2007-07-25 08:50:51 · 14 answers · asked by joey 2 in Sports ➔ Baseball
Of his contemporaries, there's no question that Clemens has been the best. He is FAR better than Nolan Ryan, who walked too many batters to be as good as Clemens. He has been good for longer than Randy Johnson or even the superb Greg Maddux.
Relievers should not really be compared to starters, and that's because it is measurably easier to be good in fewer innings. But that also means that they are delivering less help for the ball-club. If you pitch 100 innings and I pitch 300, you've only helped more if you're 3 times better.
Cy Young pitched at a time that pitchers saved their best stuff for when they really needed it and didn't have to worry much about home runs.
Still, it's hard to compare pitchers across the eras, so it largely depends on what you think about pitching past, present, and future.
2007-07-25 14:11:49 · answer #1 · answered by Bucky 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think there were plenty of pitchers that came before him that were many times better including Babe Ruth, Cy Young, Nolan Ryan and Hoyt Wilhelm. Roger Clemens is a great pitcher and should be ranked with these guys but I believe many of them were better. As for what is to come, I don't see many pitchers now that have the work ethic needed to be that great. Randy Johnson and Curt Shilling are the only 2 that I believe have a work ethic but both of them are approaching retirement and neither had the natural talent Roger has.
2007-07-25 15:59:03 · answer #2 · answered by The_Bluesman 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Roger has had a very good career. He is *much* better than Nolan Ryan. Someone could come along and do better though.
Greg Maddux, in my opinion, is better the Clemens. He's not a power pitcher but he has been more durable through the years and pitches more innings/game than Roger.
2007-07-26 05:50:39 · answer #3 · answered by harmonv 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As Great as Roger has been in his career, Nolan Ryan was a better pitcher. Roger is number 2 to Ryan in Strikeouts but has over 1000 to go. If Roger was to average 200 strikeouts per year at his age it would still take him another 5 years to tie Nolan. Nolan has 7 No hitters Roger has none.
2007-07-25 16:41:47 · answer #4 · answered by Oz 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
there are past pitchers that were as great if not greater than roger clemens as mentioned cy young nolan ryan sandy koufax and as if current major league talent i see a couple pitchers that could potentially be great like roger clemens i think a given is johan santana about as dominant pitcher there has been in a while then y oung cole hammels looks like he gonna be really good and john smoltz has to be in that category
2007-07-25 16:13:41 · answer #5 · answered by blushie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Greg Maddux and Randy Johnson. Nobody should ever rank Nolan Ryan ahead of anybody he is one of the most overrated pitchers. Also Hank Aaron was not a pitcher.
2007-07-26 02:07:09 · answer #6 · answered by mattius337 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Only Walter Johnson and Lefty Grove, both long retired, honored in Cooperstown, and (sadly) deceased, measure up to the Rocket in baseball history. He really has been THAT GOOD, and he still is.
Pity so many cannot appreciate the artistry he delivers from that little hill.
2007-07-25 21:37:13 · answer #7 · answered by Chipmaker Authentic 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes
Infact, somebody has already surpassed him...hmmm what was his name again? Oh yeah!
Denton True Young, also known as Cy Young
Also there is,
Rollie Fingers
Randy Johnson
Walter Johnson
Christy Mathewson
Tom Seaver
And the list keeps going and going.
2007-07-25 15:57:46 · answer #8 · answered by Choro-Kun 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Roger is very good. But there will be others there always have been in the past there will be in the future.
2007-07-25 15:54:53 · answer #9 · answered by Willie J 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Many pitchers greater than him. Cy Young and Nolan Ryan for example.
2007-07-25 16:20:25 · answer #10 · answered by Sharon S 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋