Orel Hershier
Hershier has always been one of my favorite pitchers to watch as well.

He will best be remembered for his dominant 1988 season. He grew seemingly stronger as the year went on. Hershiser is the only guy in major league history who has a longer scoreless innings streak then Maddux. Hershiser concluded the 1988 season with 67 scoreless innings. (counting the post season) He racked up the NL Cy Young, the NLCS MVP, and to top it off the World Series MVP as the Dodgers stunned the favored Oakland A’s.

After having Tommy John surgery Bulldog returned to win 106 games. You can read more about him behind the dugout about him.

Clemens was one of the best pitchers in the league as a member of the Red Sox picking up three Cy Young awards. After Clemens left Boston to go to Toronto for more money he won two more Cy Young’s before going to the New York Yankees and picking up his World Series ring.

Clemens said he was going to retire after the 2003 season but ended up pitching two more seasons with the Astros picking up his seventh Cy Young in 2004.

Randy Johnson
Johnson was originally drafted by the Atlanta Braves but did not sign. Three years later he signed as an Expo. He came to the Majors in 1988 but struggled as a member of the Expos.

He would be traded to the Seattle Mariners and become one of the most dominating lefty’s ever. Later in his career he lead the Arizona Diamondbacks to the 2001 World Series over the Yankees. Three times in his career he has won 20 or more games, including 24 in 2002.

His five Cy Young’s rank second all time.

Fernando Valenzuela
The 1981 Rookie of the Year was also the 1981 NL Cy Young winner. Valenzuela won 15 or more games 4 times in his seventeen year career. He was selected to the all-star game from 1981-1986. He picked up silver sluggers in 1981 and 1983 and a Gold Glove in 1986.

El Toro spent 11 seasons as a Los Angeles Dodger but also played for the California Angels, Baltimore Orioles, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals. In total he won 173 games. At the plate Valenzuela hit 10 career homers.

Maddux on the pitchers he most enjoys watching: “Jake Peavy (of San Diego). Roy Oswalt (of Houston). I like the way they compete. They play baseball as well as pitch. Some pitchers just pitch. They play baseball. Carlos Zambrano (of the Cubs) is fun to watch. Mark Prior, when he’s out there, he’s fun to watch. And all of the young guys — I love watching Sean Marshall (of the Cubs), Sergio Mitre (the former Cub now with Florida), John Koronka (the former Cub now in Texas’ rotation). It’s really easy to root for guys when they’re in their first year. It’s a whole new life for them.”

Jake Peavy
Peavy is a young pitcher in the San Diego Padres rotation. Peavy broke into the majors at the age of 21.

In 2004 he led the NL with a 2.27 ERA, though he made only 27 starts.

In 2005 he posted a 2.88 ERA and was selected to the USA team for the World Baseball Classic.

Roy Oswalt
A guy who has the ability to strike out 200 batters a season and had back to back 20 win seasons in 2004 and 2005.

Roy was selected as the 2005 NLCS MVP. Oswalt is also a good bunter and an above average fielding pitcher. Oswalt gives his team 200 plus innings a season and always remains a CY Young candidate posting top five finishes in 2001, 2002, 2004 and 2005.

Carlos Zambrano
A lot of people compare the way Zambrano pitches to that of Greg Maddux. Zambrano doesn’t throw especially hard but finds a way to get the outs when he needs them.

The one difference between the two is that Zambrano struggles sometimes to control his temper and has a knack for hitting batters.

With his early success in his career there’s a good chance he will pitch well into 200 wins and remains a CY Young candidate yearly.

Zambrano and Maddux have spent 2004-2006 as members of the Cubs.

Mark Prior
The number two pick of the 2001 draft Prior busted into the Majors at the age of 21.

In 2003, his second season, Prior notched 18 wins with a 2.43 ERA and was selected to the all-star team but did not play due to injury.

Prior has shown flashes of excellence but has been hit with some unfortunate injuries throughout his career.

If Prior can stay healthy he remains a serious CY Young candidate and one of the better pitchers in the league.

Prior and Maddux have spent 2004-2006 as members of the Cubs.

Sean Marshall
Marshall made the Cubs starting rotation as a rookie out of spring training before the 2006 season.

Many people have him projected as a middle of the rotation starter.

Marshall and Maddux are both on the Cubs for the 2006 season.

Sergio Mitre
Mitre was a fill in starter for three seasons (2003-2005) for the Chicago Cubs. While he wasn’t particularly good he did have a few good starts. He was traded to the Florida Marlins during the off season.

Mitre and Maddux have spent 2004-2006 as members of the Cubs.

John Koronka
Koronka had been around the minors for a few seasons before making three starts with the Cubs in 2005. Koronka went 1-2 with a 7.47 ERA and found his way to Texas.

The 6′1 lefty has the ability to be sneaky at times.

Koronka and Maddux were both Cubs during the 2005 season.