ago that showed that every pitcher who has had his exact workload experienced arm problems in one of the next 2 seasons. Had a decent size sample too. At the right spot I take him in 07 though.

bjoak · Post by **bjoak** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 7:46 am

I agree with everything except the Casey part- I am bullish on Verlander. I read an article a few months ago that showed that every pitcher who has had his exact workload experienced arm problems in one of the next 2 seasons. Had a decent size sample too. At the right spot I take him in 07 though.

You mean everyone who's seen an *increase* in workload like his, right? He's had mostly category one starts. They really weren't hard on him if the context is just the rest of the mlb starter pool. I think you could find a sample that shows everyone who's had a workload like Zambrano's at some point had his arm come flying off at the release point and fly into the dugout to hit Dusty Baker in the melon.

I like Verlander better than Santana, but I think this thread should reward he who's done his homework. Otherwise everyone could just jot down the name of a pitcher and Gekko could pick the one he likes best. That is why I specifically said headhunters had the most 'complete' answer. I don't see why someone else couldn't write a more complete response of why it is Verlander and become the winner, but right now hh has the best response.

[ January 04, 2007, 05:05 PM: Message edited by: bjoak ]

headhunters · Post by **headhunters** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 7:48 am

i respectfully disagree on verlander. 06 was his rookie year. he pitched almost 210 innings. he pitched an xtra month- so his arm has one less month to recoop. jones and his 39 year old arm and 3.94 era to go along with 28 k's is not "lights out". veralders aug era 6.83 sept 4.82 and postseason 5.82. the tigers regress and he regresses

Cooperstown · Post by **Cooperstown** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 7:49 am

Originally posted by Chest Rockwell:

Is Having Casey all year long a good thing? In context and in relation to what they had early last year (after Shelton came back to Earth), yes, I'd say it's a good thing. But let's save the Casey discussion for another GG question. Like the ballplayer most likely to make you think, "why did I take him that early?"

GOD Loves You · Post by **GOD Loves You** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 8:22 am

Can Verlander recover from his meltdown in the postseason? I understand the D had a lot to do with it, but we all saw what it did to Lidge. I think there's gonna be a few disappointed Verlander owners this season who draft him earlier than they should.

Vander · Post by **Vander** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 9:39 am

I agree with HH both on liking Santana better for this year as well as the Tigers and their bullpen might not be as good as people expect.

SluggoJD · Post by **SluggoJD** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 2:43 pm

Can we throw out a second name?

If so, Mike Mussina...I can't stand him cause he's a Yankee, but I suppose if Jupiter lies near Mars, and a broken clock is correct two times a day, Mussina could prove last year's rebound was not a fluke.

poopy tooth · Post by **poopy tooth** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 2:08 am

offense was 4th in runs scored in NL, while leading the league in average by 6 points. The offense has improved with players aging and coming back from injuries.

More importantly, he has a bullpen with set up man and closer who struck out 97 in 76.1 IP and 107 in 78.1 IP respectively...while these totals, seem impressive (204 K's in 154.2 IP) what is even more impressive is 109 Hits they have given up in those 154.2 IP. Being in a 7 inning game will make things even easier for Jason Schmidt to win more games, as he is learning how to become a pitcher and not just a power guy. He may seem old, but he'll be 34 this season.

I have to agree with this post. This guys knows what he's talking about! Gekko - he's your week 3 winner!