http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/20057/ranking-the-five-best-starting-rotations
5. Arizona Diamondbacks: Ian Kennedy, Daniel Hudson, Trevor Cahill, Joe
Saunders, Josh Collmenter. The D-backs' rotation ERA in 2011 was 3.84, but as
I pointed out yesterday, that included 31 starts from scrubs at the bottom of
the rotation who combined for a 6.07 ERA. As is, thanks to the durability of
Kennedy, Hudson and Saunders, who all topped 200 innings, Arizona still
ranked second in the NL in starters' innings. They've replaced those bottom
feeders with Cahill and I also like that they have depth in the wings with
prospects Trevor Bauer and Wade Miley. Nobody survives with just five
starters, and it's that depth that I think gives Arizona the slight edge over
division rival San Francisco.
4. New York Yankees: CC Sabathia, Hiroki Kuroda, Michael Pineda, Ivan Nova,
A.J. Burnett/Phil Hughes/Freddy Garcia. While it's true that Brian Cashman
improved the rotation last week with the acquisitions of Kuroda and Pineda,
keep in mind that the Yankee rotation was actually pretty good last season,
and that was with Burnett and Hughes combining for a 5.36 ERA over 46 starts.
The main reason this group doesn't rank higher: Pineda and Nova haven't
proven they can handle a 200-inning workload, as Pineda threw 171 innings and
Nova 165 as rookies.
3. Texas Rangers: Yu Darvish, Derek Holland, Matt Harrison, Colby Lewis,
Neftali Feliz. Let's be clear here: Lewis may have been tabbed as the Opening
Day starter, but Darvish is expected to be the ace of this team. The Rangers
didn't shell out more than $100 million for a No. 3 starter. The Texas
rotation was vastly underrated last season, as it posted a 3.65 ERA (third in
the AL), despite pitching in the best hitting park in the AL. The concerns
are that Feliz is moving from the bullpen and remains a bit of wild card,
both in production and durability; remember, Alexi Ogando made the same move
in 2011 and was fatigued by the end of the season. Harrison also threw over
200 innings between the regular season and playoffs, so we'll have to see how
he rebounds from the heaviest workload of his career. But having depth with
Ogando and Feldman helps alleviate some of those concerns.
2. Los Angeles Angels: Jered Weaver, Dan Haren, C.J. Wilson, Ervin Santana,
Jerome Williams. Weaver, Haren and Santana averaged 234 innings in 2011 and
now they've add Wilson to the mix. He threw 223 innings for the Rangers. The
last team with four starters to pitch 220 innings? The 1997 Atlanta Braves.
That team won 101 games. Wilson could have a monster season