Ranking the Seattle Mariners best seasons ever by Pitchers

SEATTLE - APRIL 12: Former Mariners star Randy Johnson throws out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the Mariners' home opener against the Oakland Athletics at Safeco Field on April 12, 2010 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE - APRIL 12: Former Mariners star Randy Johnson throws out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the Mariners' home opener against the Oakland Athletics at Safeco Field on April 12, 2010 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) /
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Mariners Jamie Moyer
SEATTLE, UNITED STATES: Seattle Mariner pitcher Jamie Moyer delivers a pitch to the Boston Red Sox during the first inning 04 April, 2000 in Seattle, Washington. AFP PHOTO/Dan LEVINE (Photo credit should read DAN LEVINE/AFP via Getty Images) /

#4: Jamie Moyer: 1999 w/6.5 WAR. Also, 1998 w/5.6, 2002 w/5.6

“I love Jamie Moyer.” I think that’s a pretty universal statement. The only people who don’t like him would have some odd hatred of lefties or soft-tossers. OH! Or maybe bat manufacturers. Then again, they could really like Moyer, since he helped keep them in business.

It’s odd for someone who threw that slow, but he was always breaking bats because of how well he changed speed and located pitches. The late 90s were a great time for Moyer, and the best season of his career came in 1999.

This falls in line with what I mentioned about Freddy Garcia earlier for 1999. Runs were being scored at a premium. So, when Moyer finished with an ERA of 3.87, it was actually quite impressive. He threw 228 innings that year, and finished 6th in the Cy-Young voting in the American League.

I can see the argument for his 1998 season just the year prior. His ERA, WHIP, and FIP were all better. However, a huge part is the runs per 9 for an average pitcher stat. That number was a 5.92 in 1999, and a 5.05 in 1998. An average pitcher facing the same opponents as Moyer would’ve had a 5.92 ERA in 1999. Moyer had a 3.87. That’s a massive difference and earns the nod as his best season.