Which Cubs pitcher will have the best career??

[AramisRamirez]

We have 4 starters who have the potential to finish with terrific, amazing careers. First on the list is the most accomplished, the elder statesmen, Greg Maddux. sure he's finally declining at this point in his career (he is basically 40 for crying out loud) but he has pitched some great games this season. we all talk about his vesting option but in all reality he will probably reach 15 wins again this year. I believe he has 15 straight 15+ win seasons, which is one of the most remarkable stats in MLB history. considering he has a 68-mph fastball, his control and movement throughout his career has been artistic. He is a shoe-in HOF'er.

 

Next on the list is the ultimighty Mark Prior. Despite his age he was basically the best pitcher in the majors in 2003. he went 18-6 with an ERA in the low 2.00's with great K's per inning ratio. He has been hurt alot, but I get the feeling he's going to be one of the league's greatest pitchers ever. I dont forsee injuries ruining his career, much like Pedro Martinez has managed to avoid early injuries. I love watching him pitch, especially at Wrigley. Alot of people get bored watching baseball on TV because its a game of strategy --not unlike chess. But when Prior is on the mound, I am on the edge of my seat. Even with 5 stints on the DL, he always comes back strong as an ox. I cant say he'll break the record for most career wins, but i do think he'll hang 'em up with a Cy Young award, a World Series ring, atleast one 20-game win season, and an introduction into the HOF. To me, nothing is better than enjoying time off from work, kicking back on the coach with a cold one with Prior on the hill.

 

Third on the list is psychopathic carlos zambrano. to me, zambrano is the stud nobody talks about. the past 2 years when our pitching staff has been depleated by injury, young Z carried the load. even with a few tough performances this year, he still should have more wins than he does (no run support killed him a couple times). Zambrano is a big guy at 6-5 and he throws hard with good movement. What else could you want in a pitcher? plus he has confidence, loads of it. when he has a bad outing, he usually bounces back with a good one. thats the sign of a pitcher who knows what he's capable. on alot of teams he'd be a number 1 guy. i have seriously high hopes for zambrano here in wrigley. i think he could be the #2 guy for a long time to come. i was upset this summer when hendry was haggling with zambrano over an extra $300,000...zambrano earned that money the past 2 seasons. before its all over from him i think its possible he'll possess a 20-game win season and probably be a candidate for the Cy Young a few times (he probably already has).. To me i see alot of Bartolo Colon in him, but i dont see Zambrano having as bad a year as colon did in 04, though bartolo is cutting 'em down this year.

 

And finally we have our home-grown Texas fireballer, Kerry Wood. Once thought of as a cant miss #1 starter for the duration of his career, Wood has fallen victim to the injury bug far too many times. Ever year it seems he goes down. He still is a damn good pitcher, especially with a high 90's fastball and continual improvement from his other pitchers. But this year he has been counterproductive to say the least. Since 03 actually we havent gotten too much out of Kerry. its important that he produce because he's getting aproximately $10M a year. im hoping for a strong return from him this season (stronger than his debut atleast). currently he has 1 win and a 5.00+ ERA, which is quite disturbing. Trading him isnt really an option much in the way trading Corey isnt an option (they are both much better than their current value dictates). plus trading pitching is always a gamble (though so is signing pitchers to big extensions).

 

Anyways here is my final prediction for our big 4 and who, eventually, will have the best HOF career.

 

1) maddux: too tough to beat at this point. too much consistent productivity basically over 2 decades.

 

2) prior: could reach very similar levels, though not with win total. if he stayed healthy he'd be an elite pitcher every season until he retires. he's the type of guy who will came back from a month on the IR and just tear a team apart piece by piece. the Twins drafting Mauer was not a bad pick because thats how good Mauer is....but Mark Prior has the ability to become the best pitcher in the organizations history (saying alot with Fergie Jenkins and Richard Sutcliff).

 

3) zambrano: zambrano has no limit on how good he can be. alot of his mental approach works well for him. occasionally it backfires, but that can be amended. ill never forget during the NLCS in pro-player stadium against the marlins. zambrano was sweating bullets by the 4th inning, literally raining sweat. the sweating eventually gave way to a full-on meltdown, as big Z began ferociouslly pacing across the pitchers mound like a caged lion. sweating, pacing, and figiting with the cup on his jockstrap every 2 seconds. it was an epic meltdown to say the least, which i dont hold against him because he was like teen back then and pro-player stadium packed like 70,000 into the game. anyways, big Z is one of my favorite players on the team and i envision a great career with the cubs for him. i could see hendry letting clement go, but not any of the big 3 in prior, zambrano, or wood. i think hendry would rather part with wood than zambrano if forced to, though contract plays a big factor into that.

 

4) wood: thought to be a potential HOFer, now looking more like a #3 starter in the rotation. anyway you look at it, he's been way too injury prone throughout his career. even though he throws hard, that alone shouldnt mean he'll have a short career. Roger Clemens and Randy Johnson throw hard and they're still around (though Randy is declining at 41). Wood isnt old yet, but slowly he is getting up there. If he's going to have a memorable career (other than 20 K's in a game) he needs to string together multiple healthy years. its going to be interesting to see how he finishes out the season, my hopes are with him.

 

go cubbies!!

 

 

 

any thoughts fellow fans?? will prior have a better pitcher than maddux??

[Larry Horse]

I wouldn't even worry about Prior and Wood's careers until they can prove that they can stay healthy for 2 or 3 years straight.

[Satch80]

I don't think Maddux should be in the mix here because his career is basically over and we know he is a sure HOF, has 5 Cy Youngs, has been a 20 game winner, has a WS ring, has a ton of gold gloves and 300 plus wins and counting. It's not likely that any pitcher can equal or surpass that.

As for Prior, Wood and Z, Prior has the most ability but he seems to be somewhat injury prone. Some are freak injuries, but still, they are happening. Wood is also injury prone and I doubt will ever stay healthy enough to have consistent results.

Z is likely to stay healthiest but maturity needs to happen before we have any idea how far he can go.

Anyway, since we can't really predict injuries it's not possible to predict their future but I will say that among the 3 Prior has the best shot at the HOF.

[BigbadB]

I don't think Maddux should be in the mix here because his career is basically over and we know he is a sure HOF, has 5 Cy Youngs, has been a 20 game winner, has a WS ring, has a ton of gold gloves and 300 plus wins and counting. It's not likely that any pitcher can equal or surpass that.

As for Prior, Wood and Z, Prior has the most ability but he seems to be somewhat injury prone. Some are freak injuries, but still, they are happening. Wood is also injury prone and I doubt will ever stay healthy enough to have consistent results.

Z is likely to stay healthiest but maturity needs to happen before we have any idea how far he can go.

Anyway, since we can't really predict injuries it's not possible to predict their future but I will say that among the 3 Prior has the best shot at the HOF.

 

Excluding Maddux for obvious reasons, I think Prior has the best shot of having the most success.

[1wizard]

Maddux actually has had 17 straight 15 win seasons. This has never been done before in the history of the game. And will probably never happen again. He has a shot of making it 18 straight this year, and I will be cheering for him unless he is facing the Cards.

 

As for the other three, Prior and Zambrano are clearly better and more consistant than Wood. And only time will tell who is better out of these two. If I had my choice, I would take them both. :lol:

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

Given good health, and thats nowhere close to a garauntee, I believe Mark Prior could retire as the best pitcher of my generation.

 

The funny thing about Prior is that his upper body is small enough that if he filled it out a bit more he could add a bit more to his fastball (which scouts have been hoping for).

 

I'm hoping all these small little pansy injuries are a blessing in disguise in that Dusty has to be a liiiitttle bit more careful with him than he would have been.

 

Basically, as soon as Dusty leaves I really see this franchise blossoming. And blossoming big time.

 

Too bad the only pick I like from this years draft is Pawelek, cause our farm system needs a new injection of youth. We have fallen hard in that area IMO.

 

Sorry for going off course there.

[wolf stansson]

Dontrelle Willis?

[CubfaninCA]

Maddux by a landslide.

 

After that the one the Cubs let get away. Just Cub luck. Fwiw Prior and Wood will be lucky to win 150 each, especially if they stick w/ the Cubs. Both are injured often and both get little offensive support.