Pat Corbin and the big bucks

Take Dave Stewart then. Journeyman until he got to Oakland. Then four straight 20 win season, 1987 - 1990. Why? He went to a team with a pitcher's park, dominant bullpen and the Bash Brothers offense. 20 wins seasons, WHIP in the 1.25 - 1.27 range. Decent, not Earth shattering. Was he the dominant pitcher of the era, no. Zero Cy Youngs. Sometimes, someone outdid him, Clemens in '87. Did he deserve the trophy, no. And if you go by WAR (I'm torn), he was never close. Long way around to say the 1.277 WHIP was more indicative of Stew's pitching than the 21 wins.

About WAR. It was just meant to judge stats in a historical sense. A hypothetical batting line of .303, 20 HR's 79 RBI's. Is it the same if the line was in 1930, when my Aunt Maire could have hit .320 with 35 HR's, or 1968, where on player hit .300? No. Factors were different, baseballs, dilution of talent, bandbox parks etc. I don't think it works as well comparing players in the same year. But you look at guys who put up monster singe season stats. Ruth in 1923, Bonds in 2001, Mantle in 1956, Hey thay had huge WAR's! and it's top heave to starting pitchers. Yeah, the starter is more key than any of the other eight, but it gets silly.