Is Starting Pitcher the Most Important Position for Building a Successful Team?

Chicks dig the long ball—at least that's what Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux taught us.

Everyone loves a slugger, thus why we have the home run derby at the All-Star game year after year. So while offense might be what draws fans to the ballpark, it's pitching that gives those big bats a chance to shine.

If you're not sure that's the case, you need look no further than the 2012 Houston Astros and Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies have scored 159 runs on the season, exactly the same number of runs that the Astros have put up, putting both teams two runs behind the major league average of 161 runs scored.

Yet the Astros have a record of 17-21 while the Phillies sit at 20-19.

Why?

Starting pitching.

Philadelphia's starters have a combined 16-11 record with a 2.90 ERA; conversely, Houston's starters sit with a 12-13 record and 3.82 ERA—nearly a full run higher than the Phillies.

Both starting rotations have an ERA under the major league average of 4.00.

Looking for a reason that the Boston Red Sox sits with a record of 18-20, even though they've scored 205 runs on the season, fourth most in baseball?

Their starting rotation has been putrid, posting a 15-15 record with a 5.15 ERA, good enough for 28th in baseball.

Why are the New York Yankees floundering in fourth place with 178 runs scored, the eighth most in baseball?

Starting pitching, that's why. Their rotation's 15-16 record and 5.07 ERA puts them just ahead of the Red Sox in 27th place.

While I'm not a big fan of sabermetrics, last year Paapfly over at Hardball Times did an excellent piece on comparing which statistic mattered more to World Series champions—ERA+ or OPS+.

Including the 2011 St. Louis Cardinals, only 23 of 107 World Series champions had better hitting than pitching. That's less than 22 percent.

Of the 25 players on a major league roster, there is no player who impacts a game more than the starting pitcher.

He touches the ball more than anyone else. If he's on his game, he can atone for mistakes made by the fielders behind him and keep the opposition off-balance, and more importantly, off of the scoreboard.

If he's not on his game, his team is usually in for a long day, one that will see the bullpen and his manager's patience become taxed quickly.

There's a reason why Justin Verlander swept the major awards in the American League last season, just as there's a reason why Cole Hamels and Zack Greinke will be the two most coveted free agents following the 2012 season.

The old axiom "pitching wins championships" is as true today as it was years ago.