With Randy Johnson passing up Roger Clemens on the all-time strikeout list, who do you think has been better?

Question

Clemens; Johnson
Games 691; 564
W 348; 283
IP 4,817.2; 3,846.3
SO 4,604; 4,605
SO/9 8.60; 10.78
CG 118; 98
SHO 46; 37
ERA 3.10; 3.22
Postseason
Games 34; 19
W 12; 7
ERA 3.66; 3.50
CG 1; 3
SHO 1; 2
SO 172; 132
SO/9 7.87; 9.82
Johnson has 5 Cy Youngs, 1 World Series MVP, 1 perfect game, 1 no-hitter (not including the perfect game). Clemens has 7 Cy Youngs, 1 MVP, no no-hitters. Tell me who you think is better and why.

Answer 1

Johnson is better...... Johnson has accomplised all his numbers in a lot less innings...........

Answer 2

This is like arguing whether it's better to have six donuts or settle for a half-dozen.

That said, I'll take Rocket. He has been more durable than Johnson -- about 1000 more IP and never had the majority of a season lost to injury. Clemens has had more good seasons -- essentially never had a clunker, whereas Johnson did have one stinker (1989) early in his career, followed by a few that were league-average before he became the fireballer we know and respect -- and Clemens has had better peak seasons.

If I had to choose between either one, at personal peak, to give the starter's ball for a Game 7, I'd take a very close look at each's stats against the players on the other team, and if that doesn't tell me enough, take the platoon advantage against the lineup (righty-heavy, go with Clemens, if several lefties, go with Johnson). And the other guy is the first one out of the bullpen.

Answer 3

Clemens has an slight edge. His ability to stay healthy has keep in top form even in the twilight of his career. Johnson on the other hand has defiantly had some bumps in the road.

There is no question that both are huge strike out kings. In fact both (along with Kerry Wood) are the only pitchers to strikeout 20 batters in a single game.

Both have a pile of Cy Young awards and each have a World Series ring. If both were to go into the HOF today I would expect both to get 100% unamous vote.

Also, Randy didn't play his entire career in the National League. He spent eight years with the M's in AL West pitching in the hitter friendly Kingdome.

Answer 4

Wow. Close call, really. Roger Clemens has been the better all-round pitcher and has pitched better in his 40s than Randy Johnson has. That being said, there has never been a strikeout pitcher like Johnson. Even Nolan Ryan did not have the SOs to innings pitched ration Johnson has. Along with that, he hasn't been such a tease -- will he or won't he pitch this year? Oh, my, what should we do? -- and Clemens has such an obvious edge with the writers (a group of sluts themselves). Clemens wins, but that isn't to say Johnson isn't right up there with him.

Answer 5

Roger Clemens by far is the better pitcher. Just because Clemens doesn't have a perfect game or a no hitter shouldn't take away anything that he has done he has more career wins, better era, has been good since he started his career where as Johnson was traded by the Expos excuse me, and nobody wants to face Clemens. Johnson was intimidating but he gave up homeruns to players who don't nessearily strike fear into many pitchers.

Answer 6

Gotta go with The Big Unit. If I had to choose between them for the 7th game of the World Series it would be Johnson. The last great southpaw that possessed a killer slider and better than average fastball was Steve Carlton. Johnson has surpassed him in several categories.
Based on percentages some of Johnson's stats are better than Clemens and some are much closer than expected.
Examples:
(1) Complete Games to Games Pitched we find Johnson on top .174 to Clemens' .171.
(2) Shutouts to Games pitched, Not much difference - Clemens 39% to Randy's 38%.
(3) Both average 7-innings per game.
(4) Roger has the edge on Wins to Games, .504 to Randy's .501.
(5) You have already noted that Roger has pitched 971 more innings than Randy and that Johnson has overtaken Clemens in K's. Plus more K's per 9-innings.
What does surprise me is that Clemens has only two more Cy Young Awards than Johnson. Considering that Roger has pitched with great teams like the Red Sox and Yankees and Johnson struggled with so-so teams, I would have thought Clemens would have been more outta sight. But the percentages speak for themselves.
I might have considered Clemens until I checked their percentages. Johnson has my vote - hands down.

Answer 7

I don't know how anyone could choose Johnson in this debate.

Clemens has put up a better ERA while pitching most of his career in a league with the DH rule, while Johnson spent much of his time in the "easier" league for pitchers. Clemens is also more durable, logging a higher average number of innings each season.

Johnson will go down as one of the best pitchers of our generation, but Roger is among the handful of greatest pitchers ever. Both have impressive numbers, but Clemens is the easy choice here.

Answer 8

They're really both so great, do I have to choose?

If I did had to pick one to win a game I'd probably choose Clemens. I like Johnson's numbers a lot better though.

Clemens pitched more innings for better teams, which explains the disparity in the wins so I think Johnson might be the better pitcher.

Johnson had the best pitch of his generation in his slider, and he was left-handed. If I had to choose one for my all time team, I'd pick the Unit.

Answer 9

Rediculous question. I could play in the NL west. MOst of Johnson's inflated numbers are against National League opponents, which do not have a DH, and allows you to strike out the pitcher at least once a game. We all saw what happened to Johnson in NY, he couldn't handle it. Johnson is 2-8 in League Championship series. The Rocket, though probably 'roided out of his mind has a better resume by far. More wins, CG, SHO, and he did this all primarily in the best division in baseball over the last 15 years (AL EAST)

Answer 10

roger clemens is better. He helps the entire pithing staff come to gether. Plus Clemens has won more important games, playoff or world series.

Answer 11

I'll side with Johnson. He was the intimidator. At Seattle had less offensive help than Clemens did with Boston. He has thrown 1000 less innings. Throw in the no-no and the Perfect game and those are huge.