Randy Johnson vs. Steve Carlton

[pheasant]

I have Randy winning in a blowout here, especially when factoring in league quality.

[willshad]

Carlton - depends on your definition of "outstanding" I guess.

Well certainly 1969, 1972, 1977 and 1980 would qualify. And 1981 was like a 'half' a great season. he only had one other season with better than a 120 ERA+, and that was 1978 with 126..a fine season, but not really 'outstanding'.

[Matthew C.]

Well certainly 1969, 1972, 1977 and 1980 would qualify. And 1981 was like a 'half' a great season. he only had one other season with better than a 120 ERA+, and that was 1978 with 126..a fine season, but not really 'outstanding'.

He was on pace for a spectacular 1981 - which was 2/3 of a season, not half. About the same length of 1994. 82 and 83 were also great years. 116-119 ERA+ are significantly better while pitching 290 innings than a 119 ERA+ pitching 220 innings.

[willshad]

He was on pace for a spectacular 1981 - which was 2/3 of a season, not half. About the same length of 1994. 82 and 83 were also great years. 116-119 ERA+ are significantly better while pitching 290 innings than a 119 ERA+ pitching 220 innings.

I guess Im talking about Cy Young award level seasons (although he did win an undeserved CY award in 1982).

[Matthew C.]

I guess Im talking about Cy Young award level seasons (although he did win an undeserved CY award in 1982).

If those are our criteria...

I would say anything over 4.5 WAA is a Cy level season. Carlton had 4 such seasons, 69,72,77,and 80. Carlton would have had to be injured in 1981 to not get to 4.5. So 5, really. Randy had 8 such seasons.

[JR Hart]

Well certainly 1969, 1972, 1977 and 1980 would qualify. And 1981 was like a 'half' a great season. he only had one other season with better than a 120 ERA+, and that was 1978 with 126..a fine season, but not really 'outstanding'.

Well if you go by one stat, I guess.

I would certainly rate 1982 as outstanding. He led in wins, starts, CG, innings, and SO and won the CYA.

In 1976, he was 20-7 3.13, I'd call that outstanding.

in 1974 he led in K's

in 1978, he was obviously outstanding

And 1981 is a no brainer

I voted for TBU, but Carlton's sheer number of starts per year and CG makes it close.

[TomBodet]

Johnson by a bit but Carlton was right there.