Gio Gonzalez vs. Jordan Zimmerman

[goldtop]

I like both these players this year, but will probably only end up with one of them. Who should I target first?

[GiantsFan14]

I prefer Gio slightly but I think it's pretty much a toss up. Probably a similar ERA, zimmerman with a better WHIP, and Gio with a lot more strikeouts.

[Ender]

I don't like either of them at the round they tend to go in but I'll take Zimmerman if it is roto, Gonzalez if it is H2H.

[HighHeater]

i'll take the guy with better saber metrics: Zimmermann

[cordscords]

Zimmerman and I don't blink. K/9 should improve, and without an innings cap should notch 160-170 K's.

[rjforlife]

I think it's gonna be Gio this year, and not close. He pitches deeper into games than Zimmerman, which should result in more wins given they are on the same team. The added inning and already better K/9 also means Gio should be 40-50 more K's than Zimmerman, as the switch to the NL may only serve to further that gap. ERA is a legitimate toss-up, so there's no real way to say who has the edge there. Gio certainly walks more batters, but he strikes more out at as well, getting his strand rate up and keeping his ERA down. The WHIP is the only arena Zimmerman has the clear edge, and it could be significant, but if you want to start drafting pitchers on WHIP alone, good luck to you. I will take the massive K's, probable more W's, and worse WHIP every time.

[Ender]

Zimmerman and I don't blink. K/9 should improve, and without an innings cap should notch 160-170 K's.

He might have an innings cap because they will be out of the playoffs by August. There is also a huge injury risk. As I mentioned in my post I don't see how you can count on him in H2H. In Roto is rate stats make him more attractive than Gonzalez who is just barely rosterable but at least he'll play every day.

[HOOTIE]

I think it's gonna be Gio this year, and not close. He pitches deeper into games than Zimmerman, which should result in more wins given they are on the same team. The added inning and already better K/9 also means Gio should be 40-50 more K's than Zimmerman, as the switch to the NL may only serve to further that gap. ERA is a legitimate toss-up, so there's no real way to say who has the edge there. Gio certainly walks more batters, but he strikes more out at as well, getting his strand rate up and keeping his ERA down. The WHIP is the only arena Zimmerman has the clear edge, and it could be significant, but if you want to start drafting pitchers on WHIP alone, good luck to you. I will take the massive K's, probable more W's, and worse WHIP every time.

Career whip

JZ 1.23
GG 1.41

More baserunners, mean more runs, less likely chance to win.

Career xFIP

JZ 3.66
GG 3.98

As far as deeper into games,

GG last year, 6.31 innings per start.
JZ last year, 6.20 innings per start.
Now factor in, Gio never got pulled for a pinch hitter, which will happen now in the NL.

GG will miss Oaklands foul ground.

Career splits

H 3.56 era
R 4.32 era

GG gets more K's, the wins is a toss up, depending on run support, but JZ wins the era/whip.
Given GG no longer has Oakland to help him, and he will get pulled sooner then in the AL,
I take JZ easily, because he is better at preventing base runners, by a large amount.

[bayside]

I think Zimmermann is pretty clearly the better pitcher, and the one with the higher upside.

Gio got a lot of help pitching in Oakland, and his only clear advantage is K/rate - and that gap will close some this year.

[West]

Zimmerman and I don't blink. K/9 should improve, and without an innings cap should notch 160-170 K's.

He might have an innings cap because they will be out of the playoffs by August. There is also a huge injury risk. As I mentioned in my post I don't see how you can count on him in H2H. In Roto is rate stats make him more attractive than Gonzalez who is just barely rosterable but at least he'll play every day.

Typo? I fail to see how Gio Gonzalez is barely rosterable unless you play in 8 team mixed leagues. Guy should easily approach 200K's and 15 wins with solid ratios (not as good as last year but still a very respectable xFIP). I've got him tentatively ranked easily in the top 25 and probably closer to 20th best pitcher.

I'd take Gio over Zimmermann because he's the safer bet. I wouldn't be surprised to see Zimmermann hit the DL at some point. My bet is 160-170 IP.