Greatest Pitcher in the Last 40 Years.

[Dana Kiecker]

This topic was brought up in the "Pedro is 5-0" thread by a700hitter..

 

So instead of derailing the thread I figured Id post this poll... At first glance, Id say Ryan, but Clemens is really the King..

 

Thoughts?

[MC Hammer]

Pedro without question. He had the best 3 year stretch of any pitcher ever. He won 3, should have been 4, cy youngs in 4 years. Also as has been stated a hundred times over on this board now he ranks in the top 10 of many statistical categories for pitchers.

 

I really don't understand how Clemens got a vote. Didn't we already establish that Pedro was a better pitcher than Roger?

[TheRivernator]

Pedro without question. He had the best 3 year stretch of any pitcher ever. He won 3, should have been 4, cy youngs in 4 years. Also as has been stated a hundred times over on this board now he ranks in the top 10 of many statistical categories for pitchers.

 

I really don't understand how Clemens got a vote. Didn't we already establish that Pedro was a better pitcher than Roger?

 

Clemens has done it for 20+ years. Also, last yrs stats by Clemens trumped Petey's and Clemens is 9 yr older than Petey...

[ksushi]

I think Greg Maddux should at least be in the discussion.

[Dana Kiecker]

ummm I think Seaver blows Maddux out of the water..

 

Thats why he was left off the poll.

[TheKilo]

If I wanted a pitcher over a season, it'd be Clemens.

For one game, Pedro.

[yeszir]

What are we going by? One year? A stretch of years? A career? Pedro from 98 to 2000 wins hands down, but Clemens might win if its over a career.

[Dana Kiecker]

Lets go by career..

 

To judge it by a 2 year stretch.. you would have to say Mike Tyson is actually " The Greatest"

[Jeff04]

I'd say clemens, just because he was so good over his career, and he still is kickin ass

[26 to 6]

Clemens has done it for 20+ years. Also, last yrs stats by Clemens trumped Petey's and Clemens is 9 yr older than Petey...

Exactly what I was gonna say. Roger has been great a lot longer than Pedro, and is older than Pedro. Granted, I dont know if you can find a better pitcher than Pedro Martinez of the last 90's, early 2000's. But thye fact that Roger has been great for much longer and is older gives it to him in my book.

 

 

And to echo the Maddux thing, why isn't Randy Johnson in this discussion?

[ARod2212]

Pedro more dominant, Rocket over a career.

[ORS]

Most Valuable: Clemens and Maddux

Greatest: Petey

[monstah27]

clemens is just the most dominant so i will have to give him the best of honors.

[ORS]

clemens is just the most dominant so i will have to give him the best of honors.

Clemens isn't fit to carry Pedro's jockstrap when talking about dominance. Clemens is more valuable because of how long he's done it and how many innings he pitched, but Pedro's dominance was trancendent. We may never see a pitcher that good again.

[monstah27]

i would agree that pedro is more dominant in a shorter span, you may be changing my mind a bit.

 

petey is the coolest by far.

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

I'm taking Nolan Ryan hands down. The amount of innings he would pitch in a season was insane. Not to mention he played for many years with tons of strikeouts, complete games, no hitters.....

 

Nolan Ryan was incredible

[26 to 6]

Clemens isn't fit to carry Pedro's jockstrap when talking about dominance. Clemens is more valuable because of how long he's done it and how many innings he pitched, but Pedro's dominance was trancendent. We may never see a pitcher that good again.

Agreed, seeing a pitcher as dominant as Pedro OVER A TWO YEAR STRETCH or so likely wont happen again. But s***, Brady Anderson was the man for one year. Doesn't mean anything. Thos who can do it over a period of a career are the greatest in my opinion (and don't get me wrong, i'm not saying the rest of Pedro's career wasnt good, or even great. Because it was. But his career isn't as good as Roger Clemens' career).

[GhostofMalzone]

Shouldn't this thread have been "Who's Greater Rocket or Pedro?" and as far as "The Last 40 Years" goes...you guys are only going back 25 to 30 years if that long. How about some other fairly good pitchers in the last "40 years", guys like, Sandy Koufax, "Catfish" Hunter, Don Drysdale, Vida Blue, Bret Saberhagen, Ron Guidry and if it wasn't for his addiction he probably could have been the best of them all "Doc" Gooden.

[empirestrikesback26]

Pedro had a great few years, but Roger is the best in the last 40 years.

[Youk Of The Nation]

Tanyon Sturtze.

 

 

Best pitcher for the team they play for? Pedro.

[KeepTheFaith1229]

I'd take Pedro as the best pitcher not only of the last 40 years, but ever.

[RedRuffing15]

I went with Nolan Ryan..5714 SO and 7No-No's...thats pretty good

 

Though its true he played for 27 years, he was up there in all of them.

[ORS]

Shouldn't this thread have been "Who's Greater Rocket or Pedro?" and as far as "The Last 40 Years" goes...you guys are only going back 25 to 30 years if that long. How about some other fairly good pitchers in the last "40 years", guys like, Sandy Koufax, "Catfish" Hunter, Don Drysdale, Vida Blue, Bret Saberhagen, Ron Guidry and if it wasn't for his addiction he probably could have been the best of them all "Doc" Gooden.

"Catfish" played for some very good teams, so his win total was probably helped a lot by good offenses and bullpens. Don't get me wrong, he was a very good pitcher, but he doesn't make the list. Drysdale probably gets cut from this list too. As well as Vida and Bret. I think my top-10 of the last 40-45 years would be like this (no-order):

 

Pedro, Roger, Sandy, Maddux, Seaver, Gooden, Johnson, Gibson, Carlton, & Marichal

 

Just missing the list: Tiant, Palmer, Blyleven, Hunter, Saberhagen, Ryan

[Dana Kiecker]

Kind of funny.. Mustard and Johnson on EEI were just arguing who the Greatest Home Run Hitter was/is.. Mustard took Ruth due to his ratio.. Johnson argued Aaron with the total amount...

 

Just thought it was funny as this discussion here seems to go back and forth between what Greatest Pitcher actually means..

[ORS]

Kind of funny.. Mustard and Johnson on EEI were just arguing who the Greatest Home Run Hitter was/is.. Mustard took Ruth due to his ratio.. Johnson argued Aaron with the total amount...

 

Just thought it was funny as this discussion here seems to go back and forth between what Greatest Pitcher actually means..

It all depends on context. Am I getting the pitcher for a game, a season, for four years, or a career?

 

If my left nut is on the line for one game of baseball, but I get to pick any pitcher from any point in his career to be on the hill for my team, then I'm sending Pedro circa '99-'00 out there. Over everybody in the history of the game. If I want the biggest contribution to my team year in and year out, then I'll go with Walter Johnson or Lefty Grove (all-time pitchers).

[Mr Crunchy]

if i needed 1 win id take pedro

ryan was very beatable

seaver was tremendous for 10-12 years and clemens has been a horse for 20 years but none were like petey when he was on

 

no one mentioned bob gibson?

[Dana Kiecker]

I would guess a 20K game would be pretty much be the top notch one game performance..

 

Oh yeah.. he did it twice.

[BoSox Rule]

1. Roger Clemens

2. Greg Maddux

3. Pedro Martinez

4. Tom Seaver

5. Bob Gibson

6. Steve Carlton

7. Randy Johnson

8. Bert Blyleven

9. Nolan Ryan

10. Kevin Brown

 

Missed by thiiiis much: Juan Marichal.

[yankthis]

Come on. Roger Clemens with all those Cy Young awards and whatnot. And the 20-strikeout games? Only one other guy in the history of the game has ever done it even once. There is no comparison and nothing to debate.

[Beckett95]

1. Roger Clemens

2. Greg Maddux

3. Pedro Martinez

4. Tom Seaver

5. Bob Gibson

6. Steve Carlton

7. Randy Johnson

8. Bert Blyleven

9. Nolan Ryan

10. Kevin Brown

 

Missed by thiiiis much: Juan Marichal.

 

i agree with this almost exactly, but i have never even heard of Bert Blyleven

 

and id switch Pedro and Maddux