Is Simeon Woods Richardson a Better Starting Pitcher Than Bailey Ober?

[Twodogs]

SWR pitches well at times, but he can't hardly get out of the 4th inning.  Baily when on is better, because he gets deeper into games, again when hes healthy, if healthy Baily is better by quite a bit.  I mean I know SWR's peripherals are probably better.  But if you can't get out of the 4th inning you are probably a long relief pitcher?  

 

[Jim H]

I don't believe that the title question is the right question.  Matthews, Abel, Bradley, possibly Festa all have better raw stuff. So the real question should be, how many of these guys,if any, can achieve enough consistency and command to push those two guys out of the rotation? 

At their best neither Woods Richardson or Ober are bad. Its just that any of the other 4 could likely be better.

[DocBauer]

IDK, shouldn't the debate be a healthy Ober throwing like he did prior to his injury deflating 2025, and the SWR we saw the 2nd half with greater confidence in his splitter, which one of THOSE is the better pitcher?

Ober back to 100% and SWR throwing for a whole season like he finished in 2025, I think you have a real, honest debate. 

[Lasorda_This_Out]

Let the numbers tell?

[h2oface]

On 1/21/2026 at 6:57 AM, bunsen82 said:

SWR - is 25 years old and gets better each year

1. He has shown the ability to increase velocity,  due to needing it to be productive - does he choose to maintain the velocity he showed last year, or does he try to increase it a bit more.  

2. He has some of the best control on the staff.   If you have control you generally don't fall apart. 

3. He is probably our biggest student of the game. He continues to learn, evolve, and learning different ways to get people out.  

I would gladly take a bet with you that SWR doesn't get shelled this year.  

Just my opinion of course. DM me and we'll work out the parameters and discuss if you are truly interested. Ober was touted as having pinpoint control (not by me), and he was an exception to the "generally". SWR couldn't even manage to stay in the Show with all that control not betraying him (unless throwing meatballs in the zone is still considered control. Not what I hope for, of course, but it is my prediction. 

[bunsen82]

1 hour ago, h2oface said:

Just my opinion of course. DM me and we'll work out the parameters and discuss if you are truly interested. Ober was touted as having pinpoint control (not by me), and he was an exception the the "generally". He couldn't even manage to stay in the Show with all that control not betraying him (unless throwing meatballs in the zone is still considered control. Not what I hope for, of course, but it is my prediction. 

With his hip issue,  losing velocity from 93 to 89 and then between the hip and trying to maximize whatever velocity he could muster, yes he did lose some control.   

As to the bet completely open and serious.    

[Doctor Wu]

On 1/21/2026 at 9:45 PM, JD-TWINS said:

SWR will be 25 this season & Ober will be 30.

Ober’s first season in MLB was age 25…….he started 20 games and threw a total of 92.1 innings. This will be SWR’s 4th season & he threw 111.1 innings at age 24.

Matthews is going to be 26 this season & so will Festa. Neither has shown any real consistency - some very good outings and probably better stuff but not at SWR’s effectiveness - not yet.

I don’t see SWR as some dominant force but he seems to be ahead of these other guys at this point in time.

I didn't realize that Ober was already 30. Hmm ... good point!

[dxpavelka]

Given the fact that we gave up the best starting pitcher we have developed in a generation to get him it's not a matter of IS he but one of he had BETTER  be.