Who would you rather watch pitch?

[keystone]

If you could go to one game and had to choose between these two pitchers, who would you choose?

[Bobby_Ayala]

Randy Johnson between '93-'98 at the Kingdome. Electric. No doubt about it.

[keystone]

I actually saw the Big Unit pitch, but given the choice of these two, I'd rather watch Maddux because there would be action in the field. With Johnson, all you'd be watching is guys walking to the plate and then to the dugout.

Maddux was an artist. I would have loved to watch him work in person.

[Bobby_Ayala]

I actually saw the Big Unit pitch, but given the choice of these two, I'd rather watch Maddux because there would be action in the field. With Johnson, all you'd be watching is guys walking to the plate and then to the dugout.

Maddux was an artist. I would have loved to watch him work in person.

I don't know, the crowd would be much livelier with Johnson on the mound. The ambience would be out of this world.

[SamtheBravesFan]

I saw Randy Johnson and Greg Maddux pitch in the same game. :highfive: Ironically, it was the last Braves baseball game I've been to.

[YankeeDJW]

I saw Johnson pitch a few years ago. He pitched a brilliant complete game and lost 2-1 to the Mariners...

If we're talking about when the pitchers were in their prime, I would go with Johnson. I'm sure most rookies quivered like a leaf when stepping in to face him for the first time.

[ol' aches and pains]

I saw Maddux pitch a game against San Diego (not in person, unfortunately) about 10 years ago on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball. He threw a 2-hit shutout, struck out 10, walked nobody, time of the game was 1 hour 57 minutes. It was a pitching clinic from start to finish.

Randy Johnson just overpowered hitters, Maddux had to outthink them, and to me, that's more fun to watch.

[sturg1dj]

all i remember from Maddux' peak is seeing highlights of batter striking out looking and as a kid wondering why nobody ever swings at Maddux.

[Inge15]

Hmm, I'd have to say Maddux, but only because I hate looking at Randy Johnson.

[keystone]

I remember that 1-hour, 57-minute masterpiece, too, Ol' Aches and Pains. Absolutely amazing! I'm with you, preferring to watch a pitcher outsmart the batter. Plus, there's that Crash Davis quote from "Bull Durham" about strike-outs being Fascist. :laugh

Well, yeah, Randy isn't much to look at, but I can really see why he'd be fun to watch. I know when he did his brief tour with the Astros, fans couldn't get enough of him.

Maybe it's sort of like comparing heavy metal to a string quartet? Both are great in their own right, but they are nothing alike!

[DownUnderDodger]

I voted for Randy probably because I saw more of him (on TV) than I did Maddux. Seems they were chalk and cheese as pitchers and that is what it is all about. If they were all the same it would be boring. Face Maddux one day and not know what to expect, face Randy the next and expect a barrage of power balls.

[bob]

Maddux is one of my top 3 pitchers all time, but id rather watch Randy when he's in the zone.

[Los Bravos]

I saw Maddux pitch a game against San Diego (not in person, unfortunately) about 10 years ago on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball. He threw a 2-hit shutout, struck out 10, walked nobody, time of the game was 1 hour 57 minutes. It was a pitching clinic from start to finish.

Randy Johnson just overpowered hitters, Maddux had to outthink them, and to me, that's more fun to watch.You saved me the trouble.

[cardsfanatic]

If we expanded out this poll, I'd go with Pedro or Rocket over either guy but just between these two? Give me Randy.

[keystone]

I'm not so sure I'd want to watch Rocket now that I know it wasn't just his skill and power doing the work. Pedro in his prime would be my choice between those two.

Wow, this is turning out to be a closer vote than I thought it would...

[Captain Cold Nose]

Johnson. The couple times I saw Maddux, once for Atlanta and once for Chicago, he did not fare too well. I'd hate to think I was a jinx for him.

[keystone]

What other explanation could there possibly be? :noidea

[STLCards2]

Johnson. . I'd hate to think I was a jinx for him.

Don't think you have to worry about that- I don't think Maddux' success is tied in with your attendance.:happy:

[Captain Cold Nose]

Don't think you have to worry about that- I don't think Maddux' success is tied in with your attendance.:happy:

Probably not. But I'm glad he's retired now so I don't do further damage. ;)

[DownUnderDodger]

Johnson. The couple times I saw Maddux, once for Atlanta and once for Chicago, he did not fare too well. I'd hate to think I was a jinx for him.

Did you get to see Johnson live? If so it seems you did not have the same effect on him. Two of my limited MLB games have been the D'backs v Dodgers when Randy played in Arizona however he did not pitch either of those games....I would love to have seen him live.

[keystone]

I actually saw him live -- and not one of his better performances. But there was absolutely no mistaking who it was on the mound! That silhouette is very distinctive, and even in the seats we were in, you could hear the ball pop the catcher's mitt.

It was a Rangers/Mariners match-up in Arlington, September, 1997.

[Erik Bedard]

Maddux, because strikeouts are boring when they're not in clutch situations.

Also, Pedro over either of them.

[STLCards2]

I actually saw him live -- and not one of his better performances. But there was absolutely no mistaking who it was on the mound! That silhouette is very distinctive, and even in the seats we were in, you could hear the ball pop the catcher's mitt.

It was a Rangers/Mariners match-up in Arlington, September, 1997.

I have seen all 3 of them live (and Glavine and Smoltz too). I saw Maddux in his prime, so it was a little more fun - even though the Cardinals got 6 runs off of him in 2 inings.

[stejay]

Maddux. I'm glad to say i have seen him pitch. A true great. Don't get me wrong, the Big Unit is an all time great, but Maddux had a greater selection of ammo, and I loved his control, and precision. Total legend.

[Sirmudgeon]

Best thrower I ever saw in his prime was Doc Gooden. He could bring it. Second would be the Ryan Express, third would be Clemens, fourth Randy Johnson. The best pitcher I have ever seen, without question, was Maddux. How do you dominate with an upper-80s fastball? What a pitcher. Wish I'd seen Ford or Spahn at their peak, or Grove or Feller or Koufax at theirs, yet I didn't, so must go on what I've personally witnessed. Glavine a fine and crafty lefthander, but Maddux's backup change/fastball was sublime. To watch Johnson throw was to be in awe; to watch Maddux pitch was simply remarkable.

Taking nothing away from Randy at 6'10", taking nothing away from Ryan's freak of an arm, nothing away from Clemens' sheer determination, there's something to be said about a regular-sized guy that simply outwitted hitters. Deucedley impressive, in my book. I don't have him with Walter Johnson or Lefty Grove, yet right up there. Don't know if he could effectively impart his wisdom, yet if he could, he'd be the best pitching coach one could hope to hire. One point: Johnson's slider was simply unhittable, it was also mostly out of the strike zone. Maddux's backup was in the strike zone, was eminently hittable, yet no one did for 15 years. Pretty bloody impressive.

We have been blessed by seeing four of the best pitchers of all time (five if you count Carlton): Ryan, Clemens, Johnson, and Maddux. No, Ryan is not the best pitcher of all time, but the dude threw seven no-hitters. Johnson won a bunch of Cy Youngs, Clemens as well, so too for Maddux. These guys are all at least in the top 20 of all MLB history. For me, I reckon that's pretty neato.

For the doubters, you had to see/hear Ryan pitch. An absolute epiphany. Johnson is probably the most intimidating pitcher/thrower I've seen. Clemens was probably the most successfully determined. Maddux, I'd want him to anchor my staff.

Just for grins, I'd room Bonds, Carlton, and Johnson together on the road. O what hijinks would ensue. Or, they'd kill one another. Interesting to watch, one way or 'tother.

[Los Bravos]

One point: Johnson's slider was simply unhittable, it was also mostly out of the strike zone.All too true.Maddux's backup was in the strike zone, was eminently hittable, yet no one did for 15 years.Not to quibble, especially at Greg's expense, but honesty compels me to point this out: Bonds did.

I saw him hit it out twice, pitches that would have probably grazed his belt buckle if he hadn't whipped that little bat he used through the zone and sent them arcing into the night. Both were well before he started polluting his body. Mere mortals were powerless against Greg's swingback, but that doesn't cover a man with Barry's gifts.

[keystone]

Sirmudgeon -- Those three personalities altogether in cramped quarters would likely result in a blood bath!

[ol' aches and pains]

Don't know if he could effectively impart his wisdom, yet if he could, he'd be the best pitching coach one could hope to hire.

His brother Mike Maddux is doing exactly that, currently with the Texas Rangers. I'm sure Greg would excel in that position too, if he chose to do so.

[Captain Cold Nose]

Did you get to see Johnson live? If so it seems you did not have the same effect on him. Two of my limited MLB games have been the D'backs v Dodgers when Randy played in Arizona however he did not pitch either of those games....I would love to have seen him live.

Unfortunatley not, which is why I voted for Johnson, as that is how I took the poll. I'm watching the schedule closely so I get that opportunity if it comes up. Yes, it's not the Randy Johnson of 2000, but it's still Randy Johnson.

[keystone]

That would be a dicey situation, having Greg Maddux as a pitching coach. Sometimes the Great Ones are not the best teachers. Ted Williams, for example. I'm not saying that's true for Maddux, but would be a concern.

BTW, are there any HOF players who toil away as coaches?

[dominik]

Ted williams did coach hitting didn't he?

[keystone]

You are right, of course, dominik. He was a manager. I guess I was thinking that he needed more teaching skills, regardless of what role he played on a team's staff -- maybe except bench coach. Whoa! Can you see Ted Williams as a bench coach?!? :eek:

[Los Bravos]

I wouldn't file Ted under that same rubric as Yogi and Cobb (guys who couldn't transfer their skills, or in Cobb's case, didn't have any patience with anyone less gifted that they were.) Ted didn't have great success as a manager, but he was pretty much a 24 hour a day fountain of batting tips, which he handed out to anybody and everybody who asked (including opposing hitters, much to Tom Yawkey's chagrin.)

He kept that up long, long after his career was over. There is a great anecdote in one of Roger Angell's essays where Ted is giving hitting advice to Von Hayes at Phillie spring training and Gary Matthews walks over and starts soaking it up. Ted loved hitters and hitting and always wanted to pass it along.

"Make him throw you a good pitch, for pete's sake!" :laugh

[keystone]

Good point, well-stated, Los Bravos. I knew that Ted would talk hitting in general all night and day, but I didn't know that he took specific guys under his wing.

So, he's not a good example of the point I was trying to make. My bad!

Now, just watch. Greg Maddux will sign on with some team as a pitching coach and outdo Dave Duncan!

[Francoeurstein]

Very tough poll. Both of them being my favorite two pitchers (Randy because of his dominance and Greg because he was an artist and a hometown hero). After spending a great deal of thinking and trial and error (about 5-10 seconds worth of) I decided to choose Randy. Yes, Maddux was a horse and probably the best pitcher of the last 25 years IMO and he has the same last name as me. But Randy was just a strike out machine. Racking up 10 K's a game is a great accomplishment but an average game during The Unit's peak. While most say striking out is very boring to watch, I feel it is the most exciting play in baseball. I even model my pitching after Randy, thriving on the big K (I had around 62 strikeouts in 39 innings in my 14U season). I even took his number #41 and started using it as my trade mark. The thing about Randy is although he was able to get 300 k's a season with ease, he was still a terrific pitcher. He located his great pitches, fastball and that heavenly slider, very well and when he was not hit often. You may say I overrate him but on my list he is my #5 and Greg is my #3. He is arguably the greatest strike out pitcher of all time and is always exciting to watch on TV and I hope to see him live before he retires.

This has to be my longest post ever. Bearing 1 maybe 2 paragraphs, haha rather pathetic if you ask me. I am not the brightest bulb.