On the diamond, a new wave of hurlers
Baseball's young guns take their place in the rotation
from the June 22, 2007 edition
Page 3 of 3
The experience could have been devastating, much as Rick Ankiel's playoff meltdown in 2000 – he threw a record five wild pitches in a single inning – led to the end of his pitching days. Instead, Carmona bounced back as a full-time starter. He boasts an 8-2 record, among the AL leaders in wins.
Verlander, the 2006 AL Rookie of the Year, helped Detroit to a surprising World Series berth last season.
He has eluded a sophomore slump thus far this season, achieving an 8-2 record and a 2.90 ERA, including a no-hitter this month.
Santana, at 28, ranks as an elder statesman among the young starters. His repertoire is worthy of a sage – it has propelled Santana to two AL Cy Youngs in his brief career.
Beckett, who helped the Florida Marlins clinch a World Series championship in 2003, now pitches for Boston. At 10-1, he ranks second among AL pitchers in victories. His teammate, 26-year-old Japanese import Daisuke Matsuzaka, trails Beckett by two wins, with an 8-5 mark.
And still they keep coming. The pitching roster includes Arizona's Brandon Webb (age 28), the defending NL Cy Young winner, 23-year-old Cole Hamels of Philadelphia (nine wins this season) and Florida's 25-year-old Dontrelle Willis, who already has 65 career wins.
No matter where you look, young starting pitchers seem to be grabbing the spotlight from their acclaimed elders. Welcome to the changing of the arms.
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