Help me rank available SP2's (Hamels, Cain)

[nacho742]

16 team h2h 5x5-- up soon to draft. Help rank these pitchers: Cain, Hamels, Peavy, Webb, Nolaso, Billingsley, Wandy, Lackey

I'll start:
1. Hamels - really unlucky last year (practically the same FIP last 3 seasons) - great control helped keep WHIP low even w/ terrible luck last year.
2. Nolasco - also unlucky last year -- K/9 improved a lot last year. Defense in FLA is a question mark, but he's poised for a huge bounceback
3. Webb - highest upside of anyone here, but return from injury is huge question mark
4. Cain - lucky last year (BAPIP, Strand %) but also very solid and good bet for a lot of innings
5. Lackey - improvement of Boston defense cannot be underrated -- he should get help w/ big RF, Ellsbury, Cameron and Drew roaming the OF.
6. Billingsley - ...
7. Peavy - ...
8. Wandy - ...

WHIR w/ link.

[jonboy418]

16 team h2h 5x5-- up soon to draft. Help rank these pitchers: Cain, Hamels, Peavy, Webb, Nolaso, Billingsley, Wandy, Lackey

I'll start:
1. Hamels - really unlucky last year (practically the same FIP last 3 seasons) - great control helped keep WHIP low even w/ terrible luck last year.
2. Nolasco - also unlucky last year -- K/9 improved a lot last year. Defense in FLA is a question mark, but he's poised for a huge bounceback
3. Webb - highest upside of anyone here, but return from injury is huge question mark
4. Cain - lucky last year (BAPIP, Strand %) but also very solid and good bet for a lot of innings
5. Lackey - improvement of Boston defense cannot be underrated -- he should get help w/ big RF, Ellsbury, Cameron and Drew roaming the OF.
6. Billingsley - ...
7. Peavy - ...
8. Wandy - ...

WHIR w/ link.

1. Nolasco
2. Hamels
3. Wandy
4. Cain
5. Webb
6. Peavy
7. Billingsley
5. Lackey

I tend to be injury averse. That's why Webb and Peavy are so low, but they do have the upside to be #1-#2 on this list. I really like Hamels this year and I have him targeted in some drafts. But Nolasco is the cream of the crop with all things considered. Take away his worse three starts last year and you're looking at a fantasy ace.

[Remotethumb]

Peavy
Cain
Hamels

Wandy

Webb
Lackey
Nolasco

Billinsley

[Grounded Polo]

Hamels
Nolasco
Billingsley
Wandy
Cain
Peavy
Webb
Lackey

[raiders_umpire]

Hamels
Nolasco
Bills
Peavy
Wandy
Cain
Lackey
Webb

[The Artful Dodger]

Hamels
Nolasco

Billingsley
Wandy

Peavy

Cain

Webb
Lackey

Hamels and Nolasco are an easy 1-2 for me. Both were really unlucky last year and are great bets to bounce back. I like Bills over Wandy for the reason that Bills has better stuff and his command was thrown off by hamstring fatigue.

Peavy's ratios will probably take a bump up in the AL and in the more HR friendly park, but still has K potential and I believe his ratios will still be quite solid. Cain could have some room for improvement, although the declining K rate, walk rate, and high strand rate last season are concerning enough that his upside might not be too great.

I'd gamble with Webb being healthy over Lackey who doesn't really have any real added potential, moving to the tougher division and tougher ballpark. Not to mention Lackey hasn't been particularly reliable health-wise the last couple of seasons.

[nacho742]

Thanks for the replies! Specifically Dodger and jonboy -- good stuff

Hamels and Nolasco are 1 and 1a in my book -- i'd be happy with either.

I'm afraid of Wandy for no specific reason other than i've never seen him pitch, so i'll probably be happy with either Bills or Cain in the 2nd tier.

Tier 1: Hamels, Nolasco
Tier 2: Bills, Cain
Tier 3: Wandy, Webb, Peavy, Lackey

[HOOTIE]

Hamels was unlucky
Nolasco was unlucky as well
Bills could go to 1st with talent
Peavy still very good

Webb should bounce back strong
Wandy solid, but might not repeat
Cain good, but was lucky
Lackey overrated and is throwing fewer innings

[The Artful Dodger]

I'm afraid of Wandy for no specific reason other than i've never seen him pitch, so i'll probably be happy with either Bills or Cain in the 2nd tier.

Wandy almost always pitches much better at home than away. He doesn't have great stuff, but still can keep hitters honest with a mixture of a low 90's fastball and his offspeed pitches. I'd say the concern lies in the latter points.