Sure you can. Not a huge difference in FIP almost identical xFIP and Minor has a low BABIP while Medlen is at around 300. You could argue that Minor has been a little luckier than Minor this year.
I think both are borderline ace pitchers. I just prefer Medlen over Minor especially since Medlen has rediscovered his control.
Natural Immunity Croc
Dalyn (09-14-2013)
I agree that over the season that Minor has performed better. I just said you could make an argument. Medlen has found his groove and is becoming our best pitcher again like he was last year.
Ultimately, Teheran will be better than both of them but for now I like Medlen as our best pitcher.
Natural Immunity Croc
Dalyn (09-14-2013)
Medlen looks WAY better than Minor right now. Unless things change again, he should be our #1 in the first round.
Neither one is an ace pitcher or near that level. The closest thing we have to an ace is JT. In a big game I trot JT out there over anyone else.
Prikichi (09-15-2013)
thethe (09-14-2013)
3 tenths of a run is a pretty big difference. And Minor is having a rough stretch right now as well where he's had 3 bad starts out of 5(something about Miami and Minor don't get along) Conversely Medlen is on a 3 game hot run now. If Medlen struggles next start and Minor does well Minor's FIP advantage widens.
Personally I still go Minor in game 1 unless the wheels fall off because he's a virtual lock for 7 innings.
Stockholm, more densely populated than NYC - sturg
Love Minor but Meds is making a very very strong case to start Game 1.
Meds should start game 1. Unless we face the Reds in the first round. I would rather Medlen pitch in their ballpark than Minor. We need more of a ground ball pitcher going in that park.
Yeah, I think it's all going to depend on who we're facing, what seed we are, etc. But as of right now, in a game 5 or game 7, I want Medlen.
Dalyn (09-14-2013)
Man, it seems like just yesterday Zeets the Wise was telling us how Medlen was not going to amount to much as a starter....Oh nostalgia...
Ivermectin Man
NinersSBChamps (09-15-2013)
Never said he wouldn't amount to much as a starter. Said he was average. Has he exceeded that? Yes. But not by too much. And we'll see if he can last as a starter, still have long term concerns because there aren't many 5-10 starters in baseball for a reason.
1. Minor is our best pitcher. Unless Medlen ends the year with better stats than him, that will be true. You said this back in May or whenever Medlen got hot last time and you were proven wrong, it will happen again. Medlen this year has been our 3rd best pitcher in terms of fWAR and watching the games that's where I'd put him. While he may be the hot hand now, Julio and Minor carried this staff through the tough times. Medlen turning it on while we're coasting to the playoffs doesn't mean too much for me.
2. Just goes to show you that you cannot predict pitchers health. Hanson's 22 and 23 year old seasons were some of the best a Braves prospect has had in ages (Julio and Wood have done as well of course but the Braves had a long dry spell)
Stockholm, more densely populated than NYC - sturg