World Series game 1: Hamels vs. Kazmir

For the first time in recent memory I am actually looking forward to watching a world series game. I never like watching the playoffs when the Yankees are out, and with the combination of poor broadcasting and extreme lack of sabermetric involvement watching the world series has been even more painful. This is different though because of the two pitchers starting this game. Cole Hamels and Scott Kazmir. High school pitchers drafted the same year, only two picks apart who have both dominated since being brought up to the big leagues. This holds an even bigger significance to me, as a couple years ago I traded Kazmir for Hamels (not straight up though) and so I have been comparing these two guys ever since (even though neither is on my team anymore).

From a fantasy perspective I think Kazmir was a little more valuable coming into the season. The problem for Kazmir has been an early season injury that has limited him to about 150 innings, as apposed to 200 of them last season. Because of this, Kazmir will probably be undervalued on draft day, even though all of his stats in 2008 were virtually identical to 2007. Kazmir is the kind of guy I would look for to lead my staff next year. 

Hamels on the other hand is a little bit of a concern for me. He pitched far more innings this season than he should have, and his bad injury history makes me worry about him. Although he pitched well this season, he was not as good as the previous year and not nearly as good as Kazmir. His K/9 dropped drastically and again he pitched way too many innings. This is the kind of guy I would look to avoid on draft day next season, unless you can get him at a good price. I’m kind of doubting that though after this fabulous post season which will make his value skyrocket as his stats stay relatively the same. 

With these two pitchers the one thing you have to realize is that while both of them are very good, Kazmir is going to put up the higher strikeout numbers and thus be the more valuable pitcher at least from a fantasy perspective. I’m 99% sure that Kazmir will be in my top 10 pitchers for next season, I can’t necassarly say the same for Hamels. I might be doing a live blog tonight of game 1, but I might have to wait until another game if I’m to busy.