1978 Ron Guidry or 1985 Dwight Gooden?

mygotta

I happen to be looking at the stats of Ron Guidry's 1978 season and saw how remarkably close that season was to Gooden's phenomenal 1985 year. I was wondering if you had a choice, who would you rather have on your fantasy team?

And as a career, since neither are in the HOF, who do you think had the better career?

Ron Guidry: 25–3 (W/L) 1.74 (ERA) 248 (K's)
Dwight Gooden: 24–4(W/L) 1.53 (ERA) 268 (K's)

grote15

Gooden.

MattyC

Doc. He'd take us out to party after every game-- but he'd be too coked up and so then we'd handle all the girls.

orioles93

Gooden

NVbaseball

For both best year and career, it's very close either way. I'll take Gooden in 1985 and Guidry for his career

The thing that stands out is that Gooden did almost nothing after age 24, Guidry started one career game before age 26. Though he only pitched 2400 career innings, but for whatever reason the Yankees left him in the Minors far too long. Also a top pitcher in 1981 when he only pitched 127 innings because of the strike.

Most people won't consider those things when evaluating his career. To me, that is wrong, because during those three years he was a very good pitcher

jackstraw

Gooden's 85 season.

yankeeno7

If all the games were being played in Yankee Stadium, I would take the lefty Guidry. Overall, I think Gooden's 85 season just barely tops Guidry. That curveball was NASTY.

nam812

Just think if the 125+ at bats against Guidry that year were from light hitting pitchers, instead of heavy hitting DHs.

cpamike

1985 Doc Gooden.

Ron Guidry career.

mrmint23

<< <i>Just think if the 125+ at bats against Guidry that year were from light hitting pitchers, instead of heavy hitting DHs. >>



Just think if 285+ at bats against Gooden were not enhanced with PED.

nam812

<< <i>Just think if 285+ at bats against Gooden were not enhanced with PED. >>



Elaborate your nonsense.

mrmint23

Obviously you've never played the game. PED enhanced hits could/would have been simple ground outs or fly balls instead of homeruns and hits. Thus lowering his ERA and possibly increasing wins.

mrmint23

Also, the DH in 1978 had not been refined to its level in the late 80's and 90's. Furthermore, in the 70's pitchers grew up hitting all thru high school and college without the luxury of the DH rule since it was only adopted in 1973. Thus pitchers were probably more all athletes which included hitting.

nam812

<< <i>Obviously you've never played the game. PED enhanced hits could/would have been simple ground outs or fly balls instead of homeruns and hits. Thus lowering his ERA and possibly increasing wins. >>



My substantial athletic prowess is irrelevant.

nam812

<< <i>Also, the DH in 1978 had not been refined to its level in the late 80's and 90's.......... >>



But PEDs were rampant in 1985? You really are quite a fool.

No need to respond, I'm done with you and your stupid avatar.

Dialj

Can I have both since one was a righty and the other a lefty? If not, then Gooden for the season and Guidry for a career.

mrmint23

<< <i>But PEDs were rampant in 1985? You really are quite a fool.

No need to respond, I'm done with you and your stupid avatar. >>



Stupid Avatar? Since we both have the same name it seems fitting. Whereas I do recall an avatar for a rat, you should consider changing in a few days or you could adopt one that rhymes with Nick and begins with a D.

Nikklos

Growing up on Long Island at the time, both were magical seasons. And even though I was/am a devout Yankee fan, there was something just more special about Gooden and that Summer of '85.

Technically, Guidry's season may have been better. But what sets them apart, I think, is that there was so much anticipation as to what Gooden would do in 1985 based on his phenomenal 1984 rookie year. And he confirmed it. Guidry had a good 1977 but there was not a lot of excitement about what he would do in '78.

bobbybakeriv

It's really difficult to pick one season over the other. Guidry 's Yanks did win the WS that year and he was the WP in the Bucky Dent homer game and two games in the playoffs giving up 1 earned run per start. I honestly am leaning Guidry. He also struck out 18 Angels in a game that year. Both phenomenal seasons though.

yankeeno7

I will change my answer to Old Hoss Radbourn 1884 season.

mygotta

<< <i>I will change my answer to Old Hoss Radbourn 1884 season.
>>



Haha - yeah, well, 441 strikeouts and 59 wins is not a bad career for some let alone a single season.

cardbender

Yeah, Old Hoss benefited from a mound that was 50 feet away in a dead ball era.
Still a great pitcher. Didn't he pitch like 400 innings several times a year in his career?


I saw both Gooden and Guidry's years, I would take Guidry simply because he
was a lefty and most hitters are righty. Both had dominant years.

Add in Steve Carlton's 1972 season with the last place Phillies, and I'd take
Carlton with his 27 wins, 30 Complete games, 8 Shutouts, 1.98 era, and over 300 strikeouts.
All done with getting little if any run support.

mygotta

According to Wikipedia, Old Hoss pitched some 678 innings that one season.

jmmiller777

Doc was sure fun to watch, I'd take him.

ducster

Grew up in NY, and in '78 I was a Yankees fan, but by '85 I was with the Mets. So I got to watch both of them in those magical years. I'll take Gator. Pretty impressive scrawny little guy from Louisiana. I remember watching that 18-strikeout game. Electric!