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Best pitching staff ever?

Home ▸ Archive ▸ Pro Sports ▸ Best pitching staff ever?
BigAppleBuckeye's avatar

BigAppleBuckeye

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2,935 posts
Apr 25, 2010 1:12 PM
What team do you think had the best pitching staff of alltime?

Was on Metsblog.com earlier, and I was reminded that the 1991 Mets had 3 Cy Young Award winners in their rotation -- Doc Gooden, Frank Viola and David Cone (Cone actually won the award after he left the Mets, although I think he got robbed in 1988 when he went 20-3 with a 2.22 ERA and 213 strikeouts).

Despite this staff, that Mets team was rather unmemorable. So I ask: what is the best staff of all-time?
Apr 25, 2010 1:12pm
Hb31187's avatar

Hb31187

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8,534 posts
Apr 25, 2010 1:17 PM
One of the 90's Braves rotations would be my vote
Apr 25, 2010 1:17pm
NNN's avatar

NNN

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902 posts
Apr 25, 2010 1:22 PM
BigAppleBuckeye wrote: What team do you think had the best pitching staff of alltime?

Was on Metsblog.com earlier, and I was reminded that the 1991 Mets had 3 Cy Young Award winners in their rotation -- Doc Gooden, Frank Viola and David Cone (Cone actually won the award after he left the Mets, although I think he got robbed in 1988 when he went 20-3 with a 2.22 ERA and 213 strikeouts).

Despite this staff, that Mets team was rather unmemorable. So I ask: what is the best staff of all-time?
The Milwaukee Braves through the 1950s and the Atlanta Braves through the 1990s had the best pitching staffs. Ultimately, it's not a question of "What names are on the staff?", it's a question of "What did they do during that time?" It's kind of tough to have a 77-84 team as having the best pitching staff in history.

The Braves of the 1950s had Warren Spahn every year, who went 202-131 during the decade. Once they hit Milwaukee (1953), they were in the top two every year in fewest runs allowed.

The fact that both of these runs of brilliance led only to one World Seres each should also serve to refute the idea that hitting wins games and pitching wins championships.
Apr 25, 2010 1:22pm
BigAppleBuckeye's avatar

BigAppleBuckeye

Senior Member

2,935 posts
Apr 25, 2010 1:26 PM
NNN wrote:
BigAppleBuckeye wrote: What team do you think had the best pitching staff of alltime?

Was on Metsblog.com earlier, and I was reminded that the 1991 Mets had 3 Cy Young Award winners in their rotation -- Doc Gooden, Frank Viola and David Cone (Cone actually won the award after he left the Mets, although I think he got robbed in 1988 when he went 20-3 with a 2.22 ERA and 213 strikeouts).

Despite this staff, that Mets team was rather unmemorable. So I ask: what is the best staff of all-time?
The Milwaukee Braves through the 1950s and the Atlanta Braves through the 1990s had the best pitching staffs. Ultimately, it's not a question of "What names are on the staff?", it's a question of "What did they do during that time?" It's kind of tough to have a 77-84 team as having the best pitching staff in history.

The Braves of the 1950s had Warren Spahn every year, who went 202-131 during the decade. Once they hit Milwaukee (1953), they were in the top two every year in fewest runs allowed.

The fact that both of these runs of brilliance led only to one World Seres each should also serve to refute the idea that hitting wins games and pitching wins championships.
Totally agree NNN, didn't mean to imply that the '91 Mets team was the best, especially on that mediocre team. But those names inspired the brainstorm of best staffs ever. That Braves staff was nasty indeed. That 2001 Diamondbacks front-end of Schilling and Johnson was ridiculous, but the rest of the staff was rather lackluster if my memory serves me correctly.
Apr 25, 2010 1:26pm
F

Footwedge

Senior Member

9,265 posts
Apr 25, 2010 1:37 PM
For a couple of years, the early 70's staff of the Orioles. One year they had 4 20 game winners. Palmer, McNally, Dobson and Cuellar.

The LA Dodgers were tough in the early 60's as well headed by Koufax and Drysdale, and Osteen.
Apr 25, 2010 1:37pm
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Heretic

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18,820 posts
Apr 25, 2010 1:40 PM
This year's Pirates.

Look at the box scores provided by Charlie Morton, Daniel McCutchen, Brian Burres and Chris Jakoffasaur and tell me how things could conceivably be better.

Honorable mention goes to the Reds, where I think it takes starting pitchers 20+ pitches to make it through any inning.
Apr 25, 2010 1:40pm
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gibby08

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1,581 posts
Apr 25, 2010 1:51 PM
95-96 Braves

Tom Glavine
Greg Maddux
John Smoltz
Steve Avery
Kent Mercker(95)
Jason Schmidt(96)
Apr 25, 2010 1:51pm
Wildcat24's avatar

Wildcat24

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261 posts
Apr 25, 2010 4:06 PM
Indians had a good one in the late 40's early 50's.

Bob Feller (HOF)
Bob Lemon (HOF)
Early Wynn (HOF)
Mike Garcia
Apr 25, 2010 4:06pm
S

Sonofanump

Apr 25, 2010 4:16 PM
At first I thought 69 Mets:
Koosman
Seaver
Ryan
McGraw
Gary Gentry
Ron Taylor

Then mid sixties Dodgers:
Koufax
Drysdale
Podres
Does not matter who else
Apr 25, 2010 4:16pm
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jordo212000

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10,664 posts
Apr 25, 2010 4:53 PM
I like that Dodgers rotation with Koufax and Drysdale.
Apr 25, 2010 4:53pm
B

BR1986FB

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24,104 posts
Apr 25, 2010 9:32 PM
70's Orioles
Apr 25, 2010 9:32pm
Laley23's avatar

Laley23

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29,506 posts
Apr 25, 2010 9:46 PM
70s Orioles or 90s Braves.
Apr 25, 2010 9:46pm
BRF's avatar

BRF

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8,748 posts
Apr 25, 2010 10:24 PM
Tribe 1954
Apr 25, 2010 10:24pm
Cleveland Buck's avatar

Cleveland Buck

Troll Hunter

5,126 posts
Apr 25, 2010 10:29 PM
2010 Indians
Apr 25, 2010 10:29pm
Writerbuckeye's avatar

Writerbuckeye

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4,745 posts
Apr 25, 2010 11:10 PM
The Oakland As around 1974 or so had an awesome staff.

Vida Blue, Catfish Hunter and Ken Holtzman with Rollie Fingers out of the bullpen.

Didn't that group with something like three World Series titles in a row from 72-74?

I'd say they have to be in the discussion not only for one year, but beyond.
Apr 25, 2010 11:10pm
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killdeer

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1,538 posts
Apr 27, 2010 1:04 AM
gotta go with the
1. 90's Braves
2. early 70's orioles
3. early 70's A's

another staff to remember was the early 80's Astros..
JR Richard; until his tragic stroke
Nolan Ryan
Joe Niekro and the resurrected knuckler
Joaquin Andujar
Ken Forsch
Vern Ruhle
Bob Knepper acquired from the Giants in '81.
Apr 27, 2010 1:04am
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killdeer

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1,538 posts
Apr 27, 2010 1:09 AM
one more memorable staff...early-mid 80's Dodgers...

Valenzuela
Hershiser
Reuss
Welch
Hooton
Apr 27, 2010 1:09am
hoops23's avatar

hoops23

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15,696 posts
Apr 27, 2010 1:23 AM
That 2007 Cleveland Indians rotation could have been very special if Cliff Lee wasn't going through his emotional downfall.
Apr 27, 2010 1:23am
Laley23's avatar

Laley23

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Apr 27, 2010 1:28 AM
LTrain23 wrote: That 2007 Cleveland Indians rotation could have been very special if Cliff Lee wasn't going through his emotional downfall.
No pitching staff with Joe Borowski can be considered anywhere near great, regardless of who the starters were.
Apr 27, 2010 1:28am
hoops23's avatar

hoops23

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15,696 posts
Apr 27, 2010 3:59 AM
Laley23 wrote:
LTrain23 wrote: That 2007 Cleveland Indians rotation could have been very special if Cliff Lee wasn't going through his emotional downfall.
No pitching staff with Joe Borowski can be considered anywhere near great, regardless of who the starters were.
I was under the impression that we were just basing this off of the starters, not the bullpen.

If that's the case, the 07 bullpen was nearly light out.

With that said, it's irrelevant.
Apr 27, 2010 3:59am
S

Swamp Fox

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2,218 posts
Apr 27, 2010 5:38 AM
I hate the Dodgers but I was in LA when that Koufax, Drysdale, Podres, starting staff plus that bull pen was shutting down team after team. The Dodgers played a lot of "small ball" through that era but if you don't let the other team score, you can win a lot of games, and they did. Maury Wills reaches base, steals second, a "seeing eye grounder" finds it's way into the outfield, Wills scores and nine innings later, LA has a 1-0 victory. I would also concur with the pollster who mentioned Warren Spahn and his great career. We should also mention the other half of that dynamic duo staff. Lew Burdette was the right hander who won a ton of games also for the Braves through that era. There have been many great staffs but here were two of the really good ones in National League history.
Apr 27, 2010 5:38am
darbypitcher22's avatar

darbypitcher22

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8,000 posts
Apr 27, 2010 8:42 AM
That 90's Braves rotation was filthy night in and night out...
Apr 27, 2010 8:42am
S

Sonofanump

Apr 27, 2010 8:56 AM
The 06 Cubs (Brown) and 92 Spiders (Young) need to be mentioned.
Apr 27, 2010 8:56am
BigAppleBuckeye's avatar

BigAppleBuckeye

Senior Member

2,935 posts
Apr 27, 2010 10:59 AM
killdeer wrote: gotta go with the
1. 90's Braves
2. early 70's orioles
3. early 70's A's

another staff to remember was the early 80's Astros..
JR Richard; until his tragic stroke
Nolan Ryan
Joe Niekro and the resurrected knuckler
Joaquin Andujar
Ken Forsch
Vern Ruhle
Bob Knepper acquired from the Giants in '81.
Plus Mike Scott, who won the 1986 Cy Young Award and was unhittable in the NLCS against the Mets.
Apr 27, 2010 10:59am
J

JakeGiant

Senior Member

355 posts
Apr 27, 2010 11:10 AM
Okay, is it staff, or collection of pitchers in a brief time? Some are debating "staff", but overlapping some Pitchers.
Apr 27, 2010 11:10am