Welcome to my yearly baseball discussion.This year we'll reflect upon the greatest pitchers of all time as well as look through the greatest teams of all time.
Most of my discussions will be statistical.However as the White Sox proved in 2005, some things go above the stats.There is really no stat that measures taking the extra base by going from first to third on a single.On many occasions it takes an accurate strong throw in order to nab the runner.This is not easily done.The White Sox running applied extra pressure on the fielders to make that perfect throw.On occasion the throw may go wild enabling the baserunner to advance to home.There are occasions when it makes sense to try to get to home plate even if a runner only has a 50 percent chance of making it.
By the way there were a few missed calls in the playoffs.Offering a manager two replay timeouts somewhat like the NFL would help reverse the bad calls.If this lenghtens the game too much, maybe we can restrict how many times a manager or catcher can visit the mound to talk to the pitcher.
For our pitching study it may be good to go back to the first baseball page.Three seasons have passed since then.Pedro still ranks as the #1 pitcher of all time but his number goes down to 166 .That is still comfortably ahead of #2 Lefty Grove at 146.100 means an average pitcher in an average ballpark in an average era.Roger Clemens and Randy Johnson have held fairly steady.In fact Clemens moves up to 143,Johnson to 142.This keeps them among the top 10 pitchers.Greg Maddux drops down to 138.He still ranks around #10 of all time.Some pitchers have long careers in which they pitch well past their peak.In order not to penalize longer careers, I've taken the best years of pitchers careers in order to rank them more fairly.
Three years ago I picked the peak 7 years.This year I'll go for the peak 10 years.Three pitchers in the top 20 with 7 year careers drop out due to not having long enough careers.They are the dead ball era pitchers Addie Joss and Ed Walsh along with 60s shining star Sandy Koufax.I required 162 inning seasons to qualify for a top season.
Here are the top 20 pitchers with their rating based on their greatest 10 seasons.
1 Walter Johnson 1932 [average of 193.2 per season]
2 Pedro Martinez 1929
3 Greg Maddux 1869
4 Roger Clemens 1818
5 Randy Johnson 1758
6 Lefty Grove 1753
7 Christy Mathewson 1673
8 Cy Young 1638
9 Mordecai Brown 1595
10 Grover Alexander 1557
11 Tom Seaver 1534
12 Kevin Brown 1531
13 Bob Gibson 1512
14 Carl Hubbell 1451
15 Jim Palmer 1417
16 Steve Carlton 1402
17 Whitey Ford 1382
18 Rube Waddell 1380
19 Lefty Gomez 1377
20 Bert Blyleven 1362
By the way Nolan Ryan's best 10 year score is 1259.He was a fun pitcher but not one of the 20 greatest of all time.
As we see 4 of the top 5 starred in the last 20 years.With the advent of more relief pitching, it is quite possible that they have benefited from earlier exits when tiring.There are also many dead ball era pitchers ranking high.Due to a smaller population,there might have been a greater shortage of quality players pushing the better players to even greater statistical achievment.
In order to balance the eras a little better, I instituted a system based on ranking in the top 10 in league adjusted[for era and home ballpark]ERA.
The rankings for the top 10 in points go 20-17-15-13-11-9-8-7-6-5
The assumption being that normally there is a larger difference between #1 and #2 than #9 and #10.Also #10 in the league is still a good ranking and deserving of more than one point.I can only easily find each years top 10.
In this system, Roger Clemens has moved into #1 of all time.Randy Johnson ranks #9.Pedro Martinez is now tied for #11.The former list is on the first baseball page.
GREATEST TEAMS OF ALL TIME
This is a two parter.For part one, I took the team adjusted OPS [100 being average] and added it to the team adusted ERA[average being 100.In this system 200 would be a rating for an average team in an average era.
The 10 top AL teams of all time in this system are
1 1927 Yankees 257
2 1910 Athletics 255
3 1939 Yankees 249
4 1948 Indians 248
5 1969 Orioles 244
6 1954 Indians 241
7 1922 Browns 239
8 1929 Athletics 238
8 1931 Athletics 238
8 1937 Yankees 238
8 1995 Indians 238
8 2001 Mariners 238
The Yankees of the late 20s and early 30s were an extremely dominant hitting team.Usually they had average pitching.In 1927 ebven the pitching was great.Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig rank among the top 5 hitters of all time and were in peak form in 1927.Earle Combs at centerfield also had a tremendous season batting over 350 with 23 triples.The top pitchers ERA wise in the league were Wilcy Moore and waite Hoyt, both Yankees.The Athletics of 1929-1931 won three pennants in a row.Lefty Grove led the pitching.Jimmie Foxx, Al simmons and Mickey Cochrane had consistently great seasons.
The 1910 Athletics had the most dominant one season pitching staff.Each of the four starters had an ERA of 2.01 , which was excellent even in the dead ball era.Jack Coombs pitched 353 innings with an ERA of 1.30
.The 1939 Yankees were part of a 4 year reign as world champions.They were a very balanced team paced by Joe DiMaggio,Charlie Keller, Bill Dickey and Joe Gordon.The pitching was paced by Lefty Gomez and Red Ruffing though part time no name pitchers like Marius Russo,Bump Hadley and Oral Hildebrand pitched even better.
From 1948 through 1956, the Indians had excellent pitching stats.The 1954 edition boasted of dominant pitching by Bob Lemon, Early Wynn and Mike Garcia.Two relievers Ray Narleski and Don Mossi also had great seasons.The hitting was above average with Larry Doby, Al Rosen and batting champ Bobby Avila leading the way.The 1948 edition was a bit better balanced. The tremendous infield of 3B Ken Keltner,player-manager SS Lou Boudreau and 2B Joe Gordon paced the team.Bob Feller, Bob Lemon and Gene Bearden paced pitchers.
The 1995 Indians won 100 games in a 144 game strike shortened season.Albert Belle,Jim Thome and Manny Ramirez consistently ripped the cover off the ball.The 2001 Mariners won 116 games. Both were balanced in hitting and pitching.Bret Boone and Edgar Martinez had super seasons foir a team that couldn't hold onto Ken Griffey Jr., Randy Johnson or Alex Rodriquez.They could have used them in the playoffs.
The 1969 Orioles were a dominant team who got their butt kicked by the Mets in the World Series.They were the first and best of three dominant Orioles teams from 1969-1971.
Statistically the 1922 St. Louis Browns should have won the pennant easily. Instead the Yankees beat them out by 4 games.1922 was the year George Sisler batted 420 and Ken Williams with 39 hit more homers than Babe Ruth who missed 44 games that season..Pitching was paced by Urban Shocker, who would also pitch very effectively for the 1927 Yankees.
Some more AL tidbits.The best team statistically in the AL in 2005 by a decent margin was the Cleveland Indians.In fact they were the only team in the league with above average hitting and pitching.They finished with a 228.
In 2004 the Red Sox despite not having the best record ranked #1.2001 was a great year for the Mariners but the Athletics were not that much worse.The 2001 Yankees, the eventual AL champs were a distant third.The year 2000 had the most balanced AL.
Top 5 teams 2000-2005
1 2001 Mariners 238
2 2001 Athletics 231
3 2002 Yankees 229
4 2005 Indians 228
5 2002 Athletics 227
Worst team--2003 Tigers 162
Best hitting 2001 Mariners 119. Best pitching 2002 Athletics 126
Not statistically best pennant winners 2005 White Sox[Indians]
2002 Angels[Yankees,Red Sox]2001 Yankees[Mariners-best seasonal record]2000 Yankees[White Sox-best seasonal record]
In the future BSR will mean Best Seasonal Record.
Top 5 AL 1990s
1 1995 Indians 238
2 1998 Yankees 233
3 1994 White Sox 228
4 1996 Indians 225
5 1999 Yankees 225
Worst 1996 Tigers 166
Best Hitting 1994 Yankees 119 Best Piching 1999 Red Sox 127
Not Statistically Best Pennant Winners 1997 Indians[Yankees]1996 Yankees[ Indians]1993 Blue Jays[White Sox]1992 Blue Jays[Twins-Brewers]
Top 5 AL 1980s
1 1985 Blue Jays 232
2 1981 Yankees 231
3 1984 Tigers 226
4 1987 Blue Jays 225
5 1982 Angels 221
5 1985 Yankees 221
Worst--1988 Orioles 174
Best Hitting--1982 Brewers 221 Best Pitching---1985 Blue Jays 228
Not Statistically Best Pennant Winners 1987 Twins[Blue Jays]1982 Brewers[Angels]. The 1987 Twins may rank as the worst pennant winner of all time finishing with a score of 196.They won the World Series.
Top AL 1970s
1 1971 Orioles 234
2 1970 Orioles 230
2 1979 Orioles 230
4 1973 Orioles 229
5 1977 Royals 224
5 1977 Yankees 224
Worst--1972 Rangers 167
Best Hitting---1971 Orioles 122 Best Pitching---1979 Orioles 123
Not Statistically Best Pennant Winner 1978 Yankees[Red Sox]1975 Red Sox[Athletics BSR]1973 Athletics[Orioles].1978 should have been a close 3 way race with Yankees,Red Sox and Brewers.
Best AL 1960s
1 1969 Orioles 244
2 1969 Twins 228
3 1961 Tigers 227
4 1961 Yankees 225
5 1968 Tigers 225
Worst 1963 Senators 170
Best Hitting--1966 Orioles 120 Best Pitching 1964,1967 White Sox 226
Not Statistically Best Pennant Winner
1967 Red Sox[Twins] 1964 Yankees[White Sox]1963 Yankees[Twins]1961 Yankees[Tigers].We all love Maris and Mantle but the 1961 Yankees were simply not one of the greatest teams of all time.They had above average pitching.There were also some weak parts of the lineup.The 1963 Twins finished 15 games behind the Yankees but statistically were a better team.
Top AL 1950s
1 1954 Indians 241
2 1953 Yankees 234
3 1957 Yankees 233
4 1955 Yankees 230
5 1954 White Sox 227
Worst--1954 Athletics 159
Best Hitting--1952 Indians 120 Best Pitching 1954 Indians 132
Not Statistically Best Pennant Winner 1959 White Sox[Indians]1950 Yankees[Indians].Yankees of 1949-1953 won 5 championships in a row but were not overly dominant.Red Sox of 1949 had a better statistical year than Yankees of 1949.
The Top 10 NL Teams Of All Time are
1 1906 Cubs 262
2 1944 Cardinals 248
3 1942 Cardinals 244
3 1943 Cardinals 244
3 1907 Cubs 244
3 1909 Pirates 244
7 1902 Pirates 243
8 1905 Giants 241
8 1911 Giants 241
8 1998 Braves 241
Of course it is ridiculous to assume that all those teams from the dead ball era are better than any of the more recent teams. They probably benefited from lesser competition.A quick review of the teams gives us the 116-36 1906 Cubs of Tinker-Evans-Chance fame.The pitching was outrageous led by Mordecai Brown and his 1.04 ERA which was phenomenal even in the dead ball era.The Cubs pitching for the season statistically would equal a team of Bob Gibsons in their prime.Also featured are the Honus Wagner led Pirates of 1902 and 1909.The 1902 team won the pennant by 27.5 games.Ginger Beaumont and Fred Clarke played the outfield along with Wagner making it possibly the most dominant hitting outfield of all time[by era].In 1909 Wagner was even better at shortstop though the pitching was what made them dominant.Howie Camnitz and Babe Adams[in a more part time role]were the best pitchers of the consistently great staff.The 1942-1944 Cardinals benefited from weak competition during the war years.Stan Musial was the man.The pitching is what made them really great.Mort Cooper and Harry Brecheen led a consistently great staff.In 1944 a pitcher by the name of Red Munger posted a 1.34 ERA in 121 innings.In 1905 Christy Mathewson was ridiculous with a 1.28 ERA.Hitting was led by Mike Donlin.Mathewson was still dominant in 1911.Finally a team from thelast 60 years--the 1998 Braves led by Andreas Galarraga and Chipper Jones in hitting.However it was the dominant staff led by amazing seasons by Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine which truly carried them.
NL Best 2000-2005
1 2005 Cardinals 231
1 2002 Braves 231
3 2004 Cardinals 228
4 2000 Giants 224
5 2003 Braves 223
Worst---2001 Pirates, 2004 Diamondbacks 173
Best Hitting 2000 Giants 123 Best Pitching 2002 Braves 131
Not Statistically Best Pennant Winner
2005 Astros[Cardinals BSR] 2003 Marlins[Braves BSR]2002 Giants[Braves]2000 Mets[Giants BSR]
The expanded playoff system enables alot of teams not as dominant in the season to win the pennant by playing well in short playoffs.
Best NL 1990s
1 1998 Braves 241
2 1997 Braves 236
3 1998 Astros 233
4 1993 Braves 231
5 1999 Diamondbacks 229
Worst 1998 Marlins 170
Best Hitting 1998 Astros 117 Best Pitching 1998 Braves 130
Not Statistically Best Pennant Winner
1999 Braves[Diamondbacks]1998 Padres[Braves]1997 Marlins[Braves]1993 Phillies[Braves]1991 Braves[Dodgers].To state the obvious Braves had consistently dominant pitching staff from 1992-1999.
Best NL 1980s
1 1986 Mets 230
2 1988 Mets 227
3 1985 Dodgers 224
4 1981 Astros 223
5 1985 Cardinals 221
Worst 1988 Braves 177
Best Hitting 1988 Mets 117 Best Pitching 1981 Astros 123
Not Statistically Best Pennant Winners
1989 Giants[Cubs BSR]1988 Dodgers[Mets BSR]1987 Cardinals[Mets]1985 Cardinals[Dodgers]1984 Padres{Phillies]1983 Phillies[Dodgers]1982 Cardinals{Dodgers]1981 Dodgers{Astros]
The 1987 Cardinals and 1984 Padres scored 200 making them an average team.However they won the pennant.Look at those Cardinals stealing 3 pennants in the 1980s.Their superior fielding and base running paced them.
Best NL 1970s
1 1974 Dodgers 233
2 1976 Reds 229
3 1975 Pirates 227
3 1977 Dodgers 227
3 1978 Dodgers 227
Worst 1974 Padres 163
Best Hitting 1976 Reds 129 Best Pitching 1974 Braves 123
Not Statistically Best Pennant Winner
1979 Pirates[Expos]1975 Reds[Pirates]1973 Mets[ Dodgers]1972 Reds{Pirates]
The 1973 Mets at 199 rank as the worst NL pennant winner ever.
Best NL 1960s
1 1966 Dodgers 226
2 1965 Pirates 220
3 1966 Pirates 219
3 1965 Reds 219
3 1962 Giants 219
Worst 1963 Mets 173
Best Hitting 1965 Reds 122 Best Pitching 1966 Dodgers 125
Not Statistically Best Pennant Winners
1969 Mets{Cubs]1965 Dodgers{Pirates] 1964 Cardinals[Reds]1963 Dodgers[Cardinals]
Outside of the Cubs, Mets and Astros,usually a very balanced league.Statistically pennant races should have been alot closer than they actually were.From 1961-1965 5-7 teams were bunched up statistically with anyone of them possibly deserving a pennant.
NL Best 1950s
1 1954 Giants 233
2 1953 Dodgers 228
3 1955 Dodgers 227
3 1951 Giants 227
5 1956 Braves 224
Worst 1952 Pirates 165
Best Hitting 1953 Dodgers 125 Best Pitching 1957 Dodgers 124
Not Statistically Best Pennant Winners
1959 Dodgers[ Giants]1956 Dodgers[Braves]1952 Dodgers[Phillies]
For whatever reasons the Dodgers won 5 NL pennants in the 1950s and 1960s in which they were not the best team statistically.Chuck Dressen managed in 1952 and Walter Alston in the other 4.Even their second place performances of 1961 and 1962 far exceeded their expectations statistically.
Using another study of best teams which also includes fielding and base running, an estimate of how many games a team should have won is given.The following teams could have been expected to win over 100 games in a season.For 154 game seasons, I added 5 wins to roughly equal a great team in a 162 game season.These are the 1905 Giants 104,1906 Cubs 106,1909 Pirates 101,1909 Athletics 101,1910 Athletics 106,1912 Red Sox 101,1914 Athletics 101,1915 Red Sox 100,1920 Indians 101,1922 Browns 105,1927 Yankees 116,1928 Athletics 100,1929 Athletics 102,1931 Yankees 103,1932 Athletics 103,1932 Yankees 103,1936 Yankees 106,1937 Yankees 103,1939 Yankees 112,1941 Dodgers 101,1942 Cardinals 103,1943 Cardinals 103,1944 Cardinals 109,1948 Indians 108,1953 Dodgers 101,1953 Yankees 102, 1954 Indians 103,1969 Orioles 107,1970 Orioles 100,1971 Orioles 102,1973 Orioles 101,1974 Dodgers 101,1976 Reds 103,1995 Indians 104,1997 Braves 101,1998 Yankees 106, 1998 Braves 107,1998 Astros 106,1999 Diamondbacks 101,2000 Giants 102.My resources on this topic only go through 2000.The 1995 Indians, ho only played a 144 game season were given a 10 win adjusment.
If one compares these with lists of greatest all time teams and best teams of the decade, one sees many of the same teams listed.
As far as pennant races go,this system by adding fielding and stolen bases rates the 1975 Reds, 1978 Yankees ,1961 Yankees,1959 White Sox and 1950 Yankees were deserved pennant winners.
The following teams won more than 10 games more than expected statistically [1950-2000]1997 Giants,1988 Athletics,1988 Dodgers,1987 Cardinals,1984 Cubs,1984 Padres,1983 White Sox,1982 Braves,1971 Athletics,1969 Mets,1967 Cardinals,1965 Twins,1965 Dodgers,1963 Yankees,1963 Dodgers,1961 Yankees,1959 white Sox,1954 Indians,1954 Giants,1954 Dodgers.
The following teams under perfomed buy more than 10 games.1993 Mets,1991 Reds,1986 Pirates,1982 Reds,1974 Angels,1969 Expos,1965 Red Sox,1962 Senators,1962 Mets,1954 Orioles,1952 Tigers.
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