A Look at Pitchers Cards ...

Now we go to the other side of what makes a SOM team tick, the pitchers.  As with the hitters, I have broken each pitching staff into three pieces: rotation, relief and closer quality.  Rotation makes up 50% of the rating, relief 20% and closer 30%.  Some may not value a closer as highly as 30%, but I think it is justified here.  When you can make the game one inning shorter with a closer like Rivera or Soria, that's valuable.  To the rankings!

1. FFF (99 / BRW #1 / 50 - 19 - 30) : This is one killer staff!  One caveat, however.  The Fighting Falcon still need to add 40 GS and 100 ReIP to the staff, so I don't think the quality will continue to be this high.  But, no matter what the outcome, this will be the best staff in the DBA this year, hands down.

2. ILL (82 / CYG #1 / 48 - 16 - 18) : The sample size is even smaller here, but nearly as good in two areas (rotation and relief).  K-Rod is merely average in the closer role.  The Apostles need to pick up 60 GS and 100 ReIP at the auction and don't have much wiggle room to do it.  The quality will slip after the auction.

3. CLE (75 / BRW #2 / 40 - 8 - 27) : The Buckeyes need to find 100 GS at the auction, so this rating could fall as well.  The relief corps is full, but is the worst in the DBA.  Papelbon is lights out as the closer.

4. ELR (73 / CYK #1 / 31 - 12 - 30) :  This staff is full and will probably end up #2 after the auction.  All I can say here is Mariano Rivera.

5. HSD (72 / BRA #1 / 40 - 15 - 17) : The best staff in the Aaron just needs a few ReIP to fill up.  A slight upgrade at closer and a few extra millions on a pair of relievers will solidify the Salty Dawgs hold on the top.

6. OTT (70 / CYK #2 / 40 - 12 - 18) : The "Deepest Pen in the DBA" is full of really good relievers.  However, Wagner is only an average closer.  

7. LVP (68 / CYG #2 / 36 - 9 - 23) : Small sample size in the pen (200 IP) dooms this staff.  Improvement there will mean the difference.

8. RBC (66 / BRW #3 / 44 - 12 - 10) : Needs a closer.

9. YDL (64 / BRW #4 / 39 - 17 - 8) : Needs a good closer.

10. BSK (62 / BRA #2 / 46 - 10 - 6) : Needs 80 high-dollar starts and better relief quality.

11. NLL (60 / CYG #3 / 43 - 13 - 4) : Needs a closer badly.

12. WHW (58 / CYK #3 / 36 - 12 - 10) :  Only 100 ReIP.

13. BBM (57 / BRW #5 / 35 - 10 - 12)

14. RID (56 / CYK #4 / 29 - 20 - 7)

15. ALT (54 / BRA #3 / 32 - 10 - 12)

16. DEN (51 / BRA #4 / 36 - 10 - 5)

17. CDC (50 / CYG #4 / 23 - 11 - 16)

18. LEB (39 / CYG #5 / 26 - 9 - 4)

This list will definitely shift after the auction.  The teams with the CAP and TREASURY will climb the list, the teams without will drop.  But this should give everyone a good idea of where each team stands.