might get some horsefeathers for this but i've always thought that prior's 2003 season was more impressive than arrieta's 2015 run. i'm removing the cy young award and their bwar/fwar from the equation here because they obviously lean towards arrieta and going just on vibes and what i remember.
whenever i watched prior pitch, it was like HOLY horsefeathers THE CUBS HAVE A horsefeathers POWER PITCHER AND HE IS THAT GUY.
there was a game against milwaukee where prior struck out 16 and walked no one and the cubs horsefeathers the bed...it was one of those "this guy is the real horsefeathers deal" moments.
with jake, i was always weary that the wheels were going to come off at any given moment even though he was damn near unhittable. i know it absolutely makes no sense but prior was an actual ace and jake got his horsefeathers together with an organization that didn't neuter his skill set.