Roy Halladay and the best arms of the millennium

The MLB’s top pitching awards went to a King and a Doctor this year.

Nicknames aside, Felix Hernandez and Roy Halladay added to their already-impressive resumes with Cy Young awards for their respective league. So where does it put those guys among the best starting arms of the new millennium years? Let’s look and see…

1. Randy Johnson

The Big Unit ruled the mound in the early part of the 2000’s. He won three straight Cy Young Awards in 2000, 2001 and 2002 (four in a row with a 1999 Cy Young) to start the millennium and led the Diamondbacks to the World Series in 2001, earning the series co-MVP with his boy Curt Schilling.

Johnson finished out the decade with back-to-back 17-win campaigns in New York, then back to Arizona for two seasons before wrapping his career in his home state of California with the Giants in 2009. He totaled 143 victories in those 10 seasons.

2. Johan Santana

Long before he was forcing himself on women at his local pitch-n-putt, Santana was among the most feared pitchers in baseball. As a member of the Twins, the dirty lefty won Cy Young awards in 2004 and 2006 while also leading the American League in strikeouts from 2004 to 2006.

Santana was traded to the Mets heading into the 2008 season and signed a whale of a six-year, $137.5-million contract. He has a 40-25 record since moving to New York, but hasn’t been the same with shoulder injuries hurting his control and fastball. He was named to Sports Illustrated’s MLB All-Decade Team last year.

3. Roy Halladay

Halladay was baseball’s best-kept secret for a while, thanks to his time spent north of the border. As a member of the Toronto Blue Jays, “Doc” won the AL Cy Young in 2003, made four All-Star rosters and won 139 games despite having little to none in terms of support in the Big Smoke.

After putting in his time with the Jays, Halladay longed for greener pastures, executing a sign and trade with the Phillies, bringing his amazing arm to the forefront of the league in 2010. Halladay made the most of this big stage, taking his second Cy Young, winning 21 games, pitching a perfect game in May and posting just the second no-hitter in postseason history against the Reds on October 6 – his first career playoff start. Those two accomplishments push him into the Top 3.

4. Pedro Martinez

One of the most compelling players of the past 11 years, Pedro is either loved or hated – but always respected for what he did on the bump. Martinez was already peaking at the time of the new millennium, but managed to win his third Cy Young in 2000 while with the Red Sox. He led the AL in ERA in 2000, 2002 and 2003 before helping break the curse in Boston and give the franchise its first World Series title in 86 years in 2004.

He signed with the Mets that offseason, playing four injury-shortened seasons in the Big Apple before joining the Phillies late in the 2009 season, posting a 5-1 record in nine starts while helping give the team its second straight NL Pennant. Pedro didn’t pitch in 2010 but is still bouncing around out there looking for work.

5. Tim Lincecum

Fuck yeah! For those of you who doubt the Freak’s spot on this list, just look at what the kid has done in just three seasons. Lincecum has two Cy Young awards, a World Series ring and 907 career strikeouts along with 56 wins.

And he’s done it with no run support, unlike other top pitchers of the millennium like Curt Schilling and Chris Carpenter, or steroids… Roger Clemens, cough, cough. Not only that, Mitch Kramer’s stunt double has been busted for pot possession and is a role model for a new generation of stoners.

Honorable mention:

Felix Hernandez
Chris Carpenter
Curt Schilling
C.C. Sabathia
Andy Pettitte
Roger Clemens*

Agree with this list? Who should I have on there, who should I not?

Johan couldnt hold Pedros jock

Ah maybe not. Johon was very good i shouldnt say that. However Oswalt, Rivera should be there.

I don't think he should be on the list but Mark Buehrle has done some pretty good things.

In 2005, he became the first pitcher in World Series history to start and save consecutive games.

He had a perfect game AND a no hitter.

And after that perfect game agains Tampa...he went on to throw another 5.2 innings of perfect baseball in his next start against the Twins which set a record for most consecutive hitters retired at 45 straight.

And this season...he won at least 10 games...which he's done for 10 consecutive seasons. The only active pitchers to have done that are CC Sabathia and Javier Vazquez.

He's also won 2 gold gloves and made that OUTSTANDING play on Opening Day 2010 that ended up being "ESPN's Play of the Year". The play where he kicked the ball foul, flipped it from his glove, between his legs, to Konerko who caught it with his bare hand to get the out.

 

Those are some impressive feats. But I wouldn't put him as one of the best. He was only in the Cy Young conversation 1 year (2005) where he came in 5th. However...with a 148-110 record and a 3.85 career ERA in the America League...he's in the top 20...maybe top 15.

When traded to the Mets, I thought the same thing as Halladay. He dominated the American League...so he should be even BETTER in the National League. Injuries have hurt him and he's no longer the best around. But I remember, on 2 occasions this season, seeing the Johan of old for about a month at a time. And now he's hurt again. It's a shame.

I'm kinda extending this list but whatever.

Josh Beckett...maybe?

I know it was mostly in Petco...but Jake Peavy, with his 4 seasons with a sub 3 ERA, is FILTHY.

Tim Hudson has been consistantly good. And that record he has when getting 3 runs or more is incredible.

Is John Smoltz eligable? Probably better in the 90s...but a lockdown closer from 2002-2004...just to come back in 2005-2007 to go 44-24 as a starter again, with ERA's of 3.06, 3.49 and 3.11.

Brandon Webb. I still think, when he was pitching, that Webb was one of the best pitchers in the game. Remember his 42 inning scoreless streak? I remember when the streak was broken. The game was on ESPN...Orel Hershiser was actually calling that game. It was broken in the 1st inning, but with a man on 3rd, in the FIRST INNING, the infield was brought in to prevent the run and save the streak.

Yes...Oswalt should be in the talks. He's been in the top 6 in Cy Young voting in his career (since 2001) SIX times. He's been consistantly great. In 2009...his ERA was 4.12 (highest of his career). Aside from that...his highest was 3.54. SIX seasons with a 3.01 ERA or lower.

Mariano as well. Nobody has been as consistant. Both regular season or postseason.

I don't think Timmy should be on this list. Not enough time logged in imo.

WHERE IS WRAINWRIGHT? MOST UNDERRATED PITCHER EVER!

Gagne and Strasburg

GREG MADDUX