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  The Kings of the K: From Nolan Ryan to Pedro Martinez to Max Scherzer, here's a look at the most dominant strikeout pitchers in MLB history With the deployment of new analytics in modern baseball, we can expect the all-time strikeout list to be frequently reshuffled by the next generation of talented pitchers. From an analytical standpoint, hitting coaches and statisticians view strikeouts simply as outs. With bases empty, a strikeout carries the same value as a groundout, flyout, or any other unsuccessful plate appearance. When runners occupy base paths, modern data demonstrates it's often more valuable for hitters to swing aggressively for extra-base hits rather than simply making contact to advance runners. This philosophy has contributed to increased home run totals and, consequently, dramatically more strikeouts across the league. However, contemporary injury management and workload concerns have also led to reduced innings per start for pitchers, with managers remov...

  Perez. Bench. Piazza. Let's take a look back and revisit some of the best power-hitting seasons by a major league backstop. The gear weighs on them in the summer heat. They're battered and they're bruised – sometimes too many to count. Their knees ache. For major league backstops, the season is a grind. There's a reason why people refer to catcher's equipment as the "tools of ignorance." And why many players are eventually moved out from behind the plate to preserve their legs and lengthen their careers. But all that is what makes it so impressive when a catcher can put together a banner offensive season to go along with the work behind the dish. The Elite Group In the long history of Major League Baseball, only seven backstops have hit 40 or more home runs in a single season. Let's take a walk down memory lane into some of those years before listing the rest of the best power seasons by a catcher. To qualify for this all-time leaderboard, a p...