Quote:
Originally Posted by Topnotchsy
Fair enough. I did not realize you want to put him in the same category as guys like Grove, Maddux etc. If so, we disagree. I see him as a tier lower than that. Still slam-dunk HOF and better than many pitchers in the Hall, but not on the short list (say top 10) best pitchers all-time.
Regarding, "denigrating"... I thought you were taking me to say that Spahn was a similar pitcher to Red Faber, Ron Guidry, Bobby Shantz and Bob Lemon, which I definitely was not meaning to say.
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I'd have him top 15, if not top ten, that's the truly elite considering how many great pitchers there have been. Even his K's, which you cite as a negative: Where was he when he retired--#3, 4, 5? Not too shabby. Of course,they didn't strike out as much during his time. Where do the big boys like Bill James have him? They might be in your camp with the new metrics, but my God, the guy could win and suck up a ton of innings and do it year after year after year. If I'm a manager, I'd want Spahnie on my staff!