Sauce-Sages,
So unless you live in isolation (Wyoming? The Ukraine?) you heard about Roy Halladay tossing a no no last night against the Redlegs. It was an impressive performance to say the least. Halladay's gem brings up an interesting argument, can a pitcher be the best player in baseball? I have listed a couple pro and con points below. Post your opinion in the comments for this article and add to the conversation,
Pro- Pitchers can single handedly control a game. They set the tone for the game, an impressive pitching performance can inspire good hitting and effective defense. Good pitching generally beats good hitting. Halladay beat the Reds by himself last night driving in a run and not giving up any hits. The Phillies had a very mediocre hitting performance last night and still won in a convincing fashion. Halladay not only affected the outcome of last nights game, but he set the tone for the series.
Con- Starters only play once every 5 games, relievers pitch at most every other game and only for an inning at a time. Pitchers are throwing fewer and fewer innings as Old Hoss Radbourn (678 IP in 1884) laughs in his grave. It seems that at most a pitcher could win 25 games in the current era of baseball. Pitchers also need defensive support and runs scored to be successful. Position players are paid more.
So what do you think, is a guy like Halladay more valuable than Albert Pujols?
Did Albert Pujols win the cardinals 20+ games by himself this year? If not, then I think a shut down pitcher is worth more to a team.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with the statement that Halladay won 20+ games by himself this season, or that any pitcher did. A pitcher is given run support to win their games that they win. Would Sabathia has won as many games as he did playing on Seattle? I think a hitter like Pujols is more valuable because he provides consistent offense 162 games a season. In the MLB now, hitting is more important than a shut down pitcher.
ReplyDeleteTaking value out of it and just going on straight talent, I think Halladay is the best in the game. Is Pujols more valuable to the Cards than Halladay is to the Phils? Maybe. But if its game 7 of the World Series and you can pick any player to be on your team for that one game who are you picking? Pujols? Halladay? Felix? Cabrera? Give me Halladay all day every day
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