Rank The Best Modern Day Pitchers

Kevin Brown is borderline. He had a couple absolutely fantastic seasons. But injuries hurt him in the longevity category.

Wasn't he named in the Mitchell report? I'm not saying that necessarily matters for purposes of this discussion, but I'm just curious--wasn't he in there?

Kevin Brown is borderline. He had a couple absolutely fantastic seasons. But injuries hurt him in the longevity category.

Kevin Brown W 211/ L 144 3.28 era SO 2397

Similar to Shilling and John Smoltz but not nearly the amount of SO's. So he's in the second tier. Smoltz has a similar record and era but a ton of saves to go w/ it.

Tim Wakefield. And not because I'm a Red Sox fan (I'm not). This is purely a longevity vote. For the 17th consecutive year, the dude has a job as a starting pitcher. That's amazing.

Also, wouldn't Hersheiser qualify in this time period?

Tim Wakefield W 185/ L 160 4.32 era 1948 SO's. He's got longevity but that's about it. Not a HOF. A good mlb pitcher, but not in elite status.

OH pitched until 2000 w/ 204 wins/ 150 losses, 3.48 era, 2014 SO's

Not amongst the elite in my opinion. Great pitcher though.

Tim Wakefield. And not because I'm a Red Sox fan (I'm not). This is purely a longevity vote. For the 17th consecutive year, the dude has a job as a starting pitcher. That's amazing.

Also, wouldn't Hersheiser qualify in this time period?

You want longevity, try Jamie Moyer

Tim Wakefield W 185/ L 160 4.32 era 1948 SO's. He's got longevity but that's about it. Not a HOF. A good mlb pitcher, but not in elite status.
OH pitched until 2000 w/ 204 wins/ 150 losses, 3.48 era, 2014 SO's

Not amongst the elite in my opinion. Great pitcher though.

No question. I actually agree. It just struck me that the guy has been a starter almost throughout the entire time range we're talking about. But yes, during this time period, he's generally been just good enough to keep a job.

There is no question that Roger Clemens was the best, or 2nd best pitcher of this era if you don't equate steroids...however, his steroids abuse totally negates his stats in my mind, just like Bonds. (no schilling cause of his suspected steroids abuse as well...although no concrete convictions...if any of the players on this list are suspected or accused, they drop off the list)

So here is my list,
1- Pedro Martinez (hands down)
2- Randy Johnson
3- Greg Maddux
4- John Smoltz
5- Johan Santana (will end up #2 on this list after career is over)
6- David Cone
7- Kevin Brown
8- Roy Halladay
9- Bret Saberhagen
10- Tom Glavine

I did not include any relievers cause they need their own thread. You can't compare closers to starters...just a totally different breed.

Tim Wakefield. And not because I'm a Red Sox fan (I'm not). This is purely a longevity vote. For the 17th consecutive year, the dude has a job as a starting pitcher. That's amazing.

Also, wouldn't Hersheiser qualify in this time period?

Well, I am from Boston, and a huge Sox fan, but Wakefield shouldn't even be whispered in this thread. The man has had 7 losing seasons! He's had an era of 4.5 or higher 9 times (if you include thus far this year). He's had an era of 5 or higher 4 times! He certainly has a rubber arm, but you have to ask yourself, when was he ever a #1 pitcher for his own team? How about #2 pitcher? He's been a 3rd starter or worse his entire career. He's dependable, yes, but no way does he deserve any "best" moniker unless you are referring to his knuckleball ability.
Or how about best pitcher with a 76 MPH fastball. LOL.

I don't know if there will ever be a Maddux again. Ever. If it were not for Greg Maddux, I probably would not like baseball.

1. Greg Maddux - He's the face of the modern era. At least, the steroid-free modern era.

2. Pedro Martinez - My greatest wish for Zack Greinke is that his career looks something like Pedro's when it's all said and done. In his prime, no one has ever been better.

3. Randy Johnson - I don't think people realize just how good Randy Johnson has been. Curt Schilling was having some of his best years, and he was unquestionably his team's No. 2 starter.

4. Bert Blyleven - I know for sure that people don't realize how good he was. I'm counting him as part of the modern era since he's still HOF eligible.

5. Johan Santana - Over the last five years, no one in the game has been better.

6. Roy Halladay - Should have gotten the AL Cy Young last year over Cliff Lee. While Lee was more valuable by the pitch, Roy's amazing durability, inning eating ability, and strikeout consistency would have given him my vote. Five years from now, he's still going to be an annual Cy Young threat.

7. Tom Glavine - His remarkable durability often gets lost in reasons why the Braves were so good for so long, and even John Smoltz missed much of this decade and found himself in relief. Glavine has his perception a little bit by hanging on too long, but he's an absolute lock for the HOF, which Smoltz is not.

8. Roger Clemens - The other face of the era, for different reasons, Clemens was no better than the seventh or eight best pitcher, but was dominating in his prime, and did it for a long time.

9. Bret Saberhagen - In the late eighties, he was Pedro before there was a Pedro.

10. Mike Mussina - Numbers say: better than Schilling.

Robin Ventura

That, along with Canseco's "header", are some of my favorite baseball highlights that come to mind.

I don't know if there will ever be a Maddux again. Ever. If it were not for Greg Maddux, I probably would not like baseball.

1. Greg Maddux - He's the face of the modern era. At least, the steroid-free modern era.

2. Pedro Martinez - My greatest wish for Zack Greinke is that his career looks something like Pedro's when it's all said and done. In his prime, no one has ever been better.

3. Randy Johnson - I don't think people realize just how good Randy Johnson has been. Curt Schilling was having some of his best years, and he was unquestionably his team's No. 2 starter.

4. Bert Blyleven - I know for sure that people don't realize how good he was. I'm counting him as part of the modern era since he's still HOF eligible.

5. Johan Santana - Over the last five years, no one in the game has been better.

6. Roy Halladay - Should have gotten the AL Cy Young last year over Cliff Lee. While Lee was more valuable by the pitch, Roy's amazing durability, inning eating ability, and strikeout consistency would have given him my vote. Five years from now, he's still going to be an annual Cy Young threat.

7. Tom Glavine - His remarkable durability often gets lost in reasons why the Braves were so good for so long, and even John Smoltz missed much of this decade and found himself in relief. Glavine has his perception a little bit by hanging on too long, but he's an absolute lock for the HOF, which Smoltz is not.

8. Roger Clemens - The other face of the era, for different reasons, Clemens was no better than the seventh or eight best pitcher, but was dominating in his prime, and did it for a long time.

9. Bret Saberhagen - In the late eighties, he was Pedro before there was a Pedro.

10. Mike Mussina - Numbers say: better than Schilling.

Bert is overrated in a lot of minds, and underrated in a lot of others. In my mind he's overrated due to his .534 winning percentage. 287 wins, (in 685 starts) and he only had 1 20 win season (also one of the main reasons hes not in the hall). He had 8 .500 or worse seasons, and only 1 game over .500 4 times in his career.(that's 12 seasons of 1 game above .500 or worse in his career...not good) His longevity skews his numbers overall to make it appear as if he was a great pitcher, while in reality, he was a good pitcher. To be #4 on this list is a far stretch IMO. I wouldn't have said anything if he was #10 or so though. Not sure he can count as "in the modern day" since he started his career in 1970, and had 7 seasons with 37 or more starts, 1 with 40 which is unheard of in this day and age. His 242 CG is a stat that shows he's not really a modern day pitcher. Also, how many times do you see a pitcher above 260 innings pitched for a season? He has had 260 or more innings pitched 9 times, including a stretch of consecutive seasons with: 278.1, 287.1, 325, 281, 275.2, and 297.2 but DID NOT LEAD THE LEAGUE IN THAT CATAGORY. But I do get your point.
John Smoltz, Kevin Brown, and David Cone were all better pitchers IMO. Bert was not great, but certainly good. He's been on the cusp of the hall for a reason, and doesn't deserve it for a reason IMO.