Best Rotation Ever? Three Baseball Minds at Sports Illustrated Agree – ’11 Phillies Among the Best Ever
Best Rotation Ever: Following up on the Tuesday discussion about the “best rotation ever” … here are two thoughts from Sports Illustrated baseball writers. 1) Tom Verducci: The 2011 Phillies should be the best 4-man rotation since the 1966 Dodgers. 2) Joe Posnanski & Bill James put the 2011 Phillies 4-man rotation on par with the ’71 Orioles, ’66 Dodgers, and ’55 Indians. Where is the legendary Atlanta Braves’ rotation from the 90s, you ask? They had three horses – Glavine, Smoltz, Maddux – and if you want to change the discussion to “best 3-man rotation ever” then they’re your pick. But the dropoff to Denny Neagle or Steve Avery was too precipitous for their 4-man rotation to be in the discussion with the 2011 Phillies.
- Jaguars Cheerleader Swimsuit Video is Something to Root For [Video]
- Baby Goat Playing and Jumping on a Sleepy Pig Should Highlight Your Weekend [Video]
- Mitchie Brusco – a 15-Year Old – Landed a 1080, Wins Silver at the X-Games [Video]
- Nate Diaz Gets 90-Day Suspension, $20K Fine From the UFC. Let the Healing Begin.
- Michael Phelps Will Swim in the 2016 Rio Olympics, Unless You Want to Believe Michael Phelps
- Benjamin Franklin Rodriguez has the highest WAR evah! on Bradley Beal Seems to Have Lost a Little Respect for Derrick Rose Because He Didn't Try and Play
- Benjamin Franklin Rodriguez has the highest WAR evah! on Bradley Beal Seems to Have Lost a Little Respect for Derrick Rose Because He Didn't Try and Play
- A.P. on Bradley Beal Seems to Have Lost a Little Respect for Derrick Rose Because He Didn't Try and Play
- Benjamin Franklin Rodriguez has the highest WAR evah! on Bradley Beal Seems to Have Lost a Little Respect for Derrick Rose Because He Didn't Try and Play
- s1rweeze on Jake "The Snake" Roberts Sang "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" at Turner Field [Video]
49 Responses to “Best Rotation Ever? Three Baseball Minds at Sports Illustrated Agree – ’11 Phillies Among the Best Ever”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
![ESPN Tried Very Hard to Lure Seth Meyers to Host a Late-Night Sports TV Show. Who Will ESPN Make a Run at Next? [Media]](http://thebiglead.fantasysportsven.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/plugin/resize_13686667190-thumb0.jpg)
ESPN Tried Very Hard to Lure Seth Meyers to Host a Late-Night Sports TV Show. Who Will ESPN Make a Run at Next? [Media]![Ian Kinsler Had The Worst Head First Slide Of All Time [GIF]](http://thebiglead.fantasysportsven.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/plugin/resize_13688078131-thumb1.gif)
Ian Kinsler Had The Worst Head First Slide Of All Time [GIF]![NBC Sports is Already Blowing Up The Crossover, and Michelle Beadle is Going to Host the Show Alone [Media]](http://thebiglead.fantasysportsven.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/plugin/resize_13688089802-thumb2.png)
NBC Sports is Already Blowing Up The Crossover, and Michelle Beadle is Going to Host the Show Alone [Media]![Bashing Sam Presti? Did Everyone Forget Russell Westbrook WAS INJURED? [NBA]](http://thebiglead.fantasysportsven.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/plugin/resize_13687202723-thumb3.jpg)
Bashing Sam Presti? Did Everyone Forget Russell Westbrook WAS INJURED? [NBA]![Tavon Austin Has 'Cousins' in Baltimore Counting on His Bank Account Before He Even Has a Rookie Contract [NFL]](http://thebiglead.fantasysportsven.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/plugin/resize_13686682184-thumb4.jpg)
Tavon Austin Has 'Cousins' in Baltimore Counting on His Bank Account Before He Even Has a Rookie Contract [NFL]![ESPN's Bob Ley Receives Letter From Fan: Did Joe Paterno Fake His Death? [Twitter]](http://thebiglead.fantasysportsven.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/plugin/resize_13685869805-thumb5.jpg)
ESPN's Bob Ley Receives Letter From Fan: Did Joe Paterno Fake His Death? [Twitter]![Lionel Messi Scored 60 Goals in 2012/13, Heres Video of All of Them [Video]](http://thebiglead.fantasysportsven.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/plugin/resize_13687255916-thumb6.jpg)
Lionel Messi Scored 60 Goals in 2012/13, Heres Video of All of Them [Video]![Manny Machado or Bryce Harper or Mike Trout? You Must Embrace This Debate! [MLB]](http://thebiglead.fantasysportsven.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/plugin/resize_13686534477-thumb7.jpg)
Manny Machado or Bryce Harper or Mike Trout? You Must Embrace This Debate! [MLB]![You Must See This Monster Rugby Hit [Video]](http://thebiglead.fantasysportsven.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/plugin/resize_13688090438-thumb8.png)
You Must See This Monster Rugby Hit [Video]![Jeon Jun-woo, a Korean League Player, With the Greatest Bat Flip Ever on a Fly Out [Video]](http://thebiglead.fantasysportsven.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/plugin/resize_13686535059-thumb9.jpg)
Jeon Jun-woo, a Korean League Player, With the Greatest Bat Flip Ever on a Fly Out [Video]
December 16th, 2010 at 12:19 PM
How do we know how the 2011 Phillies rotation is going to pan out already?
December 16th, 2010 at 12:20 PM
Where are the 2010 Giants on the list?
December 16th, 2010 at 12:22 PM
This is all speculation. Baseball has a funny way of making the forecasters look really silly.
If I had the time, I would search for all the “this is the best… since…” headlines from recent years to show how badly people have done to predict these things.
I agree that on paper this rotation is sick. But I have seen way too many instances where the projections fall far from reality.
December 16th, 2010 at 12:22 PM
You changed the argument in mid-title. Congratuations.
December 16th, 2010 at 12:24 PM
Because Bill James already simulated the season on his BaseTron-3000.
December 16th, 2010 at 12:24 PM
AND FUCK YOU CLIFF LEE!!!!!!!!
December 16th, 2010 at 12:26 PM
Because Bill James already simulated the season on his BaseTron-3000.
Then he made sweet sweet love to it because as a nerd he can’t get women.
December 16th, 2010 at 12:26 PM
I don’t know what to like more. The fact that Lee is in the NL or the fact that this made the Yankee fans sad.
December 16th, 2010 at 12:26 PM
Pistons 4, Lakers 1
December 16th, 2010 at 12:27 PM
Senator Jersey is one of those Yankee fans that believe they are entitled to every single free agent available.
December 16th, 2010 at 12:27 PM
Shouldn’t have spit on the missus
December 16th, 2010 at 12:27 PM
According to these baseball guys the Yanks and the Phillies were going to win the World Series last year…Let’s wait and see how they do over the course of the year…Also the “WAR” is higher for the braves rotation then it was for the Phillies
December 16th, 2010 at 12:30 PM
Damn, the Giants’ Steve Smith needs this? That sounds unpleasant.
December 16th, 2010 at 12:31 PM
Not really. I can’t even blame Cliff. I’m just bitter. Believe me, I wish they didn’t make some of the purchases they have in the past.
December 16th, 2010 at 12:31 PM
Look at their WAR for the past three years.
/winks at TBL
December 16th, 2010 at 12:32 PM
Damn, the Giants’ Steve Smith needs this? That sounds unpleasant.
Sanders even with the pictures, I have no idea what’s going on there. But I’m glad it’s not be done to me.
December 16th, 2010 at 12:32 PM
Cory Lidle? Dead.
December 16th, 2010 at 12:33 PM
Every Yankee season from 2001-2008 plus last year.
December 16th, 2010 at 12:33 PM
Good times. Now, not so much so.
December 16th, 2010 at 12:34 PM
I just don’t see it. Roy Oswalt is very up and down. Good pitcher to have in your rotation, but nothing to blow ourselves over.
December 16th, 2010 at 12:34 PM
I usually don’t get too caught up in the “rooting against teams” thing, but that series made me really happy.
December 16th, 2010 at 12:35 PM
Hyperbole? In the national media!?
/faints
December 16th, 2010 at 12:35 PM
Best 3-man rotation ever is in the era of the 5-man rotation. that’s gotta be breaking some kind of new ground
December 16th, 2010 at 12:37 PM
but nothing to blow ourselves other
Para la gente: We keep this, put in safe place
December 16th, 2010 at 12:38 PM
I just don’t see it. Roy Oswalt is very up and down. Good pitcher to have in your rotation, but nothing to blow ourselves other.
His problem will be once his fastball starts to slow down. He has great control, but his fastball sets up everything else he throws. Unless he has some super human Nolan Ryan type genes, I don’t see him aging well as a pitcher.
December 16th, 2010 at 12:39 PM
no, but they are the best one-two punch since Schilling/Johnson on the d-backs.
oswalt overperformed when pitching for the Phils and hamels won’t suddenly become a 18-20 game winner just from the addition of cliff lee.
December 16th, 2010 at 12:40 PM
I can’t wait until the 3rd inning on Opening Day when everyone calls this signing a failure
/everyone about the Heat’d
December 16th, 2010 at 12:41 PM
This Southwest Grilled Chicken Salad from Jack In The Box has 710 calories. Hmm I wonder why?
/pours on spicy corn sticks and southwest dressing
December 16th, 2010 at 12:41 PM
2005 USC Trojans > 2011 Phillies Rotation
/Best Evar!
December 16th, 2010 at 12:42 PM
but nothing to blow ourselves over.
Aha, well. I see the cover up is in full mother fuckin effizzect. Alright, I’ll take that loss. But I know it was there. I copied AND pasted
December 16th, 2010 at 12:43 PM
I’m not a nitpickin’ soccer fan, but my guess is Doc Halladay will be starting opening day. The calls of failure will have to wait to game 2.
December 16th, 2010 at 12:43 PM
When’s the Mark Cuban playoff post coming? I don’t know if he’s fleshed it out yet, but if I’m understanding him right, he’s brilliant to go about it the way he is planning.
December 16th, 2010 at 12:44 PM
still not unmodded?
December 16th, 2010 at 12:45 PM
Braves from 1990s > this rotation.
I can’t wait for the Phils to underachieve. It will be incredibly satisfying to watch.
December 16th, 2010 at 12:45 PM
I saw it Stark. Bad form, TSH. Bad, bad form.
December 16th, 2010 at 12:46 PM
Also the “WAR” is higher for the braves rotation then it was for the Phillies
Oh, no you didn’t.
December 16th, 2010 at 12:46 PM
I’m not a nitpickin’ soccer fan, but my guess is Doc Halladay will be starting opening day. The calls of failure will have to wait to game 2.
/high five, TK!
December 16th, 2010 at 12:48 PM
Senator Jersey does not speak for South Jersey.
/Beyond happy that Cliff signed with us, but as cliff alluded to and The Wolf accurately stated “Well, let’s not start sucking each other’s dicks quite yet.”
The Phils already have the same number of titles as those Braves and that was with 1/4th the rotation we have now. Enjoy the Wild Card Atlanta.
December 16th, 2010 at 12:49 PM
And I expect that’s all you’ll get.
December 16th, 2010 at 12:50 PM
Oswalt and Hamels (or whatever order) will now be going against most teams 3rd and 4th starters instead of their 2nd and 3rd best starters, it should translate into more victories.
December 16th, 2010 at 12:55 PM
Oswalt and Hamels (or whatever order) will now be going against most teams 3rd and 4th starters instead of their 2nd and 3rd best starters, it should translate into more victories.
Early in the season perhaps. But changes to rotations due to DL stints and spot starts tend to jumble things.
December 16th, 2010 at 12:57 PM
possibly, but it doesn’t change they are going up against the same lineups.
personally i think everyone is really overstating how good hamels/oswalt are. the 2nd half of oswalt’s season was an exception to the trend his performance of the past 4 years
December 16th, 2010 at 1:05 PM
Lee, Oswalt, Hamels combined record over the past 2 years…
69-63
December 16th, 2010 at 1:06 PM
Cosign on the argument that Oswalt is the George Harrison of the bunch. But Cole was a beast from July on. Seemed to be back to his ’08 form. Even I had to retire* the nickname “NiCole.”
/And you need to stop using reasonable counterarguments based on logic and facts Mr. Ms621. Only room for irrational exuberance and gloating on this train.
//Bad ass SMU avatar though.
December 16th, 2010 at 1:07 PM
Surprisingly no stat v non-stat stuff in here. Good showing.
December 16th, 2010 at 1:10 PM
Oswalt and Hamels (or whatever order) will now be going against most teams 3rd and 4th starters
This isn’t true.
December 16th, 2010 at 1:11 PM
/And you need to stop using reasonable counterarguments based on logic and facts Mr. Ms621. Only room for irrational exuberance and gloating on this train.
//Bad ass SMU avatar though.
Thanks. I feel it captures my essence.
December 16th, 2010 at 1:12 PM
Surprisingly no stat v non-stat stuff in here. Good showing.
Now that you’re here we can certainly fire up the stattron 4000.
December 16th, 2010 at 1:15 PM
I fix. Keep comment in same place.