“The Big Unit” Randy Johnson will arguably be the final 300 game winner in baseball with Mike Mussina being the next in line after Johnson to possibly achieve that accomplishment with 259 wins, turning 40 during the offseason.
With the way baseball is now a days, where a starter pitches 5-7 innings before the manager makes that frequent call to the pen causes many more no decisions, not giving themselves a chance to win late in games or may have the relievers relinquish their leads, the 300 game winner is a rare and dying breed.
12 wins away from that illusive 300th win, Johnson disgraced himself and every pitcher in baseball. Facing the Pittsburg Pirates Doug Mientkiewicz, Mientkiewicz stepped out of the box twice, once while Johnson was about to deliver to home plate. This caused a lot of jawing between the players.
After the game, the short tempered Johnson said, “It didn't bother me at all. If it would've, [Mientkiewicz] would probably be on a stretcher, and I'd be out of the game.”
After the at bat, Johnson began to pitch poorly, including a walk to Mientkiewicz, an error and a bases loaded walk.
With the way baseball is now a days, where a starter pitches 5-7 innings before the manager makes that frequent call to the pen causes many more no decisions, not giving themselves a chance to win late in games or may have the relievers relinquish their leads, the 300 game winner is a rare and dying breed.
12 wins away from that illusive 300th win, Johnson disgraced himself and every pitcher in baseball. Facing the Pittsburg Pirates Doug Mientkiewicz, Mientkiewicz stepped out of the box twice, once while Johnson was about to deliver to home plate. This caused a lot of jawing between the players.
After the game, the short tempered Johnson said, “It didn't bother me at all. If it would've, [Mientkiewicz] would probably be on a stretcher, and I'd be out of the game.”
After the at bat, Johnson began to pitch poorly, including a walk to Mientkiewicz, an error and a bases loaded walk.
Mientkiewicz, seemingly sick of Johnson, seemed to differ in Johnson’s opinion saying, “It affected him completely,” Mientkiewicz added, "I know how mentally weak he is. I tried to take the high road, [but] not anymore."
He also credited his “weak mindedness” to his lack of success with the New York Yankees and why he had to return to the Diamondbacks.
It was really a disgrace that not only did this pitcher, one of the all time greats, cause a bench clearing brawl because a batter stepped out of the box, but for the aftermath, making comments like that he would have put Mientkiewicz on a stretcher getting himself banned from baseball.
Just for his possible intentions, he should get finned by baseball and should have to serve a suspension. Who knows in the time of that suspension he may get injured yet again and really lose any chance of joining the 300 win club. What he said went beyond poor sportsmanship. What he said was just a disgrace for the sport.
If he still achieves 300 wins, and unfortunately it appears he will be able to stick around long enough to do so, he may have buried his own baseball grave and lost enough Hall Of Fame votes to keep him out of “Baseball Heaven” in Cooperstown.
Between his poor attitude, which can just be described by his first days in the Bronx when traded to the Yankees, getting into an altercation with a camera man, his off field comments such as the ones about Mientkiewicz, or the poor seasons, especially post season performances he has had since his dominance in 2001, mixed with his many injuries and complete lack of effectiveness in the American League over the past five or so seasons, Johnson just may not be a first ballot Hall of Famer and just may be a first ballot disgrace who happens to have 300 wins.
Just for his possible intentions, he should get finned by baseball and should have to serve a suspension. Who knows in the time of that suspension he may get injured yet again and really lose any chance of joining the 300 win club. What he said went beyond poor sportsmanship. What he said was just a disgrace for the sport.
If he still achieves 300 wins, and unfortunately it appears he will be able to stick around long enough to do so, he may have buried his own baseball grave and lost enough Hall Of Fame votes to keep him out of “Baseball Heaven” in Cooperstown.
Between his poor attitude, which can just be described by his first days in the Bronx when traded to the Yankees, getting into an altercation with a camera man, his off field comments such as the ones about Mientkiewicz, or the poor seasons, especially post season performances he has had since his dominance in 2001, mixed with his many injuries and complete lack of effectiveness in the American League over the past five or so seasons, Johnson just may not be a first ballot Hall of Famer and just may be a first ballot disgrace who happens to have 300 wins.
*QUOTES FROM MLB.COM*
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