In the end who will go down as the better pitcher Roger Clemens or Nolan Ryan?

Question

A friend and I can't agree!

OK let me add a few stats.

Nolan Ryan 324W-292L
5714 Ks (1000 more than anyone else)
3.19 era
2795 BBs (900 more than anyone else)
7 no hitters
No Cy Youngs

Roger Clemens 348W-178L
4604 Ks
3.10 era
7 Cy Youngs

Answer 1

Presuming you meant "down in history", it's Clemens, and it really isn't close.

Ryan was a very good pitcher who demonstrated excellence in some areas -- primarily strikeouts and not allowing hits, plus longevity, a superb work ethic, and beautiful mechanics -- but he had some serious holes in his game (wildness and subsequent huge amounts of walks in the first half of his career) that easily preclude serious analysts from annoiting him the best ever. Make no mistake, he's completely worthy of his Hall plaque, but when we're looking at some of the very best ever, fine but real distinctions cannot be ignored.

Clemens is a genuinely great pitcher. In areas where he doesn't quite match Ryan, the difference is quite small, and in other areas -- and, again, the primary category is walking batters -- Rocket owns an enormous edge. Preventing baserunners is the first, most obvious step to preventing runs, and Clemens was (and is) significantly better at this than Ryan was.

Answer 2

Nolan Ryan is by far the better pitcher and he knew when he retired it was for good. He's not some pathetic lowlife trying to make the most money he could. He played for the love of the game and he had a long career but he is by far better then Roger Clemens. He had a fastball that no one can touch. Anyone who thinks Clemens is better is just fooling themselves. I don't care that Ryan never won a Cy Young award he had 7 no hitters Clemens has 0. More strikeouts by far then Clemens. Who cares if he had a little control issues? By far Nolan Ryan was a better pitcher and even if he had started his career at the same time as Roger Clemens he still would have been untouchable. In fact in 1977 he won TSN pitcher of the year. In 1990 Ryan threw a no hitter at the age of 43. Hmmmmm I don't see Roger Clemens coming close to throwing a no hitter. Sorry but hate to disappoint you but Clemens doesn't even hold a candle to Nolan Ryan.


Also for the guy who stated that Clemens was a better baserunner how many stolen bases did Clemens have 0 how many did Ryan have 3 how many homeruns did Clemens have 0 how many did Ryan have 2 . How many rbi's did Clemens have 12 how many did Ryan have 36 hmmmmmm Better hitter is Ryan as well.

Answer 3

Clemens, not even close. Sure, Ryan had more strikeouts and no-hitters, but if you want overall consistency, it's Clemens. Ryan had all those strikeouts, but still was only 32 games above .500 for his career. Clemens is well over .600.

More strikeouts and no-hitters don't necessarily mean better pitcher. And what's more amazing, is that Clemens played most of his career in the steroid era, while Ryan played mostly in the '70s and '80s, when players were smaller and ball parks were bigger. Also, the fact that Clemens has all those Cy Youngs should tell you that he was great almost every year. And he has well over 4000 strikeouts and is second. Clemens!

Answer 4

Nolan Ryan. He's the strikeout king, he was a tough pitcher, he was the same age in his final season in 1993 as Rogers Clemens is now, but he didnt have any special contract that allowed him to basically pitch whenever he wanted. He didnt take a couple years and pretty much come back when someone was willing to pay him a lot of money. He didnt sell out and sign with the Yankees just so he could win a championship. He won one championship in his whole career, but he never went to a team that was winning just cause he would get paid a lot. He was always trying to make the team he was with a World Series winner. The 7 no hitters is more meaningful than 7 Cy Youngs. 7 Cy Youngs just proves that their werent as many good pitchers when Clemens was winning his Cy Youngs and that other people thought he was the best pitcher, but to get 7 no hitters, you have to prove by yourself that you are the best pitcher. Nolan Ryan is the greatest pitcher of modern baseball. Rogers Clemens was great too, but he will always be second to Ryan.

Answer 5

I'll say Nolan Ryan hands down. I watched Nolan Ryan as I was growing up and there is no way in hell that Ryan would do what Clemens is doing every year. Ryan would never pitch half a year and demand all sorts of money, only be on the team every 5th day, and all this other BS Clemens gets to do. I don't blame Clemens 100%, I blame team management for allowing it to happen, but I do blame Clemens for asking for it. I don't see Ryan ever asking for crap like this. Clemens act every year is starting to get real old. Either stay home or be with a team from spring training, none of this 1/2 year crap, I'll only pitch for this team or that team, be thankful you have a job.

Answer 6

I think it's close really. On the one hand, Clemens has been the best overall pitcher, the wins and cy young awards speak to that. If you went on strikeouts, no hitters, arm strength, and ability to pitch deep into games while being 43, 44, or 45 years old or older, then absolutely Ryan has it. Clemens is a 5 or 6 inning pitcher at best now.

Still, I think Ryan wins it just because of him knocking Robin Ventura out with one punch like he did, that was classic!!

Answer 7

I always like Ryan. Tough, gritty, and the only power pitcher to last more then two decade, and he almost went 4.

I always hated Clemens, first because he was the only good thing that red sox fans ever talked about, and then because he left them.

That being said, 7 no-hitters is great, but it isn't 7 Cy's. (I thought it was 6) The Braves '90's Maddux, Glavine, Smoltz combined to get 5 together. And Ryans win/ lose is very bad(although he played on some really bad teams)

Answer 8

I have to say Clemens for three reasons.

1. Both lasted as long, but Clemens has a much higher winning percentage.
2. Ryan was wilder, and threw so many long ***** he put his infielders to sleep going after strikeouts.
3. Clemens has a better variety of pitchers.

They're both among the best and succeed in any ball park; but you could get to Ryan early due to his wildness; but not to Clemens.
Clemens is also a better fielder, hitter, and base runner.

Answer 9

Clemens

Answer 10

Clemens I think is better overall. Ryan was kind of inconsistent on a game-to-game basis.

Also, Clemens pitched much of his career in an era of high-powered offenses. Ryan pitched largely in a defensive-minded era