Will there ever be another 300 game winner?

Question

Kind of funny we never see 300 game winners that often and then 2 of the last 3 actually make it all the way to 350. Personally I say yes because you can never say never, especially in baseball.

Even Dontrelle Willis only needs 15 wins a year for the next 15 years to reach 300. It's not as hard as people are making it out to be.

Answer 1

Absolutely. There are several arguments some people make against ther being another 300 game winner, and none of them really hold up.

1) "The five man rotation is going to reduce the number of wins."
Well if that's the case, how the hell did Clemens, Glavine, Maddux, and even Seaver win 300 games while pitching in 5 man rotations (Seaver never made more than 36 starts in a season).

2) "Pitch counts. Pitchers don't go deep enough into games to earn wins" Well that may be true, but they also don't go an inning or two longer than they should and blow games as a result, so that evens out.

3) "With greater reliance on the bullpen, starters are pitching fewer innings and getting fewer decisions". Actually, the percentage of starters getting decisions has remained relatively stable over the last 25 years.

Also it should be added that while starters are pitching fewer innings per season, this saves on wear and tear in the long run. Now you routinely see guys pitching into their 40s. So while it'll take longer to get there, they could still get there.

EDIT: Seriously, people, do you really think that this is the first time they said that there will be no more 300 game winners? They were saying this after Early Wynn and Nolan Ryan too.

I mean look at Glavine. He pitched in a 5 man rotation. He never went that deep into games- he only averaged 7 innings per start twice in his career. And yet somehow he managed to win 300 games.

Answer 2

Back in the fifties people thought this as well. They believed that Feller was the last shot at a 300 game winner. It proved that one can not be so short sighted and only look at the ones that are close now and decide that nobody is going to do it.

300 wins is very hard for a pitcher to get to and the list of those that have accomplished it is short. I do believe that 250-275 is now the Hall of Fame mark, but that there will be pitchers that can win 300+

Guys to look at are the young but already very successful pitchers that have a lower chance of injury. Someone like Sabathia could have a shot.

There will be more 300 game winners we just aren't considering them at this time, or they haven't even won their 1st game at this time.

If you are a very good pitcher, none of the things that will keep average arms from winning will generally stop you. There's a reason why Maddux is always winning 15 a year.

I also have no idea how Willis is "close"

Answer 3

Realistically, Johan is 29, and he only has 109 wins. If he were to average 15 wins a year until he's 39, that'll only give him 274 victories. Lincecum is too young, and you really need to see what he can do for 5-6 years before passing any judgments on him, no one is a guarantee. For example, look at Doc Gooden, what was his record after 5 years, and where did he wind up? Johnson isn't a lock either. I said when Tom Glavine won his 300th for the Mets in 2007 atht he would be the last, its still possible.

Answer 4

It's very unlikely. Pitchers hurt their arms more often nowadays and because of that they can only start once a week or at most every 3 days. In the days of Cy Young, a pitcher would pitch multiple days in a row. Managers don't want to lose a pitcher that they pay big bucks for so they are sure to make them wait a week before pitching again. Also, with the recent "creation" of the middle-relief and long-relief pitchers, as well as closers, there is no need to have a pitcher pitch as often or as long in games. I don't think there will be a 300 win pitcher.

Answer 5

I don't think so. In order to get to 300 wins, you need to have alot of complete games. Pitching is so scientific now, that the average starter usually goes no more than 6 innings. There are very few 20 games winners anymore, and pitchers are not as durable as they used to be.

I don't think Dontrelle Willis will be around another 15 years to get to that level.

Answer 6

Nope Tom Glavine is probably the last pitcher to ever reach that milestone.
Here is a list of the closest active players:
Randy Johnson 284
Mike Mussina 250
David Wells 239
Jamie Moyer 230
Curt Schilling 216

I dont think any of these pitchers have the endurance to make it to 300...and with the way managers go to their bull pens so early in the games I dont think any of the starting pitchers even go deep enough into the game to get a win!!!

Answer 7

No. Some of the closest are Willis, Mike Mussina, and Randy Johnson. Randy only needs about 16 more, but he is in bad shape because of his back, and will retire. As for the other 2, baseball stated and pitchers went up to the eigth and ninth inninngs. That is slowly changing, now you will rarely see a pitcher complete 7. Pitchers are just not the same, they are losing stamina.

Answer 8

Willis would be one of my choices to get to 300 wins, the other would be Santana. Other than that Brandon Webb as an outside shot. Pretty slim pickins' as far as the talent pool goes compared to the 80's and 90's.

Answer 9

yes there will be , if pettite would cont pitching and not retire he would come close.then u have a slew of young pitchers who will be up therebut not make it.maddux is just amazing cause he has great control and he doesnt get to deep into the pitch count like most do.i has a body of a 35 year old so i myself see him finshing with around 375 are 400 wins when he retires

Answer 10

Randy Johnson has the next legitimate shot at it. That is if he comes back from his recent surgery which he said he would. he only need like 16 wins or so to get it. He can do it it a couple of years.