'Tis the season for Top Ten lists of all sorts, and ESPN's Page 2 had their offering of the Top Ten pitching rotations of all time the other day. I would submit one rotation, perhaps in the also-ran category, as the best rotation on an otherwise lousy team. The 1968 Cleveland Indians, who went 86-75 with the AL's best starters (quick, name the Tigers' starters after McClain and Lolich). Consider the numbers for these guys:
Luis Tiant (21-9, 1.60 ERA)
Sam McDowell (15-14, 1.81 ERA)
Sonny Siebert (12-10, 2.97 ERA)
Stan Williams (13-11, 2.50 ERA)
Too bad they pitched every day in front of a starting lineup that featured Joe Azcue(C), Tony Horton(1B), Vern Fuller(2B), Max Alvis(3B), Larry Brown(SS), Jose Cardenal(OF), Tommy Harper(OF), and Lee Maye(OF). (That last guy not to be mistaken for Lee May, a reasonably good ballplayer).
By the way, for a wonderful reference concerning any team, any year, any player, it's hard to beat baseball-reference.com
Posted by dan at January 5, 2005 01:08 AM