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February 16, 2018 at 4:45 pm #43965
I am not sure if it just me, but left handed starting pitching seems to be in decline in terms of quantity and quality. I am not sure how often talent like Steve Carltons or Randy Johnsons come along. But it seems right now there are few great lefties. Some good ones, David Price, who is coming back from injury. Dallas Keuchel, but he has not been around very long.
February 16, 2018 at 5:28 pm #43968Kershaw and Bumgarner immediately come to mind. I think the former will be considered one of the game’s greatest lefties ever when he is done. I do not have any data on past vs. present on a broader scale.
February 16, 2018 at 5:34 pm #43970True, Kershaw is fantastic and a future hall of famer. And Bumgarner isn’t too shabby either, and if he stays healthy, he could be Cooperstown bound also. How could I forget them? Still seems like there aren’t many like those 2. As far as the Cardinals go, there is Gomber, and I like the lefty reliever Evans at AA. Pretty slim pickings for our organization.
February 16, 2018 at 5:50 pm #43972Yes, slim pickings for Cardinals, past and present. There was Ankiel, then Jaime Garcia a decade later. That has been about it during this ownership group’s time.
February 16, 2018 at 9:57 pm #44018I’m glad we havren’t been wasting draft choices on lefthanders just because they are lefthanded. If we had done that, we wouldn’t have all the high ceiling pitching that we have.
February 16, 2018 at 10:48 pm #44019Why assume that the Cards couldn’t have picked up a few more lefties along the way?
Just looking at the cream of the crop, six of MLB’s top 10 LHP prospects were 1st rounders, but four were not. A couple were international signs and did not cost draft picks at all.
https://www.mlb.com/news/2018-top-10-left-handed-pitching-prospects/c-264764456
February 17, 2018 at 12:55 am #44021John Tudor had 10 shutouts in 1985. He had 7 the rest of his career. So maybe you’d be onto something.
Personally I like a little change in the rotation as long as it’s a decent one but those appear to be few and far between. Let your pen handle it!
February 17, 2018 at 12:12 pm #44050The Rockies might have a good one in Kyle Freeland. I wish we had a couple of lefties in the rotation, as I think it really makes a difference during a season when you can keep putting guys out there from each side and give the opponent a different look. When your rotation is fairly monogamous, all righties throwing fastballs and sliders, even if they do throw mid-90s, hitters have an easier time adjusting. The Cubs are set up nice with a couple of good lefties, although Lester is getting a bit past his prime.
We do have some lefties out of the ‘pen which helps, although Cecil needs to bring his “A” game this year.
February 17, 2018 at 12:16 pm #44053I thought of another premier LHS today in Chris Sale. I am up to three now. 😉
P.S. As bikemike notes, the Cubs’ pair of Lester and Quintana are not bad, either.
February 17, 2018 at 1:48 pm #44068The Dodgers have an entire roster of LH pitchers. Not all are elite but they were good enough to get to game 7 of the WS: Kershaw, Hill, Wood, Ryu, Urias.
Other notable LH’s that are past their prime but still can contribute: Hamels, Sabathia, Duffy.
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