Mr. Franchise

[Wise and Wiser]

If you were in charge of a new franchise, and you could have any player to build your franchise around, who would it be? In other words, who is the next big superstar? Don't forget, age must be a consideration. I would always begin with starting pitching, so...

Justin Verlander (Tigers)

This kid is electric! You should hear the way his teammates talk about him. They feel like they're going to win every time he takes the mound, and he's just a kid! I give him the edge over Kazmir and Liriano.

 

[s_dooley24]

Liriano...lefites a little more valuable and he already looks like Santana which is scary

 

[Its Gravy]

Verlander's fastball has what i call KAFWAP!!
electric outstanding movement. and he can run it up there at 99mph

 

[Spalding]

Franschisco Liriano :scared

That guy is making major league hitter look dumb.

 

[payne034]

Liriano would be my top prospect. Dont forget bout Felix the king. His sophomore season isnt as impressive as his rookie but he is going to be a stud.

Outfielders i think it would be jeff francouer

infielders i think it would be around joe mauer or miggy cabrera

 

[s_dooley24]

looks like ESPN is on this as well

http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/insider/columns/story?columnist=law_keith&id=2501325&CMP=ILC-INHEAD

 

[Mr. A]

Liriano looks very impressive, way beyond his years.....

....just hope the other shoe doesn't drop

I also really like Verlander, but don't sleep on LESTER from BoSox - he looks alright in just 3 ML starts so far this year....

As far as Feliz goes, he's looked terrible so far this year (compared to an absolute stud) - ya wonder if he was reading his own press clippings last off-season ??

if gotta pick one right now, gotta go with the lefty Johan Jr. .... uh...I mean Francisco Liriano

 

[Wise and Wiser]

Verlander would be my top choice, because like I already said, I would always begin with starting pitching, but if I decided to go with a position player instead, I would take David Wright. The kid can do it all!

 

[The Guru]

Nice picks if you did start with SP, but putting that much stock in SP's is always risky. There is always an injury risk (Albert Pujols), but the chance for continuing injuries with SP's is just too great. Especially power guys like Verlander. (See Mark Prior and Kerry Wood for examples). The other thing that would lead me away from building around a SP is that they only have a chance to help in every fifth game. Give me the guy who can help me win every single day. Give me the offensive guy who is the proven commodity. (Prince Albert, David Wright, Vlad Guerrero etc). However, if I did start with a SP, I'd take Johan Santana.

 

[RIGHT SIDE]

Santana and Liriano are just nasty for Minny right now....I think Johan Santana hands down is the best pitcher in baseball right now with the nastiest stuff!!!! The guy is amazing!!!! Liriano has a great teacher to watch and learn from.......
As far as Verlander.....I picked him up in fantasy after his second start and he's been a hidden gem for me! I saw him pitch at Seattle and I was totally amazed at his mechanics and of course that fastball! I said to myself as soon as this kid learns to dominate his changeup he's going to dominate hitters and it has proven as over his past 3-4 starts his changeup has been perfect fooling hitters along with that fastball! 99mph to 83 mph with location.....ugghhh!!! Tigers have themselves an all star in the years to come........Leyland is da man!! Oh can't forget about IRod too......

 

[cisley]

Not sure how well one can build around a catcher, but Mauer is a hitting machine right now.

 

[RIGHT SIDE]

Look what Ivan Rodriguez did with FLA when they won the world series......he very much was the main contributor to that with the way he handled that pitching staff that year. I think you can build around a catcher if it's the right guy. So far IRod is doing the same thing with DET. Those pitchers were garbage before he got there.....Robertson, Maroth, etc.