Who's the best Maddux or Clemens?

Question

Think of the many records Maddux has set in the last 20 years and the longevity of Clemens with his Cy Youngs and strikeouts when answering this. Thank you.

Answer 1

I would say they are incompareable because they pitch two completely different styles. Maddux is more of an artist with his off-speed pitches and devastating breaking balls. While Clemens tends to be more of an overpowering pitcher with an excellent splitter. If you want to compare Clemens to somebody, compare him to Nolan Ryan or another overpowering pitcher.

Answer 2

neither has really lost much of anything in their young 40s. Roger is still hit 90 to 95 with the fastball and splitter. Maddux still has the pin point control he did as a Brave.

Clemens has the better career stats though. Wins, Strikeouts, CyYoungs. Their ERAs are tit for tat, but the one thing Maddux probably has on him is the number of times he's helped a team to the Series.

I'd still take Clemens though. Behind Nolan Ryan, the best power pitcher I've seen. Love the fact that Maddux has always had control with little velocity and can win that way, but Roger has been able to give you 7 to 9 innings for 20+ years and just simply overpower hitters. Maddux had shaky times in his career(due somewhat to his teams) but Roger won even in Toronto...think about that

Answer 3

The Rocket will be pitching for my team. He has 7 Cy Youngs, over 20 more wins than Maddux, and he is more dominating. Maddux is just a finesse pitcher right now, while Clemens is still a dominating power pitcher. There isn't another pitcher who is more clutch. Look at his ERA over the last few years. He is over 40 and still had a below 2 ERA last year. RIDICULOUS!!!!!

Answer 4

Right now? Clemens, his stuff is still good enough that he can go out there and not hit his spots and his fastball and splitfinger will keep opponents off balance enough he might still only give up a couple of runs. With Maddux, if he isn't hitting his spots and his breaking ball hangs a couple of times, it is homerun derby time.

Over their careers? I think I would rather have Maddux to get me into the playoffs and Clemens once I am there. Maybe that is projecting the personalities of their past teams onto their careers, but...

Answer 5

Examine some of the stats:

Roger Clemens: 343-175, 118 Complete Games, 46 Shutouts, 3.12 ERA, 4,529 Strikeouts.

Greg Maddux: 325-200, 108 Complete Games, 35 Shutouts, 3.06 ERA, 3,121 Strikeouts.

The race is close, but I think the edge goes to the Rocket.

Answer 6

Maddux

7-11
ERA - 4.56
WHIP - 1.29


Clemens

2-3
ERA - 2.43
WHIP - 1.14


But Clemens has more run support from the Astros - 435
Maddux has the lowest run support in the MLB - 382

I would say Clemens would win right now because of his team. But I would pick Maddux over Clemens if he were off the Cubs. At least he would have someone to support him.

Answer 7

Maddux. Clemens has won more Cy Youngs, but he didn't deserve a couple of them. If I had a must win game, I would choose Maddux over anyone else.

Answer 8

I like Maddux far more than I like Clemens for many reasons. But as much as it pains me to say it, Clemens has had the greater career.

Answer 9

When they were at the top of their game, you couldn't choose one over the other -- they are the two best pitchers of the last 20 years, without a doubt. (Randy Johnson is a distant third.) Based on present day, I'd give a slight edge to Clemens, but Maddux would be doing a lot better if he wasn't stuck on such a lousy team...

Answer 10

Mr Clemens