Baseball BeatOctober 11, 2003
The Rocket vs. Pedro
By Rich Lederer

Does It Get Any Better Than This?


American League Championship Series. New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox. Game Three. Series Tied 1-1. Roger Clemens vs. Pedro Martinez. Red Sox aces past and present. Nine Cy Young Awards. Clemens scheduled to pitch at Fenway Park for the last time. Tickets going for more than $1,000 on eBay. A surefire ESPN Sports Classic.

Clemens and Martinez have faced each other four times in their careers but only once in the postseason. The following is a brief review of their matchups:

The first time they went head to head was in the ALCS on October 16, 1999. Clemens lasted only two-plus innings and allowed five runs on six hits and two walks. Martinez pitched seven scoreless innings and struck out 12 as the Red Sox pummeled their arch rivals 3-1 at Fenway Park.

The second head-to-head confrontation took place on May 28, 2000. Martinez outdueled Clemens in a 2-0 Red Sox victory, tossing a complete game shutout while scattering four hits and striking out nine. Clemens also pitched a complete game, allowing only five hits while striking out a season high 13 batters. Trot Nixon hit a two-run home run with two outs in the top of the ninth inning to beat Clemens and the Yankees. After hitting two batters, Pedro induced Tino Martinez to ground out to second with the bases loaded to end the game.

The third matchup occurred less than three weeks later on June 14, 2000 but failed to fulfill the excitement of the previous game as The Rocket left the game after only one inning with a strained groin, an injury that placed him on the disabled list the following day. Pedro went six innings and allowed one run but did not get credit for the victory as Boston rallied late to defeat New York, 2-1.

The last time Clemens and Martinez paired up was on April 14, 2001. The Yankees won, 3-2, but neither Clemens (6 IP, 2 R, 5 K) nor Martinez (7 IP, 2 R, 9 K) were involved in the decision.

Boston Red Sox, 3-1. New York Yankees, 1-3. Pedro Martinez, 2-0 with a 0.93 ERA. Roger Clemens, 0-2 with a 4.50 ERA.

Rather than writing a preview of this afternoon's game (several of which can be found on espn.com, mlb.com, and a multitude of baseball blogs), I thought it made more sense to provide a Rich's Weekend Baseball BEAT stamp on this historic matchup.

The Rocket vs. Pedro:

CAREER TOTALS

	      G   GS   CG    IP       H     R    ER   HR    BB    SO    W    L
Clemens      607  606  117  4278.2  3677  1672  1517  321  1379  4099  310  160
Martinez     355  288   41  2079    1553   667   597  149   554  2426  166   67
CAREER RATE STATS
	 ERA	WHIP	 BAA	 OBP	 SLG	 OPS
Clemens	3.19	1.18	.231	.295	.339	.634
Martinez	2.58	1.01	.206	.266	.315	.581
ALL-TIME LEADERS (1900-2003)
RUNS SAVED ABOVE AVERAGE         RSAA    
1    Lefty Grove                 668   
2    Walter Johnson              643   
3    Roger Clemens               613  
4    Greg Maddux                 540   
5    Grover C Alexander          524   
6    Randy Johnson               461   
7    Pedro Martinez              453
8    Christy Mathewson           405   
9    Tom Seaver                  404   
10   Carl Hubbell                355
Clemens has led the league in Runs Saved Above Average (RSAA) six times (1986, 1990-1992, 1997, and 1998). Martinez has led the league four times (1997, 1999, 2000, and 2003). [The RSAA totals are the amount of runs that a pitcher saved vs. what an average pitcher would have allowed under the same conditions. It's essentially the same stat as Total Baseball's Pitching Runs. The stats are adjusted for the year, league, and home ballpark in an attempt to compare the player's performance to the average player in his environment.]


The following rankings are based on the pitchers' statistics vs. the league average, both in terms of the absolute difference and the ratio. A minimum of 1,500 innings pitched was required for inclusion.

ERA                             DIFF   PLAYER   LEAGUE   
1 Pedro Martinez 1.87 2.58 4.46
2 Lefty Grove 1.36 3.06 4.42
3 Randy Johnson 1.25 3.10 4.35
4 Hoyt Wilhelm 1.24 2.52 3.76
5 Roger Clemens 1.20 3.19 4.39
6 Lefty Gomez 1.16 3.34 4.50
7 Greg Maddux 1.16 2.89 4.05
8 Kevin Brown 1.12 3.16 4.29
9 Whitey Ford 1.10 2.74 3.84
10 Walter Johnson 1.07 2.17 3.24

ERA                             RATE   PLAYER   LEAGUE   
1 Pedro Martinez 173 2.58 4.46
2 Ed Walsh 152 1.82 2.76
3 Walter Johnson 149 2.17 3.24
4 Hoyt Wilhelm 149 2.52 3.76
5 Three Finger Brown 148 1.93 2.85
6 Lefty Grove 144 3.06 4.42
7 Addie Joss 144 1.89 2.72
8 Randy Johnson 140 3.10 4.35
9 Greg Maddux 140 2.89 4.05
10 Whitey Ford 140 2.74 3.84
11 Roger Clemens 138 3.19 4.39

Clemens has led the league in ERA six times (1986, 1990-1992, 1997, and 1998). Martinez has led the league five times (1997, 1999, 2000, 2002, and 2003).


HITS/9 IP                       DIFF   PLAYER   LEAGUE   
1 Pedro Martinez 2.55 6.72 9.27
2 Nolan Ryan 2.19 6.56 8.75
3 Randy Johnson 2.11 7.02 9.13
4 Sandy Koufax 1.95 6.79 8.74
5 J.R. Richard 1.89 6.88 8.77
6 Sid Fernandez 1.85 6.85 8.70
7 Lefty Gomez 1.62 8.23 9.85
8 Andy Messersmith 1.57 6.94 8.51
9 Hoyt Wilhelm 1.56 7.02 8.58
10 Bob Feller 1.55 7.69 9.24
12 Roger Clemens 1.49 7.73 9.22

HITS/9 IP                       RATE   PLAYER   LEAGUE   
1 Pedro Martinez 138 6.72 9.27
2 Nolan Ryan 133 6.56 8.75
3 Randy Johnson 130 7.02 9.13
4 Sandy Koufax 129 6.79 8.74
5 J.R. Richard 127 6.88 8.77
6 Sid Fernandez 127 6.85 8.70
7 Andy Messersmith 123 6.94 8.51
8 Hoyt Wilhelm 122 7.02 8.58
9 Bob Turley 121 7.19 8.71
10 Bob Feller 120 7.69 9.24
13 Roger Clemens 119 7.73 9.22

Clemens has led the league in hits per nine IP three times (1986, 1994, and 1998). Martinez has led the league five times (1997, 1999, 2000, 2002, and 2003).


BASERUNNERS/9 IP                DIFF   PLAYER   LEAGUE   
1 Pedro Martinez 3.46 9.55 13.01
2 Mike Mussina 2.68 10.55 13.23
3 Curt Schilling 2.49 10.19 12.68
4 Walter Johnson 2.33 9.85 12.18
5 Tiny Bonham 2.19 10.41 12.60
6 Cy Young 2.19 9.33 11.51
7 Bret Saberhagen 2.18 10.47 12.65
8 Carl Hubbell 2.14 10.62 12.77
9 Ed Walsh 2.13 9.16 11.29
10 Addie Joss 2.11 8.94 11.05
14 Roger Clemens 2.03 10.93 12.96

BASERUNNERS/9 IP                RATE   PLAYER   LEAGUE   
1 Pedro Martinez 136 9.55 13.01
2 Mike Mussina 125 10.55 13.23
3 Curt Schilling 124 10.19 12.68
4 Walter Johnson 124 9.85 12.18
5 Addie Joss 124 8.94 11.05
6 Cy Young 123 9.33 11.51
7 Ed Walsh 123 9.16 11.29
8 Christy Mathewson 121 9.64 11.67
9 Tiny Bonham 121 10.41 12.60
10 Bret Saberhagen 121 10.47 12.65
18 Roger Clemens 119 10.93 12.96

Clemens has led the league in baserunners per nine innings twice (1986 and 1997). Martinez has led the league five times (1997, 1999, 2000, 2002, and 2003).


STRIKEOUTS                      DIFF   PLAYER   LEAGUE   
1 Nolan Ryan 2536 5714 3178
2 Randy Johnson 1705 3871 2166
3 Roger Clemens 1279 4099 2820
4 Walter Johnson 1191 3509 2318
5 Rube Waddell 1090 2267 1177
6 Dazzy Vance 1086 2045 959
7 Steve Carlton 981 4136 3155
8 Bob Feller 963 2581 1618
9 Sandy Koufax 958 2396 1438
10 Pedro Martinez 943 2426 1483

STRIKEOUTS                      RATE   PLAYER   LEAGUE   
1 Dazzy Vance 213 2045 959
2 Rube Waddell 193 2267 1177
3 Nolan Ryan 180 5714 3178
4 Randy Johnson 179 3871 2166
5 Sandy Koufax 167 2396 1438
6 Pedro Martinez 164 2426 1483
7 J.R. Richard 163 1493 918
8 Dizzy Dean 160 1163 725
9 Van Lingle Mungo 160 1242 775
10 Bob Feller 160 2581 1618
22 Roger Clemens 145 4099 2820

Clemens has led the league in strikeouts five times (1988, 1991, 1996-1998). Martinez has led the league three times (1999, 2000, and 2002). Clemens has led the league in strikeouts per nine innings three times (1988, 1996, and 1998). Martinez has led the league five times (1997, 1999, 2000, 2002, and 2003).


STRIKEOUTS/WALKS                DIFF   PLAYER   LEAGUE   
1 Pedro Martinez 2.49 4.38 1.89
2 Cy Young 2.30 3.74 1.43
3 Curt Schilling 2.29 4.22 1.93
4 Bret Saberhagen 1.89 3.64 1.75
5 Mike Mussina 1.82 3.56 1.74
6 Dennis Eckersley 1.68 3.25 1.57
7 Christy Mathewson 1.68 2.96 1.29
8 Jon Lieber 1.67 3.60 1.93
9 Deacon Phillippe 1.60 2.88 1.28
10 Ferguson Jenkins 1.53 3.20 1.67
25 Roger Clemens 1.25 2.97 1.72

STRIKEOUTS/WALKS                RATE   PLAYER   LEAGUE   
1 Cy Young 261 3.74 1.43
2 Dazzy Vance 239 2.43 1.02
3 Pedro Martinez 232 4.38 1.89
4 Christy Mathewson 230 2.96 1.29
5 Deacon Phillippe 226 2.88 1.28
6 Walter Johnson 225 2.57 1.14
7 Curt Schilling 218 4.22 1.93
8 Dizzy Dean 212 2.57 1.21
9 Lefty Grove 211 1.91 0.90
10 Bret Saberhagen 208 3.64 1.75
34 Roger Clemens 173 2.97 1.72

Clemens has led the league in strikeouts divided by walks four times (1987, 1988, 1990, and 1992). Martinez has led the league three times (1999, 2000, and 2002).


WINS                            DIFF   PLAYER   LEAGUE   
1 Christy Mathewson 108 373 265
2 Walter Johnson 90 417 327
3 Grover C Alexander 87 373 286
4 Lefty Grove 80 300 220
T5 Eddie Plank 71 305 234
T5 Warren Spahn 71 363 292
7 Roger Clemens 70 310 240
8 Greg Maddux 67 289 222
9 Whitey Ford 59 236 177
10 Three Finger Brown 58 208 150
T17 Pedro Martinez 49 166 117

WINS                            RATE   PLAYER   LEAGUE   
1 Andy Pettitte 148 149 100
2 Pedro Martinez 142 166 117
3 Christy Mathewson 141 373 265
4 Three Finger Brown 139 208 150
5 Sam Leever 138 173 125
6 Dizzy Dean 137 150 110
7 Lefty Grove 136 300 220
8 Lefty Gomez 135 189 140
9 Whitey Ford 134 236 177
10 Mike Mussina 133 199 149
25 Roger Clemens 129 310 240

Clemens has led the league in wins four times (1986, 1987, 1997, and 1998). Martinez has led the league once (1999).

WINNING PERCENTAGE              PCT    
1    Pedro Martinez             .712   
2    Sam Leever                 .692   
3    Whitey Ford                .690   
4    Lefty Grove                .680   
5    Randy Johnson              .669   
6    Vic Raschi                 .667   
7    Christy Mathewson          .665   
8    Roger Clemens              .660   
9    Sal Maglie                 .657   
10   Andy Pettitte              .656
Clemens has led the league in winning percentage three times (1986, 1987, and 2001). Martinez has led the league three times (1999, 2002, and 2003).

Source: Sabermetric Baseball Encyclopedia


Roger Clemens has won a record six Cy Young Awards (1986, 1987, 1991, 1997, 1998, and 2001), while Pedro Martinez has won three Cy Young Awards (1997, 1999, and 2000). Clemens has also won a Most Valuable Player Award (1986).

Conclusion: We're looking at two of the ten best pitchers of all time. Clemens has better career totals and Martinez has better rate stats. One could argue that The Rocket could be ranked as high as third all time based on quantitative stats, while a case could be made that Pedro is number one all time based on qualitative stats. As it currently stands, Roger's combination of cumulative and rate stats are superior to Pedro's. The latter's cumulative totals will obviously grow over time, but his rate stats may slip slightly as he ages. In any event, Clemens and Martinez rank high enough in both departments to warrant inclusion among the Top Ten Pitchers of All Time.

Getting back to the matchup at hand, October 11, 2003 may not be Ali vs. Frazier (III)--aka The Thrilla in Manila--but it has the potential of becoming one of the most talked about baseball games ever. As famed boxing announcer Michael Buffer would say, "Let's Get Ready to Rumble".

Richard Lederer
Rich's Weekend Baseball BEAT
www.baseballbeat.blogspot.com