Randy Johnson won his 300th game this past week and I’m guessing he doesn’t finish this season let alone start another so we’re getting to the point where it’s not only okay to talk about his Hall of Fame induction there’s very little about Randy Johnson worth talking about right now. And since Randy’s a lock not only for the Hall but as a first ballot inductee with at least 98% of the vote, there’s really no point in talking about his chances there either. Instead, let’s talk about what lid he wears when he gets in.
Seattle Mariners, 2:1 odds. Randy became famous in Seattle and earned his reputation there as being a top notch pitcher. He won his first Cy Young in Seattle in 1995 when he went 18-2 with an ERA of 2.48 (an ERA+ of 192) and came in 2nd two years later (to that cheater Roger Clemens). But he was also wild when we first came to Seattle and was decidedly average his first four years there despite his high strikeout totals posting ERA+’s of 92, 108, 103, and 105. While in Seattle he lead the league in K’s four times, but he also lead the league in walks three times (and HBP twice)–there were control issues that needed to be worked out.
Still, once you show up in Little Big League (one of the most underrated baseball movies out there IMO) as a Mariner it’s almost a lock.
Arizona Diamondbacks, 3:1 odds. This was where Randy became the most dominant left hander of our generation and top 3 of all time. In his five full years in AZ (he was injured and missed half a season) his lowest strikeout total was 290. He won four straight Cy Young awards, posted ERA+’s of 197, 188, 186, 181, and 177. He lead the league in WHIP and H/9 twice; he lead the league in K/9 four times; in ERA and CGs three times; all while throwing tons and tons of innings (leading the league in IP twice). There was tension though, between he and Curt Schilling and he never really felt appreciated by his teammates and the fans, in large part because he’s not that social. His return stint in Arizona was above average but marked by contract issues that ultimately had him leaving to San Francisco in free agency.
New York Yankees, 10:1. Remember that time he didn’t win a World Series ring in New York and he pushed that guy who was video taping him and he was a below average pitcher on the Yankees for two years? Me too. That was awesome.
Montreal Expos, 25:1. The team that drafted him. He only played 11 games there before being traded for Mark Langston.
San Francisco Giants, 50:1. I’m taking bets right now and I can guarantee that RJ doesn’t know the names of 10 guys on that team. 5 guys? He came here of course to get his 300th win and I wouldn’t be surprised if his back started hurting him next week. It’s hard to disprove a back problem. Ask my boss.
Houston Astros, 100: 1. Randy was a last minute edition to this team, being traded on July 31, 1998, but he was unbelievable good. He went 10-1 with an ERA of 1.28 in 11 starts and came in 7th in the NL Cy Young voting despite his brief tenure. Those 11 games might have been his finest stretch of his career. Playing for a contact will do that for you I guess.
(h/t No Guts No Glory for the images)
I say he wears a D-Bag lid.
I think instead of sporting a hat from his best era, he should sport the mullet from his best era. In the early years it was just a sprout. Then by the time he was dominating, it was full-flowage.
Never in a million years did I expect that response.
my vote’s for the d-backs too.
his tenure there was nothing short of unbelievable.
This is outrageous. RJ knows Tim Lincecum. And he knows the other guy. And that kid. And the guy who catches. He also knows the Kid with the mullet who blows saves for his games. And the fat guy who plays third. And the Chinaman at 1st. And Nolan Ryan. See. He knows his teammates.
i would go with the expo’s just on the fact that those hats are fucking sweet.
kung fu panda!!!
id second this notion if i was allowed a second vote.
I say he wears a Mariners lid.
+1 you managed a whole paragraph without mentioning hef. and it was funny
Stop pointing out my crutch
/runs away crying because I make fun of Hef as a crutch
/stops running and dries eyes…Making fun of Hef is funny damnit
making fun of hef is funny but when when that is all you write about it dilutes the funnyness of it.
/let me help you up
//its ok. let it out. let it all out
/spits
Making fun of Hef is cool and will never not be uncool.
/beanie babies
/and pogs
Now I have a point of contention…All I write about? I write an average of 4 posts a week and each of them is a minimum of 1000 words (not the cheap picture I tossed up this morning to fill a hole)with the exception of QS and UTL which we all (the authors) view as site posts where we do the inside joke thing and include you all on the comings and goings…How are all my posts about Hef? Most of my posts are blatant Met and Giant homerism. For that I don’t apologize. But I am pretty certain I don’t just write about Hef.
Thanks for mentioning me in that last comment, Roman. Three more and I get a free sandwich and a set of steak knives.
/pet rocks
/magic 8 ball
you didn’t just throw out a pog reference, did you?
im giggling like a little girl over here, i guess that garners a +1.
those never go out of style.
/chops line
/those electronic animals that were Key Chains and they shit and died n shit.
Furby?
take it easy champ..why dont you just stop talking for awhile.
maybe sit the next couple of plays out. you know what i mean?
/someone is a little testy this mornin
//how could you take anything i say seriously?
No.
Listen pal…I’m a gamer…I play every down..every game…you can’t stop me pal…YOU CAN’T STOP ME
Tamagotchi
/giggles like an asian school girl
When in doubt ask Clown.