Pocket Aces Part Two: The 80's thru 2006

[Porter]

In Pocket Aces, we took a look at the current dynamic duos of MLB. It turns out to be more than just a trend. There has been notable duos all throughout the history of American's Pastime. This Article will look at the 90's and how dynamic duos helped teams have success over this time. Let's break down some of the best duos between 1980 up to last year.

Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine, 1993-1999 Atlanta Braves:

Greg Maddux is the most consistent pitcher of any era ever. During the mid to late 90's, however, He teamed up with Tom Glavine to have the most productive duo in the National League. Injuries kept me from have John Smoltz in the argument and Neagle wasn't around enough to make a case for him either. The two combined to have 240 wins and five Cy Young awards (Maddux 4 straight, Glavine 1) over this seven year period. The shame about these two was they couldn't win mulitple World Series.

Dave Stewart and Bob Welch, 1988-1990 Oakland A's:

Dave Stewart best three years combined with Bob Welch formed a solid duo. Stewart won 64 games during this stretch. Welch won 61 games over the time frame. Like Maddux and Glavine in the above paragraph, The A's couldn't get over the hump either, only winning one world series in 1989. They went 1-3 in the 1990 Cy Young Race, with Welch beating out Stewart.

Ron Darling and Dwight Gooden, 1984-1988 New York Mets:

Both pitchers came up around the same time and set the league on fire from 84-88. They also only won one World Series title in 1986. The unique thing about these two was the fact neither had a season where they lost 10 games or more. They had contrasting styles on the way they pitched as well, Darling would just get outs and kept the ball in play. Gooden would mow everyone down and make them look stupid with his stuff. They fell of the face of the earth after the '88 season.

Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens, HGH and all, 2000-2003 New York Yankees:

Sure this will be tainted by the HGH scandal. You can't deny the fact that they put together solid years during this time. Their pure numbers lack compared to the previous three duos. When it came to the postseason, they were the ATM. They made it to the WS in 3 of the 4 years, winning 1.

Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling, 2001-2002 Arizona Diamondbacks:

They started the current find two aces and pray for rain in the early part of the decade. You can count on 20-plus wins, 290+ strike outs, and a high 2 to a low 3 ERA. They won the WS title in 2001 over the Yanks with Pettitte and Clemens. It's a damn shame that they didn't hook up when they were in their prime. Probably would have been similar to Maddux-Glavine.



The duos were not nearly as abundant as the pitching today. While it remains to see if any of the current duo's can keep the sustained success like some of the guys listed above. It will be interesting to see how history will play out compared to other pitchers that paved the way for them. You're sure to find guys that had one season where they were phenomenal (i.e. Beckett-Willis 2003 Marlins, Burkett-Swift for the Giants, Oswalt-Clemens, Martinez-Fassero for the 94 Expos to name a few). Less likely though, the chances for them to be good for a long time seems slim.

[General]

Can't argue the consistency of Maddux - Glavine.

[browntown653]

Agreed with General.

Never overpowering, but got the job done like few others have.

[ljshorty89]

Maddux-Glavine was the best, but on pure ability, you can't argue against Darling/Gooden. Doctor K shoulda been one of the best...

[NYgiantsfan5689]

I would agree with Brownie and General on Maddux-Glavine completely, but I gotta go with Randy-Curt. The year they won the WS (2001), it was almost unfair with them at the top of the rotation. You go from 100 mph heat and a ridiculous slider to 98 mph heat and an unhittable split-finger and changeup.

Here's where it takes the cake for me: 2 years in a row, these guys finished 1 and 2 in Cy Young voting. I'm sorry, that's just nasty.

O, and for the record, I hate Curt Schilling.

[catman]

For sheer longevity, I have to go with Maddux/Glavine. Not to mention John Smoltz. One must throw his name into the mix with the others. They are likely the best 1-2-3 pitchers in the last 50 years or so.

[rockin500]

just for longevity alone i'll go with maddux adn glavine.

[ljshorty89]

1991- Glavine wins Cy Young
1992-Maddux wins Cy Young, Glavine finished #2
1993- Maddux wins Cy Young, Glavine finished #3
1994-Maddux wins Cy Young
1995- Maddux wins Cy Young, Glavine finishes #3
1996- Maddux finishes #5
1997- Maddux finishes #2
1998- Glavine wins Cy Young, Maddux finishes #4
1999-OFF YEAR
2000- Glavine finishes #2, Maddux finishes #3

How can you vote against that?

[GiantsFanatic]

Gota go with Schilling and Johnson, I apreciate/respect what Maddux and Glavine did.

[General]

Schilling and RJ were only together for 1 season. C'mon now.

[GiantsFanatic]

3 seasons 01-03.

[Shecky]

What does it say about the 90s when the best you can come up are the Atlanta aces? The pitching stunk in that era. Fortunately, you are seeing teams dole good 1-2 duos that Porter mentioned in his article.

Good article, Porter.

You went straight to the point and you did research.

[love_that_reefer]

Frank Viola and Doc Gooden had a good 1990 season and Bret Saberhagan and Charlie Leibrandt had a good '85 season. The Cards had a good '85 season too with John Tudor and Joaquin Andujar both winning 21 games each. Drabeck and Smiley are the last on my mind in '91 as I thought for sure those two along with Bonds and Bonilla would lead to a WS title.

[Dry1313]

1991- Glavine wins Cy Young
1992-Maddux wins Cy Young, Glavine finished #2
1993- Maddux wins Cy Young, Glavine finished #3
1994-Maddux wins Cy Young
1995- Maddux wins Cy Young, Glavine finishes #3
1996- Maddux finishes #5
1997- Maddux finishes #2
1998- Glavine wins Cy Young, Maddux finishes #4
1999-OFF YEAR
2000- Glavine finishes #2, Maddux finishes #3

How can you vote against that?

And in the "off year" they went to the WS...

Playoffs every year, WS in '95, '96, and '99...not too shabby

What does it say about the 90s when the best you can come up are the Atlanta aces? The pitching stunk in that era. Fortunately, you are seeing teams dole good 1-2 duos that Porter mentioned in his article.

Good article, Porter.

You went straight to the point and you did research.

Is that a joke?

I hope so. Two Hall of Famers, yeah, terrible.




Pettite and Clemens are massively underrated, but Glavine and Maddux take the cake

[ljshorty89]

If I may, for reference, just because it's so incredible:
(The number in parenthesis is the # of combined wins for Glavine, Maddux, and Smoltz in that year)

1991- Glavine wins Cy Young (49)
1992-Maddux wins Cy Young, Glavine finished #2 (55)
1993- Maddux wins Cy Young, Glavine finished #3 (57)
1994-Maddux wins Cy Young (35)**Strike Shortened**
1995- Maddux wins Cy Young, Glavine finishes #3 (47)
1996- John Smoltz wins Cy Young, Maddux finishes #5 (54)
1997- Maddux finishes #2 (48)
1998- Glavine wins Cy Young, Maddux and Smoltz finish tied for #4 (55)
1999-OFF YEAR (44)
2000- Glavine finishes #2, Maddux finishes #3 (40) **Smoltz missed the whole season**
2001-OFF YEAR (36) **Smoltz pitched only 60 Innings**
2002-Smoltz finishes #2 (34) **Smoltz was the closer, and had 55 Saves


What dominance!