Best lefty off all time? My vote is Koufax!

[Carter08]

Originally Posted by cammb

Statistics aside. Being selected to the hall as the youngest player ever mean anything to the naysayers? That is a great tribute when the writers basically went by five seasons of greatness.

I don’t think even the “naysayers” have Koufax out of the top 3 or so. It’s the 5 seasons of greatness and not more that have him out of the top 2.

[earlywynnfan]

Originally Posted by Carter08

I don’t think even the “naysayers” have Koufax out of the top 3 or so. It’s the 5 seasons of greatness and not more that have him out of the top 2.

I would wholeheartedly agree with this statement. Or, to allow for differences of opinion, nobody leaves him out of top 5? Maybe Spahn or Carlton has a case?? But Koufax was one friggin' awesome pitcher.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Carter08

I don’t think even the “naysayers” have Koufax out of the top 3 or so. It’s the 5 seasons of greatness and not more that have him out of the top 2.

Well, I would rank him 5th or 6th I think, behind Grove, Johnson, Spahn, Carlton and Kershaw, although Kershaw's post-season makes me not that enthusiastic. I would certainly rank Carlton ahead based on the overall body of work.

[G1911]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Well, I would rank him 5th or 6th I think, behind Grove, Johnson, Spahn, Carlton and Kershaw, although Kershaw's post-season makes me not that enthusiastic. I would certainly rank Carlton ahead based on the overall body of work.

Carlton in 1972 is one of the top peak pitching years. WAR has it better than anything Koufax or Grove did.

I’d throw Ford into consideration on your list, but I agree. Ranking 6th or 7th all time is not disparaging. It’s better than most statistical rankings would put him too. Koufax is 89th in pitching WAR.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by G1911

Carlton in 1972 is one of the top peak pitching years. WAR has it better than anything Koufax or Grove did.

I’d throw Ford into consideration on your list, but I agree. Ranking 6th or 7th all time is not disparaging. It’s better than most statistical rankings would put him too. Koufax is 89th in pitching WAR.

4 Cy Youngs overall. Including one at 37.

[Carter08]

Carlton was ending right as I was getting into baseball so I didn’t think much of him, especially since I was a Mets fan and he was a longtime Philly. Looking at his stats he was just absurdly good.

[G1911]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

4 Cy Youngs overall. Including one at 37.

My favorite Carlton stat is that when he went 27-10 with a 1.92 ERA in 1972, his team won only 59 games.

27-10, .730 with a Carlton decision.

32-87, .367 when anyone else was the deciding pitcher.

What a fantastic season.

[egri]

Leaving aside different eras, integration and all the rest, the best ability is availability, and the guy who threw his last pitch at 30 didn't have it.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by G1911

My favorite Carlton stat is that when he went 27-10 with a 1.92 ERA in 1972, his team won only 59 games.

27-10, .730 with a Carlton decision.

32-87, .367 when anyone else was the deciding pitcher.

What a fantastic season.

When he had command of his slider -- which was very often -- he was tough to beat. Also notice how he was almost never injured.