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Sunday, May 18, 2008

Big Unit leads D-Backs to 4-0 win

The odds are good that at 44, Randy Johnson will not reach perfection on the mound like he did against the Atlanta Braves on May 18, 2004.

But on Sunday, the four-year anniversary of that magical feat, the left-hander showed he has quite a bit left in his tank.

He kept Detroit off the board with a season-high seven innings, scattering six hits while striking out five and walking just one, to help the Diamondbacks win 4-0 in front of 38,793 at Chase Field and take two of three games in the first interleague series of the season.........

Chris Young had a good view from center field.

“You have to tip your hat to him,” said Young, who provided offensive support with a two-run double in the fifth inning and a bases-loaded walk in the sixth.

“It’s amazing to watch in center field. His fastball and slider are still there.”

The fact that Johnson also mixes in the splitter with a sinker and works both sides of the plate more than in the past has left opponents scratching their heads, Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin said, particularly ones who have faced him a lot, such as Ivan Rodriguez and Edgar Renteria.

If manages to post up 20-22 more times, all of a sudden getting 12 more wins does not look quite so impossible.

shoewizard Posted: May 18, 2008 at 10:21 PM | 11 comment(s)
Related News: General, Arizona, Detroit

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1. Posada Posse Posted: May 19, 2008 at 12:35 AM (#2785906)

I'm rooting for the Unit to make it to 300 this season. His ERA looks high at 4.42, but his peripherals have been better than that, and he still strikes out a batter an inning. And so far the D-Backs look good offensively to give him run support. If the back cooperates and he can keep the HR's allowed at a reasonable rate, I think he has a decent chance of getting there. The guy can certainly still pitch.

2. Shock Posted: May 19, 2008 at 01:11 AM (#2785913)

Johnson passes the Blyleven line...

3. Death to Tasty Things (Justin T) Posted: May 19, 2008 at 01:11 AM (#2785914)

I'm pulling for 300 too. Just to see if there are any fewer "Last time evah!" articles written now that it will have happened like 4 times in 5 years it seems.

Plus, he's on my fantasy team.

4. 1k5v3L Posted: May 19, 2008 at 01:12 AM (#2785915)

Hopefully this start gets his VORP in positive territory.
I've got a bet to win.

5. Aspiring One-Armed Economist (6 - 4 - 3) Posted: May 19, 2008 at 05:18 AM (#2785936)

I'd like to see him get there, but I don't think that he can stay healthy for the 20+ starts that he'll need to make in order to secure 12 more wins.

6. Benji Posted: May 19, 2008 at 05:20 AM (#2785937)

Just what Arizona needs. Another pitcher. Damn, they're good.

7. shoewizard Posted: May 19, 2008 at 10:35 AM (#2786054)

They're good....but after a 19-7 start, they are just 9-9 in their last 18 games, and play 24 of their next 36 games on the road.

8. Marmaduchscherer Posted: May 19, 2008 at 10:45 AM (#2786065)

Here's an unlikely scenario: Johnson finishes the year with 295 wins, but has injury and performance issues that scare teams away. The only job he can get is as a super-loogy/relief ace. What happens if he gets win 300 in relief? Do sportswriters diminish the legitimacy of the accomplishment? Is the win exposed as the silly stat that it is? Does it result in AP articles no longer citing relief pitcher W-L?

9. shoewizard Posted: May 19, 2008 at 11:57 AM (#2786184)

Here's an unlikely scenario: Johnson finishes the year with 295 wins, but has injury and performance issues that scare teams away.

Is this part of the scenario all that unlikely?

The only job he can get is as a super-loogy/relief ace. What happens if he gets win 300 in relief?

.

This part IS unlikely. I find it very hard to imagine RJ coming back as a loogy just to get #300. He really wants # 300, no doubt, but if he gets hurt again, he's done. He won't come back.

10. 1k5v3L Posted: May 19, 2008 at 12:07 PM (#2786198)

One thing to remember: last year RJ injured his back running the bases (sliding hard into 3B during his start vs LAD) and not pitching. It was a shame too, as he had gotten onto quite a roll. So if he can stay away from a weird injury (running, batting), I'm optimistic his back will hold up. Then again, he is ancient... but then again, he's a freak of nature, and works out harder than anyone can imagine.

11. Gonfalon Bubble Posted: May 19, 2008 at 12:22 PM (#2786222)

What happens if he gets win 300 in relief? Do sportswriters diminish the legitimacy of the accomplishment? Is the win exposed as the silly stat that it is? Does it result in AP articles no longer citing relief pitcher W-L?

Early Wynn had 300 wins and 79 relief appearances. There are no online gamelogs for the first 16 seasons of his career, but he got a 1-inning win on July 1, 1958.

Lefty Grove (300 wins) made 159 relief appearances. Again, it's not a convenient thing to investigate all of those unRetrosheeted appearances, but his record does include relief wins on September 1, 1930, May 2, 1932, and May 30, 1933. On September 24, 1933, Grove was deliberately inserted into a game his team was leading 8-3 in the fifth, so that he could pick up a major league-leading 24th win.

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Sunday, May 18, 2008

Big Unit leads D-Backs to 4-0 win

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