Strasburg..best in MLB?

[buffalo-springfield40]

Ok...with the introduction of Stephen Strasburg to MLB..they are already hailing him the best pitcher in MLB...with a 100mph fast ball and a curve that looks un-hittable....only time will tell......but it made me think..who is the best pitcher of all time..because there are so many...pick your top 3... 1.Maddux 2.Ryan 3.Seaver

 

[jsharmon7]

It's way too early to say that Strasburg is the best in the MLB. Heck, tonight is his Nats debut! I think Ubaldo Jimenez is the best in the league THIS SEASON. Maybe at the end of it I will say it's Strasburg, but not yet.

Best pitcher of all time, in no particular order:

Nolan Ryan, Walter Johnson, and Roger Clemens.

Cy Young would be just outside that list. The award is named after him, but he also lost a lot of games. Heck, he just pitched A LOT of games.

 

[buffalo-springfield40]

It's way too early to say that Strasburg is the best in the MLB. Heck, tonight is his Nats debut! I think Ubaldo Jimenez is the best in the league THIS SEASON. Maybe at the end of it I will say it's Strasburg, but not yet.

Best pitcher of all time, in no particular order:

Nolan Ryan, Walter Johnson, and Roger Clemens.

Cy Young would be just outside that list. The award is named after him, but he also lost a lot of games. Heck, he just pitched A LOT of games.

i had Clemens down,,then took him off because of the steroids....do you think it should play into your decision?....

 

[jsharmon7]

i had Clemens down,,then took him off because of the steroids....do you think it should play into your decision?....

I think that Clemens has always been a top pitcher, even before admitting he took steroids in recent years. He was winning Cy Youngs and MVPs back in the late 80's and early 90's. Also, and this may be naive, I think there is a lot more to pitching than strength. I don't think the steroids would have had as much of an influence on a pitcher. I would agree that the steroid use is an important consideration when talking about "the best of all time." I would still put him near the top though, but I could see why you'd leave him out.

I feel the same way about Barry Bonds. He was always a Hall of Fame caliber player prior to blowing up in 1999-2000. I would love to see his home run records with an asterisk though because a lot of his home runs were hit after that period when it's apparent he was on steroids. If you look at his numbers after 2000, it's mind blowing. I compared his home run numbers to other players of his age throughout league history and the only conclusion I could come to was steroid use. Look at pictures of him from 1998 to 2000 also. It's also coincidental that Mark and Sammy had that highly publicized homerun race in 1998, most likely fueled by steroids. I think Barry wanted in on that...

 

[buffalo-springfield40]

I think that Clemens has always been a top pitcher, even before admitting he took steroids in recent years. He was winning Cy Youngs and MVPs back in the late 80's and early 90's. Also, and this may be naive, I think there is a lot more to pitching than strength. I don't think the steroids would have had as much of an influence on a pitcher. I would agree that the steroid use is an important consideration when talking about "the best of all time." I would still put him near the top though, but I could see why you'd leave him out.

I feel the same way about Barry Bonds. He was always a Hall of Fame caliber player prior to blowing up in 1999-2000. I would love to see his home run records with an asterisk though because a lot of his home runs were hit after that period when it's apparent he was on steroids. If you look at his numbers after 2000, it's mind blowing. I compared his home run numbers to other players of his age throughout league history and the only conclusion I could come to was steroid use. Look at pictures of him from 1998 to 2000 also. It's also coincidental that Mark and Sammy had that highly publicized homerun race in 1998, most likely fueled by steroids. I think Barry wanted in on that...

agree...rumor has it that Berry told Griffy Jr in '97 that he was upset about hitting 47 hr's and didn't get his due because the steroid brothers was hitting 50 and 60....1yr after Berry's hat size went up by 3..but you are right,,Berry was the best slugger in baseball for yrs before the steroids...ashame he folded under the pressure....Clemens went down the same path...

 

[Benny]

Steroids most definitely plays a HUGE factor when determining a list.

I like your list, with Ryan at #1 and Maddux at #2.

Being a die hard Braves fan, Maddux is my favorite pitcher of all time, but Ryan was better IMO.

Maddux did so much with so little though.

 

[buffalo-springfield40]

Steroids most definitely plays a HUGE factor when determining a list.

I like your list, with Ryan at #1 and Maddux at #2.

Being a die hard Braves fan, Maddux is my favorite pitcher of all time, but Ryan was better IMO.

Maddux did so much with so little though.

yup..Maddux is like the Larry Bird of baseball...not alot of god given talent,,just alot of practice..plus what a class act both Maddux and Ryan was.....i remember watching Ryan throw a 97 mph fast ball...then follow it up with a 47 mph knuckle ball...Maddux was the master at pin point pitching...he would hit the outer edge of the plate like no one else,,but i could've picked either one as top dog..

 

[Benny]

yup..Maddux is like the Larry Bird of baseball...not alot of god given talent,,just alot of practice..plus what a class act both Maddux and Ryan was.....i remember watching Ryan throw a 97 mph fast ball...then follow it up with a 47 mph knuckle ball...Maddux was the master at pin point pitching...he would hit the outer edge of the plate like no one else,,but i could've picked either one as top dog..

LOL, could you even imagine trying to get a hit off of that ?

 

[buffalo-springfield40]

LOL, could you even imagine trying to get a hit off of that ?

LOL..he did it at the 1989 All-Star game...everyone just stopped..was like..NO HE DID'NT!.....

 

[MWebb]

1. Ryan 2. Randy Johnson 3.Maddux

First time I seen johnsons name on here, had several no hitters and the one perfect game.

 

[rmabrey]

Steroids most definitely plays a HUGE factor when determining a list.

I like your list, with Ryan at #1 and Maddux at #2.

Being a die hard Braves fan, Maddux is my favorite pitcher of all time, but Ryan was better IMO.

Maddux did so much with so little though.

I owe you rep for being a braves fan after i spread it around.

Greg Maddux, Nolan Ryan, Randy Johnson no particular order

ETA: Its a little early to say he may be the best.....They were playing the pirates

 

[peloe16]

don't mean to thread jack and continue to talk about strasburg instead of my top 3 pitchers, but 14 K's in his MLB debut is pretty impressive. even if it was against the pirates.

 

[buffalo-springfield40]

it is early to crown Strasburg...but then peloe is right...14 k's....is impressive..i did have Johnson as a top 5...just wish he wasn't such a douche....

 

[Goosepond Monster]

No love for Bob Gibson?

 

[w_ADAM_d88]

I also am a Braves fan and would have to put Maddux as #1, with Clemens a close #2, and my #3 pick would be Sandy Koufax. I will give Strasburg the credit that as of now he amy be one of the best in the leaugue, but I dont think he will last. I meen he is young, and I think they will use him up, and he will end up throwing out his arm. But I do look forward to watching his progress, and wish him the best. (I wish him the best not the Nationals)

 

[hornadylnl]

I also am a Braves fan

Kenteska Plantation Hudson Family Foundation
His wife is my 2nd cousin. Never met the guy but some family has and it sounds like he's a really good guy.

 

[Bradsknives]

1. Randy Johnson
2. Bob Gibson
3. Ryan or Koufax.......it's a toss up

 

[Goosepond Monster]

Before anointing Strasburg the best there is, go back and check the stats from Mark Prior's first start.

 

[buffalo-springfield40]

the test for Strasburg will be after all the ML sluggers get to see him a few games....once they get to face him and observe his release and movements...they'll get a better idea on how to hit off him...lets wait till sept...then we'll rate him agian.....

 

[Goosepond Monster]

Looks like Strasburg is going to require Tommy John surgery. It will be interesting to see if he is able to return to form after the surgery is done. It is amazing how it seems this happens to a lot of promising, young pitchers.

MLB 2010: Stephen Strasburg of Nationals Headed for Tommy John Surgery - WSJ.com