On this date last season, Randy Johnson threw six innings of one run ball to beat the Nationals and earn his 300th career victory. The Big Unit called it career in January with 303 career wins despite having just 64 on his 30th birthday. His 4,875 strikeouts are the second most all time, though his 10.61 career K/9 is the best mark in history.
The four year, $53.4MM deal the Diamondbacks gave Johnson prior to the 1999 season might be the greatest free agent signing of all time. All he gave them in return was 1030 innings, 81 wins, 1,417 strikeouts, four Cy Young Awards and a World Championship. I'd call that one a win.
Here are a few links from around the world wide netweb…
- The Bottom Line wonders if Ken Griffey Jr.'s retirement opens the door for a Mike Lowell to Seattle trade.
- The Friarhood says it's time for the Padres to get serious about adding a middle-of-the-order bat.
- MLB Depth Charts checks in on prospects who were traded this past offseason.
- Bucs Prospects offers up a first hand scouting report on Florida Gulf Coast lefty Chris Sale, who's expected to be a high pick in next week's draft.
- Examiner wonders if the White Sox should trade Mark Buehrle.
- Meanwhile, Midwest Sports Fan suggests the ChiSox could be in for a turn around this month.
- More Hardball offer up a one-third mark of the season All-Star Team.
- Feeling Dodger Blue wonders if John Ely is the National League's second best rookie.
If you have a suggestion for this feature, Mike can be reached here.
Unfortunately, I don’t think the whitesox will be making a turnaround. It would have to be pretty drastic in order to catch the Twins and I don’t think this team is capable of it.
If the Mariners offered something decent we could use in the future for the bullpen, something like Pineda or Cortes, the sox should eat the majority of the salary and trade
Why would a 22-31 team be buying anything? Especially someone who is pretty much a DH with a .659 OPS? It’s wishful thinking to think you’re getting anything of use for Lowell.
Ely’s been ridiculous. Other than his Citi Field debut, he’s been lights out and other than a couple of games where he had no run support, he’d be 5-0.
And if if`s were fifth`s we would all be drunk. Ely looks good but lets see what he looks like the second time around the league. The same goes for all the talented young rookie pitchers and hitters. I hope Ely continues because the Dodgers sure could use this guy and McCourt has him under control for several years. The padres are no flukes for just that reason. The owner was going thru a brutal divorce and the Padres traded away there veterans for good young players.The rules of Baseball are changing, and there is nothing more valued then a quality young player under team control for several years.
The Buehrle contract has that poison pill in it. Not sure if the White Sox could move it.
HELLOOOOO
Garcia has the second lowest ERA in all of baseball.. The kid can pitch… Everybodys over looking him, and honestly I’m not sure why. His numbers are better than Ely’s and hes playing for a contending team in the Cardinals… If this kid doesn’t at least get considered to be ROTY then the system is rigged.. It seems like very year, the most talked about prospect is the ROTY… Garcia went from contending for the 5th spot in the Cards rotation (even considered to be the long shot for the three way race) and coming back from Tommy John surgery to being the Cards number 3 starter.. and if you ask me… Being number 3 behind Carp and Waino is pretty understandable… The kid deserves it as of right now.. Ask me in a couple months and my answer might change…. But as of right now, I’d vote Garcia.