2007-05-01 09:06:00 · 18 answers · asked by C R 2 in Sports ➔ Baseball
It can't be Ryan because he walked too many and lost too many games. The object is to win games. Ryan was great but not the greatest. The conversation has to come down to Clemens, Koufax, and Maddux.
You can toss Koufax out because he did not pitch long enough. You can argue that in a single season or over a 7 year period he was one of the greats but that opens the argument up to Pedro, Randy Johnson, Gibson, etc...
Looking at the keys to defining a great pitcher: Wins, Losses (lack of), Base runners per inn, and ERA...
Comparing Clemens and Maddux (Clemens has pitched on year more then Maddux):
Wins: Clemens 348 vs. Maddux 335
Losses: Clemens 178 vs. Maddux 205
WHIP: Clemens 1.17 vs. Maddux 1.14
ERA: Clemens 3.10 vs. Maddux 3.07
Because of the lower number of losses I'd say Clemens by a hair although Maddux has lower runners per Inning and a lower ERA. Through in Ryan's numbers and see how he stacks up... Wins: 324 Losses: 292 Whip:1.25 ERA: 3.19 Koufax: Wins: 165 Losses: 87 WHIP: 1.11 ERA: 2.76 . Koufax was tremendous but just does not have a big enough body of work. Maddux had an ERA and WHIP that low in his first 10 years. Clemens was not far off. Both Maddux and Clemens pitched in the Steroid Era which inflated every ones numbers.
2007-05-01 11:32:53 · answer #1 · answered by Vince C 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Clemens by far. Koufax didn't have to pitch against hitters pumped up on roids. Koufaz also had a taller mound to pitch from, the MLB didn't lower the mound until after he retired.
Koufax pitched in an era dominated by pitching, Clemens has had to pitch in an era when all the advantages have been tilted towards the hitters by the MLB front office.
2007-05-01 19:27:44 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
1. Nolan Ryan
2. Sandy Koufax
3. Roger Clemens
2007-05-01 10:09:56 · answer #3 · answered by Matty-Fresh 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Koufax is tough to beat. Six straight ERA titles. Now thats dominance. But I'm gonna go with Nolan Ryan the numbers speak for themselves. Plus at 46 he still served up a mean knucle sandwich
2007-05-01 09:54:48 · answer #4 · answered by dodgerfan_73 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
roger clemens. over 300 wins, he made mediocre teams great, had a great fastball, a great slider and a great change up. he could throw any pitch at any time to throw batters off. even last year in his early 40's he was still one the best pitchers in the game playing against people half his age. it's sick
sandy is the greatest left hander, but his career was short. rocket has been going for 20 years and has never fallen off.
2007-05-01 09:10:48 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would have to say Sandy Koufax. Vin Scully once said every time Koufax took the mound he though he was going to see a no hitter. No that's damn good.
2007-05-01 10:01:22 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Sandy Koufax. for five year span he won the E.R.A title every year had 3 pitching triple-crowns strikeouts ,wins and E.R.A had four no hitter and a perfect game. he retired at the age of 31 because of an injury if he had played 10 more years he would of own every record in the book for pitchers.
2007-05-01 16:01:21 · answer #7 · answered by Dodgerblue 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
first of all, anyone who thinks pedro martinez is the best pitcher of the modern era has absolutely positively no idea what they are talking about
i think you'd have to take nolan ryan, the 7 no-hitters and all those strikeouts tell the story
2007-05-01 09:47:44 · answer #8 · answered by sabes99 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Nolan Ryan or Roger Clemens
2007-05-01 09:09:36 · answer #9 · answered by The quiet one 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
At his very peak, Pedro (sorry, Koufax fans), but for total career value with a damn impressive (and unbelievably long) peak as well, have to go with the Rocket.
2007-05-01 09:21:04 · answer #10 · answered by Chipmaker Authentic 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋