Most Unlikely Pitcher Ever

[Ltlabner]

Who is the pitcher that had the worst stuff of all time, the slowest fastball and the straightest curve......yet, had a successfull MLB carear?

In other words, what pitcher(s) on paper should have been horrible yet he somehow manged to string together a decent carear? As always, why do you think this way?

[Johnny Footstool]

Don Sutton.

[dabvu2498]

Jamie Moyer and John Tudor

Honorable mention: Tim Wakefield ;)

[redsupport]

Aurelio Monteagudo

[westofyou]

Slim Sallee

[cincrazy]

Jimmy Anderson. Oh wait, he never had success, never mind :D

[redsupport]

John Tudor had a very effective curveball.

[RedFanAlways1966]

Jimmy Anderson. Oh wait, he never had success, never mind :D

Yes, he did... when he played for the Pirates and faced another team that resides by the Ohio River. I think the team that he usually beat wore RED and won back-to-back championships in the 1970s. He was so good against them (or were they bad against him?!?) that the team signed him and put him as their #3(!!) starter for 7 games in 2003. His 9.08 ERA after those 7 games woke that team up as to his real value. Mom always said, "Stupid is, stupid does."

:devil:

[Heath]

Carl Mays. He had that submarine dipsy do....and killed Ray Chapman.

Mays actually turned out to be a decent pitcher and still pitched inside. See the mid-20's Cincinnati clubs.

Other ones that come to mind are some former Indians -Knuckleballer Tom Candiotti and 15 different change-up man, yet closer Doug Jones.

[15fan]

Jose Canseco was a horrible pitcher with average stuff at best, yet managed a long & illustrious career.

:)

[redsupport]

I believe the least effective pitcher is a toss up between Guido Grilli and pitcher-outfielder willie smith

[Big Klu]

I was always surprised at the success that Rick Reuschel had.

[westofyou]

I was always surprised at the success that Rick Reuschel had.
He and Don Robinson were used as PH by Roger Craig a few times in the late 80's

[Big Klu]

He and Don Robinson were used as PH by Roger Craig a few times in the late 80's

Don Robinson, a.k.a. "Captain Caveman" could crush the ball! Chuck Tanner would use Robinson and Rick Rhoden as PHs for Pirates in the early 80's. Billy Martin also started Rhoden one game at DH for the Yankees on June 11, 1988--batting seventh and going 0-1 with 1 RBI on a sacrifice fly.

[westofyou]

Don Robinson, a.k.a. "Captain Caveman" could crush the ball! Chuck Tanner would use Robinson and Rick Rhoden as PHs for Pirates in the early 80's. Rhoden also started one game at DH for the Yankees in 1988, going 0-1 with 1 RBI on a sacrifice fly.
Yeah, 85 ab's in 1986 - .282/.311/.412/.723 that's really great for a pitcher... then you look at the leagues average .253/.322/.380/.702 and it becomes amazing.

[Big Klu]

woy,

Those were Robinson's numbers in 1982 for the Pirates (85 ABs). :)

.282/.311/.412/.723 with 2 HRs and 16 RBIs.


BTW, Check out Rhoden in the same season, 1982, for the Bucs (83 ABs):

.265/.287/.446/.733 with 3 HRs and 12 RBIs.

[westofyou]

woy,

Those were Robinson's numbers in 1982 for the Pirates (85 ABs). :)

.282/.311/.412/.723 with 2 HRs and 16 RBIs.


BTW, Check out Rhoden in the same season, 1982, for the Bucs (83 ABs):

.265/.287/.446/.733 with 3 HRs and 12 RBIs.
Right.. duh

Best pitching (for a team) OPS vs the leagues pitchers in the divison era



OPS YEAR DIFF PLAYER LEAGUE AB
1 Rockies 2002 .233 .606 .373 311
2 Pirates 1982 .178 .553 .375 404
3 Rockies 2001 .169 .529 .360 338
4 Cardinals 2003 .152 .523 .371 327
5 Pirates 1974 .151 .563 .413 438
6 Cubs 2003 .151 .521 .371 328
7 Mets 1988 .142 .473 .331 403
8 Phillies 1978 .141 .512 .371 372
9 Braves 1996 .141 .513 .372 339
10 Pirates 1980 .135 .524 .389 392

[Rojo]

It always amazed that Kirk Reuter amassed as many wins as he did. Doug Jones was a good call but anyone remember Mark Eichhorn? Couldn't dent saran wrap but had a ten-year career.

[Team Clark]

Paul Wilson... all of his pitches are below average.


Tom Browning... if he didn't have a decent screwball he would never have made it.

Bob Walk... Bob just threw. He Invented pitches.

Rick Mahler ... see Bob Walk.

Doug Jones... two pitches slower and slowest.

[MartyFan]

I was always surprised at the success that Rick Reuschel had.

Boy, I am right with you.

When reading the question it was Reushel who was almost finishing the sentence for me...good call.

[mth123]

Frank Tanana after the injury.

[GoGoWhiteSox]

Jamie Moyer. It baffles me as to how he's lasted for 20 years.

[goreds2]

Wilbur Wood, a knuckleball pitcher for the Whitesox in the 1970's.

He was the last major league pitcher to win 20 games and to lose 20 games in the same season.


Wilbur Wood threw close to 400 innings and made close to 50 starts in one season.

Wood, a knuckleball pitcher, won 20 or more games for the Chicago White Sox for four consecutive seasons (1971-74), averaging more than 340 innings per year. In 1973, he took his place in baseball history with a 24-20 record on the season.

[TeamSelig]

Can you really count knuckleballers? I guess the thread just said slow fastball and a bad curve, but I think he meant pitchers with no stuff or velocity

[Big Klu]

Wilbur Wood, a knuckleball pitcher for the Whitesox in the 1970's.

He was the last major league pitcher to win 20 games and to lose 20 games in the same season.


Wilbur Wood threw close to 400 innings and made close to 50 starts in one season.

Wood, a knuckleball pitcher, won 20 or more games for the Chicago White Sox for four consecutive seasons (1971-74), averaging more than 340 innings per year. In 1973, he took his place in baseball history with a 24-20 record on the season.


Phil Niekro was 21-20 in 1979 for the Braves. He led the NL in losses, and was tied with his brother Joe for the NL lead in wins. Joe was 21-11 for the Astros that season.

[Ltlabner]

Can you really count knuckleballers? I guess the thread just said slow fastball and a bad curve, but I think he meant pitchers with no stuff or velocity

Yes, the slow fastball and bad curve were just examples. I meant ANY pitcher who had crappy stuff yet somehow managed to win.

[TeamSelig]

Knuckleballs not considered "stuff"? Not arguing just sayin... you might as well count every knuckleballer cause I don't think any ever had anything besides it...

[blumj]

I consider a good knuckler pretty nasty stuff, and I bet most hitters would agree. I'll add John Burkett, he seemed like he should have been almost ridiculously hittable to me.

[Sea Ray]

TC you beat me to it!

Rick Mahler. He was successful cause had that "rubber arm". He set the standard for "innings eater".

[Newman4]

I'll second, or I guess third, Jamie Moyer. He has to get props for his longevity too.