Wednesday, January 6, 2010

THE BIGGEST UNIT CASTS THE LONGEST SHADOW: The Big Unit retired today.

I've been overly statty lately, and Randy Johnson's numbers make their own irrefutable arguments, so I'll leave the stats aside. At 6'11", the long, thin Johnson was one of the most unusual physical specimens in baseball. A wild and ineffective slinger in his early career in the Montreal system, my beloved Mariners acquired him (and others) for a half-season of Mark Langston and watched him grow into an elite talent (for those looking for a "Jack Morris Game 7 Moment," he delivered the second-greatest moment in the greatest game ever played, when he caused total bedlam in the Kingdome during his walk from the bullpen to the mound for three innings of one-run relief – and the win – on one day's rest). Seattle shipped him to Houston in a controversial contract-year trade: Johnson was injured and, for him, subpar in the half-season before the trade; he got healthy for the rest of the season and essentially won the division for Houston. Some misguided Seattle fans see this as evidence of malingering to force a trade, but I think this is wrong -- it wasn't in Johnson's makeup to soften his performance. He went to Arizona the following year, where he made Schilling unashamed to be a distant-second starter, won a World Series and notched the best post-40 pitcher season in baseball history; spent a couple of (still decent) decline years in the Bronx (where he was about as good, relative to the league, as Jack Morris was in his prime); and twilighted in San Francisco.

There are other pitchers during Johnson's career who could lay at least an equal, and maybe -- maybe better, claim to being the best, but of that club of sublime pitchers in the last two decades, Johnson was the most feared member. With a low, wide left-handed delivery that appeared to reach around left-handers' heads, hundred-mile-an-hour heat, and occasional wildness (like the discharge over Kruk's head in the All-Star Game), lefties always had to fear taking one on the chin, even while Johnson was slipping it right in the sweet spot. But Johnson had three plus pitches – his heater, his curve, and a murderous slider, which meant that if lefties cowered when he unfurled his left arm, righties were no happier to see that oversized appendage swinging toward them.

The Unit was prickly, probably because his prominence (at his size, it was impossible not to stick out) interfered with his private nature. All that unsightly hair couldn't have helped. But he also was canny, analytical, and hard – very, very hard – to hit. Of the modern players least likely to be duplicated, Johnson, with his size, power, and stamina, must be the foremost.

P.S.: When he goes to the Hall, his hat should have an S on it.

9 comments:

  1. girard315:26 AM

    The only thing I think of when I think of Randy Johnson (besides the nasty fastball) was how much he looked like the guy who was busted for dealing meth near the 7-Eleven where I worked.

    ReplyDelete
  2. ChinMusic7:16 AM

    Man that guy was really, really good.  Probably in the discussion as the best ever, adjusting for eras.  But, it's a really close call on the hat.  In Seattle he threw a no hitter, in Arizona he threw a perfect game and had another game where he struck out 20 guys in 9 innings.  In Seattle he won a Cy Young and finished second twice and third once, in Arizona he won four straight Cy Youngs and finished second once.  In Seattle he was part of a memorable post-season series and had a huge moment in it, in Arizona he was co-MVP of one of the best and most memorable World Series ever and he played a huge role in it.  He played eight full seasons and two half seasons in Seattle, he played eight full seasons in Arizona.  Johnson lives in Arizona, so his preference, to the extent it is considered, may be to go with the snakes. 

    ReplyDelete
  3. calliekl7:57 AM

    I will always remember not only him vaporizing that bird, but obviously feeling really bad about it in the post-game interview.

    Plus, how great of a name is that? Randy Johnson, only bested by his nickname of The Big Unit.

    I'm going to have to go with ChinMusic on this, my guess is he will be representing AZ when he gets inducted. That's where his greater moments were, and I'm sure it's where most people remember him from.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I would immediately (as a relatively impartial person) think of Johnson as a Mariner, but the Arizona argument is strong--also, he may have had a contract stipulation, either with the D'Backs or the Giants, that he go in under their cap.  Those aren't that uncommon for aging HOF caliber players, right?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Adam C.9:30 AM

    But those contract provisions also aren't technically enforceable either -- the HOF has the final call on the plaque hat, and although they will take the player's wishes into account as part of that decision, they aren't bound by them.  The team's wishes aren't, as far as I know, considered at all.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Some great memories of him as a Mariner, including the Kingdome bedlam when he strolled out of the bullpen that magical night.  He'll always be a Mariner to me...

    ReplyDelete
  7. The Pathetic Earthling1:37 PM

    He has no business whatever going into the Hall of Fame as a Giant.  He put in some good work here, of course, but other than Seattle or Arizona makes no sense.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Adam C.2:34 PM

    I just noticed the new picture at the top of the page.  Kudos to the person or persons responsible.

    ReplyDelete
  9. isaac_spaceman3:16 PM

    That would be Adam on concept and Isaac on poor execution. 

    ReplyDelete