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He has sort of plateaud the last 4 years but we're talking about age 22-26 being in the conversation for Cy Young all but 1 year. He is still learning about pitching which isn't strange for a guy his age. Anybody think there's anyone ever with a better repertoire? I don't think we've yet seen his best. Scoring more runs and being a competitive team might inspire that extra gear too. His focus at times seems to have been something he could improve on. I felt like I saw that solid focus and extra gear the last 3 innings of his perfecto. Playing for contention may help him stay there more often. He hasn't had the career year that most HOF pitchers have at 27-30 but he also hasn't played those ages yet. It's not even rare for quality pitchers to not have their career year until they're into their 30's. What he's accomplished at his age is almost entirely unique. I would not be surprised to see a 1 something ERA in his future but he only really has to be what he has already for another 7 years to be a pretty certain hall of famer if not first ballot. At 34. Randy Johnson had his career year at 38, next best at 31 which was 95. I can handle waiting until he's played into his 30's to say he hadn't had that league dominating season on a historic level because I don't think we'll be able to say that anymore. Any reason you think he can't perform better at 27-31 than he did at 22-26? Then he's still 32 with years left to potentially still dominate.
I don't even consider comparing innings of pitchers in 3-4 man rotations to the guys now who have no choice but to sit 4 of every 5. I understand the point was more about an epic season like quite a few had in the 60's. Actually I think you were talking more about the team winning more and playing better while he's on the mound. Carlton in 72 posted the 87th (tied with 4 others) highest ERA+ in the history of the game at 182. Pedro in 2000 is #2 on that list at 291 just behind the 1880 season by Tim Keefe of 293. Carlton was credited with 45.7% of his teams wins that year but started 26.3% of them. Felix will never be in a 4 man rotation although there are 6 more games per season now. Carlton in 72 was incredible even with those considerations but I look at the 1.93 ERA and see the next best starter on that team was 4.26. That's a huge aberration.
BTW, Carlton was 27 in 72 and hadn't really posted a better season than Felix has through age 26. 164 ERA+ in 69 vs 171 and 174 for Felix in 09 and 10.