In my view Dwight Gooden has Nolan Ryan stuff. What does you baseball fans think?

Question

I am not look for career comparisons. I am talking about their fastballs(speed movement and more then one fastballs). Their curve balls and any other pitches they threw you would like to compare.

I think they had very similar nasty stuff. Their fastballs were just dangerous. Then brake off the nasty borderline unfair curve ball that just dropped off the table. I am not a baseball expert but in my 33 years on this earth and following baseball my whole life. I would say their curve ball was the best I have ever seen and their fastballs speak for themselves. I do not think their curve ball never got the credit it had earned. I am not saying I am right or wrong just interested in others view on this.

Answer 1

It is not even close. Nolan Ryan had much better stuff than Dwight Gooden. During most of Ryan's carrer speed guns were not regularlly used. Ryan was clocked in a rare game that tested speed in 1975 with a 100.9 MPH pitch, in the 9th inning. Ryan that night was not as his best either. It is likely that Ryan threw in the 105 MPH(very likely during a 1973 no-hitter with 17 strikeout in Detroit) range. Ryan also had a great curve ball.

Gooden probably had more movement and backspin on his ball. His fastball was more likely in the 95-97 MPH range. Gooden had a lot better control than Ryan, which probably accounted for his much higher winning percentage.

Answer 2

Ryan is rather overrated, so being "as good as Nolan Ryan" isn't all that good. But, had Doc Gooden not taken his success for granted and stayed clean, he had the potential to be one of the all-time greats - certainly better than Ryan.

I've been on this earth eight years longer than you have - apparently you missed the eight years that Darryl Kile pitched. That was the best curveball of our generation.

Answer 3

Ryan had one of the best curve balls of all-time and more than likely the best curve ball pitcher in his generation.  Bert Blyleven probably was the second best curve ball pitcher in that generation (and will possibly make it into the Hall of Fame in the next couple of years).  

You have to say that Ryan's fast ball was more dominant than Gooden's, but they both were very effective during their day.  

I know you asked to not look into career comparisons, but Ryan's longevity and ability to throw 7 no-hitters clearly shows that Ryan was more dominant in terms of career highlights (not saying Gooden wasn't dominant in his own right, but compared to Ryan - edge goes to Ryan).

Answer 4

"Doc" Gooden had greater talent than Nolan Ryan.  If not for drugs "Doc" would have won 300 games or more and surpassed Ryan in K's.