Carson column: Top 10 Jays pitchers

The return of prodigal son Roy Halladay got the old statsman thinking: Is Doc the best pitcher to ever don the Blue Jays uniform?

After pouring over the numbers, I’d have to give a qualified yes. While he didn’t finish atop the franchise lists in any statistical categories, his body of work was as solid as any. With that in mind, here’s my Top 10 pitchers in Blue Jays history.

1 . ROY HALLADAY (1998-2009)

The big right-hander was the prototypical workhorse during his Jays’ days. He came within one out of a no-hitter in just his second career start, just three years after they took him 17th overall in the ’95 June draft.

But his rise to the top of his craft didn’t come without struggles. He posted a bloated 10.64 ERA in the 2000 season and was sent all the way back to single-A the following spring to re-invent himself. When he returned, there was no one better. Halladay led the league in complete games five times over his final seven seasons in Toronto and was the A.L. Cy Young award winner in 2003 while finishing in the top five in voting for the award five times.

2 . DAVE STIEB (1979-1992, 1998)

Drafted as an outfielder, he was transformed into a sensational starter whose electric slider is still considered, by many, to the best the game has ever seen. Growing up with the expansion franchise, Stieb used to wear his emotions on his sleeve, something that made him unpopular in both dugouts. But there was no denying his talent.

He finished his career atop many Blue Jays’ career pitching categories and is still the only Jay to fashion a no-hitter including several near misses including in back-to-back starts at the end of 1988 when lost no-no’s with two out in the 9th.

He also represented the Jays in seven All-Star games – starting twice – and was the winner in the 1983 contest.

3. PAT HENTGEN (1991-99, 2003)

A bulldog on the mound, he was the first Blue Jays pitcher to win the Cy Young Award after winning 20 games for the first and only time in his career in 1996. His 19 complete games, six shutouts, 2,185 batters faced and 529 2/3 innings pitched over the 1996-97 seasons was tops in the American League.

His start in Game 3 of the 1993 World Series vs. the Phillies is considered, by this humble writer, to be one of the gutsiest in franchise playoff history to put his team ahead to stay in the series. Let’s not forget that while the rest of the game wasgetting amped up on PED’s, he did it the right way.

4. JIMMY KEY (1984-92)

Never a true ace during his days in Toronto, he was also never less than a No. 2 starter either, first behind Stieb and, then, in the playoff years behind David Cone, Juan Guzman or Jack Morris. He kept his ERA in the threes in seven of his nine seasons in the Jays’ rotation. He was also the winning pitcher in Games 4 and 6 as the Jays claimed their first-ever World Series title over the Braves in 1992. He was never involved in any controversies, was a solid professional and was always spoken highly of by ex-teammates.

5. DAVID WELLS (1987-92, 1999-2000)

The one they lovingly refer to as Boomer was successful on many fronts, both in the bullpen and as a starter. He arrived on the scene as an unknown callup to provide extra arms during a Pearson Cup exhibition game. Wells proved his value despite a poor 1992 season. Dropped from the starting rotation for the post-season, Wells still made four scoreless appearances in the ’92 World Series, allowing just one hit. He returned to the Jays before the 1999 season in the Rogers Clemens trade with the New York Yankees. Wells racked up 37 wins over the next two seasons.

6. DUANE WARD (1986-1993, ’95)

The burly right-hander was the greatest set-up man in franchise history. His only season as full-time closer, he set a club record with 45 saves. From 1991-93, he was arguably the best reliever in the game making 231 appearances (another 17 more in the playoffs) with 80 saves over 336 innings. His hard and heavy sinker felt like a hitting a shot put. Teamed with Tom Henke, he allowed the Jays starters to go six innings hard and then hand the ball over. He was a key component during the championships years.

7. TOM HENKE (1985-92)

The Terminator was the franchise’s first bonafide closer. His Jays’ career was bookended by the first A.L. East tile in ’85 and their World Series in ’92. Henke’s 217 saves as a Blue Jay is a record that is likely to stand for quite some time. He threw a high, hard fastball that was augmented in his later years by a devastating splitter. He averaged 59 appearances, 29 saves with a 1.03 WHIP over his seven-and-a-half seasons as closer for Toronto. He was beloved by teammates and fans alike.

8. JIM CLANCY (1977-88)

The longest serving Jays’ pitcher from the original expansion draft, “Diamond Jim” was the perfect No. 2 behind Dave Stieb. Clancy was a straight-forward, over the top fastball thrower who pitched deep into the games for the vast majority of his career. In the era of the four-man rotation, Clancy rarely missed his turn. He is still third in franchise wins (128) and second in innings pitched (2,204.3).

9. RICKY ROMERO (2009-11)

It’s a small sample size but Romero is becoming one of the most dependable starters in the game. He’s the leader of the current young Jays rotation, and can go toe-to-toe with other No. 1 starters. Has 34 wins in his first 77 starts and his 162-game average spits out at 15-11 and a 3.71 ERA over 34 starts. Those numbers should look even better as he matures.

10. ROGER CLEMENS (1997-98)

Although he was a Blue Jay for just two seasons, and is now under scrutiny due to alleged performance-enhancing-steroid use, Clemens did win back-to-back Cy Young awards, going 41-13, with a 2.33 ERA, six shutouts and 10.2 Ks per nine innings. All one had to witness was his return to Fenway Park in 1997 when he struck out 16 Red Sox and then walked off to a standing ovation. Chemically aided or not, he was one of the best pitchers to ever pitch for the Jays, albeit for just 67 starts.