POLL Randy Johnson or Clayton Kershaw

[Fountain City Blues]

This strangely is a thing on my timeline today, apparently.

It's semi-intriguing though given the differences of eras; pun not intended.

 

[Mebert]

Randy Johnson for now, Kershaw is still an easy first ballot if he never pitched again. I think if Kershaw pitches the way he pitches for another 5 years a so he probably passes Johnson.

 

[Fountain City Blues]

Randy Johnson for now, Kershaw is still an easy first ballot if he never pitched again. I think if Kershaw pitches the way he pitches for another 5 years a so he probably passes Johnson.

Yeah, with any conversation like this, it relies quite a bit on guesswork.

How much of Kershaw's stats would translate to Randy's era? Would his ERA+ be the same? Would his prime still be dominant and actually inflate his ERA+? There's a lot we simply don't know here.


Randy Johnson had 603 GS and about 4130 IP and change.

Kershaw for perspective is only at 316 GS and Nearly 2100 IP.

There's an enormous ERA difference, but it's pretty clear there's a meaningful difference in era (duh) so it's not cut and dry.

fWAR gives Randy a lengthy lead- albeit in almost double the opportunities.

Got to go Randy here If feel like. Kershaw is at least a passing thought in a conversation between the two if he lasts long enough, however. Big if.

 

[Rock Strongo]

randy 100 times over

that fucking slider and fastball combo from that height

 

[Rock Strongo]

of course, he's also the superior photographer. he followed Rush for a tour as their official photographer.

 

[Fountain City Blues]

randy 100 times over

that fucking slider and fastball combo from that height

That's kind of what I was thinking. I haven't looked into where this came from. Probably some media guy trying to stir the pot. Love Kershaw to death, but Randy was an animal out there.

 

[Yo Tee]

Definitely Randy Johnson. I wouldn't take Clayton Kershaw over some pitchers that are currently pitching, so I definitely won't take him over one of the best pitchers I've seen pitch.

 

[Fountain City Blues]

Poll so far reaffirms my confidence in humanity until I hear what cable news is saying at work/break

 

[Fountain City Blues]

Definitely Randy Johnson. I wouldn't take Clayton Kershaw over some pitchers that are currently pitching, so I definitely won't take him over one of the best pitchers I've seen pitch.

Over their careers and projecting to their ends? Woof, that'd be a short list.

 

[Yo Tee]

Over their careers and projecting to their ends? Woof, that'd be a short list.

Among active pitchers, I'd take Scherzer and Verlander over Kershaw 100%. Could also make an argument for Jacob deGrom over Kershaw as well.

 

[MilkSpiller22]

Regular season, it is pretty easily Kershaw... But the question is who would you rather have not who is better...

So I would have to go Randy, solely because he has proven to be able to pitch in big games... especially playoffs

 

[MilkSpiller22]

Among active pitchers, I'd take Scherzer and Verlander over Kershaw 100%. Could also make an argument for Jacob deGrom over Kershaw as well.

No way on verlander... Verlander might be the most over-rated pitcher of all time at this point...

 

[Yo Tee]

No way on verlander... Verlander might be the most over-rated pitcher of all time at this point...

That's hilarious.

 

[MilkSpiller22]

That's hilarious.

no it really is not... Maybe an exaggeration on my part... But exaggerating is fun...

But really Verlander is over-rated... He only has 3 seasons of below 3 ERA, compare that with any other ELITE SP...

He is known as a big game Pitcher, but he has yet to get a win in the WS and his playoff numbers are just average for an elite guy...

 

[Yo Tee]

no it really is not... Maybe an exaggeration on my part... But exaggerating is fun...

But really Verlander is over-rated... He only has 3 seasons of below 3 ERA, compare that with any other ELITE SP...

He is known as a big game Pitcher, but he has yet to get a win in the WS and his playoff numbers are just average for an elite guy...

World Series Champ
2011 MVP and 2011 Cy Young Winner
2006 Rookie of the Year
13-7 playoff record, 7-0 in ALDS, 6-3 in ALCS
2011 Triple Crown winner (along with Kershaw)
2017 ALCS MVP
7x All-Star
AL Strikeout Leader in the 5 of the last 9 years
Top 10 in ERA
2 no-hitters
Also, he's the only pitcher in Major League history to win Rookie of the Year, start in a World Series game, throw a no-hitter, and be an All-Star in his first two seasons

Not to mention, he just set his career high in Strikeouts and WHIP as well as his lowest ERA in 7 years and his first complete game shutout in 3 years. The guy is like a fine wine, he's getting better with age.

 

[The Oldtimer]

Are you talking about now or in the past? If you are talking about the past, I would rather have Kershaw.

 

[MilkSpiller22]

World Series Champ
2011 MVP and 2011 Cy Young Winner
2006 Rookie of the Year
13-7 playoff record, 7-0 in ALDS, 6-3 in ALCS
2011 Triple Crown winner (along with Kershaw)
2017 ALCS MVP
7x All-Star
AL Strikeout Leader in the 5 of the last 9 years
Top 10 in ERA
2 no-hitters
Also, he's the only pitcher in Major League history to win Rookie of the Year, start in a World Series game, throw a no-hitter, and be an All-Star in his first two seasons

Not to mention, he just set his career high in Strikeouts and WHIP as well as his lowest ERA in 7 years and his first complete game shutout in 3 years. The guy is like a fine wine, he's getting better with age.

WS champ?? sure, but he is still 0-4 with a 5.67 ERA in the WS- so again, you can not call him a big game pitcher when he has fallen flat in the biggest games of his career

Nobody is going to argue that his 2011 season wasn't fantastic, but that was only one season... You cant bring it up 3 times to enforce his greatness... Amongst greatest pitching seasons, that is not even a top 10 in the past 25 years... He deserved everything he got that season, but lets not pretend any of his numbers were that spectacular compared to other elite pitching seasons...

and again, he only has 3 seasons of better than 3.00 ERA, only one CY, and a career ERA of 3.35, none of that is spectacular...


What he does well is eat innings and strike people out... and of those 2 things he is the best current player, not even close...

But if I took 10 SP careers of the past 25 seasons, Verlander would not be on my list... Kershaw and Scherzer would..

 

[Yo Tee]

But if I took 10 SP careers of the past 25 seasons, Verlander would not be on my list... Kershaw and Scherzer would..

If we're talking the last 25 years, maybe Scherzer is on that list, for me, but not Kershaw or Verlander.

 

[MilkSpiller22]

If we're talking the last 25 years, maybe Scherzer is on that list, for me, but not Kershaw or Verlander.

why you such a Kershaw hater??? what he has done so far in his career is revolutionary...

 

[nynasty]

of course, he's also the superior photographer. he followed Rush for a tour as their official photographer.

What? How? Why?