As we approach the second week of the 2009 baseball season, we are seeing several missteps when it comes to ace pitchers. Baseball is a long season, but it is always nice to get off to a good start. Starting pitching is the best way to get off to that start. When it comes to the top aces in this league, it has been a slow start to say the least.

The most common ranking of starting pitching would likely be in the following order: Johan Santana, Tim Lincecum, Brandon Webb, C.C. Sabathia, Jake Peavy, and Cole Hamels. For this article, Johan Santana will be omitted as he simply is a machine and this season is no different. On the other hand, the next five aces have left their organization wanting in this first week of baseball.

While Jake Peavy has had an ERA a little higher than he would like, he has had two nice starts. But that is where the good news ends. Last year’s Cy Young award winner Tim Lincecum has only pitched 8 1/3 innings in two starts this season. Even worse, he gave up 14 hits and six walks, leading to an ugly 7.56 ERA for the Giants ace.

Brandon Webb, who hasn’t finished lower than second for the Cy Young award in the last three years, has had an even more tumultuous start. He lasted only four inning in his only start, which resulted in a disgusting 13.50 ERA. Even more troubling is the fact that he has been placed on the disabled list due to soreness in his right shoulder.

Next we come to the one hundred sixty-one million dollar man, C.C. Sabathia. His statistics could definitely be worse, but for that kind of money you would expect better. In two starts, he has a less than stellar 4.50 ERA, combined with a shameful 1.58 WHIP (walks, hits, innings pitched). He also  has a yawning six strike outs in twelve innings pitched.

Cole Hamels missed a week of spring training due to elbow stiffness. This setback led to him miss the opening day start, which would have otherwise been his honor to pitch. When he finally did pitch in the Phillies fourth game of the season, he only lasted 3 2/3 innings. In that start, he accumulated a whopping 17.18 ERA with one solitary strike out.

There is good news for these aces and their respective clubhouses. We have only completed one week into the 2009 baseball season. For you gamblers out there, the smart money says these pitchers will bounce back and with avengeance. If they should remain in the same gutter that they began the season, it will make a very tough road for the team that is relying on them, and rockier for the fans that root for them.

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