[bspn article] was Oswalt the greatest astros pitcher?

For the short time he was in his prime, JR was in the conversation for most scarily dominant pitcher ever...Big Unit, Nolan, Bob Feller, Bob Gibson, Drysdale, those kind of guys.

 

Yep... Kevin Durant will be thought of the same way if his career is in fact "done".

 

JR never gets enough love. As an aside, either his number should be retired or the Astros should find a way to "unretire" some of the jerseys presently hanging in the rafters.

But yeah, Roy's career as an Astro trumps the others.

 

if he doesn't get electrocuted with a battery, would oswalt even be that great? =)

roy o, clemens, andy. I even enjoyed watching the time wasted between pitches, the deep stares, everything was so poetic.

 

(/gif-of-Roy-embarrasing-Pujols-Game6-that-I-couldnt-find.gif)

...GOAT.

 

I was responding to those who suggested the other guys were better at their peak. Results wise Roy was every bit as good, it wasn't just superior longevity. And when you take park and era into account there really is just no discussion IMO.

2001 2.73 ERA
2002 3.01 ERA
2003 2.97 ERA
2004 2.94 ERA
2006 2.98 ERA

I never have cared about K's when judging actual performance. I think they are good when trying to project, but to me results wise an out is an out.

 

Depends on if peak is one year or multiple. Nolan Ryan led the NL in ERA & ERA+ 2 times, as well as led the NL in FIP once as an Astro. Mike Scott's 86 season was the greatest Astros pitching season ever when you factor in everything (led the league in ERA, IP, K, ERA+, FIP, WHIP, K/9). Richard was having his best season ever when he had the stroke.

The funny thing is, a lack of longevity is why Oswalt isn't treated as an all-time great like Ryan. He was done at 33. Most HOFers pitch 20 years, unless they are as dominating as Sandy Koufax.

 

Its splitting hairs. Mike Scott's best season was better than Roy's best season... that's all "peak" is referring to.

But overall, Roy had the better career... in a much harder era/stadium to be a great pitcher... and got the Astros further than any other pitcher. None of that is debatable.

Had he not lost time to the groin, or pitched a few more seasons at an elite level, he'd warrant some more HOF discussion.

 

Favorite Astro of all time, and I think if you include the longevity of his stint he is absolutely the greatest Astro pitcher.

 

Yeah, Scott's prime was essentially four years - and it's really three very good years sandwiched around one just off-the-charts incredible season.

I always love to bring this up whenever Scott is mentioned because I almost can't comprehend it (even though I witnessed every last second of it): he no-hits the Giants on September 25, 1986 - to freaking clinch the division - then faces SF in his next start (October 2) and throws six more no-hit innings before giving up two doubles in the 7th.

That's 15 consecutive innings without a hit against the same team in back-to-back starts. In his *next* start - just game 1 of the NLCS; no big deal - he pitches a complete game, 5-hit shutout against the Mets with 14 Ks. And then follows that up with a complete game, 3-hitter in New York with no walks.

So four consecutive starts, which included a division-clinching no-hitter and two playoff games, yielded the following stat line: 34 IP, 10 H, 5 BB, 2 ER, 40 K, 3 CGs and a no-hitter. His ERA was .053; WHIP 0.44. Unbelievable.

If anyone ever questions an Astro fans’ unwavering confidence that we would have beaten the Mets had we forced a game 7……

(Having said that, a list of all-time greatest Astro pitchers that doesn't start with Roy Oswalt is remarkably silly.)

 

No Bud Norris love?

 

JR was the best Astro pitcher ever.

DD

 

Mike Scott was probably the laziest pitcher the Astros have ever had. His laziness is legendary around the Astros with the few people remaining from 30 years ago.

A very nice guy though... and a very good golfer. He just didn't care much for staying in shape.

 

Bill Doran swallowed a <s>file</s> shiny metallic colored stand of grass for Mike Scott....as the legend goes.

 

WAR absolutely LOVES Oswalt. Probably due to the fact that he pitched in the steroid era and a band box. If you think about it, adjusting for era and park factors, Oswalt should be #1. He simply lacks that definitive season(s) that Scott, Ryan, and Richard had. Oswalt really reminds me of Mussina, a pitcher that is really underrated during this HOF voting because he doesn't really stand out. He's just consistently among the very best.

While that is amazing productivity, there's no lore around these things the way people talk about how the Astros would've gone to the WS if they hadn't lost game 6 with Mike Scott going in game 7 and was unhittable.

 

Y'all are forgetting WIN leader Joe Niekro, STRIKEOUT leader Nolan Ryan, SHUTOUT leader Dierker, and best strikeout per 9 innings in Billy Wagner.

Not sure about the others. J.R. Richard comes to mind; he isn't leading anything but is tops in almost ALL categories, including least hits per 9 innings and shutouts.

 

Clemens and RJ were better but given the longevity you've got to give it to Roy O.

 

"RoOoOoOoyYyYyY O" - Milo

Spoiler

please see "the TeEeEeEedDdDdy Bear" for phonetic similarities

 

In a related note, I'm considering getting "DORAN 19" put on the back of my current Astros road jersey.

 

So who is at the top of the shutout list - Dierker or Richard?