Pitching Report: Week 10

Manage your rotation, or it could Split Open and Melt

     So with Howard back east chillin’ with the musical stylings of an excellent and recently reformed band, I have taken the torch for the week 10 pitching report.  I wish I was with Howard instead.  Sorry, guys.  This is a week where it would be very easy to micro-manage your pitching roster.  There are several guys out there that are too good to bench, but their matchups make you wince.  When it comes to those guys, my opinion is that you just have to grit your teeth and bear it (at least for you weekly transaction guys).  Hopefully he won’t get rocked, and maybe can surprise you for one of those starts.  It is with the tail end of your rotation that you should be playing matchups.  Let’s take a look….

Green Light Pitchers

1. Johan Santana –  vs PHI;  vs NYY

2. Chad Billingsley –  vs SD;  @ TEX

3. Josh Johnson –  vs STL;  @ TOR

4. Chris Carpenter –  @ FLA;  @ CLE

5. Jered Weaver –  @ TB;  vs SD

6. Derek Lowe –  vs PIT;  @ BAL

7. James Shields –  vs LAA; vs WAS

8. Johnny Cueto –  @ WAS;  @ KC

9. Matt Cain –  @ ARI; vs OAK

10. Andy Pettitte –  vs TB;  vs NYM

11. Jake Peavy –  vs SD;  @ LAA

Yellow Light Pitchers

1. Josh Beckett –  vs NYY; @PHI  **Bust of the Week ** , but can you bench him?

2. Cliff Lee –  vs KC;  vs STL

3. A.J. Burnett -  @ BOS;  vs NYM

4. Ted Lilly –  @ HOU;  vs MIN

5. Mark Buehrle –  vs DET;  @ MIL

6. Zach Duke –  @ ATL;  vs DET

7. Scott Baker –  @ OAK;  @ CHC

8. Jordan Zimmerman –  vs CIN;  @ TB **Start of the Week**

9. Jason Marquis –  @ STL;  vs SEA

10. Jon Garland –  @ SD; vs HOU

11. Andy Sonnanstine –  @ NYY;  vs WAS

12. Armando Galarraga –  @ CHW;  @ PIT

2. Randy Johnson –  @ FLA;  vs OAK

3. J.A. Happ –  @ NYM;  vs BOS

4. Chris Young –  @ LAD;  vs LAA

5. Scott Feldman –  vs TOR;  vs LAD

6. Clayton Richard –  vs DET; @ MIL

7. Brian Tallet –  @ TEX;  vs FLA

8. Jeremey Bonderman –  @ CHW;  PIT

9. Brandon McCarthy –  vs TOR;  vs LAD

10. Ross Ohlendorf –  @ATL;  vs DET

11. Braden Looper –  vs COL;  vs CHW

12. Jason M. Vargas –  @ BAL;  @ COL

13. Brian Bannister –  @ CLE;  vs CIN  ** Sleeper of the week **

14. Brett Anderson –  vs MIN;  @ SF

15. Anthony Swarzak –  @ OAK;  @ CHC

16. Sean West –  vs SF;  @ TOR

17. Brad Bergesen –  vs SEA;  vs ATL

18. Jason Hammel –  @ MIL;  vs SEA

19. Billy Buckner –  vs  SF;  vs HOU

20. Casey Janssen –  @ TEX;  vs FLA

21. Brad Thompson –  vs COL;  @ CLE

22. Brian Moehler — vs CHC;  @ ARI

Side Notes

     I have a very bad feeling about this week’s bust of the week.  Josh Beckett goes from the frying pan of the Yankees, into the fire of the Phillies.  His numbers aren’t impressive against either.  It should also be noted that his numbers against the Phillies are from his Florida days, before the new ballpark in Philli.  However, this is what I was talking about at the top of the article.  How can you bench Beckett?  Gotta take the bad with the good, and hope the bad ain’t awful.  A.J. Burnett owners are in the same boat this week.

     Kenshin Kawakami has not been as bad as his number may indicate.  He has gone at least 5 innings in all but one of his starts.  He has also only given up more than 3 earned runs twice all season.  His start against the McLouthless Pirates should be winnable. 

    I really like Brian Bannister as the sleeper of the week.  Three of his last four outings have been awful, and destroyed the nice ratios he had been carrying.  I like a rally this week against the Indians, and without Votto in the lineup the Reds are weak.  If he can just get through Cleveland he should have a nice double start.

     This is why I have put Jordan Zimmerman (technically a Yellow Light Pitcher) as the start of the week.  The Reds in one start, and I am thinking he can get one over on the struggling Rays.  Elijah Dukes owners are hoping he is pissed at his old team and will have a big series.  What can I say, I’m a gambler.

written by Keith J. Giordano