While I had the data assembled about tough games and not-so-tough games, I also took a look at pitcher’s records in tough games and easy games. Every start of a pitcher’s career from 1953 to 2012 was scored on a 1 to 5 scale, 5 being the toughest games and 1 the easiest. "5" games are ALL on the road, and all against very tough opponents, post-season quality opponents. "1" games are all at home, and all against weak opposition. The other groups are mixed—
"4" games are against .500+ teams on the road and post-season quality opponents at home,
"3" games are .500+ teams at home and sub-.500 teams on the road,
"2" games are sub-.500 teams at home and truly bad opposing teams on the road.
Roughly 20% of games are in groups "1" and "5" combined, and the other 80% are pretty evenly distributed among the other three groups. From here on, I’ll break it down to questions and answers:
Q. Who was the toughest pitcher ever in the toughest games?
A. Juan Marichal. I think I wrote about this once before, but when I was in college I had an argument with my friend Tony Bandle about Juan Marichal in tough games. Tony was a St. Louis native and a Cardinal fan, and he was arguing that Bob Gibson was the greatest pitcher in baseball, not an unreasonable argument in the fall of 1968. Being contrarian, perhaps, I was arguing for Juan Marichal, pointing out that Marichal had won more games than Gibson every season since 1963.
OK, said Bandle, but Marichal has piled up a lot of wins against the teams like the Mets and the Astros, which were the bad teams in the NL at that time. The argument degenerated from there.
Anyway, here is the last word on that; if you see Tony, tell him about it. In 46 career starts facing championship-quality opposition on the road, Juan Marichal was 29-9 with a 2.24 ERA—by far the best record of any pitcher over the last 60 years in those games; the best winning percentage and the best ERA, and it ain’t close.
Actually, Clayton Kershaw has a 1.85 ERA in those games, but that’s only 11 starts, and Chad Billingsley is at 1.97, but that’s only 14 starts. Let’s say we use 20 starts to qualify. The number two man to Marichal is a guy who was a teammate of Marichal’s the first half of his career, Gaylord Perry; Perry in his career was 35-22 with a 2.56 ERA, and Perry actually had the most starts of any pitcher in these games, 68. The top ten in ERA: Marichal, Perry, Mario Soto, Dave Stieb, Pedro Martinez, Phil Niekro, Ray Culp, Don Robinson, Dave McNally and Tom Seaver. Seaver is interesting, in that he has one of the best ERAs facing post-season quality teams in road games (2.92), but a very poor won-lost record (13-22).
Jon Lester is 12-3 in those games, 22 starts, which I guess is a better winning percentage than Marichal, but half as many starts and he, of course, is still active. Bartolo Colon is 15-5 in those games, Steve Avery was 12-4, Sandy Koufax 18-8, Bret Saberhagen 14-6, and James Baldwin was 10-5. Dave McNally was 19-11, Bob Welch 19-11, Carlos Zambrano was/is 13-7, David Cone 13-7, King Felix 12-7, David Wells 23-14. Frank Lary, who was famous for beating the Yankees, was 18-11 in those games. Camilo Pascual was 19-12, and Tom Glavine 31-20.
Q. Who was notably BAD in those games?
A. Blyleven. Blyleven and Marichal were both right-handed pitchers, both Hall of Famers, both with fantastic strikeout/walk ratios. But whereas Marichal dominated the best teams in road games, Blyleven in those starts was 15-34 with a 4.63 ERA.
Blyleven has the most losses in those games, and the worst winning percentage of any pitcher with 36 or more starts. There are 87 pitchers in the study who had 36 or more starts under those conditions; Blyleven’s won-lost record is the worst of those 87.
But there are, of course, lots of pitchers who were worse than Blyleven in those games, but just in fewer starts. Jason Bere, facing the highest quality opponents in road games, was 1 and 10 with 9.49 ERA in 62 innings. Bryan Rekar was 0-7, 9.46. Bo Belinsky was 2-10 with an ERA of 8.00 (apparently "B" names do very badly in this category), and Jose Lima was 4-16 with a 7.68. Al Downing—not a bad pitcher—was 1-14 with a 5.01 ERA when facing quality opposition on the road.
Joe Niekro, whose brother was one of the best pitchers in those games, was 11-27 with a 4.86 ERA. Jim Colborn was 3-19. Chuck Rainey made only three starts of that type, but was 0-3 with a 14.09 ERA in those three starts. The record is notable in two ways: the worst ERA, and the fewest starts. With 100+ career starts, Rainey by random luck should have had about ten to twelve starts against championship-quality opponents on the road.
Q. Who started the most/least often in those games?
Francisco Barrios, a Mexican pitcher who died of a drug overdose in mid-career, made fewer career starts than Chuck Rainey, same era, but pitched 19 times on the road against post-season quality teams. That was the highest percentage of any pitcher.
Tom Griffin was a phenom with the Astros in 1969, struck out 200 batters in 188 innings. Strikeout rates were a lot lower then. Griffin made 34 of 191 career starts under those conditions, the highest percentage of any pitcher with 150 starts. It’s actually a remarkably high percentage, which can be illustrated in this way. Jim Barr (same era) has the highest percentage for a pitcher with 250 or more starts—but Barr was 34 of 252. No more super-tough starts than Griffin, 61 more starts—and Barr still has the highest percentage in his bailiwick. Frank Lary, the Yankee Killer, was 38 of 292 (the highest percentage with more starts than Barr), and Sam McDowell was 45 of 346, the highest percentage with more than 300 starts.
On the other end of the scale is Chuck Rainey. Matt Young made only 6 of 163 career starts on the road against tough teams. Young was a lefty who threw a fastball that started off the plate away from a right-handed batter and then tailed back over the plate. It’s a pitch you see a lot now, but almost nobody threw it in the 1980s. Storm Davis is at 4% (10 of 239), and Jimmy Key is low (21 of 389). Jeff Suppan Sandwiches was very low (25 of 417).
Q. Who was the most dominant pitcher facing a bad team in a home game?
A. Drysdale. Drysdale was 31-8 with a 1.97 ERA, facing a bad team in a home game. Among the 262 pitchers who pitched 162 or more innings in those games, that’s the best ERA. Guidry was 18-3, 1.99 ERA, Orel Hershiser 25-9, 1.99, Mike Scott 19-5, 2.09 ERA, Koufax 24-7, 2.11.
Of course, you have a park effect here, whereas there was no park effect in the earlier stat. When you focus solely on road games, as we were before, you have no park effect; when you focus entirely on home games, as we are doing here, then you get pitchers who pitched in pitcher’s parks.
Drysdale’s 31-8 won-lost record against weak teams and at home isn’t the best in the group. Warren Spahn was 31-7 in those games, in the data that I have, which begins in 1953. Whitey Ford was 32-7 in those games, David Wells 32-7.
Jered Weaver through 2012 has an 0.93 career ERA in those games, twelve starts. Jon Lester is 10-0 in his career when facing a bad team in Fenway Park.
Q. Who was notably poor in those games?
A. Jeff Weaver, Jered’s older brother, was 7-16 with a 5.63 ERA when facing a bad team in his home park. Terry Mulholland was 7-12, 5.98 ERA. If you define the parameters right, the two brothers are best and worst in those games.
Steve Trachsel—a 143-game winner in his career (143-159)—was 11-19 with a 4.58 ERA when facing a bad team in his home park. If he had dominated in those games the way he should have, his career won-lost record would be over .500.
Q. Who pitched a lot in those kind of games?
A. We have partial-career data for Mike Garcia, data starting in 1953, but in the data we have, Garcia made 20% of his career starts (32 of 164) at home against a bad team, which is an astonishing percentage. Bob Turley, 1957 Cy Young Award winner, was at 17%; we have almost-complete data for him, and Paul Splittorff was at 14%, which is the highest we have for a pitcher with 300 or more starts.
Another Royal is on the other end of that one. Brian Bannister, the Royals pitcher of a few years ago who was very interested in sabermetrics, may be interested to learn that, in his entire career, he made only 3 starts against a bad team in his home park—three of 114. Whereas Josh Towers, with fewer career starts, got 16 of those plum assignments.
Suppose that we broaden the discussion now to "tough" and "easy" games, but not the very toughest and the very easiest. In this next part of the discussion, "tough" games are
1) Games against .500+ teams on the road, and
2) Games against .570 and better teams, whether at home or on the road.
In this part of the discussion, "easy" games are:
1) Games against sub-.500 teams at home, and
2) Games against truly bad teams, whether at home or on the road.
Defining "tough" and "easy" games that way, we have much larger data samples. Back to the Q and A format.
Q: Who was the most effective pitcher in tough games?
A: Whitey Ford. Whitey Ford, Sandy Koufax and Juan Marichal, but. . .Whitey Ford.
Again, we don’t quite have complete career data for Ford. In the data that we have, Ford made 149 "tough" starts in his career. He was 72-36 with a 2.66 ERA in those games—the best won-lost record, and the best ERA. Sandy Koufax was 55-31 in those games, 3.00 ERA, and Marichal was 90-60, 3.10 ERA.
Among pitchers with 100 or more career starts (not 100 career starts in tough games, but 100 career starts total), the only pitchers with sub-3.00 ERAs in tough starts are Whitey Ford and Clayton Kershaw. Dean Chance had a 3.04 ERA in tough games, but was 37-46. David Price actually has a better winning percentage than Ford (28-12, .700), and Jon Lester is 34-18 in tough games. But, of course, you can’t compare partial-career records with full-career records.
Bob Gibson, the most famous big-game pitcher of my lifetime, was actually just 81-75 in tough starts—which, of course, is actually a very good record in those games. 73% of pitchers have losing records in tough starts, as we have defined tough starts here. 81-75 is a good record, but it’s not as good as Curt Schilling (79-44), Bob Welch (68-43), Tom Glavine (107-70), Kenny Rogers (68-45), Roy Halladay (73-49), Dwight Gooden (58-39), Randy Johnson (82-57), John Smoltz (67-47) or Mike Mussina (85-61). Maddux and Glavine have the most wins in tough games—Maddux 108-80, Glavine 107-70. Gaylord Perry was also 107-99.
Q. Who was ineffective in tough starts?
A. Nolan Ryan had a 3.40 ERA in tough starts, but was 93-123. Blyleven was 80-105, 3.79. Don Sutton was 91-105, 3.91 ERA. Those are the poorest records among big-name pitchers.
Among all pitchers, Carlton Willey had the worst won-lost record, 6-25. John Maine is 4-16 with a 6.60 ERA in tough games. Moe Drabowsky was 8-30, and Pete Broberg was 7-26, 5.77 ERA.
Rick Honeycutt was 17-47 in tough starts.
Here is a chart of career records in "tough starts" and "easy starts". It includes
a) Hall of Fame pitchers, and
b) Some pitchers who were more effective in tough starts than they were in easy starts:
First
|
Last
|
Group
|
GS
|
IP
|
W
|
L
|
Pct
|
SO
|
BB
|
ERA
|
Buddy
|
Black
|
Tough
|
97
|
605.2
|
37
|
36
|
.507
|
298
|
172
|
3.82
|
Buddy
|
Black
|
Easy
|
95
|
593.1
|
35
|
36
|
.493
|
280
|
170
|
4.07
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jim
|
Bunning
|
Tough
|
183
|
1272.1
|
69
|
69
|
.500
|
971
|
350
|
3.36
|
Jim
|
Bunning
|
Easy
|
179
|
1255.1
|
87
|
55
|
.613
|
1000
|
322
|
3.18
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John
|
Butcher
|
Tough
|
38
|
244.2
|
14
|
11
|
.560
|
103
|
70
|
4.05
|
John
|
Butcher
|
Easy
|
42
|
255.2
|
14
|
19
|
.424
|
122
|
70
|
4.51
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Steve
|
Carlton
|
Tough
|
246
|
1723.0
|
92
|
99
|
.482
|
1350
|
659
|
3.75
|
Steve
|
Carlton
|
Easy
|
242
|
1801.0
|
122
|
79
|
.607
|
1495
|
611
|
3.01
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Roger
|
Clemens
|
Tough
|
213
|
1473.0
|
89
|
69
|
.563
|
1359
|
524
|
3.34
|
Roger
|
Clemens
|
Easy
|
236
|
1653.1
|
132
|
47
|
.737
|
1630
|
494
|
2.69
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ray
|
Culp
|
Tough
|
97
|
622.2
|
41
|
37
|
.526
|
469
|
219
|
3.47
|
Ray
|
Culp
|
Easy
|
93
|
633.1
|
37
|
33
|
.529
|
471
|
269
|
3.65
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First
|
Last
|
Group
|
GS
|
IP
|
W
|
L
|
Pct
|
SO
|
BB
|
ERA
|
Ron
|
Darling
|
Tough
|
112
|
706.1
|
44
|
37
|
.543
|
474
|
279
|
3.95
|
Ron
|
Darling
|
Easy
|
132
|
829.0
|
48
|
36
|
.571
|
555
|
314
|
4.04
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Don
|
Drysdale
|
Tough
|
164
|
1125.1
|
61
|
56
|
.521
|
824
|
279
|
3.24
|
Don
|
Drysdale
|
Easy
|
159
|
1214.2
|
84
|
44
|
.656
|
863
|
300
|
2.38
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adam
|
Eaton
|
Tough
|
83
|
477.1
|
32
|
28
|
.533
|
322
|
194
|
4.77
|
Adam
|
Eaton
|
Easy
|
55
|
307.2
|
15
|
20
|
.429
|
240
|
97
|
5.32
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dennis
|
Eckersley
|
Tough
|
137
|
954.1
|
52
|
53
|
.495
|
646
|
240
|
3.63
|
Dennis
|
Eckersley
|
Easy
|
135
|
918.0
|
58
|
45
|
.563
|
586
|
226
|
3.92
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Whitey
|
Ford
|
Tough
|
149
|
989.2
|
72
|
36
|
.667
|
611
|
324
|
2.66
|
Whitey
|
Ford
|
Easy
|
170
|
1164.2
|
91
|
33
|
.734
|
742
|
410
|
2.95
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bob
|
Gibson
|
Tough
|
181
|
1394.2
|
81
|
75
|
.519
|
1098
|
510
|
3.14
|
Bob
|
Gibson
|
Easy
|
178
|
1394.1
|
102
|
53
|
.658
|
1174
|
448
|
2.67
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tom
|
Glavine
|
Tough
|
234
|
1518.1
|
107
|
70
|
.605
|
869
|
546
|
3.60
|
Tom
|
Glavine
|
Easy
|
218
|
1423.0
|
105
|
61
|
.633
|
886
|
457
|
3.27
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First
|
Last
|
Group
|
GS
|
IP
|
W
|
L
|
Pct
|
SO
|
BB
|
ERA
|
Mudcat
|
Grant
|
Tough
|
93
|
649.0
|
37
|
30
|
.552
|
350
|
213
|
3.49
|
Mudcat
|
Grant
|
Easy
|
112
|
751.2
|
47
|
38
|
.553
|
368
|
272
|
3.72
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Don
|
Gullett
|
Tough
|
55
|
364.0
|
23
|
16
|
.590
|
223
|
138
|
3.31
|
Don
|
Gullett
|
Easy
|
70
|
465.1
|
37
|
18
|
.673
|
307
|
162
|
3.33
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bill
|
Gullickson
|
Tough
|
131
|
891.0
|
52
|
47
|
.525
|
446
|
229
|
3.60
|
Bill
|
Gullickson
|
Easy
|
117
|
762.1
|
54
|
36
|
.600
|
401
|
165
|
3.95
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Roy
|
Halladay
|
Tough
|
162
|
1107.2
|
73
|
49
|
.598
|
873
|
237
|
3.36
|
Roy
|
Halladay
|
Easy
|
123
|
886.0
|
76
|
24
|
.760
|
675
|
146
|
2.83
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cole
|
Hamels
|
Tough
|
75
|
481.1
|
26
|
20
|
.565
|
426
|
130
|
3.27
|
Cole
|
Hamels
|
Easy
|
67
|
440.2
|
36
|
17
|
.679
|
428
|
105
|
3.53
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aaron
|
Harang
|
Tough
|
106
|
637.2
|
40
|
37
|
.519
|
517
|
203
|
4.08
|
Aaron
|
Harang
|
Easy
|
92
|
558.1
|
36
|
30
|
.545
|
455
|
170
|
4.17
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First
|
Last
|
Group
|
GS
|
IP
|
W
|
L
|
Pct
|
SO
|
BB
|
ERA
|
Ken
|
Hill
|
Tough
|
97
|
606.2
|
38
|
33
|
.535
|
374
|
283
|
3.63
|
Ken
|
Hill
|
Easy
|
103
|
668.0
|
46
|
31
|
.597
|
404
|
256
|
3.72
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Burt
|
Hooton
|
Tough
|
128
|
860.1
|
52
|
44
|
.542
|
482
|
238
|
3.18
|
Burt
|
Hooton
|
Easy
|
125
|
810.1
|
43
|
43
|
.500
|
453
|
241
|
3.33
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Catfish
|
Hunter
|
Tough
|
173
|
1166.2
|
67
|
66
|
.504
|
672
|
378
|
3.83
|
Catfish
|
Hunter
|
Easy
|
157
|
1133.1
|
82
|
49
|
.626
|
699
|
266
|
3.07
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ferguson
|
Jenkins
|
Tough
|
222
|
1554.1
|
93
|
96
|
.492
|
1059
|
358
|
3.56
|
Ferguson
|
Jenkins
|
Easy
|
193
|
1470.1
|
102
|
57
|
.642
|
1091
|
294
|
3.21
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tommy
|
John
|
Tough
|
235
|
1523.1
|
89
|
78
|
.533
|
722
|
431
|
3.73
|
Tommy
|
John
|
Easy
|
224
|
1498.2
|
96
|
66
|
.593
|
746
|
399
|
3.13
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Randy
|
Johnson
|
Tough
|
180
|
1193.2
|
82
|
57
|
.590
|
1365
|
471
|
3.76
|
Randy
|
Johnson
|
Easy
|
220
|
1554.1
|
128
|
45
|
.740
|
1855
|
503
|
2.70
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First
|
Last
|
Group
|
GS
|
IP
|
W
|
L
|
Pct
|
SO
|
BB
|
ERA
|
Sandy
|
Koufax
|
Tough
|
112
|
747.2
|
55
|
31
|
.640
|
689
|
249
|
3.00
|
Sandy
|
Koufax
|
Easy
|
118
|
834.2
|
64
|
30
|
.681
|
948
|
306
|
2.58
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Frank
|
Lary
|
Tough
|
115
|
820.0
|
50
|
42
|
.543
|
398
|
265
|
3.57
|
Frank
|
Lary
|
Easy
|
104
|
722.0
|
47
|
38
|
.553
|
371
|
188
|
3.45
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jon
|
Lieber
|
Tough
|
109
|
703.1
|
40
|
38
|
.513
|
480
|
139
|
4.21
|
Jon
|
Lieber
|
Easy
|
111
|
696.2
|
38
|
42
|
.475
|
503
|
123
|
4.35
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Esteban
|
Loaiza
|
Tough
|
116
|
718.0
|
43
|
32
|
.573
|
469
|
203
|
4.17
|
Esteban
|
Loaiza
|
Easy
|
121
|
733.1
|
49
|
41
|
.544
|
485
|
206
|
4.68
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jim
|
Lonborg
|
Tough
|
124
|
799.0
|
48
|
45
|
.516
|
452
|
258
|
3.64
|
Jim
|
Lonborg
|
Easy
|
129
|
798.0
|
54
|
41
|
.568
|
489
|
270
|
4.24
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Greg
|
Maddux
|
Tough
|
234
|
1523.2
|
108
|
80
|
.574
|
968
|
332
|
3.51
|
Greg
|
Maddux
|
Easy
|
254
|
1773.1
|
127
|
71
|
.641
|
1250
|
324
|
2.78
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Juan
|
Marichal
|
Tough
|
178
|
1333.2
|
90
|
60
|
.600
|
882
|
288
|
3.10
|
Juan
|
Marichal
|
Easy
|
147
|
1135.0
|
78
|
40
|
.661
|
757
|
219
|
2.64
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First
|
Last
|
Group
|
GS
|
IP
|
W
|
L
|
Pct
|
SO
|
BB
|
ERA
|
Jason
|
Marquis
|
Tough
|
80
|
472.2
|
31
|
28
|
.525
|
295
|
173
|
4.61
|
Jason
|
Marquis
|
Easy
|
113
|
654.2
|
41
|
45
|
.477
|
389
|
252
|
4.80
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pedro
|
Martinez
|
Tough
|
132
|
888.1
|
57
|
36
|
.613
|
1008
|
240
|
3.11
|
Pedro
|
Martinez
|
Easy
|
132
|
875.0
|
68
|
28
|
.708
|
981
|
241
|
2.87
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jack
|
Morris
|
Tough
|
161
|
1136.0
|
66
|
69
|
.489
|
712
|
450
|
4.14
|
Jack
|
Morris
|
Easy
|
184
|
1321.2
|
100
|
53
|
.654
|
850
|
452
|
3.64
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mike
|
Mussina
|
Tough
|
189
|
1228.0
|
85
|
61
|
.582
|
988
|
308
|
4.06
|
Mike
|
Mussina
|
Easy
|
180
|
1195.1
|
96
|
47
|
.671
|
961
|
230
|
3.55
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Phil
|
Niekro
|
Tough
|
254
|
1852.2
|
98
|
104
|
.485
|
1170
|
648
|
3.40
|
Phil
|
Niekro
|
Easy
|
229
|
1651.1
|
102
|
76
|
.573
|
1033
|
508
|
3.26
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bobby
|
Ojeda
|
Tough
|
81
|
501.2
|
32
|
30
|
.516
|
285
|
157
|
3.79
|
Bobby
|
Ojeda
|
Easy
|
82
|
515.1
|
32
|
30
|
.516
|
305
|
179
|
4.00
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First
|
Last
|
Group
|
GS
|
IP
|
W
|
L
|
Pct
|
SO
|
BB
|
ERA
|
Vicente
|
Padilla
|
Tough
|
88
|
528.2
|
40
|
29
|
.580
|
382
|
180
|
4.03
|
Vicente
|
Padilla
|
Easy
|
64
|
376.2
|
26
|
21
|
.553
|
279
|
123
|
4.47
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jim
|
Palmer
|
Tough
|
172
|
1277.0
|
78
|
59
|
.569
|
665
|
433
|
3.16
|
Jim
|
Palmer
|
Easy
|
180
|
1357.1
|
101
|
40
|
.716
|
785
|
440
|
2.44
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gaylord
|
Perry
|
Tough
|
257
|
1908.1
|
107
|
99
|
.519
|
1202
|
498
|
3.18
|
Gaylord
|
Perry
|
Easy
|
220
|
1616.1
|
101
|
69
|
.594
|
1111
|
391
|
3.15
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bob
|
Purkey
|
Tough
|
109
|
754.0
|
46
|
41
|
.529
|
276
|
156
|
3.75
|
Bob
|
Purkey
|
Easy
|
85
|
567.2
|
36
|
31
|
.537
|
212
|
158
|
3.95
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robin
|
Roberts
|
Tough
|
170
|
1243.1
|
61
|
80
|
.433
|
577
|
237
|
3.75
|
Robin
|
Roberts
|
Easy
|
139
|
1050.0
|
69
|
45
|
.605
|
583
|
170
|
3.23
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nolan
|
Ryan
|
Tough
|
260
|
1767.2
|
93
|
123
|
.431
|
1883
|
945
|
3.40
|
Nolan
|
Ryan
|
Easy
|
255
|
1811.1
|
121
|
74
|
.621
|
1964
|
898
|
2.85
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First
|
Last
|
Group
|
GS
|
IP
|
W
|
L
|
Pct
|
SO
|
BB
|
ERA
|
Bret
|
Saberhagen
|
Tough
|
120
|
785.0
|
54
|
34
|
.614
|
534
|
159
|
3.27
|
Bret
|
Saberhagen
|
Easy
|
126
|
876.1
|
54
|
43
|
.557
|
602
|
147
|
3.30
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Curt
|
Schilling
|
Tough
|
162
|
1128.0
|
79
|
44
|
.642
|
1057
|
240
|
3.43
|
Curt
|
Schilling
|
Easy
|
146
|
1056.1
|
79
|
44
|
.642
|
1054
|
194
|
3.31
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jason
|
Schmidt
|
Tough
|
110
|
700.0
|
41
|
38
|
.519
|
581
|
267
|
3.57
|
Jason
|
Schmidt
|
Easy
|
103
|
651.0
|
49
|
29
|
.628
|
630
|
263
|
3.86
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tom
|
Seaver
|
Tough
|
223
|
1626.1
|
87
|
87
|
.500
|
1193
|
517
|
3.13
|
Tom
|
Seaver
|
Easy
|
221
|
1632.1
|
121
|
53
|
.695
|
1291
|
485
|
2.77
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Warren
|
Spahn
|
Tough
|
129
|
952.2
|
67
|
49
|
.578
|
395
|
250
|
3.36
|
Warren
|
Spahn
|
Easy
|
147
|
1129.1
|
85
|
43
|
.664
|
568
|
264
|
2.85
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dave
|
Stieb
|
Tough
|
146
|
994.1
|
62
|
48
|
.564
|
575
|
384
|
3.31
|
Dave
|
Stieb
|
Easy
|
129
|
878.0
|
53
|
46
|
.535
|
528
|
298
|
3.73
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rick
|
Sutcliffe
|
Tough
|
138
|
925.1
|
62
|
50
|
.554
|
588
|
346
|
3.93
|
Rick
|
Sutcliffe
|
Easy
|
126
|
814.0
|
54
|
38
|
.587
|
552
|
333
|
4.15
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First
|
Last
|
Group
|
GS
|
IP
|
W
|
L
|
Pct
|
SO
|
BB
|
ERA
|
Luis
|
Tiant
|
Tough
|
182
|
1259.2
|
76
|
62
|
.551
|
823
|
379
|
3.34
|
Luis
|
Tiant
|
Easy
|
161
|
1126.0
|
83
|
40
|
.675
|
769
|
352
|
2.86
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Carlos
|
Zambrano
|
Tough
|
105
|
662.2
|
46
|
29
|
.613
|
547
|
314
|
3.60
|
Carlos
|
Zambrano
|
Easy
|
106
|
653.1
|
45
|
36
|
.556
|
597
|
289
|
3.72
|
As to who was better against weaker opponents. .. .well, most everybody was. But here is a chart of some pitchers who were/are especially good when the going was good:
First
|
Last
|
Group
|
GS
|
IP
|
Win
|
Lo
|
Pct
|
SO
|
BB
|
ERA
|
Erik
|
Bedard
|
Tough
|
69
|
383.1
|
17
|
30
|
.362
|
364
|
157
|
4.86
|
Erik
|
Bedard
|
Easy
|
68
|
395.0
|
30
|
15
|
.667
|
405
|
149
|
3.17
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rob
|
Bell
|
Tough
|
36
|
167.0
|
7
|
15
|
.318
|
93
|
84
|
7.98
|
Rob
|
Bell
|
Easy
|
33
|
195.0
|
10
|
6
|
.625
|
125
|
72
|
4.80
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sean
|
Bergman
|
Tough
|
35
|
167.2
|
6
|
15
|
.286
|
82
|
69
|
6.92
|
Sean
|
Bergman
|
Easy
|
40
|
232.0
|
16
|
9
|
.640
|
142
|
92
|
4.07
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wade
|
Blasingame
|
Tough
|
47
|
235.2
|
12
|
23
|
.343
|
133
|
119
|
5.77
|
Wade
|
Blasingame
|
Easy
|
41
|
264.0
|
18
|
7
|
.720
|
151
|
80
|
3.41
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vida
|
Blue
|
Tough
|
170
|
1119.0
|
63
|
70
|
.474
|
684
|
409
|
4.00
|
Vida
|
Blue
|
Easy
|
147
|
1039.2
|
71
|
39
|
.645
|
689
|
366
|
2.93
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bert
|
Blyleven
|
Tough
|
232
|
1615.2
|
80
|
105
|
.432
|
1189
|
460
|
3.79
|
Bert
|
Blyleven
|
Easy
|
245
|
1813.2
|
105
|
73
|
.590
|
1335
|
468
|
3.14
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First
|
Last
|
Group
|
GS
|
IP
|
Win
|
Lo
|
Pct
|
SO
|
BB
|
ERA
|
Tom
|
Brewer
|
Tough
|
90
|
580.2
|
26
|
43
|
.377
|
267
|
293
|
4.32
|
Tom
|
Brewer
|
Easy
|
72
|
521.1
|
42
|
15
|
.737
|
270
|
213
|
3.47
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pete
|
Broberg
|
Tough
|
44
|
243.1
|
7
|
26
|
.212
|
138
|
136
|
5.77
|
Pete
|
Broberg
|
Easy
|
47
|
286.0
|
17
|
19
|
.472
|
159
|
126
|
3.65
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kevin
|
Brown
|
Tough
|
155
|
1008.0
|
50
|
60
|
.455
|
737
|
311
|
3.88
|
Kevin
|
Brown
|
Easy
|
149
|
1048.1
|
77
|
42
|
.647
|
783
|
251
|
2.82
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Don
|
Cardwell
|
Tough
|
123
|
734.1
|
33
|
65
|
.337
|
432
|
256
|
4.65
|
Don
|
Cardwell
|
Easy
|
85
|
590.1
|
35
|
23
|
.603
|
351
|
179
|
3.16
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Larry
|
Dierker
|
Tough
|
118
|
772.2
|
36
|
54
|
.400
|
497
|
253
|
4.04
|
Larry
|
Dierker
|
Easy
|
92
|
659.1
|
46
|
33
|
.582
|
440
|
190
|
2.66
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Moe
|
Drabowsky
|
Tough
|
54
|
303.2
|
8
|
30
|
.211
|
182
|
149
|
5.28
|
Moe
|
Drabowsky
|
Easy
|
48
|
309.0
|
18
|
19
|
.486
|
200
|
117
|
3.29
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Scott
|
Erickson
|
Tough
|
132
|
822.1
|
36
|
57
|
.387
|
406
|
325
|
5.13
|
Scott
|
Erickson
|
Easy
|
129
|
849.0
|
61
|
43
|
.587
|
455
|
286
|
4.06
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First
|
Last
|
Group
|
GS
|
IP
|
Win
|
Lo
|
Pct
|
SO
|
BB
|
ERA
|
Yovani
|
Gallardo
|
Tough
|
46
|
270.1
|
15
|
20
|
.429
|
252
|
110
|
4.86
|
Yovani
|
Gallardo
|
Easy
|
52
|
327.1
|
28
|
11
|
.718
|
338
|
110
|
2.78
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John
|
Halama
|
Tough
|
43
|
214.2
|
10
|
20
|
.333
|
123
|
77
|
6.37
|
John
|
Halama
|
Easy
|
38
|
221.2
|
22
|
7
|
.759
|
113
|
58
|
3.78
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jack
|
Harshman
|
Tough
|
58
|
341.2
|
19
|
27
|
.413
|
213
|
185
|
4.24
|
Jack
|
Harshman
|
Easy
|
63
|
488.0
|
35
|
14
|
.714
|
314
|
199
|
2.75
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tim
|
Hudson
|
Tough
|
150
|
962.1
|
58
|
50
|
.537
|
591
|
321
|
3.91
|
Tim
|
Hudson
|
Easy
|
143
|
972.0
|
79
|
28
|
.738
|
711
|
259
|
3.01
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sam
|
Jones
|
Tough
|
69
|
432.1
|
25
|
35
|
.417
|
369
|
223
|
4.00
|
Sam
|
Jones
|
Easy
|
66
|
501.0
|
37
|
12
|
.755
|
453
|
212
|
2.75
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mike
|
Kekich
|
Tough
|
47
|
253.0
|
8
|
27
|
.229
|
147
|
136
|
5.62
|
Mike
|
Kekich
|
Easy
|
41
|
247.1
|
16
|
10
|
.615
|
145
|
101
|
3.35
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First
|
Last
|
Group
|
GS
|
IP
|
Win
|
Lo
|
Pct
|
SO
|
BB
|
ERA
|
Steve
|
Kline
|
Tough
|
43
|
257.2
|
11
|
25
|
.306
|
73
|
77
|
4.65
|
Steve
|
Kline
|
Easy
|
35
|
264.2
|
19
|
9
|
.679
|
88
|
48
|
1.90
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Al
|
Leiter
|
Tough
|
148
|
879.1
|
56
|
67
|
.455
|
708
|
431
|
4.23
|
Al
|
Leiter
|
Easy
|
120
|
750.2
|
57
|
27
|
.679
|
633
|
332
|
3.36
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ted
|
Lilly
|
Tough
|
119
|
660.1
|
38
|
53
|
.418
|
546
|
235
|
5.02
|
Ted
|
Lilly
|
Easy
|
102
|
610.2
|
44
|
28
|
.611
|
510
|
183
|
3.66
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jose
|
Lima
|
Tough
|
89
|
489.1
|
23
|
40
|
.365
|
244
|
150
|
6.58
|
Jose
|
Lima
|
Easy
|
85
|
542.0
|
39
|
24
|
.619
|
364
|
126
|
4.04
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Derek
|
Lowe
|
Tough
|
119
|
711.1
|
37
|
54
|
.407
|
448
|
236
|
4.64
|
Derek
|
Lowe
|
Easy
|
143
|
871.1
|
72
|
46
|
.610
|
535
|
234
|
3.60
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John
|
Maine
|
Tough
|
28
|
135.0
|
4
|
16
|
.200
|
109
|
76
|
6.60
|
John
|
Maine
|
Easy
|
33
|
193.0
|
18
|
9
|
.667
|
177
|
76
|
3.08
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First
|
Last
|
Group
|
GS
|
IP
|
Win
|
Lo
|
Pct
|
SO
|
BB
|
ERA
|
Doc
|
Medich
|
Tough
|
95
|
599.2
|
29
|
41
|
.414
|
273
|
196
|
4.68
|
Doc
|
Medich
|
Easy
|
95
|
653.2
|
47
|
31
|
.603
|
335
|
164
|
3.28
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Joe
|
Niekro
|
Tough
|
179
|
1093.0
|
57
|
78
|
.422
|
511
|
411
|
4.31
|
Joe
|
Niekro
|
Easy
|
156
|
1053.2
|
71
|
53
|
.573
|
512
|
353
|
3.11
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jim
|
Perry
|
Tough
|
147
|
921.1
|
48
|
64
|
.429
|
401
|
309
|
3.94
|
Jim
|
Perry
|
Easy
|
182
|
1237.0
|
94
|
51
|
.648
|
582
|
335
|
3.11
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fritz
|
Peterson
|
Tough
|
123
|
775.2
|
40
|
59
|
.404
|
349
|
165
|
3.82
|
Fritz
|
Peterson
|
Easy
|
103
|
729.0
|
52
|
27
|
.658
|
340
|
109
|
2.60
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rick
|
Reuschel
|
Tough
|
202
|
1283.0
|
63
|
92
|
.406
|
762
|
384
|
3.75
|
Rick
|
Reuschel
|
Easy
|
161
|
1102.1
|
80
|
42
|
.656
|
634
|
261
|
3.13
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dick
|
Ruthven
|
Tough
|
118
|
714.0
|
27
|
60
|
.310
|
388
|
255
|
4.64
|
Dick
|
Ruthven
|
Easy
|
108
|
721.0
|
56
|
26
|
.683
|
414
|
265
|
3.64
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First
|
Last
|
Group
|
GS
|
IP
|
Win
|
Lo
|
Pct
|
SO
|
BB
|
ERA
|
Nolan
|
Ryan
|
Tough
|
260
|
1767.2
|
93
|
123
|
.431
|
1883
|
945
|
3.40
|
Nolan
|
Ryan
|
Easy
|
255
|
1811.1
|
121
|
74
|
.621
|
1964
|
898
|
2.85
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jack
|
Sanford, Fla
|
Tough
|
116
|
701.2
|
39
|
41
|
.487
|
391
|
268
|
4.22
|
Jack
|
Sanford, Fla
|
Easy
|
97
|
693.0
|
54
|
30
|
.643
|
441
|
235
|
2.66
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pete
|
Schourek
|
Tough
|
53
|
279.1
|
12
|
28
|
.300
|
188
|
99
|
5.51
|
Pete
|
Schourek
|
Easy
|
72
|
424.2
|
30
|
24
|
.556
|
303
|
142
|
3.73
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jeff
|
Suppan
|
Tough
|
126
|
739.0
|
31
|
56
|
.356
|
394
|
269
|
5.33
|
Jeff
|
Suppan
|
Easy
|
154
|
927.0
|
66
|
45
|
.595
|
510
|
285
|
4.53
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Don
|
Sutton
|
Tough
|
253
|
1651.0
|
91
|
105
|
.464
|
1091
|
432
|
3.91
|
Don
|
Sutton
|
Easy
|
271
|
1972.1
|
125
|
80
|
.610
|
1335
|
473
|
2.83
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brett
|
Tomko
|
Tough
|
81
|
471.1
|
22
|
39
|
.361
|
283
|
169
|
5.44
|
Brett
|
Tomko
|
Easy
|
101
|
629.0
|
42
|
28
|
.600
|
443
|
168
|
3.93
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bob
|
Turley
|
Tough
|
74
|
462.1
|
21
|
37
|
.362
|
344
|
307
|
4.09
|
Bob
|
Turley
|
Easy
|
96
|
680.0
|
47
|
19
|
.712
|
509
|
411
|
2.92
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First
|
Last
|
Group
|
GS
|
IP
|
Win
|
Lo
|
Pct
|
SO
|
BB
|
ERA
|
Ismael
|
Valdes
|
Tough
|
94
|
569.1
|
25
|
43
|
.368
|
366
|
188
|
4.76
|
Ismael
|
Valdes
|
Easy
|
76
|
516.0
|
34
|
25
|
.576
|
333
|
121
|
2.83
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Justin
|
Verlander
|
Tough
|
83
|
545.2
|
39
|
30
|
.565
|
517
|
170
|
3.78
|
Justin
|
Verlander
|
Easy
|
73
|
493.1
|
47
|
8
|
.855
|
467
|
143
|
2.90
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
David
|
Wells
|
Tough
|
166
|
1038.1
|
71
|
55
|
.563
|
588
|
233
|
4.65
|
David
|
Wells
|
Easy
|
169
|
1173.1
|
94
|
37
|
.718
|
797
|
187
|
3.40
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Early
|
Wynn
|
Tough
|
117
|
762.0
|
43
|
55
|
.439
|
448
|
323
|
4.43
|
Early
|
Wynn
|
Easy
|
126
|
947.2
|
73
|
28
|
.723
|
589
|
358
|
2.74
|
It would be neat, not to mention potentially useful, if we could generalize about the types of pitchers who are more dominant against weaker teams, and those who hold their effectiveness in the toughest starts against the best teams. While I don’t want to be over-confident here, I would suggest the possibility that these charts show that the Whitey Ford/Tom Glavine/Buddy Black type pitchers do well in the toughest games, whereas the most opposite group dominates inferior competition but does less well against the very best teams. The Ford/Glavine/Black type pitchers, are, of course, left-handers with good control. John Candelaria was quite good in tough starts (54-43, 3.45 ERA.) Ross Grimsley was 35-27 in tough starts, actually a better won-lost record than he had in "soft" starts. Cole Hamels has been outstanding against tough opponents. Teddy Higuera was 35-19 against tough opponents, 38-31 against soft opposition. Bruce Hurst was 48-39 against the toughest opponents. Jimmy Key was 48-35, 3.58 ERA against the strongest opponents. Kirk Rueter in his career was 45-30 against the toughest opponents. Claude Osteen—one game over .500 in a long career—was 67-66 in the toughest games. Andy Pettitte is "just" 67-53 against the toughest teams, but holds the record for wins in the post season.
Of course I am cherry-picking the data, and when you do that you can establish any pattern that you think might be in there, but. . .there would appear to be a large number of right-handed power pitchers who have done dramatically better against bad teams than against good teams: Justin Verlander, Nolan Ryan, Bob Turley, Tom Seaver, Don Drysdale. Overall, the winning percentage in this study was 120 points better against "soft" opponents than in tough games. Tom Seaver was 195 points points better (.695 to .500). Roger Clemens’ winning percentage was 174 points better against "soft" opponents than against strong opponents (.737 to .563). Bob Gibson’s was 139 points better (.658 to .519). Jack Morris was 165 points better (.654 to .489). J. R. Richard was 136 points better (.661 to .525). Again, I could be imagining it, but that’s the pattern I see.