It wasn't until I saw Greg Maddux walk off the mound after the bottom of the fifth inning on Sunday that I began thinking—Is he the greatest pitcher of this era?
Most definitely.
As the game cut to commercial, I began naming all of the great pitchers I've witnessed in my 19 short years: Clemens, Maddux, Glavine, Smoltz, Martinez, Johnson, Cone, Schilling, Mussina.
Can I say I'd backseat Maddux to any of them? After the fall of Roger Clemens, no.
You see, Maddux has still got it. Completing five innings on Sunday for his 349th career victory, he allowed no runs and gave up only two hits.
With Clemens out of the picture, let's take a look at Maddux's other competitors.
Tom Glavine
While he was neck and neck with Maddux for years, a move to the New York Mets simply killed his comfortable Atlanta win total. He didn't take well to Shea Stadium, seeing his ERA increase a great amount.
Let's also keep in mind that Glavine has the left-handed advantage over Maddux, a lethal weapon in any stage of a pitcher's career. This just goes on to further show that Maddux is a more quality pitcher than Tommy G.
John Smoltz
His 209 career victories look non-existent compared to Maddux's 349, and a few years in the bullpen salvaged Smoltzy's ERA a bit. As of now, Smoltz doesn't match Maddux's strikeout numbers either.
Pedro Martinez
While he took the liberty of crowning himself the best pitcher of his era, Pedro doesn't match up to Maddux in numbers. Still 140 wins behind Maddux, Pedro proved he isn't nearly as durable either.
Injuries aside, Maddux's 109 career complete games can't even be touched by Pedro's 46. Although Pedro gets the nod when it comes to ERA, his other stats don't even make him half the pitcher Maddux is.
Randy Johnson
Like Glavine, the lefty factor has helped Johnson tremendously, as well as his great height. With only two less seasons in the big leagues than Maddux, I'll let you do the math.
He has 65 less wins than Maddux, a higher ERA, 33 more home runs surrendered, and 501 more free passes. While Maddux spent all those years being a pitcher, Johnson was a thrower who only recently learned to pitch.
Advantage to Maddux.
David Cone
Cone is my favorite pitcher of all time—I had to include him.
While injuries and a strike prevented him from winning 200 games, Coney's presence was always strong. However, Maddux takes the cake in wins, ERA, CGs, and Ks. No contest.
Curt Schilling
Despite the fact that he's still pitching—and somewhat effectively—Schilling isn't nearly as durable as Maddux. He will fall far short of Maddux in starts, and thus wins. His ERA is almost a half run higher and he has surprisingly less strikeouts.
While Schilling experienced six or seven years of greatness, Maddux has experienced practically a career of it.
Mike Mussina
Falling short of only Clemens, Glavine, and Johnson in wins on this competitor list, Mussina's 251 is still far less than 349. Mussina has never won 20 games and his ERA is more than a half run higher than Maddux's.
Maddux takes this no contest.
When all is said and done, Greg Maddux is the best pitcher of this era. He survived the steroids era while keeping his name clean and dominating throughout. While people will look at Clemens' and Johnson's strikeouts and Pedro's winning percentage, Maddux is the most complete pitcher of them all.
So when my grandsons are sitting on my lap 50 years down the road and they ask me, "Pop, who was the greatest pitcher you ever saw?" I'll mention Clemens. I'll speak of Glavine and Smoltz. I'll certainly glorify Cone's heart. I might even name drop Johnson and Pedro.
But when push comes to shove, I'll look down and say "Greg Maddux."
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6 months ago
So you know for a fact Maddux never took peds? Well god bless you if you can make that claim. Clemens was better before the steroid era and he was better after the testing began. 7 Cy youngs..five in the much stronger AL..I will take the Rocket all day long.
from 6 months ago
Ahh... I never said I knew he didn't. I only said he kept his name clean. Big difference. I would agree that Clemens is better but the steroid factor takes his name out of the running. Just as you can argue that I don't know that Maddux didn't take them, I can argue that you don't know Clemens didn't take them before '98 or before he even met McNamee.
6 months ago
@Chris
Explain what do you mean by "you know for a fact Maddux never took peds?". Do you mean "Did you follow him around every breathing, wake moment of his life for last 20 years, even kept an eye on him while he was shitting, because otherwise you can't know if he did or didn't do peds". Because if you mean that, than my friend you're an idiot. It's like saying "You know for a fact Pope never f*cked Queen Elizabeth? Do you know it for a fact? Do you follow them around every day?". Did you ever watch Maddux pitch, or do you watch only AL? Does that dude look to you like someone who ever used steroids? Does he look like someone whose set of skills can be enhanced by them? What ped helps you to locate 86 mph fastball on the outside corner every single time?
6 months ago
Andy Pettite never striked me as an athlete that was using HGH - should the public give a free pass to Maddux, Johnson, Martinez, etc... just because they don't fit the public profile of a presumed user of HGH or Steroids? Clemens is hands-down the best of his era either with or without proving he was on something! Last I checked what he is accused of wasn't banned at the time anyway. Besides, whatever happened to the list of 100 names that failed the drug test that was suppossed to be released to the public??? Let me guess, all is forgiven and they won't be released and the public and MLB will go on making Roger Clemens the fall guy!
from 6 months ago
Coming from a guy who's name is rocket fan? I'll take it as a compliment.
It has nothing to do with a public profile... it has to do with taking steroids. And Clemens is the only one saying he didn't.
It doesn't matter whether or not what he tooked was banned. Dating 10 girls at the same time isn't illegal, but does that make it right? No. Ethics is the underlying issue here, and if you don't see that you're not seeing past your "Rocket Fan" bias.
Clemens would have been the top of the list if he wasn't a CHEATER.
And a stat for ya... Maddux needs 6 wins to pass Roger. He has a lower career ERA, has given up 28 less homeruns, and surrendered 636 less free passes. Chicks may dig the strikeout, but the stats make it look pretty even. Hands-down what?
...and all these anti-Roger stats coming from a Yankee fan... go figure
6 months ago
Tom:
I remind you and the rest of the public that Clemens has been proven guilty of anything! If your argument is based on ethics than Baseball needs to remove some of their HOF members that were drug users, alcoholics, wife beaters, racist, dirty players, and cheats, etc... Don't even give me your argument that this didn't compromise the game! Players have been drunk, used spit balls, pine tar, corked bats, abused prescription drugs, cocaine users, spiked other players, etc.... If Clemens is guilty then I say Shame on him for doing so and lying about it to all of us but, that doesn't and shouldn't take away everything he has accomplished on and off the field during his career. If we keep him from the HOF then we should start kicking some others out!
How convenient that you didn't comment on the fact that 100 players names that failed the drug test have yet to be released to the public. This should indicate to all of you Saints that this problem was rampant in baseball and spreads farther then the assumed guilt of Roger Clemens!
P.S.
Clemens should have 15+ more wins alone just in his Houston days. Should we count the rest of his career? Maddux passing him for Wins means very little and his ERA is a difference of playing in the National League. Clemens is a Strikeout pitcher so obviously he will walk more hitters.
from 6 months ago
Not been proven guilty
5 months ago
Debates over Maddux vs. Clemens may rage forever. Concrete proof over steroid or HGH use would probably end it; yet, IMO this isn't a place for steroids talk. Clemens is obviously among the greatest of our time; but while he may be innocent in a court of law, the court of public opinion has his innocence questionable. Unfortunate as this may be, repeated and emphatic denials by Rafael Palmiero and Marion Jones have lessened the credibility of pro athletes.
Now, onto Maddux. His Hall of Fame stats don't lie, his command and control have been evident, his insight on pitching is obvious, his work ethic has been noted, and his intentional anonymity is testimony to how he has flown under fan radar. IMO, aside from a fierce temper and a weakness toward holding baserunners, Maddux epitomizes the good of baseball the way Gwynn and Ripken did. He plays hard on all levels- physically and mentally; I've never heard him rip his teammates, his managers or his pitching coaches. He stays healthy and devotes his body to making his starts and good pitches. He seems to be all about his team; he is not just about pitching butfielding (17 Gold Gloves) and hitting (an excellent bunter) as well. As for holding runners, I've heard him speak of how that reduces his concentration on making good pitches to the real threat on the field- the batter who can bring the runner home.
Does he dominate the way other pitchers have? No, he doesn't; he lets the batter do the work- much the same way Koufax learned to do in his glory years. This guy isn't worried about appearances, or what others may think of him. He seems to be true to himself, a baseball player who happens to be a pitcher- and a very good one at that.
"No one I've seen in a long time can carve up a lineup like Greg Maddux."
-Tim McCarver, during Maddux's two-hitter Game 1 of the 1995 WS-
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