for any 4 years in a row I take Koufax...that story about batting practice 1n 1981 was great...thanks for sharing that story.

There has been a handful of pitchers that, when they had their A Game, were truly untouchable.  That's amazing, when you think about it, as the rules of baseball dictate that a pitcher pretty much has to throw 'hittable' pitches - i.e., they have to put it in the strike zone.  I'm not talking about tossing a no-hitter (how many people have thrown no-nos, never to be heard from again?); I'm talking about a pitcher that every time he took the mound there was that attitude (backed up with performance) of "OK, you may get a hit, but do you really think you have a chance to beat me?"  The type of pitcher that comes up in the 'if you had to pick one pitcher for one game ...' barroom debates.  Here - by no other order than decade - are the pitchers I put in that category (limited to my era, pitchers I've seen):

1960s - Koufax, Gibson, Drysdale, Marichal
1970s - Ryan, Seaver
1980s - Ryan, Clemens, Valenzuela
1990s - Pedro, Maddux, Clemens, Unit
2000s - Pedro, Unit
2010s - Kershaw

good stuff.

from Italy.."In 1981 the Dodgers were facing the Yankees in the World Series and they asked Koufax to pitch batting practice. He had not pitched on a mound in 15 years. Anywhere. He struck out the side deep into the batting order until they told him he was demoralizing the whole team's offense before the Series and asked him to please leave."

never heard that before, great story. And you're correct in saying the "bonus baby" rules of time (which also retarded Killebrew's development) did cost him some training. I have no quarrel with Koufax being listed. His career has turned into MLB lore. In time, and maybe it's still 20 years out, Pedro will be part of that lore.

Posted by pinotfan on 7/17/2015 11:29:00 AM (view original):
There has been a handful of pitchers that, when they had their A Game, were truly untouchable.  That's amazing, when you think about it, as the rules of baseball dictate that a pitcher pretty much has to throw 'hittable' pitches - i.e., they have to put it in the strike zone.  I'm not talking about tossing a no-hitter (how many people have thrown no-nos, never to be heard from again?); I'm talking about a pitcher that every time he took the mound there was that attitude (backed up with performance) of "OK, you may get a hit, but do you really think you have a chance to beat me?"  The type of pitcher that comes up in the 'if you had to pick one pitcher for one game ...' barroom debates.  Here - by no other order than decade - are the pitchers I put in that category (limited to my era, pitchers I've seen):

1960s - Koufax, Gibson, Drysdale, Marichal
1970s - Ryan, Seaver
1980s - Ryan, Clemens, Valenzuela
1990s - Pedro, Maddux, Clemens, Unit
2000s - Pedro, Unit
2010s - Kershaw

I think you have to fit Justin Verlander into the mix of the 2000s and 2010s somehow, although it's not an exact fit. And I'll add MadBum to the 2010s for the sake of the "over a beer" argument.

Here is the link to that story about Koufax pitching World Series batting practice - it might have been 1978 instead of 1981. 

It is Thomas Boswell who recounts the story and it comes in at 42:19 of this documentary:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qclWOfpV2Fw

sandy koufax was the real deal when it came to the world series...one of the greatest players in world series history....0.95 ERA in 8 games.

just watched the koufax documentary it was awesome had never seen that one before thanks prof

Dan Uggla, BJ Upton, Kosuke Fukudome, Kei Igawa

Say those names 5 times fast.

HIDECKI IROBYOU

Posted by redwingscup on 7/17/2015 1:08:00 PM (view original):

Posted by pinotfan on 7/17/2015 11:29:00 AM (view original):
There has been a handful of pitchers that, when they had their A Game, were truly untouchable.  That's amazing, when you think about it, as the rules of baseball dictate that a pitcher pretty much has to throw 'hittable' pitches - i.e., they have to put it in the strike zone.  I'm not talking about tossing a no-hitter (how many people have thrown no-nos, never to be heard from again?); I'm talking about a pitcher that every time he took the mound there was that attitude (backed up with performance) of "OK, you may get a hit, but do you really think you have a chance to beat me?"  The type of pitcher that comes up in the 'if you had to pick one pitcher for one game ...' barroom debates.  Here - by no other order than decade - are the pitchers I put in that category (limited to my era, pitchers I've seen):

1960s - Koufax, Gibson, Drysdale, Marichal
1970s - Ryan, Seaver
1980s - Ryan, Clemens, Valenzuela
1990s - Pedro, Maddux, Clemens, Unit
2000s - Pedro, Unit
2010s - Kershaw

I think you have to fit Justin Verlander into the mix of the 2000s and 2010s somehow, although it's not an exact fit. And I'll add MadBum to the 2010s for the sake of the "over a beer" argument.

One of my unscientific personal criteria was that the pitcher had to show dominance over at least a three year period.  I'm not quite ready to add Verlander and Baumgardner to my list; I may rethink Valenzuela's inclusion as well.  His rookie year was a year for the ages, but he never dominated again like that.  Greinke is making an argument for inclusion in the 2010s.

And as far as the 'one pitcher for one game' debate, if I'm naming my pitcher last I usually pick Babe Ruth.  Dominant pitcher (although far from the best), best hitter ever.

Posted by pinotfan on 7/19/2015 3:13:00 PM (view original):
And as far as the 'one pitcher for one game' debate, if I'm naming my pitcher last I usually pick Babe Ruth.  Dominant pitcher (although far from the best), best hitter ever.

Miguel Cabrera. The advanced scouting he pros have today, light years ahead of Ruth's time. How well Cabrera is able to adjust with all the scouting against him is other-worldly

Posted by pinotfan on 7/17/2015 11:29:00 AM (view original):
There has been a handful of pitchers that, when they had their A Game, were truly untouchable.  That's amazing, when you think about it, as the rules of baseball dictate that a pitcher pretty much has to throw 'hittable' pitches - i.e., they have to put it in the strike zone.  I'm not talking about tossing a no-hitter (how many people have thrown no-nos, never to be heard from again?); I'm talking about a pitcher that every time he took the mound there was that attitude (backed up with performance) of "OK, you may get a hit, but do you really think you have a chance to beat me?"  The type of pitcher that comes up in the 'if you had to pick one pitcher for one game ...' barroom debates.  Here - by no other order than decade - are the pitchers I put in that category (limited to my era, pitchers I've seen):

1960s - Koufax, Gibson, Drysdale, Marichal
1970s - Ryan, Seaver
1980s - Ryan, Clemens, Valenzuela
1990s - Pedro, Maddux, Clemens, Unit
2000s - Pedro, Unit
2010s - Kershaw

Gooden and/or Hershiser in the '80's over Valenzuela