Zack Wheeler is an Ace. Not a lower case “a” ace, but the big boy, capitalized version. There’s an argument for his being the best pitcher in baseball right now, an argument I would vociferously come down on in favor of, but at the very, very least, he’s in the top tier of hurlers in the game.
Yet he was not always thought of as an Ace and had to work to become in these recent years. Prior to this season (yikes), there were many people who believed that Aaron Nola had the title as well, even if that were a lower case version. Now, as the team continues to trot out solid starter after solid starter, there are two more burgeoning cases happening before our eyes.
Cristopher Sanchez is the second best starter on this staff. He has had his moments were he’s been a bit off, but he is beginning to strain towards that lofty height of being labeled as one of the game’s premier pitchers. Jesus Luzardo has risen from the dead (ha!) to begin to establish himself as one of the better pitchers in the game, even if the track record is a bit short. You could rank them as #2 and 2A in the rotation right now and no one would bat an eye. Call them an “ace” and there the arguments will probably begin.
Which brings us to our question of the day: when does a pitcher establish himself as an “ace”? In your opinion, what makes a pitcher one of the game’s truly elite starters? Does he need to strike out a large amount of hitters? Is it all about keeping runs off the board, regardless of the way he does it? Does he need to throw a certain number of innings in order to consider himself an “ace”? Everyone will have a differing opinion on what makes one, so let’s hear yours.