I prefer Ricky Nolasco to John Maine this year because Nolasco can be better. I realize he logged far more innings last year than in 2007 (191 more), and this could lead to arm trouble. Still, his low WHIP and high strikeout totals provide value.
Nolasco struck out 7.9/9IP with a WHIP of 1.10. Maine struck out 7.8/9IP, but his WHIP was 1.35. Nolasco’s control keeps his WHIP down, and ultimately keeps his ERA lower than Maine’s.
Ricky Nolasco
Nolasco’s critics say that he’s an injury risk, but at least he doesn’t appear to be at risk of underperforming. I prefer Nolasco to A.J. Burnett, Derek Lowe, and Maine, to name a few. If Nolasco gets injured, I’ll put him on the DL or drop him and pick up another arm. I like running with an empty rotation spot sometimes to try and unearth arms like Cliff Lee, Edinson Volquez and Ryan Dempster.
“(191 more)”
He also pitched 33 innings in the minors.
As a Mets fan, my biggest concern about Maine coming into 2009 is how much has he recovered from his injury last yr. I still think Maine has the potential to be a very solid pitcher but I worry about his injury.
Good point, it’s not like Maine’s injury-proof either. Both good pitchers, but I think Nolasco’s rate stats are better.
Xave: That works for Nolasco, too. I mean they’re only minor league innings, but it suggests it was less of a shock to his system in 2008.
Ben, I will agree with you on this one.
Nolasco was in the Cubs farm system before he was sent to the Marlins. The cubs organization was very high on him back in the day.
“Xave: That works for Nolasco, too. I mean they’re only minor league innings, but it suggests it was less of a shock to his system in 2008.”
Huh? I was pointing out Nolasco pitched 33 innings in the minors in 2007, so he pitched 158 more in 2008, not 191 more. It’s obviously still a huge jump.