Randy Johnson to retire

[misterx91578]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4798910

[ducks]

good ridance

[JMarkJohns]

good ridance

wrong

Love watching him pitch. I went out of my way to travel fro Yuma to Arizona roughly six of his starts a year to watch him. Loved his intensity and demands of perfection. ANYTIME he took the mound something amazing could happen.

He was arguably the great free agent signing ever, and was certainly the most important player in Arizona history. Bigger than Barkley, bigger than anyone... It's a damn shame the financial issues (which he bent over backwards to work around) determined his status with Arizona. He should have retired a Diamondback.

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

good ridance


Not saying much, but RJ is probably AZ's player of the decade.

[tlongII]

The Big Unit was the greatest pitcher I've ever had the pleasure of watching. I saw him K 19 batters in the Kingdome once. Every time he pitched you sensed that something historical could happen. I wish Randy all the best in retirement!

[JMarkJohns]

Not saying much, but RJ is probably AZ's player of the decade.

Four Top-Player awards in Cy Youngs, multiple personal records and a Title... I don't think there's a player in Arizona professional history that can match such a resume'. Only person even close in significance/impact is Lute.

[tlongII]

He'll always be a Mariner to me.

[JMarkJohns]

He'll always be a Mariner to me.

He was a Mariner longer. He was a better Diamondback, however...

[iggypop123]

when he came back from his back injury or whatever it was in LA he was throwing in the 80's and he couldnt even do his delivery. he was done

[tlongII]

He was a Mariner longer. He was a better Diamondback, however...

I disagree.

[DBryant88]

RJ was the 2nd greatest power pitcher of all time. Right behind Nolan Ryan. And nobody threw a better slider than he did.

[JMarkJohns]

I disagree.

As a Mariner: 1 Cy Young, 1 no-hitter, 0 Titles
As a D-Back: 4 Cy Youngs, 1 perfect game, 1 Title

You can disagree all you want, but the facts are that his best statistical seasons and most dominant stretch came as a Diamondback. He had his greatest individual and highest level of team success as a Diamondback. He broke more records as a Diamondback. And he did all this in a shorter time with Arizona than with Seattle.

As I said, he was a Mariner longer, but a better Diamondback.

[lefty]

I hate the person, but I loved his pitching

Absolute killer

[jack sommerset]

"Don't talk back to me"

[ducks]

I did not care for him off the court
on the court he was great
I also thought he could have accepted the smaller offer the dbacks offered then ran and took the money to a giants team that had NO shot at a title

[Andrew Bynum]

I did not care for him off the court
on the court he was great
I also thought he could have accepted the smaller offer the dbacks offered then ran and took the money to a giants team that had NO shot at a title

If only he played on a court, you fucking twot.

[misterx91578]

I did not care for him off the court
on the court he was great
I also thought he could have accepted the smaller offer the dbacks offered then ran and took the money to a giants team that had NO shot at a title

RJ wouldn't have made a difference on last years dback team they were just awful

[mojorizen7]

I had the priviledge of watching him pitch here in AZ(the first go-round)when he was at the top of his game.
Dudes were scared to go up there cuz they knew what was coming and they couldn't do anything about it........and they knew they were gonna strike the fuck out.

I'm not a big baseball fan but it was easy to watch RJ and Schilling go out there and mow down batters week after week.

RJ shoulda retired a long time ago.

Thx for the memories.
aGfFUKP5fZk
WF85R1em7Zs

[Will Hunting]

I did not care for him off the court
on the court he was great
I also thought he could have accepted the smaller offer the dbacks offered then ran and took the money to a giants team that had NO shot at a title


You are one dumb motherfucker

[tlongII]

As a Mariner: 1 Cy Young, 1 no-hitter, 0 Titles
As a D-Back: 4 Cy Youngs, 1 perfect game, 1 Title

You can disagree all you want, but the facts are that his best statistical seasons and most dominant stretch came as a Diamondback. He had his greatest individual and highest level of team success as a Diamondback. He broke more records as a Diamondback. And he did all this in a shorter time with Arizona than with Seattle.

As I said, he was a Mariner longer, but a better Diamondback.

I believe 95 and 97 were his most dominating seasons ever. He was untouchable and hitters were afraid to step into the box against him.

[iggypop123]

I believe 95 and 97 were his most dominating seasons ever. He was untouchable and hitters were afraid to step into the box against him.

look at maddux's 94 and 95 stats. more impressive is the fact they were back to back yrs not like your mentioned RJ yrs of 95 and 97

[JMarkJohns]

With Seattle (best two seasons, according to you)
1995: 214+ innings, 6 CG, 3 SO, 2.48 ERA, 1.05 WHIP - 12.3 K/9, 4.5/1 K/BB ratio
1997: 213+ innings, 5 CG, 2 SO, 2.28 ERA, 1.05 WHIP - 12.3 K/9, 3.8/1 K/BB ratio

With Arizona (best two seasons)
1999: 271 innings, 12 CG, 2 SO, 2.48 ERA, 1.02 WHIP - 12.1 K/9, 5.2/1 K/BB ratio
2002: 260+ innings, 8 CG, 4 SO, 2.32 ERA, 1.01 WHIP - 11.7 K/9, 4.7/1 K/BB ratio

Randy's top five WHIPs came as a Diamondback, with three of his top five ERAs coming as a Diamondback. He was a better pitcher overall, more consistent, walking fewer despite pitching substantially more innings. Way more complete games along the way as well.

He was a better strikeout pitcher as a Mariner, but a better, more dominant pitcher across the board with Arizona, doing so in what has statistically been a top-10 ballpark for offense, and in many years peaks to top-5 in the BIGS...

I'm not trying to rob you of any memories, but the facts are the facts and the stats bare out that Johnson was the more consistent/dominant pitcher with Arizona. He was great in Seattle, but was arguably the most dominant pitcher of his era with Arizona.

[tlongII]

With Seattle (best two seasons, according to you)
1995: 214+ innings, 6 CG, 3 SO, 2.48 ERA, 1.05 WHIP - 12.3 K/9, 4.5/1 K/BB ratio
1997: 213+ innings, 5 CG, 2 SO, 2.28 ERA, 1.05 WHIP - 12.3 K/9, 3.8/1 K/BB ratio

With Arizona (best two seasons)
1999: 271 innings, 12 CG, 2 SO, 2.48 ERA, 1.02 WHIP - 12.1 K/9, 5.2/1 K/BB ratio
2002: 260+ innings, 8 CG, 4 SO, 2.32 ERA, 1.01 WHIP - 11.7 K/9, 4.7/1 K/BB ratio

Randy's top five WHIPs came as a Diamondback, with three of his top five ERAs coming as a Diamondback. He was a better pitcher overall, more consistent, walking fewer despite pitching substantially more innings. Way more complete games along the way as well.

He was a better strikeout pitcher as a Mariner, but a better, more dominant pitcher across the board with Arizona, doing so in what has statistically been a top-10 ballpark for offense, and in many years peaks to top-5 in the BIGS...

I'm not trying to rob you of any memories, but the facts are the facts and the stats bare out that Johnson was the more consistent/dominant pitcher with Arizona. He was great in Seattle, but was arguably the most dominant pitcher of his era with Arizona.

It's all about the K brah. That is what defines domination.

[tlongII]

No to mention it's more difficult to put up dominating pitching statistics in the AL than it is in the NL.

[JMarkJohns]

I'm sorry, but it's just a joke to take strikeouts over ERA and WHIP... those are far more significant categories of domination than just strikeouts. Also, his ability to dominate not just for 6+ innings as in 1995/97 but for 8+ in 1999/2002 is very significant.

I understand you're invested, so I know nothing I say is going to sway you, but the facts are facts that the better, more dominant across the board pitcher was in Arizona, not Seattle.

[JMarkJohns]

No to mention it's more difficult to put up dominating pitching statistics in the AL than it is in the NL.

Whatever advantage gained by pitching in the NL is offset by dominating in a home ballpark that was ranked a top-5 offensive ballpark during Johnson's prime years.

[tlongII]

Whatever advantage gained by pitching in the NL is offset by dominating in a home ballpark that was ranked a top-5 offensive ballpark during Johnson's prime years.

LOL! You ever heard of the Kingdome? And there's no DH in the NL.

[JMarkJohns]

LOL! You ever hear of pitching statistics beyond strikeouts?

This is really approaching absurd levels... the statistics and awards go contrary to your opinion, but you're still entitled to cling to the delusion.

[tlongII]

It's all about strikeouts. We know this.

[JMarkJohns]

When it was all about strikeouts: 1 Cy Young, 0 WS Titles
When it was about all-around pitching: 4 Cy Young, 1 WS Title

Sure...

[tlongII]

When it was all about strikeouts: 1 Cy Young, 0 WS Titles
When it was about all-around pitching: 4 Cy Young, 1 WS Title

Sure...

BFD. He was a better pitcher in 95 and 97 than at any other point in his career.