No question that he could bring it. I watched him as a Met and, when he wasn't fighting the blistering trouble he had on his pitching hand in those days (remember the famous pickle brine soak?), he was delivering some very promising pitching - when he could find some semblance of control, that is.
I was speaking about a given day from a hitters standpoint. I played and hit against several guys who pitched in the majors and none of them were intimidating. Nolan Ryan and Bob Gibson were. They wouldn't let you on the plate and there was no digging in up there when batters faced them. Thats the perspective I'm coming from.
When Ryan was at his best bringing it to the inside corner at 104 and then breaking off those benders that start at your nose and cut the inside corner, well thats a damned nightmare. And Gibosn, he'd as soon hit you as look at you if you crowded the plate, tough sob.