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We gave you the top 10 active home run leaders yesterday, led by the Cameron Diaz dating Alex Rodriguez. Today is about the pitchers – most career wins among the active pitchers in the majors, from Roy Halladay to Livan Hernandez.
Number 11 (tied) – Mike Hampton, 148
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Hampton didn’t play any Major League ball in 2010 and probably won’t in 2011, renewing his minor league deal with the Diamondbacks. Still, he seems happy, at 38, being a mentor for the D’Backs younger pitchers. Plagued with injuries throughout his career, Hampton’s last above .500 season came in 2005, before an injury that put him away from the mound for nearly 3 years. He has 8 season of +10 wins, the last of them in 2004 with the Braves. His best came in 1999, a 22-4 season with the Astros, leading the NL in wins. He finished second on the Cy Young voting.
Mark Buehrle, 148
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Beginning his 12th season as a starting pitcher for the White Sox, Buehrle finished 13-13 last season, his first season not above .500 since 2006. He set a franchise record eight opening day start last year and also won his second Gold Glove, becoming the only pitcher in MLB history to win multiple Gold Gloves and throw multiple no-hitters. He has been winning in double digits since 2001. His best, 19, came in 2002.
Number 9 – Roy Oswalt, 150
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Still weird seeing Oswalt in something either than a Astros uniform. Last year he was traded to Phildelphia and was fantastic for the Phillies, going 7-1 with a 1.74 ERA. It didn’t take them to the World Series but Oswalt is part of probably the best pitching staff in the majors. Since 2001 Oswalt won over 10 games in nine of his 10 seasons, missing out in 2009. His best came in 2004 and 2005, in both years winning 20 games.
Number 8 – Javier Vazquez, 152
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The 34 year old who was pitching for the Yankees last season but was dropped from their post season roster (mistake??) after a 10-10 season will start for his 6th team in nine years. Vazquez has been winning in double digits and losing in them since 2000, except for 2007 when he went 15-8 for the White Sox. His best came in 2001, winning 16 for the Expos.
Number 7 (tied) – CC Sabathia, 157
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A new leaner and meaner CC Sabathia? He lost 25 pounds during winter hibernation, after a surgery done on his knee in order to reduce the heavy load on it. Will it show in his game, for better or for worse? Sabathia, the only pitcher on this list below 30, has 40 wins in two seasons as a Yankee and has never gone under 11 throughout his 10 year career. His best (in wins) came last year, winning 21.
Derek Lowe, 157
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The 37 year old will begin his 15th MLB season as the Atlanta Braves’ opening day starter. Lowe has been with Atlanta since 2009, winning 31 games. The Braves hope he can recapture his form of September 2010, going 5-0 with a 1.77 ERA. He’s been winning in double digits since 2002, with his best being a 22 win season with the Red Sox. Lowe and Livan Hernandez (higher on this list) are the only active player with at least 12 seasons on their resume without being DL’d in their career.
Number 5 – Kevin Millwood, 159
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Kevin Millwood is still waiting on offers. Despite his 4-16 season with the Orioles last year, his worst season in the pros with a 5.10 ERA, losing the most games in the NL last year. He declined on 500k offer from the Yankees, still waiting for the “right” one. Millwood, pitching in the Majors since 1997, has 8 +10 years under his belt, winning 18 games twice while playing for the Braves.
Number 4 – Tim Hudson, 165
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From a former Brave to current ones. Tim Hudson has been pitching for Atlanta since his arrival in 2005. Had a fantastic 2010 with a 17-9 record, his best in Atlanta and his best since 2001 with the A’s. He won NL’s Comeback Player of the year in 2010. He also had his best WHIP (1.150) since his Oakland days. Hudson won 20 games in 2000, leading the AL, while playing for the A’s.
Number 3 – Livan Hernandez, 166
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Back to those who haven’t been on the DL. Hernandez, 36, will begin his 16th season in the Majors during his second tour in the capital. He’s been moved around a lot in the past few years but had a better year last season with the Nationals despite the 10-12 record, with his best ERA since 2004. A World Series champions with the Marlins back in 1997, Hernandez’ best in wins was during his Giants days, winning 17 in 2000. He said he wants to be the “Righties Jamie Moyer”
Number 2 – Roy Hallady, 169
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‘Doc’ had a great debut season in Philadelphia, despite not taking the Phillies to the World Series. He won 21 games, the first Phillies pitcher to win over 20 since Steve Carlton in 1982. He pitched a perfect game, the 20th in MLB history. He threw a no hitter in the playoffs against the Reds, his first postseason appearance, the fifth pitcher to throw two no-hitters in one season and the first since Nolan Ryan in 1973. Halladay has two more 20+ winning seasons with the Blue Jays, including 22 in 2003, when he won his first Cy Young. His second, a unanimous one, came last year.
Number 1 – Tim Wakefield, 193
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Still knuckleballing away, Tim Wakefield his 19th season in 2011, still with the Red Sox. According to rumors to Red Sox are willing to shop the 43 year old, who won only 4 games last year, the lowest win number of his career. He was used more and more in relief last season, and it’ll look like he’s going to have to scrape and fight hard for every win and start if he wants to reach 200, in Boston or another team. Wakefield’s best in the W column is 17 – first in 1998 and in 2007, the second World Series championship he won with the Red Sox.