Man jdh, you've really got it out for Willis, don't you? lol
Did you miss the boat on him or something in your league? I mean 8-1, 2.13 is pretty damn good. Add to that he pitches with pizazz and enthusiasm and would be a ratings boon for MLB, I think he should be there. But hey, as long as we can agree to disagree peacefully that's all that matters right!
Yes, he has been good, but only over a stretch of 8 or 9 starts has he been that dominant. There are many pitchers in the game that can run off a string of starts like that (Miller second half last year, Mussina at the beginning of this year come to mind.). He has not had to pitch a full half season up in the majors and has not had to face any quality lineup a second time through, which the pitchers that pitched the entire season have had to do.
Bottom line is both Nomo and Batista have better numbers, especially considering they have had to go through lineups second and third times. If Brown or someone else can't pitch, both are far more deserving than Willis.
WHAT? How did you draw from the numbers you posted that Nomo and Batista had better numbers than Willis? Did I miss something? Aren't LOWER ERA/WHIP a good thing? Bottom line, Batista's numbers are worse than Willis's, hands down. Nomo you can make an argument for, but you gotta have a lot better than .500 to make the all-star game.
The issue is that all of these other pitchers have had 7 or 8 more starts than Willis, which should be a deciding factor. Willis has only had 11 starts, and his first 2 or 3 starts were pretty mediocre, so he is basically on an 8 start run which has skewed his overall numbers. An 8 start hot streak, especially by an unproven rookie does not deserve being vaulted into an all star position over other pitchers who are more deserving and have had to pitch the entire season, thus giving more chances for their ERA/WHIP to rise.
Brandon Webb fan club starting right now.....by years end he will be considered the best young pitcher in the game....not including the established young pitchers such as Prior, Zito etc ....you know what I mean.
I would take Webb over Willis any day. But that's a story for another topic ...
On this, ouch. You hate to be happy about a catastrophic injury, but I can't help seeing the silver linings -- Patterson was the biggest offensive contributor on one of the best teams in the NL Central (where my Pirates are making a run), and I don't own Patterson in any fantasy league. Still, it really sucks for the Cubs, and to a lesser extent for Cubs pitchers who will have a little less run support. Who'll bat in his spot? Lenny Harris?
TSN is reporting that Tom Goodwin is now their starting CF. He might be an acceptable fantasy pickup for his steals if he is actually starting full time.
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by nsulham » Mon Jul 07, 2003 5:08 pm 
