Counting Down: 5 Best Starting Rotations Of The Past 20 Years
By Daniel Friedman
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Last week, former Atlanta Braves pitcher John Smoltz made some noise by suggesting that the Mets' current starting rotation is better than the one Atlanta had in the 1990s.
That's quite a compliment, but is it really a fair title to bestow upon a rotation that is so young and new to the MLB scene? Let's see where they rank among the five best pitching rotations of the past 20 years:
5. New York Mets (2015-?)
This group might very well be more talented than just about every other on this list, but it's young and still largely unproven. Jacob deGrom and Matt Harvey are surefire studs, but Noah Syndergaard's in his first season and Steven Matz has played just two games. I think they'll end up being excellent arms, but it's just too soon to crown them.
4. Philadelphia Phillies (2011)
Their run lasted just a single year (though Cole Hamels did follow up 2011 with a second consecutive All-Star season), and it ended with an early playoff exit, but between Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Hamels, the Phillies had quite a trio.
3. Oakland A's (2001-2004)
Look, I happen to love the movie "Moneyball," but one of my biggest gripes with the film is that it portrays the Oakland A's as some helpless, Major League-esque Cleveland Indians team. The fact is that Oakland had a bevy of weapons at its disposal in 2003 (the year the movie takes place in) -- particularly on the mound -- in Barry Zito, Tim Hudson and Mark Mulder.
2. New York Yankees (2000-2003)
Roger Clemens was an outstanding pitcher even before he allegedly started juicing, though that will always take something away from what he accomplished during his career (as it should). Still, even putting Clemens aside, the Yanks had Andy Pettitte, Orlando Hernandez and Mike Mussina (joined the team in 2001). That rotation helped the Bronx Bombers win a World Series in 2000 and get to another the next year.
1. Atlanta Braves (1993-1998)
Smoltz can be as humble as he wants, but this is the best pitching rotation of all time until proven otherwise. Along with Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine, the Braves were the epitome of quality pitching for nearly a decade.
