"It is not about peak performance; it is about elite performance over a long period of time. For example, for many years, the chess player Sofia Polgar had the best “peak performance.” At one tournament, called “The Sack of Rome,” Sofia performed at a level better (performance rating 2900) than the current world champ and GOAT candidate Magnus Carlsen (peak rating of 2874). Still, no one considers her a GOAT candidate because of an outlier tournament. You need consistency."
Pedro Martinez probably had the two best seasons in the history of baseball pitching in 1999 and 2000. That said, his career WAR (83.9) is substantially lower than Greg Maddux's (106.6). Part of me thinks that Pedro is the best pitcher of all time, simply because he had the best two seasons. And though I haven't looked this up, I wouldn't be surprised if his seven-season stretch from 1997-2003 was the best seven-season stretch for a pitcher ever. If he had the best seven-year period, would you be willing to rank him as GOAT even though his career WAR was only good (not great) for a first-ballot HoFer?
"It is not about peak performance; it is about elite performance over a long period of time. For example, for many years, the chess player Sofia Polgar had the best “peak performance.” At one tournament, called “The Sack of Rome,” Sofia performed at a level better (performance rating 2900) than the current world champ and GOAT candidate Magnus Carlsen (peak rating of 2874). Still, no one considers her a GOAT candidate because of an outlier tournament. You need consistency."
Pedro Martinez probably had the two best seasons in the history of baseball pitching in 1999 and 2000. That said, his career WAR (83.9) is substantially lower than Greg Maddux's (106.6). Part of me thinks that Pedro is the best pitcher of all time, simply because he had the best two seasons. And though I haven't looked this up, I wouldn't be surprised if his seven-season stretch from 1997-2003 was the best seven-season stretch for a pitcher ever. If he had the best seven-year period, would you be willing to rank him as GOAT even though his career WAR was only good (not great) for a first-ballot HoFer?