whos a better lefty? Koufax or The Big Unit?

[TheArch1tect]

just need some opinions to settle an argument.

[TheRaven]

Having never seen him in real time, but having read much about him, I would say Koufax.

[thehat]

Koufax is the best lefthander of all time. For a five year stretch, he was the best pitcher of all time.

[slomo007]

I could be biased due to the time era I grew up in....but I'll give it to Randy because of the fact that he's pitching in a hitter's era. Also, he doesn't show many signs of slowing down, so I think he'll have 2-3 more years left in him to pad his stats even more.

[Lofunzo]

I was gonna break down the numbers but then I found this:

http://espn.go.com/mlb/s/2002/0619/1396600.html

[slomo007]

I was gonna break down the numbers but then I found this:

http://espn.go.com/mlb/s/2002/0619/1396600.html

Awesome article, and I couldn't agree more

[Carnac]

I was able to see Koufax pitch about a dozen times in the mid sixties when I was a kid. He was the most dominant pitcher I ever saw in person. RJ is a great pitcher, but would rank him behind Lefty Grove, Koufax and Carlton. I saw all three of the modern day guys and Koufax was a MONSTER.

[CubsFan7724]

Well, if Johnson could magically travel in time to the 60s, then that article could be realistic. But just speculating, hey maybe he could pitch more complete games in the 60s just because other pitchers did is pretty meaningless.

[Lofunzo]

Well, if Johnson could magically travel in time to the 60s, then that article could be realistic. But just speculating, hey maybe he could pitch more complete games in the 60s just because other pitchers did is pretty meaningless.

Then, according to your logic, comparing players from different eras and asking questions like this is meaningless as well.

[thehat]

I could be biased due to the time era I grew up in....but I'll give it to Randy because of the fact that he's pitching in a hitter's era. Also, he doesn't show many signs of slowing down, so I think he'll have 2-3 more years left in him to pad his stats even more.

The early 60's was also a time when offensive records were being rewritten. The prime determining factor for me is a comparison of Koufax to all other pitchers of that same time frame. He blew them all away. And he did it while logging a ridiculous amount of innings. There's no way to prove out these things, but I'll submit that had Koufax maintained good health into the late 60's, when the mound was raised, his numbers would have been beyond belief. Likewise, had he pitched in an era where arm problems are far better treated, one can only imagine what he might have accomplished.