Et Tu Big Unit?
Let's take a brief look at the stat lines for 2 starting pitchers from a recent season:
W L ERA
Pitcher 1: 9 10 4.33
Pitcher 2: 10 1 1.28
Even Ron Cook would be able to look at those stats and tell you that pitcher 2 is vastly superior to pitcher 1, at least during the season in which those stats were compiled. Here's the surprise. Pitcher 1 is Randy Johnson. Pitcher 2 is...Randy Johnson. Those were the numbers Johnson put up during the 1998 season. The first set is from the first half of 1998, when he was a bitchy malcontent for the Mariners. If you remember, he was none too happy about the Mariners decision not to extend his contract in the 97-98 offseason. The second set is his numbers after he was traded to the Astros.
Why am I making a point of showing this? Well, here we are 6 years later, and Johnson suddenly is once again trying to dictate a trade to a contending team. Rumors have it that Johnson is threatening to become a disruptive force if he is not traded, and that the only team he will accept a trade to is the Yankees. Based on Johnson's track record, this does not surprise me. He has been treated like gold by the Diamondbacks, appearing in the post season 3 times with them and winning a world series. He is also under contract for next season. Despite these facts, Johnson seems to be getting a free ride from the media and I can't figure out why. Nobody ever mentions the fact that he basically tanked his first 5-6 starts in 1998 when he wasn't motivated to pitch for the Mariners. Now it seems he is threatening the same thing. Would another player be able to get away with this? I can't imagine so. So pardon me if I scream at the TV the next time I hear Joe Morgan or some other MLB pimp talk about how much Johnson respects the game.
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