[the 'stache]

My more in-depth post on ESPN in response to his article:

David Shoenfield is the worst writer on ESPN. It's absurd to even suggest that Buehrle is a Hall of Famer, or might be. And comparing his WAR to Sandy Koufax and Whitey Ford? LOL, really?

Buehrle has received Cy Young votes in one single season in his career. In 2005, he was 5th in the A.L. vote. Again, he's never received a SINGLE Cy Young vote in ANY other season he's pitched. Excluding his rookie year, where he started only 3 games in 28 appearances, he's pitched 14 other full seasons. Not one vote.

He has a 3.81 ERA, which would be the highest of any Hall of Famer. And 1,780 strikeouts in 3,090 2/3 IP. Really?

Do I need to put up Whitey Ford and Sandy Koufax's numbers, and compare them?

Whitey Ford 2.75 ERA
Sandy Koufax 2.76 ERA
Mark Buehrle 3.81 ERA

Buehrle has basically been a .500 pitcher the last six years, winning 12 more than he's lost. Yes, I know that win/loss record is not the best indicator of a pitcher's performance. But you opened the door by broaching his 200 wins.

Sandy's last five years (1962-1966) were arguably the greatest in modern history. He went 111-34 (.766 win pct) with a 1.95 ERA and 1,444 K in 1,377 IP. His ERA + was 167. His FIP was 2.00, and his WHIP was 0.926! Sandy Koufax, of course, won three Cy Young Awards in the National League in a four year period, and was third in 1964 when he had a monster season with a 1.74 ERA (which led the N.L.).

Whitey's best 5 year period? He had two great five year periods, depending on what you like, stats wise. Wins? 1961-1965, he went 99-38 (.723 win pct) with a 2.85 ERA, and 892 K in 1,299 IP. His ERA + was 127, and his FIP was 2.99, and his WHIP was 1.156.

But, arguably, his best five year period was 1954-1958. He had a win-loss record of 78-33 (.703 win pct) with a sexy 2.50 ERA, and 632 K in 1,038 2/3 IP. His ERA + was 147, and his FIP was 3.25. His WHIP was 1.200. Whitey Ford didn't have any big strikeout years in the seasons I cited, 189 in 1963 being his best. His career high of 209 came in 1961 when he won the American League Cy Young Award. He went 25-4 with a 3.21 ERA. He was voted third in the A.L. Cy Young in 1956 when he led the league with a 2.47 ERA. Whitey led the league in wins three times, and in ERA twice, including an eye popping 2.01 ERA in 1958.

To compare Buehrle's WAR to Whitey and Sandy is just laughable. First of all, Koufax does have "only" a 53.2 WAR, and Ford "only" a 53.9 to Buehrle's 58.2. But I don't trust WAR for older players, for seasons long ago. Something just doesn't smell right. I think it's a good metric for current seasons, but it does not work correctly when looking at older players. If we believe that WAR is equal, then we have to accept that Mark Buehrle's 2007 season was better than Whitey Ford's 1961 season, and it's not even close.

Ready for this?

In 2007, Buehrle was 10-9 with a 3.63 ERA, 115 K in 201 IP. He had a 130 ERA +, and a 4.26 FIP. His WHIP was 1.259. He threw 3 complete games, and 1 shutout.

In 1961, Whitey Ford was 25-4 with a 3.21 ERA, 209 K in 283 IP. He had a 115 ERA +, and a 3.14 FIP. That 3.14 FIP was the best in the American League. His WHIP was 1.180. Ford threw 11 complete games, and 3 shutouts.

Their WAR? Ford had a 3.8 WAR, and Buehrle a 6.1!

Now, Whitey Ford had a great team behind him. We all know the 1961 Yankees had a spectacular offense. Maris and Mantle were just the start. But Whitey won the Cy Young for a reason. That FIP shows that he was really good, the best in the league, independent of the fielding behind him.

Mark Buehrle not only didn't win the Cy Young, he didn't even get a single vote for the award.

Now, the rules have changed. The mound might have some deviation. But you can't tell me that the Cy Young winner was worth 2.3 fewer wins than Buehrle and his 4.26 FIP. No way. Put Buehrle on the '61 Yankees, and he'll win 16 or 17 games. But he's not the Cy Young Award winner. Meanwhile, Whitey Ford would be a great pitcher in 2007.

There is NO comparison between Ford and Koufax, two great, Hall of Fame pitchers, and Mark Buehrle. Buehrle has 9 shutouts in 462 career starts. Two were no hitters/perfect games. Koufax threw 40, and Ford 45.

Buehrle shouldn't even sniff the Hall. If you want to start a Hall of Very Good, go for it, and vote him into that. But Cooperstown? Mark Buehrle does not belong in the same place with Walter Johnson and Christy Mathewson, Cy Young and Greg Maddux, Bob Gibson and Bob Feller, Sandy Koufax and Nolan Ryan, Steve Carlton and Tom Seaver.