Off-Day Chatter: The Best Combo in Baseball
by Scott Coleman on Jul 1, 2010 9:00 AM EDT
in Open Threads
Email
PrintSince Thursday is an off day, I figured Talking Chop's faithful readers could have a discussion about all of Major League Baseball, and not just our beloved Bravos. Perhaps if this thread is popular and sparks good debate, it could be a continuing thing on off-days.
Today's Off Day Chatter Topic: For the next 5 years, which team has the best hitter and pitcher combo?
There's really no rules for who you can pick. All you have to do is pick any team's combination of a hitter and pitcher. The players can be in either the Minor or Major leagues. Just keep in mind that you want the best combination for the next 5 years and not just the current year.
There are a ton of great answers here. Before you post, really think about it. I spent quite a bit of my Wednesday night thinking about it and I still go back and forth. Which combination of current teammates will be the best between now and 2015? It's a tough question.
I finally came up with an answer and it's the St. Louis Cardinals combination of Albert Pujols and Adam Wainwright. Pujols is the best hitter in the game and could go down as the best hitter of all time if he keeps his pace up. Wainwright has been incredible on the mound for St. Louis and only gets better as he enters his prime.
I really took into consideration the amount of time they've been dominate along with their durabilty. Both have been great for multiple seasons and neither has been very injury prone, besides a nagging injury or two over the years. Add this to the fact that Pujols will (amazingly) only be 34-years old and Wainwright will be 32 when the 5-year span is over, and I have my answer.
It's really close though. A great case could be made for the Braves (Hanson and Heyward), Rockies (Jimenez and Tulowitzki), Nationals (Strasburg and Zimmerman), Tigers (Verlander and Cabrera), Marlins (Johnson and Ramirez), Dodgers (Kershaw and Ethier), and Rays (Price and Longoria), along with others. Like I mentioned above, there's really no right or wrong answer here.
Which combination would you pick?
97 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Some other combinations to chew over...
Orioles – Wieters and Matusz/Tillman
Rays – Longoria and Price
Red Sox – Pedroia and Buchholz
Wouldn't it be Cano/Sabathia?...
or perhaps ARod/Sabathia depending on how much those two have left in the tank.
That O's
combo is more than likely gonna be Wieters and Arrieta. He is the pitcher most likely to become their ace.
Wieters/Matusz is legit
I actually had a co-written article with @oriolesprospects about who would be a better team, Hanson/Heyward and Wieters/Matusz. There are arguments for both, we asked Jim Callis on twitter and he said "Hanson and Heyward, and then I immediately regret my decision.
Twitter: @Ben_Duronio
Weiters hasnt done much since being brought up.
His walks are down, strikeouts are up…he has no power (a 100 ISO is basically no power IMHO)…I believe he will get better but he isnt the lock many thought he was…he can still be a great player, but the comparisons to Mauer may not be appropriate
P.S. Mauer/Liriano isn’t a bad duo
Heyward,Hanson,and Shaffer r ready now!! Why do you think they havent signed the "right handed bat"?
by fatazfoot on Jan 7, 2009 8:59 PM EST
Yeah, but over the next 5 years...
Liriano will be hurt at least one of them, if not two, and probably struggle in another. He’s got the stuff, but I doubt his consistency.
All things considered...
I’d have to pick the Tampa Bay combination Evan Longoria and David Price. Longoria’s contract is outrageously team friendly, and Price is only going to get better.
I also considered the Brewers’ combo of Yovanni Gallardo and Ryan Braun, but Braun’s defense docks him too much in the end. In the end, I think you can make a case for about 10-15 combinations. Strasburg-Zimmerman is really, really good…
Price/Longoria for me as well...
if only because unlike Pujols and Wainwright, those two are under team control for the next 5 years.
but like they said he will be 34 at the end of the 5 years…its reasonable that his decline wont occur until after the 5 year time frame is over….
I agree the Gallardo/Braun combo has to be on the short list…and I would’t even consider the Weiters and Matusz/Tillman thing until i see more from those guys at the pro level…I know they have the skill set and the tools…but they haven’t shown up and have no track record to bakc them up
I’d go with the Pujols/Wainwright combo…..but i think a good case can be made for Carpenter to be there instead of Wainwright. Of course Carpenter is pretty old and injury prone so its tough to make that case..
A couple other ideas to kick around
Hamilton /Feliz
Kung Fu Panda/Timmy
Heyward,Hanson,and Shaffer r ready now!! Why do you think they havent signed the "right handed bat"?
by fatazfoot on Jan 7, 2009 8:59 PM EST
it didnt say the pitcher had to be a starter…and if he was a dominant reliever than it would qualify…but i understand the point he probably won tbe as valuable as a starter.
Heyward,Hanson,and Shaffer r ready now!! Why do you think they havent signed the "right handed bat"?
by fatazfoot on Jan 7, 2009 8:59 PM EST
Uh….is everybody forgetting Pujols’ looming free agency? It’s not a given that the Cardinals will be able to keep him.
True,
but a lot of these guys might become free agents over this period (I’m assuming). I think we’re just kind of ignoring it.
From my observations as a current St. Louis resident
The only way Albert signs somewhere else is if the team completely lowballs him. I think he probably has a number in his head that he wants to be paid and as long as the Cardinals give him an offer around there it really won’t matter what any other team does.
From the Cardinals side, they’ve pretty much committed themselves to a strategy where they pay big bucks for a handful of superstars and then fill the rest of the team with youngsters and bargain bin pickups. That combined with the risk of alienating one of the more loyal fanbases in the league means that St. Louis should put in a pretty reasonable offer.
Now if someone like Boston decides to come in a do something crazy like 35m/yr, who knows what happens.
by DeadlyWalrus on Jul 1, 2010 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions
Agreed...
also being from St. Louis (and not a Cards fan, Go Braves!) there is just no way they let him leave. The only way he leaves is a “worst case scenario”. There is no sentiment of “oh I hope we get him” or “I hope he stays”. He is staying unless something goes terribly wrong or he doesn’t get the number he wants, which he will. He didn’t want to be a one man show so they signed Holliday. They also have Carp and Wainwright, who they will also keep to make Albert happy. St. Louis is an interesting team payroll wise because although STL isn’t a huge city (2.6 million metro area) their fan base is deceptively larger than that (similar to the Braves) and their attendance/consistently over-performing merchandise sales allow their payroll to balloon if necessary. Their team payroll is right now almost $94 M, my guess is that they could handle up to about $110M. That is something that they could be prepared to do. They’ll keep Albert.
If it’s the next 5 years, I’d take Strasburg and Bryce Harper. At least they’ll be hyped that way.
And Heyward makes Hank Aaron look like a little person (politically correct)! holy cow!
Harper...
Isn’t going to be in the big leagues for awhile. He’s still got at least a couple years of minor league training, assuming he even signs soon enough to play a significant amount of time this season.
Strasburg already had a couple years on Harper before getting drafted. Harper will spend those years in the minors.
If the question was in 10 years, I’d really like the combo. But Harper’s not going to spend the majority of the next five years at the major league level.
-C
Might sound stupid
But a 41 yr old Ichiro and King Felix could still be putting it together in Seattle. And for the record, the Phillies are very old, and Howard’s contract will sink that organization in a few years.
Heyward is pretty good
This resonates of what Frenchy said about Hanson. And no one wants to sound like Frenchy…
by Gage23 on Jul 1, 2010 12:05 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
It would tough to go against Price and Longoria, but I think I might take Hanley Ramirez and Josh Johnson if the Marlins would pony up the cash. Ramirez is having a bit of a down year, but we all know what he is capable of. Johnson has been somewhat overshadowed by the dominance of Ubaldo and the emergence of Strasburg, but he has been filthy all year.
Is it just me or do JHey’s hand look HUGE in that picture with Hank? It’s probably the perspective of the picture, but still…
top to bottom
price/ longoria
pujols/ wainwright
halladay/ howard
hanson/ heyward
Johnson/ Ramirez
jimenez/tulo
strasburg/ harper
kershaw/ ethier (though i love ethier for some reason)
What can be said about him that hasn't already been said? His every adjustment is a gift, his every at-bat a festival, his every swing a cool dewy breeze tinged with raspberry and incense. The only question is whether he'll win multiple MVPs or merely the Nobel Prize for Looking Like He Has Been There Before.
hha
i know howard is signed. too lazy to check if utley is
What can be said about him that hasn't already been said? His every adjustment is a gift, his every at-bat a festival, his every swing a cool dewy breeze tinged with raspberry and incense. The only question is whether he'll win multiple MVPs or merely the Nobel Prize for Looking Like He Has Been There Before.
Maybe a reach...
but how about Jon Lester and Kevin Youkilis?
It kind of is a reach.
For one, I would take Buchholz instead of Lester. Secondly, I would take Pedroia instead of Youkilis.
The only time the Mets win is in the offseason.
Pedroia and Lester then
That’s a real good combo. But Longoria and Price probably take it. Nothing like a dominate LH pitcher.
Buchholz is good but I believe Lester is better. Dude can’t lose, he taught cancer that.
"Give him the heater Ricky."
Do the rangers have an ace?
Because i would pair Josh Hamilton or Vladdy in with ace if they have one.
vladdy?
he’s 35 and up until this year was widely considered to be solidly in his decline phase
For Atlanta
I would take Heyward and Jurrjens before Heyward and Hanson.
Jurrjens probably won’t be a Brave in 5 years, But Heyward and Hanson/Medlen/Teheran/Delgado would work
Heyward is pretty good
Heyward probably
won’t be a Brave in 6 years, so what’s the difference.
by homerlanding on Jul 1, 2010 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions
Frenchy? Is that you?
"Give him the heater Ricky."
Can't be
Screen name says “homerlanding”. If it were Frenchy it’d be “TakeNoBalls”.
"Jason Heyward was a Greek philosopher reincarnated as a baseball player." - Don Sutton
Along with a lot of other people around here, I don’t think Jurrjens will be around for the next five years. He’s a Boras client who is entering arbitration next year. Who knows what the FO thinks about Jair’s future with the Braves, but the chances of Tommy Hanson sticking around for the next five years are much better. Another point – despite Hanson’s struggles in his last couple starts, he’s got the potential to be a true ace.
by ducheneaux13 on Jul 1, 2010 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions
Well...
Price/Longoria is the safe bet, but I’m going to mention a combo no one else has as a dark horse: Johnson/Stanton in FL. I know Stanton has gotten off to a slow start, but the guy was otherworldly in AAA…and he’s only 20.
Hanram and Johnson
Ramirez and johnson is the winner for me, I am not sure why no one else is one the same boat.
I’ll go with Strasburg and Zimmerman. Zimmerman hs been around forever and he’s still only 25 years old, and there’s not a lot to dislike about Strasburg.
2) Longoria/Price
3) Pujols/Wainwright
Wish we could steal Zim for Chipper's eventual replacement.
"Give him the heater Ricky."
Dallas Braden and Daric Barton! ….Hahaha
by romone_braves91 on Jul 1, 2010 12:43 PM EDT reply actions
Seriously
I was going to say Adam and Pujols b/c that seems like the obvious choice. I do like the combo of Hanley and Josh Johnson. This question seems odd considering it takes more than two players to win anything.
by romone_braves91 on Jul 1, 2010 12:45 PM EDT reply actions
Top five:
1. Price/Longoria
2. Johnson/Ramirez
3. Strasburg/Zimmerman
4. Pujols/Wainright
5. Hanson/Heyward
You could actually make a legitimate argument for any of those duos.
The only time the Mets win is in the offseason.
If the Twins had a phenom pitcher, I’d put them and Mauer out there, but Blackburn/Slowey just don’t do it for me.
I’d probably take Pujols/Wainwright because even at 50 years old, I’d bet Pujols could still crush a baseball.
"Jason Heyward was a Greek philosopher reincarnated as a baseball player." - Don Sutton
Mauer is great, but I would take Morneau. Too bad their pitching is average. Maybe Carl Pavano and his mustache can string a few good years together.
This year aside, Joe Mauer is a far more valuable asset than Morneau. But I think it would be hilarious to see Carl Pavano still healthy and pitching five years from now as a great big extended middle finger to the Bronx.
"Jason Heyward was a Greek philosopher reincarnated as a baseball player." - Don Sutton
IVE GOT IT
nahh i really dont
"Tony Gwynn made sacrifices. Cal Ripken made sacrifices. I'm not sure Derek Jeter made sacrifices given the ungodly deep pockets the Yankees have." - Chipper Jones
by MBL1 on Jul 1, 2010 8:27 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Either/Kershaw
I didn’t see anyone mention them. I don’t think they are the best combo, but they are one of the top combos
Kyle Davis/Wilson Betemit……..
Jason Heyward showed bunt once.....he was promptly intentionally walked
*Davies
Jason Heyward showed bunt once.....he was promptly intentionally walked
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Talking Chop
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Big League Stew - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
- James Loney: Umpires should call pitches from behind mound — and be robots with replay
- Magglio Ordonez set to retire after 15 seasons
- Barry Bonds thinks it will be ‘very sad’ if he doesn’t get into the Hall on his first try
- Chris Johnson’s glove webbing had a Spidey sense at Coors Field — for one play, at least
- Jonathan Lucroy breaks hand after suitcase falls during search for sock
