Baseball's Best 1-2 Punches: Is King Felix Worthy of Sitting Atop the Throne?

While Barack Obama and Joe Biden may represent the dynamic 1-2 punch of the United States, it’s much more important, and more controversial, to figure out the best 1-2 punches in Major League Baseball.

In the early 2000s, it was easy to notice the league’s top pair of aces, Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson of the Arizona Diamondbacks. However, at the dawn of this decade, it’s much harder to distinguish which staff boasts the best 1-2 punch.

After spending an entire sermon scribbling ideas and rankings on the back of church bulletins, I determined the top 10 1-2 punches in baseball.

The system I used to determine the point totals is Danny Ciaccio’s Magical Scale of Aces, which ranks pitchers on a scale of 1-10 based on the other aces in the league.

i.e. 1=Zach Duke (Pirates No. 2) and 10=Roy Halladay (Phillies No. 1)

10. Los Angeles Dodgers

Clayton Kershaw: 6.5
Chad Billingsley: 6.5
Total: 13 points

Kershaw: Although he is barely old enough to purchase alcohol, the 21 year old southpaw is one of the most promising young pitchers in baseball. As a rookie, Kershaw went 8-8, but expect that number to double for 2010.

Billingsley: Billingsley, 25, has been an above-average pitcher for the Dodgers in his four year career, highlighted by a 16 win season in 2008. The Dodgers re-signed him to a one year contract in January, so be prepared for a breakout year for Billingsley.

Conclusion: Both pitchers have yet to reach their prime, and when they do, they will jump into the top five on this list. For next season, expectt them to both have ERA’s under 3.50 and get near 200 strikeouts.

9. Chicago Cubs

Carlos Zambrano: 8
Ted Lilly: 6
Total: 14 points

Zambrano: The 29 year old Venezuelan product has been one of the most consistent pitchers in the National League the past six seasons. Zambrano’s size (6’5’’, 255 lbs.) makes him an opposing presence on the mound.

Lilly: One of the most underrated pitchers in the league, Lilly, 34, has been a reliable arm for the Cubs. He has earned double-digit wins every season since 2003, including last year when he went 12-9 with a WHIP of 1.06.

Conclusion: Both Zambrano and Lilly are solid, durable guys atop Chicago’s rotation. Zambrano may have lost a bit of his zesty touch, but the two should combine for around 30 wins in 2010.

8. Florida Marlins

Josh Johnson: 8
Ricky Nolasco: 7
Total: 15 points

Johnson: The Marlins are notorious for releasing studs when they reach their prime, but they made the right decision by keeping Josh Johnson. Johnson, 26, a 6’7’’ beast from Minnesota, went 15-5 in 2009 with a 1.16 WHIP.

Nolasco: Don’t let the decent 13-9 record from last season fool you. Nolasco, 27, is one of the best young flamethrowers in the league. He is a good bet for leading the National League in strikeouts, and should approach 15 wins.

Conclusion: If the Marlins hold onto these two young guns, expect Florida to bring in October baseball. Nolasco and Johnson should combine for the most strikeouts among 1-2 punches.

7. Arizona Diamondbacks

Brandon Webb: 8.5
Dan Haren: 7.5
Total: 16 points

Webb: Webb, 30, missed the majority of 2009 with a shoulder injury, but should be ready to go for 2010. He won 56 games in the previous three years before his injury, and expect him to win more than 15 games once again.

Haren: Haren is a consistent winner and a strikeout machine. Since joining the Diamondbacks in 2008, Haren, 30, has won 30 games and racked up 200 strikeouts each season.

Conclusion: With Webb’s ability to grind out the W and Haren’s strikeout prowess, the Diamondbacks boast one of the best 1-2 combos in the National League. However, both pitchers, especially Webb, pose an injury risk.

6. St. Louis Cardinals

Chris Carpenter: 8.5
Adam Wainwright: 8
Total: 16.5 points

Carpenter: After two years battling injuries, Carpenter, 34, had an excellent 2009 campaign, posting a 17-4 record and WHIP of 1.01. Carpenter is one of the best all-around pitchers in the majors as long as he stays healthy.

Wainwright: The Cardinals were pleased to see Wainwright, 29, have a breakout 2009 season (19 wins, 212 strikeouts). It will be interesting to see whether Wainwright can carry over his success into 2010, or if he is a one year wonder.

Conclusion: Carpenter has a history of injuries, and Wainwright has not been an elite pitcher for more than a year, but both should have great seasons. Expect the Cardinals’ aces to have 35 wins combined, and once again they will be Cy Young candidates.

5. New York Yankees

C.C. Sabathia: 9.5
A.J. Burnett: 8
Total: 17.5 points

Sabathia: In his first season in pinstripes, Sabathia, 29, led the Yankees to the World Series and won 19 games. His nasty slider and blazing fastball will likely lead him near 20 wins once again.

Burnett: Burnett did not have as much success in his first season as a Yankee compared to his last season with Toronto, winning five less games. However, Burnett, 33, is destined to have 15 wins in 2010 considering he has the support of the best offense in the league.

Conclusion: Las Vegas oddsmakers, place your bet on this: Will Burnett and Sabathia combine for more wins or salary (in millions)? Last season, they combined for 32 wins compared to the $31.

4. Philadelphia Phillies

Roy Halladay: 10
Cole Hamels: 8
Total: 18 points

Halladay: Regarded as the best all-around pitcher in the majors, Halladay, 32, will finally pitch for a contender. Assuming he has a smooth transition to the National League, Halladay should have 20 victories in 2010.

Hamels: After an amazing 2008 postseason, Hamels struggled last season, going 10-11. Since he won’t have as much pressure being in the No. 2 slot, Hamels, 26, should go back to old form.

Conclusion: With Hamels postseason experience and Halladay’s magic on the mound, the Phillies will be a force to be reckoned with come October. Don’t rule out the possibility for a Cy Young trophy and World Series ring for Halladay.

T-3. San Francisco Giants

Tim Lincecum: 10
Matt Cain: 8.5
Total: 18.5 points

Lincecum: Although he has the size of a golfer and the hair of a meth dealer, Lincecum, 25, is the two-time defending Cy Young winner in the National League. His unorthodox delivery may result in injuries later in his career, but next season should be another stellar season for “The Freak.”

Cain: Overshadowed by Lincecum, Cain had a very productive 2009 campaign, going 14-8 with an impressive 2.89 ERA. Cain, 25, should post similar numbers next season, if not better.

Conclusion: Although Lineceum and Cain have polar-different size and styles, both are among the best pitchers in the National League. They don’t get much offensive support, but they should each earn more than 15 wins while posting minuscule ERA’s.

T-3. Boston Red Sox

Josh Beckett: 9.5
Jon Lester: 9
Total: 18.5 points

Beckett: Ever since his legendary performance in the 2003 World Series, Beckett, 29, has been one of the most consistent pitchers in baseball. In three of the last four seasons, Beckett has won 16 more games. Expect similar numbers for 2010.

Lester: A cancer survivor, Lester, 29, has been very successful the past two seasons, posting 15+ wins each year. Lester, a southpaw with four dominant pitches, is poised for a breakout 2010 season.

Conclusion: Lester and Beckett make up the most experienced 1-2 punch in baseball, each with World Series appearances. While they may not get as many victories as Sabathia and Burnett, Boston’s aces are very talented and should each win 15 or more games.

1. Seattle Mariners

Felix Hernandez: 10
Cliff Lee: 9.5
Total: 19.5 points

Hernandez: Hernandez had an amazing 2009 season, going 19-5 with an ERA under 2.50. King Felix is still young, 23, and is known to have the nastiest “stuff” in the major leagues. He is also regarded as the most valuable player in the game, due to his young age, experience, and unparalleled talent.

Lee: Acquired in a trade during the off-season, Lee will compliment Hernandez to make up the best 1-2 punch in the major leagues. Lee, 31, had a magnificent showing in last season’s playoffs with the Phillies, and will bring this October experience to the Emerald City.

Conclusion: I tried, I really did, to not have the Mariners No. 1. As an M’s fan, I didn’t want to show bias. But the more I broke down the pitching staffs, I began to realize how dynamic Lee-Hernandez really is. Lee, a former Cy Young winner, and Hernandez, last year’s Cy Young runner-up, lead the up-and-coming Mariners into 2010.