Best Pitcher since 1990

[everythingbaseball]

I just want to see who everyone thinks has been the best pitcher to have pitched since 1990. I think the main criteria should be entire body of work as a whole, dominance at their peak, and the longevity of their skill (they didn't just drop off the map because they couldn't pitch anymore, excluding injury).

The three best in my opinion are Randy Johnson, Roger Clemens, and Greg Maddux all of which have hall of fame stats.

Maddux being my pick for the best because he not only has the most wins but he did it while not having a dominant fast ball.

[Jsquared83]

I just want to see who everyone thinks has been the best pitcher to have pitched since 1990. I think the main criteria should be entire body of work as a whole, dominance at their peak, and the longevity of their skill (they didn't just drop off the map because they couldn't pitch anymore, excluding injury).

The three best in my opinion are Randy Johnson, Roger Clemens, and Greg Maddux all of which have hall of fame stats.

Maddux being my pick for the best because he not only has the most wins but he did it while not having a dominant fast ball.

I would say Maddux only because Clemens had some dominant years before 1990 and some subpar years in the 90s. If you said 1985, I think Clemens/Maddux would be a push, maybe a slight edge to Roger.

[Captain Cold Nose]

From 1990 on it's Maddux. Pedro Martinez isn't too far behind, either.

[Ace Venom]

I have to give it to Maddux, which isn't saying much because he's one of the greatest pitchers of all time.

[KCGHOST]

Ignoring Clemens outside issues you can flip a coin between him, Maddux, and Johnson.

[Inge15]

Pedro has to be mentioned.

[Jsquared83]

Pedro has to be mentioned.

Pedro's peak is probably the most dominant considering the era and being in the AL, albeit the shortest.

[everythingbaseball]

I would say Maddux only because Clemens had some dominant years before 1990 and some subpar years in the 90s. If you said 1985, I think Clemens/Maddux would be a push, maybe a slight edge to Roger.

I just mean a pitcher that has pitched since 1990 but considering their entire career even if part of it was before 1990.

[Freakshow]

Probably one of these guys.

Lowest OPS+ allowed, 1990-now, 1000+ IP
Cnt Player OPS+ ERA+ WHIP W W-L% IP From To
+----+-----------------+----+----+-----+---+-----+------+----+----+
1 Mariano Rivera 50 198 1.018 69 .575 1056.1 1995 2009
2 Pedro Martinez 60 154 1.051 214 .684 2782.2 1992 2008
3 Trevor Hoffman 68 146 1.046 57 .460 1011.1 1993 2009
4 Roger Clemens 68 144 1.186 259 .651 3632 1990 2007
5 Greg Maddux 71 138 1.107 310 .621 4334.1 1990 2008
6 Randy Johnson 73 139 1.157 293 .658 3940.2 1990 2009
7 Brandon Webb 73 142 1.239 87 .584 1319.2 2003 2009
8 John Smoltz 75 129 1.163 196 .601 3132 1990 2009
9 Curt Schilling 76 129 1.132 216 .603 3237.2 1990 2007
10 Kevin Brown 78 128 1.217 197 .595 3037 1990 2005
11 Jose Rijo 78 138 1.180 77 .621 1205 1990 2002
12 Tim Hudson 80 126 1.253 146 .655 2017.1 1999 2008
13 David Cone 80 123 1.270 155 .587 2325.2 1990 2003
14 Johan Santana 81 143 1.112 118 .674 1645.1 2000 2009
15 Mike Mussina 81 123 1.192 270 .638 3562.2 1991 2008

[baseball junkie]

Pedro Martinez. In his prime he was untouchable.

He wasn't as intimidating as Randy Johnson. He didn't paint the corners of home plate the way Maddux did like Vermeer. He didn't have to the (chemically enhanced) longevity of Roger Clemens.

But when Pedro was on, he was the best pitcher I've seen in my lifetime -- and that includes Doc Gooden and Mark Prior in their primes!

Just my opinion, I'm sure there are some stats someone can cherry-pick to prove me "wrong".

[bob]

Pedro Martinez. In his prime he was untouchable.

He wasn't as intimidating as Randy Johnson. He didn't paint the corners of home plate the way Maddux did like Vermeer. He didn't have to the (chemically enhanced) longevity of Roger Clemens.

But when Pedro was on, he was the best pitcher I've seen in my lifetime -- and that includes Doc Gooden and Mark Prior in their primes!

Just my opinion, I'm sure there are some stats someone can cherry-pick to prove me "wrong".
I wont argue that at his peak he might have been the best in this group, but overall career-wise he's got little else to bring to the table compared to the other 3 usual suspects.

Id go Greg > Randy > Roger > Pedro.

[Brad Harris]

Maddux's enormous lead in IP overcomes any slight performance ratio "deficiency" against other candidates.

[STLCards2]

Maddux's enormous lead in IP overcomes any slight performance ratio "deficiency" against other candidates.

My sentiments, exactly!

[Otis Nixon's Bodyguard]

Maddux being my pick for the best because he not only has the most wins but he did it while not having a dominant fast ball.

I don't think that fastball issue warrants giving him bonus points, but, then again, I don't think he needs them. I'd rank them like this:

1. Maddux
2. Clemens
3. Johnson
4. Martinez
5. Glavine
6. Smoltz
7. Schilling

It gets crowded after that. Mariano Rivera is worth mentioning too, but it's hard to compare a closer to starting pitchers. While I do consider him to be the greatest relief pitcher ever, I think it's safe to say that no closer quite deserves the same praise that the all-time great starters (Maddux, Clemens, Johnson, etc.) do.

[BigandUgly]

Probably one of these guys.

Lowest OPS+ allowed, 1990-now, 1000+ IP
Cnt Player OPS+ ERA+ WHIP W W-L% IP From To
+----+-----------------+----+----+-----+---+-----+------+----+----+
1 Mariano Rivera 50 198 1.018 69 .575 1056.1 1995 2009
2 Pedro Martinez 60 154 1.051 214 .684 2782.2 1992 2008
3 Trevor Hoffman 68 146 1.046 57 .460 1011.1 1993 2009
4 Roger Clemens 68 144 1.186 259 .651 3632 1990 2007
5 Greg Maddux 71 138 1.107 310 .621 4334.1 1990 2008
6 Randy Johnson 73 139 1.157 293 .658 3940.2 1990 2009
7 Brandon Webb 73 142 1.239 87 .584 1319.2 2003 2009
8 John Smoltz 75 129 1.163 196 .601 3132 1990 2009
9 Curt Schilling 76 129 1.132 216 .603 3237.2 1990 2007
10 Kevin Brown 78 128 1.217 197 .595 3037 1990 2005
11 Jose Rijo 78 138 1.180 77 .621 1205 1990 2002
12 Tim Hudson 80 126 1.253 146 .655 2017.1 1999 2008
13 David Cone 80 123 1.270 155 .587 2325.2 1990 2003
14 Johan Santana 81 143 1.112 118 .674 1645.1 2000 2009
15 Mike Mussina 81 123 1.192 270 .638 3562.2 1991 2008

That's a pretty impressive list of pitchers, but the one that jumps out at me is Jose Rijo. I kind of forgot about him other than the Esmailyn Gonzalez mess.

I don't think he's one of the best pitchers since 1990, but he's an interesting story.

[PVNICK]

I went with Maddux. His mid 90s run gets kind of forgotten and he never had the lights out stuff of Pedro, Clemens or Randy but he got results.

[Freakshow]

That's a pretty impressive list of pitchers, but the one that jumps out at me is Jose Rijo. I kind of forgot about him other than the Esmailyn Gonzalez mess.

I don't think he's one of the best pitchers since 1990, but he's an interesting story.Which points out what a strange list it is; Rijo is unique on this list, a short-career flameout, no decline phase, really. In most eras, with this criteria, there would be many of this type. But since 1990 it's the long-career guys who dominate in this rate stat. Strange. :noidea

[JDD]

Any of these guys can come up with a win if you need it, but Maddux was the one guy who I always thought was least likely to blow up and give up five runs in five innings or something like that on any given night.

His post season record is a step down, right?

[BigandUgly]

Which points out what a strange list it is; Rijo is unique on this list, a short-career flameout, no decline phase, really. In most eras, with this criteria, there would be many of this type. But since 1990 it's the long-career guys who dominate in this rate stat. Strange. :noidea

Rijo hit the majors in 1984 at the age 18, pitched for 12 years, had a ton of injuries, retired. 5 years later he got a couple of HOF votes then unretired and pitched two more years.

I know Minnie Minosa played a couple of games after retiring and getting a HOF vote. Are there any other players that did it? (I'd like to see Ricky Henderson come back for a year.)

I wouldn't really say he had a "short" career, but I agree with the flameout. Injuries ruined what could have been a very bright career. He did have 6 consecutive sub 3.00 ERA seasons. If he could have had those 5 years back he may have had a legitimate shot at being a borderline HOF candidate.

And he was married to Juan Marichal's daughter for a while.

[Los Bravos]

And he'll always have the '90 Series.

Mario Soto was a similarly dominant Red who couldn't pile up big career numbers.

[everythingbaseball]

Any of these guys can come up with a win if you need it, but Maddux was the one guy who I always thought was least likely to blow up and give up five runs in five innings or something like that on any given night.

His post season record is a step down, right?

That's true and most say he wasn't nearly as intimidating as the others mentioned but in my personal opinion that's not what matters. What I think matters is efficiency and results which I think Maddux had plenty of both.

[gman5431]

Greg Maddux
Pedro Martinez
Randy Johnson

In that order.

G Man

[EricAnno]

Petey
Mad Dog
Rocket
Big Unit
Mo