Who has the best pitching staff in baseball?
453301
I think the Red Sox have a very good pitching staff, especially with the emergence of Papelbon.  But, after Schilling and Beckett, there is a drastic drop off...Tim Wakefield anyone?!?\n\nI would have to say the best staff in baseball belongs to the Oakland A's.  They have so many young guns: Zito, Harden, Haren and Blanton and a great young closer in Huston Street.  Having a veteran like Esteban Loaiza helps the staff and Kiko Calero coming out of the bullpen rounds out the staff nicely.
645057
Well if I am going with an all-time team I would go with 4 starters and a closer.\nSP-Pedro Martines- For all who dont know he has the best adjusted ERA+ of any pitcher ever, and his peak were some of the best seasons any pitcher has ever recorded\n\nSP-Walter Johnson- Ninth on the all-time strikeout list and owner of a 2.17 career ERA. \n\nSP-Randy Johnson-Very few lefties have dominated as much as Johnson has. Him and Walter would also lead to a bunch of funny Johnson and Johnson references\n\nSP-Roger Clemens-Obviously I concentrated on very high strikeout pitchers who could dominate a game and that is what Clemens did\n\nCL-Mariano Rivera-Best closer ever\n\nIf I could have all these guys in there prime pitching in a four man rotation, like they used to back in the day, I could easily win 120 games.
1071553
I'd take the second one.  Some decent power there with Dawson, Cepeda, and Killebrew, while the first group is more contact hitters for average.  Starting pitching not quite as good as the first group, but still with Marichal, Niekro, and Feller, a decent staff.  No real reliever though.
578034
Come on man Mike Lowell. Word? that can't be a fa real answer. there are only three 3rd baseman worth having in the AL. A-rod, Chavez, and Crede. I was ready to go with Chavez, who plays a mean hot corner. but after reading the page, Notso_25 makes  pretty good arguement for Joe Crede so I'ma have to go with Joe. I mean no one is more clutch than Joe. Sox wouldn't be the best team in baseball right now with out him.
1029499
Pedro Martinez.  You need to have great pitching to win games.  If you have at least one dominant pitcher, it brings the whole team together, and creates cynergy that develops into a winning squad.  There are other pitchers that you could pick, but Pedro scares batters.
831354
Mike Stanton lately has not been as great pitching as in the past, but if you need someone for one or two outs, he most likely will be your man. Alex Gonzalez is a great addition. His glove is great and his batting average has gone up this year while in Boston. It's a shame the Red Sox did not resign him, because they have not a great short stop in a while, however, I think they will fit in well with the Reds orginization.
1076757
Not very good.\n\nThe pitching staff is very nice w/ Clemens, Oswalt & Petitte.  The offense is 2 guys (Berkman & Ensberg).  They do not have enough offensive firepower to make a run this year.
335680
most likely minnesota twins. many think the white sox, after their stellar season last yr nd that great world series sweep, but seriously folks...johnan santana had a bad yr, nd in my opinion, he is the BEST pitcher in all of baseball (this yr) nd pitching wins games for u (the white sox proved that last yr). cleveland indians also have a chance due to their terrific offseason moves. my standings for the AL central would be:\n1. Minnesota Twins\n2. Cleveland Indians\n3. Chicago White Sox \n(very, very tight race between top 3)\n4. detroit indians\n5. kc royals
1080868
walter johnson was the best of them, he pitched great even for some poor teams.\nafter that i would go with christy mathewson, followed by cy young. \ni dont know much about spahn, i guess i would rank him behind the other three.\n\n-also do u know of any good relieving pitchers-\nmariano rivera is the greatest relief pitcher in the history of baseball.
1007312
The way to a great pitching staff has always been development of the young players. The lack thereof is the reason why you see the same team names in the Cellar. \n\nYou can go out and buy a pitching staff with some regularity and should be able to put together a pretty good staff. I have never been a proponent of that as all it does is use cash.
1089123
Jose Contreras is by far my coice for the best pitcher in the major leagues. He has gifted the White Sox with quite a winning streak of 15 games straight this season and hasn't lost since last year!
841693
Yes it will leave a hole. I disagree with the guy who says that starters are more important than relievers, it has been proven again and again, that you need both. See Red Sox blowing game 7 of 2003 against the Yanks. \n\nLook at the Braves of the late 90s. Great rotation, not so great closer. \n\nPapelbon will leave a hole in the bullpen, and they will certainly need to find a good closer. Hansen may be the man someday, but he is far from ready for that role, he was rushed. I do think that he will do a good job in the rotation, and is needed as Schilling started to wear down at the end of last season. Maybe the Red Sox will go by their "closer by committee" that they had in '03, it worked SO well.\n\nI laugh at the guy who says Papelbon will put up better numbers than Rivera! Why? Because he has had ONE GOOD YEAR?? Most relievers are good for a few years then tail off. Mo's been great from the beginning and has 400 saves.Let's see him do it for 10 years and have a postseason ERA of 0.80 for over 100 innings. Then you can compare him to Mo!
1162127
My pick is Rice.  The owls are a good hitting team, good fielding team, and great pitching team.  Eddie Degerman, Cole St. Clair, and Brian Friday are superstars in the making.
20653
The Cubs have a better pitching staff when healthy with Carlos Zambrano, Kerry Wood, Greg Maddux and Mark Prior leading the way. While the Red Soxs have better hitters with good hitters such as Mike Lowell, Manny Ramirez, Trot Nixon and David Ortiz. The Red Soxs could out hit the Cubs and their pitching could keep it close enough to beat the Cubs.
618909
white sox. Great pitching is the formula for a successful team, and they have just exceptional pitching and great bull pen. But they also have some great offense too, with Thome, Konerko and Dye there to play the power game, and also Iguchi, and Posednik who are also masters of the small game. It is hard to see anyway to beat either team.
1017553
Well let me see if i can narrow it down.For catching it is hands down Jason Varitek,by far the best catcher and captain of ALL time,for pitching I have ALOT,but i think I will give the title to Jonathan Papelbon.He is not only the best closer(besides Foulky and Timlin),but he is the best rookie:)for infield i am really starting to like Mike Lowell and Kevin Youkilis[poor Youk,he keeps getting hit:(],for outfield i guess i will have to say....Manny Ramirez.don't get me wrong i absolutely LOOOOVE all of the players,but there is just something about Manny:)and last but definitely not least for DH i am going to say Big Papi(and not because he is the only one,but because he is the BEST!!!!!!!!:)
646192
Pedro is. He has by far the best career WHIP of any active pitcher, and it's only worse than a couple deadball pitchers... and his Adjusted ERA+ is by far the best ever... remember he's putting up these numbers in a hitting era.