Dennis Eckersley v. Don Dysdale

Wolf Hopper · 01-06-2004, 10:13 PM

Which pitcher had the better career - and why?

Code:

MODERN (1900-)

INNINGS PITCHED BETWEEN 3000 AND 3500
RSAA BETWEEN 200 AND 250
BASERUNNERS/9 IP vs. the league average displayed only--not a sorting criteria
ERA vs. the league average displayed only--not a sorting criteria
STRIKEOUTS/WALKS >= 1 vs. the league average

GAMES                            G       IP      RSAA    BR/9 IP     ERA     SO/BB   
1    Dennis Eckersley           1071   3285.2      208     1.82     0.46     1.68   
2    Don Drysdale                518   3432        229     1.18     0.70     1.05

Rajah · 01-06-2004, 11:10 PM

At a glance, I'd have to say Eckersley. This is just at a glance, so don't ask me to strongly defend that position.

WiredTiger · 01-07-2004, 09:02 AM

I think I'd take Drysdale. He had a better ERA+ and pitched more innings as a starter.

TimmyB · 01-07-2004, 09:09 AM

If we're only matching up starters vs. starters then it's no contest -- Drysdale. Eck partied too much in those years.

However, as a closer, the guy was light's-out good. No, make that great. So, if we're just measuring "getting the job done", then Eck the closer trumps Drysdale the starter.

So, I took the safe route and voted it a tie.

KCBOOMER · 01-07-2004, 11:24 AM

Drysdale all the way. His RSAA is 10% better and he was a stud for ten years. The value of closers is a function of the quality of the team. Eckersley was fortunate that the A's were a very good team to start with. Drysdale helped make the Dodgers a good team.

sweaver · 01-07-2004, 01:09 PM

On my pitcher rankings, Drysdale is #31, Eckersley is #39. So it's Drysdale, not by a large margin, but by a significant one.

pwdennis · 01-07-2004, 03:44 PM

I'm not sure.

I don't regard the Big D as being Cooperstown worthy, although he certainly was famous (mostly due to his looks and venue) so maybe he does qualify.

On the other hand, the Eck I do regard as being worthy although his hybrid career is hard to assess. When Smoltz comes up for consideration, many of the same problems will arise (Smoltz was the better starter but may have a shorter career as a reliever)

tyruschen · 01-07-2004, 03:58 PM

Sorry, I want to ask was the ERA adjusted? Cause Drysdale pitched half of his games in Dodger Stadium.

01-07-2004, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KCBOOMER

The value of closers is a function of the quality of the team. Eckersley was fortunate that the A's were a very good team to start with.

I would go with Eck - I generally agree that closers value is based on the quality of the team, except that Eck for 5 years was a totally dominant pitcher - he wasn't just a Mike Williams creature of opportunity. He was a fine, fine pitcher. I don't think a difference of 20 RSAA over a career is that significant. Drysdale was a fine pitcher, in a pitchers park in a pitcher's era (largely). Eck was an OK starter, and for 5 years perhaps the most dominating closer we have seen. Pretty hard to compare them - but as has been said elsewhere, I agree that I don't think Drysdale is HOFer and I do think Eck is...

View Poll Results: Drysdale or Eckersley - Who was better?
Don Drysdale	4	33.33%
Dennis Eckersley	6	50.00%
It's a tie	1	8.33%
I'm not sure	1	8.33%
Voters: 12. You may not vote on this poll

01-06-2004, 10:13 PM	#1
Wolf Hopper NetShrine Creator & Curator Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: NetShrine WHQ Posts: 6,191	Dennis Eckersley v. Don Dysdale Which pitcher had the better career - and why? Code: MODERN (1900-) INNINGS PITCHED BETWEEN 3000 AND 3500 RSAA BETWEEN 200 AND 250 BASERUNNERS/9 IP vs. the league average displayed only--not a sorting criteria ERA vs. the league average displayed only--not a sorting criteria STRIKEOUTS/WALKS >= 1 vs. the league average GAMES G IP RSAA BR/9 IP ERA SO/BB 1 Dennis Eckersley 1071 3285.2 208 1.82 0.46 1.68 2 Don Drysdale 518 3432 229 1.18 0.70 1.05 __________________ Steve, Forum Administrator POSTING TIP FOR THE DAY: When composing a post, think about what you would say if the intended recipient was an individual who was actually sitting just two feet in front of you, in person, rather than just some far away and anonymous audience who only can identify you as text on a PC screen - - and then write your post in that manner. It makes for remarkable and sincere discourse.

01-06-2004, 11:10 PM	#2
Rajah NetShrine All-Century Team Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 1,177	At a glance, I'd have to say Eckersley. This is just at a glance, so don't ask me to strongly defend that position. __________________ Why does Aubrey Huff looked so mad in his picture? Oh wait...

01-07-2004, 11:24 AM	#5
KCBOOMER NetShrine All-Century Team Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Home of the T-Bones Posts: 11,116	Drysdale all the way. His RSAA is 10% better and he was a stud for ten years. The value of closers is a function of the quality of the team. Eckersley was fortunate that the A's were a very good team to start with. Drysdale helped make the Dodgers a good team. __________________ KCBOOMER *Buck O'Neil: The Monarch of Baseball*

01-07-2004, 03:44 PM	#7
pwdennis NetShrine All-Century Team Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Winter Springs, FL Posts: 2,503	I'm not sure. I don't regard the Big D as being Cooperstown worthy, although he certainly was famous (mostly due to his looks and venue) so maybe he does qualify. On the other hand, the Eck I do regard as being worthy although his hybrid career is hard to assess. When Smoltz comes up for consideration, many of the same problems will arise (Smoltz was the better starter but may have a shorter career as a reliever) __________________ "I would submit that if the world survives for a million years, perhaps its finest hour may be that in the last half of the 20th century, when the power to blow up the world rested in the hands of a few men in two very unsophisticated and suspicious countries, we didn't do it, and one American, Richard Nixon, moved the cold war away from permanent confrontation toward victory. How could any wrong that he did compare with that?" - John Sears

01-07-2004, 09:02 AM	#3
WiredTiger Guest Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: The city of Kaline, Cobb and Greenberg Posts: 3,395	I think I'd take Drysdale. He had a better ERA+ and pitched more innings as a starter.

01-07-2004, 09:09 AM	#4
TimmyB NetShrine's Magic 8-Ball Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Where the cops speak slow and the air is nice Posts: 2,591	If we're only matching up starters vs. starters then it's no contest -- Drysdale. Eck partied too much in those years. However, as a closer, the guy was light's-out good. No, make that great. So, if we're just measuring "getting the job done", then Eck the closer trumps Drysdale the starter. So, I took the safe route and voted it a tie.

01-07-2004, 01:09 PM	#6
sweaver Netshrine Cleanup Hitter Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: The Mountain State Posts: 8,883	On my pitcher rankings, Drysdale is #31, Eckersley is #39. So it's Drysdale, not by a large margin, but by a significant one.

01-07-2004, 03:58 PM	#8
tyruschen Inducted Into The NetShrine Assembly of Fame Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Taiwan Posts: 533	Sorry, I want to ask was the ERA adjusted? Cause Drysdale pitched half of his games in Dodger Stadium. __________________ I'm a fanatic MLB fan from Taiwan and I fear you would'nt understand my bad English. Thanks a lot for reading.

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