Greatest pitcher of the past 15 years and Hall of Fame LOCK

[DainBramaged]

[tekisui]

1. He can effectively turn a game into 7 or 8 inning game.

He is the best at what he does for the past 15, no doubt.

[DainBramaged]

2. Did you see Godzilla tonight OFF the dirt for a home run

[Vidar]

3. Greg Maddux.

[DainBramaged]

7. Nope he isn't pitching anymore AND his career started in 1986

Chicago Cubs (1986–1992)
Atlanta Braves (1993–2003)
Second stint with Cubs (2004–2006)
Los Angeles Dodgers (2006)
San Diego Padres (2007–2008)
Second stint with Dodgers (2008)

[JackintheGreen]

30. Last I checked

2008 was within the last 15 years, so your objection is ridiculous and Mad Dog stands as viable according to your own requirements.

Still, it *is your post, so "because I say so" is equally valid. I'm gonna have to give it to you.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

31. I missed the stipulation of currently playing.

[JackintheGreen]

33. OP never said it!

OP never said it!

(his rules, though)

[Rockholm]

4. Not...

[Barack_America]

5. You should change it to "closer".

What's the point of comparing relievers to starters?

[DainBramaged]

8. because it's my thread

so there.

[Barack_America]

10. Alright then, Johnson.

That's my answer.

[DainBramaged]

11. 303-166 a good answer, 21 years though

I'd hope Mariano can go another few.

[Barack_America]

19. 5 Cy Youngs.

Rivera will not be catching that stat.

[flvegan]

6. Best relief pitcher, sure.

HOF lock, certainly. Not a single Cy Young award, though. Greatest pitcher in the last 15 years? Doubtful.

[DainBramaged]

9. Anyone else currently pitching?

I think he has a couple of more years left too.

[flvegan]

12. I think he's got a few years left.

38 or 39 and still throws like that? The Yanks would be STUPID to not resign him as long as he wants to play.

It's tough to compare a starter to a reliever. They have way more exposure for stats like ERA, W-L, etc.

BUT, being a member of Red Sox Nation, I'll say Josh Beckett and Jon Lester.

:hide:

[DainBramaged]

15. Beckett has a long way to go, Lester is a baby still

we'll talk in oh 20 years.........


:rofl:

[flvegan]

16. 10.

At which point we'll also be talking about how much better Papelbon is than your boy Rivera.

:hide: again

[DainBramaged]

17. And my Ferrari..............

:hug:

[flvegan]

18. Yes!

[DainBramaged]

22. I can now sleep happy, YANKEES WIN, theeeeee YANKEES WIN...

[wilt the stilt]

39. I have a sneaking feeling that Papelbon

is going to go downhill. I think this year's loss in the playoffs will damage his psyche. Notice his bravado vs. the coolness of Rivera. Rivera is unflappable. He is a cold blooded killer. Papelbon is an emotional wreck. Also, he gets by on speed and after awhile you just start to lose the speed of your fastball.

Most of your great relievers who lasted where cold blooded killers.

[JackDragna]

29. Jon Lester? Seriously? Jon Lester?

You Red Sox fans win a few titles and the mercury goes right to your brain.

[flvegan]

37. Yup.

He had to beat cancer before he started throwing no hitters. Give him another decade.

[msongs]

13. George W Bush - he pitched a war based on lies and 100's of millions fell for it nt

[DainBramaged]

14. But he's going to the Hall of Shame........

[Jennicut]

20. Best closer ever maybe?

I love that guy. :)

[greenbriar]

21. Randy Johnson

that bird wished he hadn't flown that day

[Sebastian Doyle]

36. +1

Have to vote for the Big Mulleted Unit myself. Just wish he had stayed with the Mariners longer.

[givemebackmycountry]

23. THE HAND OF GOD -

They don't call him that because he's a pretender.
He's a bona-fide lock down closer.
Maybe the best ever to take the bump.

It's not the logo on the uniform, but the guy wearing it and this guy is NAILS.

[LearnedHand]

24. That guy who won the Cy Young award last year

Can't pronounce or spell his last name: Lincecum, or something like that. Pitches for San Francisco. I saw him pitch. It was like the hand of god. Absolutely amazing.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

25. Greg Maddox

'nuff said!

[emilyg]

26. Yep.

[Sedona]

27. How soon we forget....

I saw Roger Clemmons, Mariano Riverea, Randy Johnson and Curt Shilling all pitch in the same game, World Series Game 7 in 2001. Yep I was there, and got to say, I saw Mariano lose it.

Sorry.

At game 6 (I was there too) we had a plan to jump into the bull pen and kick the shit out of Byun Yung Kim if he even tried to warm up!

[JackDragna]

28. Roger Clemens. Sorry, but relievers are overhyped.

When you can pitch lights-out ball for 7+ innings, you're a legend. When you do it for one inning, you're a useful cog on an otherwise good team. Rivera is possibly the most overhyped professional athlete of our day, right behind Cal Ripken, Jr. (wow! I broke a record despite being a liability as a batter and fielder for seven years) and Brett Favre (wow! I choke like a wimp in playoff games).

[JackintheGreen]

32. Overhyped?!? Pshaw...

Rivera pitched over twenty pitches tonight before Tim McCarver started talking about his arm getting tired. 20+! And then he went an pitched a whole 'nother inning! If that isn't greatness then I'm cheese on toast.

[wilt the stilt]

42. Berman mentioned old school

before this current era relievers often pitched more than one inning and it wasn't a save unless the tying run was on base. saves are skewered now. that being said Rivera is old school and certainly the best closer of his time.

[1]

34. +1 on the rocket.

[wilt the stilt]

41. Steroid Junkie

he was pretty much done before Mr. needle. He got his fastball back. Name another pitcher who lost his fastball and then got it back. Once you lose your fastball you don't get it back without Mr. Needle.

[maxpower]

35. Greg Maddux

One of the greatest of all time.


Peace,
Max

[wilt the stilt]

38. Smoltz wasn't mentioned

Down here in the ATL we watched Smoltz and Maddox. I believe Smoltz was a better pitcher and possibly one of the best big game pitchers of all time.. Today's playoff numbers are skewed. Players play so many more games. Players can now play up to 19 playoff games in one season compared to only 7.
The big unit was great.
That being said Rivera is more like the old time closers(Gossage). In the old days The closers were"fireman". They came in with men on base and got out of it. They also pitched more than one inning on many occasions.

[Jawja]

40. Greg Maddux

[charlie and algernon]

43. If Rivera gets in, then Trevor Hoffman HAS to get in as well

Considering it is Hoffman that Rivera is chasing. AND Hoffman is still pitching, so his saves total will continue to increase.


Greg Maddux and Randy Johnson are the two absolute locks for the Hall of Fame from the 90s-00s


John Smoltz will also get in, though perhaps not first ballot

[wilt the stilt]

46. agreed

They are first ballot. Smoltz won bigger games and really had better stuff.

[charlie and algernon]

47. Smoltz does have the advantage of having over 200 wins and 125 saves

He was both a fantastic closer AND starter.

[wilt the stilt]

50. 154 saves lifetime

the only player to do that. I don't think Schilling makes it. not enough wins- 216- here's hoping for that

[madinmaryland]

52. Schilling will not be first ballot, but he will eventually get in.

The World Series victories will help.

[wilt the stilt]

54. you are probably right

but I would love to see it not happen. 216 victories is on the edge

[madinmaryland]

44. Greg Maddux, then Roger Clemens. Rivera will get in AFTER Barroid Bonds gets in.

[wilt the stilt]

51. Barry may have been on roids

but he still was the best player of his era. The only one who competes is griffey. Here are two that don't belong
McGwire- before steroids he would have ended up with maybe 450 homers and 1300 Rbi's and ad .260 average. not HOF numbers
Schilling might make it but he only has 216 victories- you usually need more. plus he's a dick do I hope he doesn't make it.

[madinmaryland]

53. Do you think Barroid goes on the first try? I think he goes second or third

just because of the roids. McGuire, will probably not make it. Griffey is a likely first ballot choice.

[wilt the stilt]

55. Barry will probably not get in on the first try

even though he was a great player. Sportswriter vote and let's be honest they are dicks and jealous of athletes. they especially hate the ones that tell them they are dicks. Three people come to mind that told them they were dicks. Carlton, Rose and Bonds and the sportswriters hate all 3.

[eyepaddle]

45. I have to go with Maddux

Mainly because Starting is just HARDER than relieving--and I say that as a fan of current era of specialized relief pitchers. I was reading a baseball blog and the guy laid out a pretty convincing and EXTREMELY elaborate case for how statistics favor the reliever; inheritied runners being charged to the previous pitcher being just one example. Beyond that however there is just more craftiness to when a manager decides to put in a reliever, which is usually in a situation that is advantageous to the reliever and hence the team. The starter has to face 'em all, repeatedly in each game.

Having said that, Mariano Riveira has a devastaing cutter ans has most assuredly earned his first ballot hall of fame-in-waiting status.

[joeybee12]

48. Smoltz, Clemons, Johnson....

....I could go on all day.

[Capt. America]

49. Maddux and Johnson --Clemens if he wasnt a cheating, bat-throwing, prick.