Who is the best pitcher ever? And who's the best playing right now?

Question

If anyone says Nolan Ryan, you better back it up with something better than no-hitters and strikeouts. Do you realize how many batters he walked and how many games he lost?

Answer 1

No one's mentioned Bob Gibson. Can't forget about him.

But I think I have to go with the same answer for both. My choice is Roger Clemens. 7 Cy young awards. I think that's the best way to measure a pitcher's achievements--how he does against everyone else pitching that year.

The guy has adjusted his pitching style with his age, and has such command of a game. Watch him pitch every chance you get--he's history being made right before our eyes.

Answer 2

All-time, I'd probably go with Walter Johnson based on the 13-season run he had from 1907-1919. He had greatness and longevity, which I think is the mark of an all-time great.

Of the current pitchers, Roger Clemens has had undoubtedly the greatest career. Seven Cy Youngs, an MVP, a couple of pitching triple crowns, and continuing to be among the elite into his 40s. Greg Maddux and Pedro (best peak value, IMO) are contenders, but Clemens surpasses them rather easily. Pedro is actually the ERA+ all-time leader, but I just don't think he's going to come close to matching Roger's longevity.

Johan Santana would be my choice as the best of the current crop. He's having his fourth straight strong season, he won the Cy Young in '04, and I believe he should have won last season, except that the voters chose Colon because he had 21 wins to 16 for Santana (Santana had a .61 edge in ERA, a WHIP under 1.00, and 81 more Ks in 9 more innings - he was robbed).

As for Nolan Ryan, I couldn't agree more. You can have the 7 no-hitters any day - I'd rather have Clemens' 7 Cy Young Awards. He was great some nights, but he's not nearly the pitcher so many believe he was.

Answer 3

I am going to go with Nolan Ryan. More no hitters and strikeouts than anyone else will ever get. On top of that he not only played 27 seasons but he won 324 games in that time period. He could very well have won 375+ had he been on better offensive teams. Best pitcher ever hands down.

Answer 4

Probably Walter Johnson all time.

Re: Tom Seaver - He has some argument to be called the best pitcher ever, but he probably wasn't (it's difficult for a Mets fan from the 60s and 70s to say that!!).

Couple of things about Seaver...he played for 20 years, but he pitched for eight losing teams, plus four others that were over .500 only because of his own efforts. He was the first player in the history of the Mets who EXPECTED to win every time he took the field... and he literally turned an entire franchise around, in terms of its attitude about winning and losing.

His career numbers have been surpassed by Clemens, and I would say Clemens is the Tom Seaver of the last 20 years (or Seaver was the Clemens of HIS day). Career-wise, Clemens is just a bit better.

Seaver won 3 Cy Youngs, but could easily have won six. Lots of great, great pitchers at that time.

Answer 5

Nolan Ryan, career stats 324-292 high losses but didn't always play for a winning team an example would be going 19-16 for the Angels in 1977 yet posting an ERA of 2.77, 222 complete games, 61 shutouts, 5385 inning pitched, 5714 strike outs. yes he walked alot of batters early in his career but he was a young pitcher who probably relied to much on his fastball but as he got older he got more control. after 1980 he never walked more than 109 batters. Plus 7 no-hitters and 5700 strike out can make up for his 2700 walks.

Answer 6

The best EVER...probably Tom Seaver. My parents and just about everyone I know over the age of 45, all say he is one of the best they have ever seen. Although, they did name the pitching award after Cy Young, so he has to be considered.

But in this day of free agency, expansion, and high payrolls, I think what Clemens has done puts him right at the top of the list. 345 wins, well over 3000+ strikeouts...with technology what it is today, and 5 man rotations...that is unreal.

The best pitcher TODAY, in my opinion...is Johan Santana. To have a 96 mph FB, backed up by a 70 mph Change-up, is down right unfair. Rivera is great, Hoffman has been amazing...Schilling, Pedro, etc...all great pitchers, but you would be hard pressed to find a pitcher with better stuff & command, than Santana.

Answer 7

Without looking at stats, I have always considered Walter Johnson to be the greatest ever....and no, I didn't see him pitch.

Best career of an active pitcher? I don't like him, but Clemens, over a group that includes Maddux, Randy Johnson and Pedro.

Best active big-game pitcher? Schilling, but if including relievers, Mariano Rivera.

Best active pitcher - current value? I'd go with Santana...Halladay probably belongs in the conversation.

Best big-game pitcher I ever saw? Bob Gibson. I was just too late to see Koufax.

Answer 8

The best pitcher ever was Cy Young. He had 511 wins and 749 complete games. No one even comes close to either of those records.
The best pitcher playing right now would have to be Roger Clemens because he has the most wins and Cy Young awards of any pitcher playing right now, and he is second among active pitchers in strikeouts to Randy Johnson.

Answer 9

Nolan Ryan was a good Pitcher and my alltime favorite. But to see Bob Gibson strikeout 17 NY METS in my first ever game at Shea Stadium was something I still remember. He had a low era and if you pissed him off he would through at your head. He was In the words of Soprano star Frank Vincent, a true Mans Man

Answer 10

Best ever? Walter Johnson. Best today? Probably Johann Santana, Halladay, or maybe Oswalt. Of the active pitchers, Clemens has had the best career, followed by Maddux, Johnson, Glavine.

Brian, Seaver was a great pitcher, but his numbers pale in comparison with Clemens or Maddux. His durability and quality are unquestionable, but Maddux and Clemens had that plus better ERA+'s by a good margin. Seaver is in the next flight with Jim Palmer.