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Wednesday’s question of the day: Which team has the strongest pitching rotation heading into the playoffs?

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Which team has the strongest pitching rotation heading into the playoffs? Reporters from across the Tribune family tackle the question of the day, then you get a chance to chime in and tell them why they are wrong.

Dan Connolly, The Baltimore Sun

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The New York Yankees are the obvious answer, given that they have the three biggest names available for a short series: CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Andy Pettitte. But go deeper and the Yankees may not be the best choice, simply because Pettitte is the only one of the trio who has had playoff success. So I’ll take the St. Louis Cardinals, who have former World Series winners Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright at the top of their rotation followed by the surprising Joel Pineiro, who is having the best season of any No. 3 starter in the majors. Most of the contenders this year have an impressive 1-2 punch, but it’s the third starter that could make the difference. Pettitte, 37, is the most heralded of the group, but is battling shoulder fatigue. And it’s premature to say Boston’s Daisuke Matsuzaka is healthy after one start back from the DL.

Phil Rogers, Chicago Tribune

Tony La Russa and his brilliant pitching coach, Dave Duncan, worked a miracle in guiding St. Louis to a World Series championship with Jeff Suppan, Jeff Weaver and Anthony Reyes working behind Chris Carpenter. It won’t be a surprise if the Cardinals grab another title in 2009, this time with Carpenter, Adam Wainwright and Joel Pineiro as the front men on their pitching staff. That trio is 24-5 with a 2.49 ERA since the All-Star break, numbers so strong that John Smoltz expects to pitch out of the bullpen in the playoffs. But look for low-scoring games in the NL playoffs, as Philadelphia and San Francisco (if the Giants can get past Colorado) are as loaded as the Cards. There’s no real pitching powerhouse in the AL, as the casts behind aces CC Sabathia, Jon Lester, John Lackey and Justin Verlander are all suspect.


Mandy Housenick, The Morning Call

The Phillies’ rotation doesn’t stand a chance at being considered one of the best among playoff contenders.
Cole Hamels has yet to return to his form in 2008. Although he’s had some stellar starts, he’s had others that have been equally poor.
Cliff Lee looked a whole lot better Tuesday night, but in his three previous starts (1-2) he posted an ERA over 9.
Pedro Martinez has shown flashes of brilliance, but you have to wonder if he can keep up that pace at his age (soon to be 38).
J.A. Happ has been hurt and missed his last two starts. If the Phillies have to replace him with Jamie Moyer, good luck. There’s a chance he could pitch well, but there’s a better chance he’ll get whacked around.
Joe Blanton has perhaps been the steadiest and most underrated of the crew.
But there hasn’t been enough consistency or success to consider this rotation one of the best.

Don Amore, Hartford Courant

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The state of the Red Sox’s starting pitching has been like the old description of New England weather. If you don’t like it, wait a minute. In June, it appeared the Red Sox had too much. Then suddenly they were frighteningly thin. In recent starts, Jon Lester has been rock-solid and Josh Beckett is regaining his form. Clay Buchholz has emerged with a number of great starts and Daisuke Matsuzaka, who nearly everyone had given up on, came back Tuesday night with six scoreless innings. So on this morning, Sept. 17, the Red Sox appear to have the hottest foursome going into the playoffs. But wait a minute. The playoffs will be all new for Buchholz, and what if Dice-K gets hit hard next time? Bring a sweater. And an umbrella.

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