39.9 Checking the Locks: Starting Rotation

[crobillard]

This is a series where I will evaluate the options in each position leading into Spring Training. This is the ninth of eleven parts. I will be taking a look into the starting pitchers in this post.

Sure fire locks: Bobby Lynch, Jesus Ramos, Chet Parrish, Jubal Troop
Trying to get in the door: Derrick Terry, Damon Tipping, Juan Alvarez, Marcos Morales

The top four in the rotation will stay the same in 2039. Lynch has been a top pitcher in the league for the past six seasons. He was Joe Gillstrom Newcomer of the Year in 2033 an All Star in 2034 and 2037, Comeback Player of the Year in 2037 and in his 2038 season he helped the Jackrabbits win a Landis title. He's had a really amazing journey in the beginning of his career. I mean he's only 27 years old heading into the 2039 season and the Jackrabbits look poised to contend for another Landis title. A second Landis title would certainly look good for Lynch. His arbitration ends this year though and he's been a topic of trade discussion. Could this be Lynch's final season in the yellow and blue?

An addition at the start of the 2038 season, Troop was a fantastic innings eater for the team, pitching in 241.1 innings and striking out 247 batters, which was a career high. His career has had some similarities to Lynch, too. In 2038 when Lynch was the Newcomer of the Year, Troop was winning his Steve Nabraska Golden Arm award, Troop went on two join three All Star teams in 2033, 2035 and 2036. He was on Montreal for most of his career before Las Vegas traded for him, but Troop posted a 6.89 ERA in 95.1 innings for the Hustlers in 2037, so they decided to capitalize on a possible deal in the offseason. Then, Troop would go on to win a Landis title too.

Ramos is the veteran of the group and turns 35 years old this season. He's had a long career and was a member of All Star teams in 2028, 2029 and 2030, but it's been awhile since he's been good. A poor season in Las Vegas in 2033 had him moved to Montreal. His best season was in 2035 where posted a 18-7 record with a 3.97 ERA in 199.1 innings, but after that season he was moved to the bullpen due to a 5.65 ERA in 16 games, only eight of them registered as starts. At 31 years old, he was traded to Edmonton where he's spent the last three seasons of his career. In 2037 and 2038 he was strictly a starter. It's worth noting that throughout his career, whenever Ramos has been used strictly as a starter he's never had an ERA over 4.15.

At 20 years old, Chet Parrish came into the league during the tail end of the season and had some success with a 4.05 ERA in 66.2 innings. That would earn him a spot in the rotation in 2035 that he would never relinquish. Since 2035 his lowest WAR has been 3.2 last season and at 25 years old Parrish looks to do more of the same. Last year he was 13-10 with a 4.37 ERA in 183.1 innings.

Edmonton doesn't have a well established fifth starter so they are looking at some creative options. This Spring Training they have invited some prospects to take a look at, Tipping, Alvarez, Morales and they are trying Terry at starting, despite him being a terrible, pitcher. At the beginning of his career he did start a little bit though, so with more consistency pitching several innings, maybe he turns out alright. He has a career 4.47 ERA in 225.1 innings pitches, but a large majority of those innings are in relief with only 12 of starts in his career. He should get an opportunity this season to show if he can command the mound for multiple innings.