Who Would Be in Your Rotation?

I hope the picture got your attention! And if you're reading this, it did!

If you could have any pitcher in your starting rotation who would you pick? Would you take a guy strictly because he's on your team? Would you not pick someone because he's on a rival team? A strike-out guy?

A ground ball pitcher? A pop-up/fly out pitcher? A young guy? A veteran?

Here's my take on my rotation.

Roy Halladay

The best pitcher on your team, a guy who is going to be able to start a ball game and get you're team a 'W'.

Roy Halladay - Toronto Blue Jays

An iron man at his position, a 20-game winner last season. He threw nine complete games and two shutouts, a true veteran pitcher. He struck out 206 batters, and had a 2.78 ERA.

I know this is a surprising pick, but I want a guy who can go the distance multiple times in a season, who will be consistent. So far so good this season, he's 3-1 this season, and has gone at least eight innings in two of his starts.

Tim Lincecum

Tim Lincecum - San Francisco Giants

Any guy who can go 18-5 pitching for the Giants, belongs in this rotation. He's the reigning Cy Young winner and he deserved it. He struck out 265 batters, with an era of 2.63, not too shabby.

If this guy had more run support he easily could have won 24-plus games, last year. This year Lincecum is 0-1 after having two horrendous starts, he seems to be making his way back to form, going eight shut out innings in a no decision.

Look for him to pick up the pace, but his record doesn't reflect how he pitches, like I said before the guy needs run support.

Brandon Webb

Brandon Webb - Arizona Diamond Backs

Talk about a guy who's going to go out there year in and year out and pitch for you. He's started at least 33 games every year since 2004, he's matured as a pitcher, and has only gotten better.

He was a candidate for the Cy Young award last year, and hopefully he can build off of that. He went 22 - 7 last year with three complete games and one shut out. He struck out 183 and walked 65.

Be wary though, he's trying to make his way back from the DL. If he can stay healthy, he'll make a good case for winning the Cy Young this year.

Dan Haren

The Diamond backs are blessed to have the services of Brandon Webb and even more so with Dan Haren.

Dan Haren - Arizona Diamond Backs

Haren could be No. 1 on any other team, and for good reason. He's gotten better every year, allowing fewer hits, runs, and having walking less. He's "overlooked" on a lot of radars, because of guys like CC Sabathia, and Johan Santana.

Don't judge him because he's off to a 0-3 start, his ERA is just south of 2.00, he's holding batters to a 1.87 batting average, and he's struck out 17 in 19 innings. Just wait for him to get some run support.

Chad Billingsley

Chad Billingsley - L.A. Dodgers

He's a young guy, with a great arm.

In his first full year as a starter in 2007, he finished with a 12-5 record, and 141 K's and 64 walks, in 2008 he finished with a 16-10 record with 201 k's and 80 walks.

So far so good, he's off to a great start, 3-0 record with a 2.84 era. Oh, and he's on a great ball club, with great clutch hitters. In a couple of years this guy is going to get some serious hardware, and he'll start a couple of all-star games.

Why they aren't here

Now I know after reading that a lot of you are asking,

"Where's CC?"
"Where's Johan"

Well, I'll explain that right now.

Johan Santana

Don't get me wrong, Johan is good. But for a guy who went from being a dominant pitcher in the A.L. he should have had increased numbers. If anything he was average last year.

He went 16-7 last year, good numbers with a 2.53 ERA, while he struck out 206, but in 2007 he had a 15-13 record. Now Johan was an amazing pitcher in the A.L. and usually when a pitcher of his stature goes to the N.L. you want to see better results.

Is Johan's age catching up to him?

CC Sabathia

CC did great last year, actually he was really good last year.

In the National League, he went 11-2 with a 1.65 ERA, and 128 k's in 17 games.

Amazing numbers, right?

Well, consider the facts, when he was in the American League he wasn't doing so hot. In fact he had a 6-8 record, with a 3.83 ERA in 18 games.

We'll see how he does in the American League this year, this time he won't be traded to the N.L. So far he's off to an okay start, 1-1 record with an ERA just south of four.