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There are a couple of points I need to make on this post. First and foremost I am NOT an Indians fan. I am actually a Reds fan and despise the Indians (Although not as much as the Yankmes).
First of all, as far as I am concerned W-L is the ultimate stat defining a pitcher. When discussing postseason pitching, if you don't win you go home...there is no consolidation prize for most strikeouts or lowest ERA without winning. For this conversation I will consider every stat, but will be giving more weight to wins and losses because I'd rather have a 10-2 guy with a 3.5 era on the mound than an 8-9 guy with a 2.5 era.
In the specific Orel vs Randy debate, I think the bulldog dominates the stats as well as the wins and losses.
Orel - 8 Wins 3 Losses, 18 games started, 4 complete games, 2 shutouts
4 relief appear., 1 save, 396 total outs
Randy - 7 Wins 8 Losses, 14 games started, 3 complete games, 2 shutouts
2 relief appear., 0 saves, 324 total outs
Hershiser has given up only one earned run (38) more than Johnson (37) despite the additional 72 outs giving him an ERA advantage (2.59 vs. 3.08). Also, Orel has allowed only 8 home runs as opposed to Randy's 13. You point to Johnson's 2.70 World Series ERA as a major deciding factor in him being a better pitcher, yet that number would actually RAISE the Bulldogs Career postseason ERA. You also have to consider that this number would be significantly lower if he had not been tatooed for 18 runs and a 5.72 ERA in '97...the twilight of his career.
In the '88 postseason that you claim is Hershiser's only claim to crack this list, Orel was 3-0 and allowed 5 earned runs in 5 starts. Then after a 7 year hiatus from the postseason, in '95 he went 4-1 and duplicated 5 earned runs in 5 starts and allowed 5 FEWER hits (20) than in '88 (25). If you are going to take away Bulldog's best two years, take away Johnson's and see if he has any legs to stand on.
Looking at the year by year stats, these pitchers are eerily similar in a lot of areas. Like I said...in the postseason, when only wins and losses matter...you have to consider that Hersheiser almost never left a game with his team behind.
Randy is a great pitcher...but to have him at #4 and have Orel Hersheiser off of the top 10 presents some MAJOR inconsistencies.
With that said...I don't mind Rivera at #1. 288 put outs is enough to put him in the top 20 list of Innings (all time). His stats are sick and he's been straight consistent. I admit it's tough to have him over starters...but there is NO ONE I'd rather have in the game in the bottom of the 9th with a 1 run cushion.
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