Bartolo Colon

Has had two injury filled years in 2006-2007. But he has the best career stats of any of the free agents under 40. Has a career record of 146-95 while pitching to just 89% of the league ERA (LERA) with a 2.3 K to BB ratio. He's a risk because of his injury problems but has the most upside of anybody available. The fact that he ranks number one shows just how weak the starting pitching free agents are.

Freddy Garcia

Missed most of last season after arm surgery. He too has great career stats with a lifetime record of 117-76 (.606) while pitching to 90% of the LERA and a 2.3 K to BB ratio. Without the arm surgery he'd rank number one. Big risk but big upside too depending on how healthy he is.

Carlos Silva

Career record of 55-46 (.545) while pitching to 98% of the LERA with a 2.3 K to BB ratio. Ranks this high because he's only 28. Getting out of the Dome in Minnesota could really help his career. He's the one guy you could take a shot with this year with a long-term deal.

Jon Lieber

Thirty-seven years old. Career record of 129-121 (.516) while pitching to 98% of the LERA with a fine 3.7 K to BB ratio. Starting pitcher who does not walk anybody. Had surgery last season to repair a ruptured foot tendon so he's an injury risk depending on how he comes back but has decent upside.

Tom Glavine

Won his 300th game last year for the Mets. Fine career stats of 303-199 record while pitching to just 84% of the LERA with a 1.8 K to BB ratio. He's 41 years old though and will probably only come back to pitch for the Atlanta Braves or New York Mets. Looks like he just signed with the Braves for $8 million.

Livan Hernandez

Supposedly 32 years of age but I think that's questionable. Has compiled a career record of 134-128 (.512) while pitching to 100% of the LERA with a 1.9 K to BB ratio. He'll eat up innings for you but his best days are probably behind him. Would still give him a shot at the right price.

Kenny Rogers

Has fine career stats but he's 43 years old and comes off an injury plagued year. Has pitched to 91% of the LERA in his career and compiled a 210-143 ( .595) record. But his K to BB ratio is just 1.7. I'd take a shot with him but only on a one year deal. Fired agent Scott Boras and will negotiate his next contract by himself.

Randy Wolf

Another pitcher coming off arm surgery. Wolf's career stats are decent though. He's pitched to 98% of the LERA and compiled a 78-66 record with a 2.2 K to BB ratio. He's a huge risk and has not completed a full season in 4 years but he can pitch a little when healthy.

Byung-Hyun Kim

Only 28 years old. Has a career losing record at 54-60 (.474) but has pitched to 94% of the LERA with a decent K to BB ratio of 2.1. In a lousy year he ranks in the top ten.

Kris Benson

Thirty-three years old and another pitcher who had season ending arm surgery last year. But he does have a career ERA that is below the LERA at 98%. Career record of just 68-73 (.482) with a 1.9 K to BB ratio. Big risk but does have a little bit of upside if he's healthy and his wife Anna is still pretty nice to look at.

One Pitcher Worth a Risk

John Thompson

If he's healthy. He does have a lousy career record of 63-85 (.426) but also has pitched to 97% of the LERA in career and has decent K to BB ratio of 2.2. Really bad year for pitchers.

Eight Pitchers to Forget About

Tony Armas

Has pitched to 106% of LERA and career record is 52-65.

Josh Fogg

Despite a 60-60 (.500) career record has pitched to 110% of LERA.

Jason Jennings

Lousy 1.5 K to BB ratio while pitching to 101% of LERA and losing record of 60-65 (.480).

Joe Kennedy

Career record of 43-61 (.414) while pitching to106% of LERA and 1.7 K to BB ratio. Might survive as reliever.

Kyle Lohse

Career record of 63-74 (.460) while pitching to 106% of LERA. Not worth paying him.

Odalis Perez

Career record of 66-70 (.485) while pitching to 106% of LERA.

Jeff Weaver

Decent K to BB ratio of 2.4 but record stands at 93-114 (.447) and has pitched to 108% of the LERA.

Kip Wells

Career record of 64- 91 (.421) while pitching.

Closers

Mariano Rivera

The greatest closer in baseball history. Career ERA of 2.35 that is just 52% of the LERA. Excellent K to BB ratio of 3.6. Has 443 saves and counting. He is arguably the best free agent available this year even above A-Rod. His career ERA is half the league average. Be surprised if the Yankees do not re-sign him and as a Yankee fan I say they owe him one more big contract for all he has done for the franchise. He was the real MVP of the surprising 1996 World Champion Yankees and probably the most valuable player on all of the Championship teams he's played on.

Francisco Cordero

Has pitched to 68% of the LERA in his career with a 2.3 K to BB ratio. Great year for the Brewers in 2007 saving 44 games with a 2.98 ERA. Has 177 career saves. Easily best closer available after Rivera. Eric Gagne

Eric Gagne

Was great for the Rangers last year posting a 2.16 ERA but then was awful after the trade to the Red Sox posting a 6.75 ERA for the World Series champs. His career ERA stand at 81% of the LERA and his career K to BB ratio is 3.3. He did strikeout 51 batters in 52 total innings last season and worth the risk at the right price.

Octavio Dotel

Pitched to 83% of LERA in career with fine 2.6 K to BB ratio. Saved 11 games while posting a decent 3.91 ERA for the Kansas City Royals before being traded to the Atlanta Braves. Has saved 82 games in his career and looks like he could a decent closer for someone in 2008.

Armando Benitez

Has saved 289 games in career while pitching to 71% of LERA. Was not good last year as he battled injuries and posted an ERA of 5.36. He still struck out 57 batters in 50 innings so he still has some gas. Could close effectively for someone in 2008.

Bob Wickman

Pitched to 80% of LERA in career but K to BB ratio not great at 1.8. The Braves gave up on him last season even though he saved 20 games for them and pitched to below the LERA for them (92%) in 43 innings. Low end closer option for somebody in 2008.

Set-Up Relievers

David Riske

Career ERA of 3.40 which is just 76% of LERA. Was great for the Royals last season posting a 2.45 ERA. While team after team complains about their relief pitching this guy was out there last season as a free agent for anybody to sign and now he's out there again.

Mike Timlin

Has pitched to 78% of the LERA in his career and posted a 3.42 ERA last season for the World Series winning Boston Red Sox. Another solid relief pitcher.

Scott Linebrink

Has pitched to 79% of the LERA in his career with a fine K to BB ratio of 2.4.

Ron Mahay

Posted a terrific 2.55 ERA for the Braves last season and has pitched to 83% of the LERA in his career and he's a lefty.

Doug Brocail

After a few bad years came back to post a great 3.05 ERA for the Padres. Has pitched to 91% of LERA in career.

Matt Herges

Pitched to 90% of LERA in career.

Mike Myers

A lefty specialist pitches to 90% of LERA.

Luis Vizcaino

His career ERA is 97% of the LERA but has pitched to as low as 76% for a full season in his career. Posted a 4.30 ERA for the New York Yankees last season after coming over in the Randy Johnson trade. The Yankees certainly got a lot more out of him than the Diamondbacks did from Johnson.

Two Relievers to Avoid

Jeremy Affeldt

Despite posting a fine 3.51 ERA last season for the Rockies he's not worth a lot of money. Has pitched to 99% of the LERA in his career and has just a 1.6 K to BB ratio. Even while pitching to his low ERA last season in Coors field his K to BB ratio was just 1.4. Somebody will be dumb enough not to look through the transparent numbers and give him a big money relief contract this year.

Ron Villone

He's a lefty but his career ERA is just 104% of LERA and career K to BB ratio of 1.5 means he walks the house. Not what you need in a reliever.

Phillies Get:

Brad Lidge - will be 31 years old and has some of the best K rate's in baseball. Was a brilliant pitcher in 2004-2005 going 10-9 with a 2.09 ERA/ 14.3 K rate/ 2.9 BB rate/ 71 saves. Was a lousy pitcher in 2006 going 1-5 with a 5.28 ERA but maintained a high K rate of 12.5, though his BB rate rose to 4.3. He did save 32 games. Last season he went 5-3 with a 3.36 ERA/ 11.8 K's/ 4.0 BB's/ 19 saves.

No question that Lidge has great talent. His overall career numbers are: 23-20 record/ 3.30 ERA/ 123 saves/ 12.6 K's/ 3.8 BB's. While his BB rate is a little high his K to BB ratio is great at 3.3. Lidge is a pitcher who is well worth taking a risk on. Very few pitchers can K 12.6 batters per 9 innings and that's what the Phillies have now got.

Eric Bruntlett - nothing more than a throw in. Not much of a hitter.

Astros Get:

Michael Bourn - 24 year old OF. His game is speed and scoring runs. In 1,552 minor league at bats Bourn hit .284 with a .378 OBP and a .392 SLG. He stole 163 bases and scored 280 runs. His run average in the minors is .180. So far in the majors Bourn has batted 127 times and hit .268 with a .340 OBP and a .362 SLG. He's already stolen 19 bases and scored 31 runs. That's a very high run average of .244 probably because Bourn was pinch running. The Astros want to plug Bourn into the top of their order and if he can score runs at the same rate he did in the minors, .180, he'll be a good player for them. He has no power so scoring runs is his game.

Geoff Geary - 30 year old relief pitcher. Geary's career numbers are: 13-4 with a 3.94 ERA/ 5.8 K's/ 2.9 BB's. Acceptable K to BB ratio of 2.0. After a fine 2006 in which he went 7-1 with a 2.96 ERA and a fine K to BB ratio of 3.0, Geary was 3-2 with a 4.41 ERA and a K to BB ratio of just 1.5 last year. His career minor league numbers a pretty good at: 52-33 with a 3.25 ERA and K to BB ratio of 4.0. Geary has talent and the Astros have acquired a very serviceable reliever. He does not have Brad Lidge's stuff but he's not a bad pitcher.

Mike Costanzo - will be 24 years old. Has yet to play above AA. His career minor league numbers are: 1293 at bats/ 211 runs/ 52 HR's/ 217 RBI's/ .266 avg/ .364 OBP/ .456 SLG. So his run average is .163, his HR average is .04 and his RBI average is .168. That would be decent major league player if Costanzo could duplicate those numbers at the big league level. He is getting a little old to be considered a prospect anymore considering he has yet to play above AA in the minors. He could be a decent major league player but has little or no star talent.

So who got the better of this trade? Lidge has the most talent of anybody involved in this trade. If he pitches back to the way he did in 2004-2005 the Phillies have made a great trade and got the best of this deal. However if Lidge pitchers the way he did in 2006 then the Astros have acquired three serviceable players for someone who would not help their team.

Some say big league pitchers are born, not bred; while others suggest it can be taught. It's all personal belief, but there are definitely certain fundamental factors that can improve a pitchers overall game. The first and foremost thing a pitcher needs is to have control over his mind and body when on the hill.

If you cannot handle pressure or cannot keep a cool under stressful situations, you will never be able to be a successful baseball pitcher at any level. You have to visualize positive results and get in the zone. When a pro pitcher is on he is in such a rhythm that he wouldn't know it if every fan left the stadium during a game. This is one of the things that some say can't be taught but others say otherwise. It has been suggested that Yoga classes can help teach one to be calm under pressure, just ask Barry Zito, he's done it for solely this purpose. (not to mention it keeps pitchers flexible) The second key fundamental to a pitchers success is natural talent.

Talent can be improved upon through mechanical correction but every person has a natural limit, or do they? Yes, this is just another topic for debate which is what almost all baseball fans have been doing for the past 20 years and will continue to do ... well maybe forever, who knows. In order to define a big league pitcher you have to physically see it happen. There is no law or rule of what you have to do or be to pitch in the big leagues. There are to many misconceptions that you need to throw 90+ mph or have a 12-6 curve ball and a fading circle change up to match to make it to the show.

The truth be told, succeeding until you fail is what separates the big league pitchers from the rest. They have never failed, but you know why, because they never stopped trying. Those who didn't make it may have quit to soon, but again it brings me back to the debate of can anyone and everyone be a big league pitcher. To tell you the truth, its really up to you my friends, you and only you control your destiny, and if you believe you can do something, you can do it. Kids never stop dreaming because truthfully, without a dream you have nothing.

NEVER SETTLE

If you come to this article looking for physical tips on mechanics and how to increase velocity and control of the strike zone, I still have something for you. For those who don't believe in just trying hard and need an edge, here it is. When you step on the mound to pitch the first thing you do is clear your mind to pitch. Then from the windup you step back with the opposite foot from your throwing arm. The step back is only to transfer your weight back with your body so you can pivot the other foot in place for the future phases of the pitch. It is important to keep your head over your belly button so you don't get off balance. Ask anyone, the most important thing in not only pitching but all of baseball is balance.

After you pivot you bring your leg up at least 90 degrees to the tuck position. If you notice in history, those with the higher leg kicks usually throw harder because the higher leg kick lets them have more momentum going downhill once the glide off the rubber towards the plate. So it is key to have balance in the tuck position and your weight over your back leg ready to glide out. It is a common misconception that you have to explode out and drive off the rubber but in truth, that does nothing at all.

The most important thing is to glide out leading with your hip while staying closed meaning your front shoulder is square to the catcher along with your hips. Many people think you drive off the rubber but in turn they lose there energy and have no power to put in the pitch resulting in a great loss of velocity. Usually should be about as long as you are tall so your height is your stride length - but there is no rule, whatever is natural w/ good mechanics is the way to go. Once stride is reached, your arm should be back with your fingers on top of the ball no matter what pitch your are throwing being as it helps with control and velocity. Once you land, your leading foot will naturally fall hopefully closed off slightly to home plate.

This next phase is the power phase where all big league pitchers put in motion that stored up energy from the glide out. Now landed, your hips will torque around the arm like a whip releasing the ball with great velocity. It is key when releasing the ball, our body is bent over, back flat and parallel to the ground and are arm is extended as far as possible on release. This is called extension and is very important as the closer you get to the catcher when you release the ball, the shorter the distance the ball has to travel resulting in a better pitch.

After you release the ball your arm naturally pronate meaning it twists outward and this happens when throwing anything, it doesn't matter what its just your bodies natural mechanism to take strain off your arm. Then the your momentum from the pitch will hopefully, (if done correctly) carry your back leg up so it is higher than your head, but it again is not a rule.

The main thing to look for is that your back is flat and you continue through the pitch, go wherever it takes you. If you look at pitchers in history, some have the weirdest finishes but thats because there energy takes their body that way and its important to let it. This is a brief overview of the main phases of proper pitching mechanics and even though there are many theories and it is taught many ways, there is only one big league way. The pros all are taught the same stuff and you have just seen a sneak peek of what they get from the pitching coaches all the time.

The last section I want to cover are some drills that help pitchers with heir mechanics. There's the ever famous "towel drill" It consists of a pitcher and a towel that can be wrapped around one finger with tape to hold it. Then you need either a partner or some object that you can use to hit with the towel. You place the object a strides length and 3-5 steps in front of you. So measure your stride and walk 3-5 steps out and place the object. It should be about knee-high or a little higher if possible. You then go through your mechanics and your goal is to reach out using "extension to hit the object with the towel" This is the best drill tot teach extension and even helps with follow through. It even lets you know if you have improper mechanics as you will not hit the object square and/or hard with bad mechanics.

The other drills are just some simple partner drills that work on simple phases of the mechanics. With a partner, gloves and a ball you can work on having a catch incorporating these next few things. 1 knee drill - put glove knee up and in front of other knee. Rotate your hips and then throw the ball to your partner working on release and follow though. Then go to 2 knees and do the same thing. Then you and your partner can stand with feet at shoulder width and work on rotating the hips with ball in glove and then release out in front and reach down to your opposite foot.

There's also a figure-eight drill where you stand sideways to your partner and bend down with hand and ball in glove and make figure eights in front of your body. After a set of 2 you reach back and out with your fingers on top and then rotate your hips and release with nice crisp follow through. This drill helps with getting the ball out of your glove and getting your arm into the proper power position.

These few drills are key drills to building the proper mechanics on the mound. Utilize these properly and you are guaranteed to see results in velocity, accuracy and you will even have more stamina from your new economic delivery. Bad mechanics strain not only your arm but your body, but good ones conserve more energy and help reduce the risk of injury. Thats all for this baseball edition, Thanks for reading and just remember, "The most important thing is to have fun, but guess what, losing isn't fun is it?"

Hamels ERA in 2006 was 4.08. Another decent number for any pitcher, and when you factor in that he pitched his home games in Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, which is a park that greatly favors hitters, the number is very impressive for a rookie.

None of these numbers should come as a surprise to anybody who followed Hamels career in the minors, where he was nothing short of sensational. His minor league record is: 14-4/ 1.43 ERA/ 12.4 K's/ 3.3 BB's/ 36 starts/ 201 innings. That's a fine K to BB ratio of 3.8 he had in the minors.

Given Hamels tremendous minor league record, combined with his deceptively good rookie year, one has to believe he is going to be even better in the Majors in 2007. He has all the skills necessary to win the Cy Young Award in 2007. He is a high strikeout pitcher, with an excellent K to BB ratio. There is every reason to believe he will be able to lower his ERA this year, since he pitched to such a low ERA in the minors, and even a 4.08 ERA for a rookie in a hitters park is very good.

It is impossible to say for certain that any pitcher will win the Cy Young Award in any given year. The best you can do is to identify the pitchers who will most likely be able to contend for the award. Everything in Cole Hamels record as a professional baseball player to date, points to the fact that he will be one of the prime contenders for the National League Cy Young Award in 2007.