It all makes sense now. He doesn't want to declare one guy better and find out the other guy had a longer career, or else he'll have to concede longevity isn't everything and
Hunter may actually be the better pitcher.
JT, while I agree with you and Mike (and just about everyone else on the site who has posted) about the WHIP argument, and that longevity does not make a pitcher better than another pitcher (i.e. Koufax vs. Drysdale debate) in the
specific Hunter vs. Carlton debate..... I side with JRD..... Hunter & Carlton were not equals. Carlton was better. Here is what I posted about 30-35 pages ago.... lol
Here is what I found.....
- In Hunter's best 5 seasons, he was 111-49 (113-117 in his other seasons combined) and won 1 Cy Young. In Carlton's best 5 seasons, he was 117-47 and won 4 Cy Youngs.
- Hunter had 5 seasons of 110+ Adjusted ERA seasons. Carlton had 12
- Hunter had 3 seasons of more than a 2.5/1 K/BB ratio. Carlton had 8
- Hunter had 3 top 10 ERA seasons. Carlton had 8
- Hunter had 7 seasons where he was top 10 in CGs. Carlton had 15.
- Hunter had 6 seasons where he was top 10 in SOs. Carlton had 11.
- Hunter had only 3 seasons where he was top 10 in WAR/pitcher. Carlton had 7.
- Hunter's 10 most similar pitchers to him were Tiant, Pappas, Hershiser, Vida Blue, Kevin Brown, Welch, Drysdale, Jim Perry, Pierce & Rick Reuschel. 1 of which is in the HOF (Drysdale)
- Carlton's 10 most similar pitchers to him were Sutton, Phil Niekro, Gaylord Perry, Blyleven, Spahn, Wynn, Seaver, Clemens, Maddux & Glavine. All of whom are either in the HOF or shoo-ins for it (other than maybe Clemens because of PEDs).
- Hunter's HOF Standards number (the one less affected by longevity) is 42 while an average HOFer is 50. Carlton's is 58.