Call to the Pen’s All NL West team
Starting pitchers (5)
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Clayton Kershaw – Los Angeles Dodgers
Zack Greinke – Los Angeles Dodgers
Madison Bumgarner – San Francisco Giants
Matt Cain – San Francisco Giants
Patrick Corbin – Arizona Diamondbacks
All five of these pitchers were named on every ballot, so it came down to lowest point total. They are listed in that order. I honestly don’t believe anyone could make a significant argument against any of them unless you believe that LA’s Hyun-jin Ryu should be among these five.
Kershaw was, well, Clayton Kershaw. He led all of baseball in ERA (1.83), ERA+ (194), and WHIP (0.915). He led the National League in strikeouts (232), and tied for the lead in shutouts (2). And he also took home his second Cy Young Award.
And Zack Greinke fared rather well in his first season as a Dodger. Well, except for that issue concerning Carlos Quentin and a broken collarbone. That didn’t derail him as Greinke posted his lowest ERA (2.63) since he won the AL Cy Young in 2009 (2.16). Don’t forget the Silver Slugger…
Not long ago, Giants skipper Bruce Bochy tabbed Madison Bumgarner as hos opening day starter. Last season, he finished 5th in ERA (2.77) and WHIP (1.033), 3rd in hits per nine innings (6.527) and 7th in strikeouts (199).
Bumgarner’s teammate Matt Cain makes the cut despite having an un-Matt Cain-like 2013. His winning percentage was under .500 for the first time since 2008. He posted an ERA of 4.00, highest since 2006. He only tossed 184.1 innings, least since 2005 when he late season call-up. That was due to hitting the disabled list for the first time in his career. Blame that on Gaby Sanchez after drilling Cain in the arm with a line drive.
Arizona’s Patrick Corbin rounds out our rotation and did he ever turn some head last season. He was selected to his first All-Star team, eclipsed 200 IP (208.1, 9th in NL) in only his second season (first full season). Corbin took care of a couple of issues he had from his rookie season, hits and home runs. In that home park, that will serve any pitcher well.
Relief pitcher, non-closer
Brian Wilson – Los Angeles Dodgers
Wilson re-established himself after returning from a second Tommy John surgery. Didn’t take him long to do so either. In only 13.2 innings during the regular season and 6 innings during the playoffs, he allowed 12 hits. Wilson struck out 21, walked six and allowed one run in that same span.
A bit in awe that some team didn’t roll the dice and bring him in as their closer. What he showed at the end of last season and the playoffs was what we’ve seen from his closer days.
Closer
Sergio Romo – San Francisco Giants
This one did surprise me. Funny thing is that Romo didn’t garner the most first-place votes either (he had 4). Kenley Jansen of the Dodgers scored 5, but the difference came down to those critical votes for second through fifth. Romo didn’t receive a vote lower than third while Jansen somehow was dubbed as the division worst closer on one ballot.
Breakdown by team:
Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants – 5
Arizona Diamondbacks – 3
Colorado Rockies – 2
No Padres, eh? Closest for any Padre came to cracking the team came from Chase Headley (second) for third. A bit surprised Huston Street didn’t get a little more love as the division’s top closer.