Your Pick For 2004 - Vazquez v. Schilling

[Wolf Hopper]

Javier Vazquez or Curt Schilling
which pitcher would you rather have for 2004?
And, why?

[sweaver]

Vazquez. Schilling is a terrific pitcher, but at his age there is the distinct possibility of a crash-and-burn.

[gyb13]

RSAA 2000 2001 2002 2003 age
Schilling 22 47 36 34 37
Vazquez 14 31 6 48 27i'm really really happy with this acquisition, as vazquez is one of my favorite (fantasy) pitchers....

[JamesI]

Vasquez because of the age gap. Schilling is more likely to collapse.

[Jim Rice]

I need to qualify my answer. In a neutral, non-pressurized situation, I'd say they're about even money to pitch well in 2004. And obviously, for the long term, Vasquez is the better bet because of his age.

That said, I chose Schilling, because the reality of the situation is different than the generic question as asked. Vasquez is about to find out what it's like to pitch with people watching and some folks don't react too well to that. While Vasquez certainly seems like a cool head who can handle this kind of pressure, if this was the kind of thing that could be predicted, the Yankees wouldn't have traded for the likes of Weaver, or Mondesi, or Knoblauch, or Juan-pitch Acevedo, or any number of other people who have gone to New York and suddenly deteriorated. Some folks thrive on it (a la Jeter and Bernie Williams), some folks don't (a la Mo Vaughn or Mondesi or Weaver). Until Vasquez gets there, it's hard to tell which way he'll go. While I would bet that he turns out fine, I KNOW Schilling isn't affected by that kind of pressure.

For one year only, with the ring on the line in a pressure cooker situation like the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry, give me the veteran who has already got one ring and really wants another.

[Wolf Hopper]

Good point Jim Rice.
One nitpick: Mondesi didn't cave in NY - he was what he always was. Weaver and Knobby lost their head.

Acevedo? Was he ever any good? That might be a reach.

But, back on topic, until Vazquez suits up in NY, there is a ?
Big difference between NY and Montreal. Huge.

[KCBOOMER]

Went with "Not Sure" for all the reasons above.

[TGwynn19]

Vazquez. Now the world will know what we all know. He's a stud.

[huskerdru]

I need to qualify my answer. In a neutral, non-pressurized situation, I'd say they're about even money to pitch well in 2004. And obviously, for the long term, Vasquez is the better bet because of his age.

That said, I chose Schilling, because the reality of the situation is different than the generic question as asked. Vasquez is about to find out what it's like to pitch with people watching and some folks don't react too well to that. While Vasquez certainly seems like a cool head who can handle this kind of pressure, if this was the kind of thing that could be predicted, the Yankees wouldn't have traded for the likes of Weaver, or Mondesi, or Knoblauch, or Juan-pitch Acevedo, or any number of other people who have gone to New York and suddenly deteriorated. Some folks thrive on it (a la Jeter and Bernie Williams), some folks don't (a la Mo Vaughn or Mondesi or Weaver). Until Vasquez gets there, it's hard to tell which way he'll go. While I would bet that he turns out fine, I KNOW Schilling isn't affected by that kind of pressure.

For one year only, with the ring on the line in a pressure cooker situation like the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry, give me the veteran who has already got one ring and really wants another.

Ummmm...what he said!!

[Ytown Tribe fan]

Ditto what JimRice said, word for word.

Schilling probably still has a big season (and a big post-season) left in him, for a contender. After that -- forget it.

[Wolf Hopper]

The pitcher most like Vaz in the last 30 years is John Smoltz, IMHO:


1973-2003

AGE <= 26
INNINGS PITCHED BETWEEN 1220 AND 1230
STRIKEOUTS >= 150 vs. the league average
STRIKEOUTS/WALKS vs. the league average displayed only--not a sorting criteria
BASERUNNERS/9 IP vs. the league average displayed only--not a sorting criteria

RSAA RSAA IP SO SO/BB BR/9 IP
1 Javier Vazquez 52 1229.1 150 1.33 1.22
2 John Smoltz 45 1223.1 151 0.25 0.72

The year Smotz was 27, he had a terrible year. Actually, it was a terrible 1st 1/2 half and a great 2nd 1/2, IIRC, FWIW.

[LeGrandOrange]

I picked Vazquez...though he pitches for the Evil Empire, I still like Javy exponentially more than I've ever liked Schilling.

[clemente21]

I picked Vazquez as well. He's really emerged over the last four years. His relatively poor 2002 was heavily because of nagging injuries, stuff that might have kept him on the DL longer for another team with real pitching depth. We don't know how he's going to react to the pressure - but given the unbalanced schedule he has the potential to be a 22 game winner.

[dbergs17]

While Schilling is obviously going to help by having a big offense to give him 5-6 runs for every game, we must recognize that being a right-handed power pitcher, the balls are gonna fly in fenway in that short right field fence. I'd take Vazquez. He's gonna win just as many wins behind just as good of a lineup, AND he has his age on his side. Curt's gonna slow down any day now.

[cubfan33]

I'll take Schilling, thanks. He's beaten Vazquez three of the last four years in RSAA and was pretty good last year despite a pair of non-pitching injuries.

[TimmyB]

What JR said.