Best Pitcher of the Modern Era (1980-present)

Someone on ESPN said Johnson was the third best lefty ever and mentioned Grove, one other player and made no mention of Carlton. I do not put Johnson in Carlton's class. Great pitcher, but I think Carlton was better.

 

You mean we can't vote for Bert Blyleven?

 

If this was from 1970 on, I would vote for Seaver or Carlton.

Not taking the steroid issue into consideration, I'd have to go with Clemens.

 

Neither can 26 percent of the BBWAA.

 

July 22, 1997: the 76-pitch complete game.

(Date edited)

 

I had the pleasure of covering a Maddux shutout when he was in his prime. If memory serves, the game was one hour and 46 minutes and that included three pitching changes from the opponent.

 

More than half a walk fewer per nine innings than any of the others. That's as impressive as anything. How many stretches of three or four starts did he have without walking anyone? Not to mention 17 straight years of 15 wins or more.

Dependably dominant.

 

Date's right, but it was 1997.

 

And from perusing Wiki, the fact that in 1997, excluding half a dozen intentional walks, he went to a 3-0 count on ONE batter. He walked 20 that year, including the six freebies.

 

I think if you're saying modern/steroid era, the better cutoff is 1990 and then the answer is still

1. Clemens
2. Maddux
3. Johnson

Clemens had it all, but Maddux was an artist. Maddux fell off toward the end of his career and probably hung around a few years too long. (Johnson did too, but he wanted his 300, which I respect).

Best true pitcher: Maddux
Best career: Clemens

 

Fixed

 

Every seamhead is going to vote for Maddux.

It would be nice for Maddux to be the first player to get in the HOF with 100 percent vote.