FanNation - The Republic of Sport

CodyShep233 said 07/26, 01:48 PM
R. Clemens, G. Maddux, R. Johnson, P. Martinez, J. Smoltz

Clemens - 350+ career victories. 1986 AL MVP. 1986-1987, 1991, 1997-1998, 2001 AL Cy Young. 2004 NL Cy Young. 2nd most strikeouts on all-time list.

Maddux - 340 career victories. Perhaps the greatest fielding pitcher ever (1990-2006 NL Gold Gloves). 1992-1995 NL Cy Young. 3,000+ strikeouts. 1.56 and 1.63 ERA???s in 1994 and 1995. Two 20-win seasons.

Johnson ??? 280+ career victories. 1995, 1999-2002 NL Cy Young. 2001 WS MVP. 3rd most strikeouts on all-time list. A big towering, intimidating left handed pitcher.

Martinez ??? He may not be active right now, but you can???t forget him. 200+ career victories. 2,995+ strikeouts. 1997 NL Cy Young. 1999-2000 AL Cy Young. 1999 All-Star Game MVP. Who???s Your Daddy?

Smoltz ??? I argued with myself on this one, but there is no-doubt in my mind that he is a first-ballot hall-of-famer. 200+ career victories. 2885+ strikeouts. 150+ career saves. 24 wins in a single-season. 1992 NLCS Most Valuable Player. 1996 NL Cy Young.

Santana is fabulous.. but too far away to count on him (injuries, etc.). Glavin.. doesn???t have that intimidating factor, even with all of those wins.

CodyShep233 said 07/27, 06:55 AM
Pedro may have declined, but what *great* hasn't? Take Roger Clemens for example, he doesn't pitch anything like he used to.. even a couple years ago he was pitching Cy Young ball. This year he's 3-4 with a not-so-great ERA. His velocity is far from what it used to be, but when his splitter and change-up are effective he can be just as good. Pedro will most likely return sometime in August, and even if he has a bad couple of starts, he is Hall-of-Fame worthy. Pedro has the highest winning percentage of any pitcher over 200 wins, with only 92 losses and 206 victories. His career ERA is 2.81.. fabulous.

As for Smoltz, he is the only pitcher in baseball history to win over 200 games and save 150 games. Great pitching in the post season, and has a career ERA of 3.27. His dominance at both the starting and relief role is amazing.

I'm still not sure why you went with Johan. I know, I know... he's had a great career so far, but way too many careers have ended because of a sudden injury. Take Tommy John Surgery for example. So many pitchers careers have ended because of it. I suspect Johan will be a Hall-of-Famer someday, but his career is too far away from its end to count on him.

CodyShep233 said 07/28, 07:31 AM
If you are talking about the pitchers in their prime... which you are as stated in a comment... my list is far better than your list. It isn't *certain* that Santana will be a Hall-of-Famer. If he continues to post numbers like he has, yes, but he could suddenly get injured, need Tommy John Surgery, and never end up pitching the same way he has for years now.

To reiterate, Glavine just.. doesn't do it for me. I would much rather be facing him than Clemens, Maddux, Johnson, etc. In a big game, I don't want him to have the ball rather than Clemens or the others. Especially since Clemens posts up very good Post-season numbers.

It comes down to that for me, who do I want to give the ball in a tight position? Whether it's Post-season or not... I would definitely give the ball to any of the people on my list. They also have the experience.. Santana doesn't.