Yardbarker: Randy Johnson

Coming to you from South Carolina...

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:34:00 -0500

By Brett Borden - AngelsWin.com ColumnistHello all, my name is Brett Borden, welcome to my first AngelsWin.com blog. Let me begin by introducing myself and giving you a little background on my journalism and Halo credentials.I began my sportswriting career in 1994, covering high school basketball in southern Indiana for the Louisville, Ky. newspaper. I moved to Daytona Beach the next year and covered several sports, from professional to college to high school. Two years later I was working fo...

Blogging the Offseason: San Francisco Giants

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:00:00 -0500

Blogging the Offseason is a 30 team series in which I ask a blogging representative from each MLB team a series of ten questions about their desires and thoughts surrounding the offseason. Check out all of them here.

Today's NL team is the San Francisco Giants and our guest Giants fan Zach from The Big Picture.

1. Will the Giants sign an offseason bat that's actually worth the money, or will they again throw money at someone well past his prime like they did Renteria?
I doubt it. I really do. When guys like Jason Bay and Matt Holliday are the "big names" who want $100 million, I just don't see it as a good investment. They'll probably try to get some smaller names who could make big impacts -- starting with resigning Juan Uribe.

2. Bengie Molina is a free agent this offseason, are you in favor of resigning him or simpling rolling the dice with Buster Posey? What do you think the Giants do?
I like Molina's heart. I like his bat about 30% of the time. I like his handling of the pitchers 80% of the time. BUT HE'S A LIABILITY ON THE BASES! The running joke with Benjie is that it'll take a triple to score him from second.
His contract isn't a major issue, so I'd keep him around to mentor Posey and start really working Posey in there by mid-season.

3. Madison Bumgarner will be in the Giants rotation on what date?
When Penny gets hurt. Is early April too pessimistic?

4. The Giants traded for Freddy Sanchez near the deadline. WHY? And will they pick up his option this offseason?
Don't ask! Hated that trade then and hate it even more now. Aside from giving up a prized prospect (Tim Alderson), they were acquiring a hitter who had little power and couldn't take a walk. He IS EVERY ******* HITTER ALREADY IN THE GIANTS' LINEUP! They resigned him because he's good for 75 games played, a .290 average and 8 homers; Brian Sabean wanted to have a guy who fits right in.

5. Which Giant free agent pitcher do you want on the 2010 roster, Randy Johnson or Brad Penny or both?
Penny hands down. Loved the pick up at the time -- the guy can pitch in the National League. I think a lot of teams would love him as their first starter.

6. What would it take for you as a Giant fan to be ok with Sabean dealing either Lincecum or Cain?
Let's keep names out of this:
-Your two best hitters
-Your best pitcher
-A free night with the hottest wife
-Cash considerations
-Your first-round pick the next three years
-A 24-pack of beer (and not the bad ****, either)
-A high-paying job in your organization
-Maybe your second-best pitcher too

7. You've gassed your owner and have convinced him to spend like the Yankees, which three free agents do you sign?
Yikes. Bad year for that. For the Giants' needs, I'd go:
1. Matt Holliday
2. Carl Crawford
3. Josh Beckett

8. Which Giant prospect are you most looking forward to in 2010?
I'll give the nod to Posey over Bumgarner because I forgot what it looks like to see someone hit well.

9. I'm giving you the option to cut players without any salary repercussions, which Giants do you part way with?

Aaron Rowand
Randy Winn
Edgar Renteria
Ryan Garko
Freddy Sanchez
Fred Lewis

You were expecting me to say Zito, huh?
Any batter who can't draw a walk or sacrifice a runner is wasted space in my book.

10. Final Question, you've got a crystal ball, the Giants win the NL West in...
2011

Randy Johnson Activated

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 11:16:47 -0500

Regulators – mount up. The Big Unit was moved from the DL to the active roster today, clearing a spot for the big southpaw for a return to action. Johnson is expected to come out of the bullpen for the remainder of the regular season. To clear the space, the Giants moved pitcher Justin Miller to the [...]

Big Unit Moves Closer to Return

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 20:35:00 -0500

by Jeff FletcherFiled under: Giants, MLB InjuriesSAN FRANCISCO -- Randy Johnson faced hitters in two simulated innings on Monday afternoon and then said he could be ready to be activated within a couple days."If I get up tomorrow and feel fine, hopefully I'll come off the DL," Johnson said. "What my role is, I don't know."Johnson, 46, has been out for more than two months with a torn rotator cuff. He said it's still torn, but through rehab and strengthening exe...

Randy Johnson to Return as a Reliever?

Sun, 30 Aug 2009 20:21:23 -0500

Randy Johnson has been out of action for the San Francisco Giants since July 6th. Recently, Johnson said that he thinks he can return during the 2009 baseball season — as a reliever. In his career, which dates all the way back to the 1988 season with the Montreal Expos, he has only ten relief appearances. He last appeared out of the bullpen with the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2001 campaign. On the season, the Big Unit has an ERA of 4.81 and a record of 8-6. The biggest moment of the se...

Giants' Johnson has torn rotator cuff

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 19:17:13 -0500

Randy Johnson has a torn rotator cuff and won't be able to throw for the San Francisco Giants for at least three weeks. San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy said Tuesday the 303-game winner had an MRI on his injured left shoulder Monday and the test showed some tearing. The 45-year-old Johnson is 8-6 with a 4.81 ERA with the Giants this season but hasn't played since injuring himself while batting during a 7-1 loss to Houston on July 5.

VooDoo Sabermetrics: Randy Johnson

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 12:00:00 -0500

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to our twelfth edition of VooDoo Sabermetrics. This week's All-Star is San Francisco Giants future Hall-of-Fame lefty Randy Johnson. We figured now was as good a time as any (is any time ever not the time to VooDoo?) considering he just captured his 300th career victory last Thursday.Sooze, Babes Love Baseball and Fantasy Pros 911Jolliness - My goodness. Judging from the incredibly gay (gay as in festive, chipper and carefree) photo to your right, I'd say...

Giants' Big Unit Joins 300-win Club With Victory in D.C.

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 19:46:00 -0500

Randy Johnson has earned his 300th win, becoming the 24th major league pitcher to reach the milestone, allowing two hits and an unearned run over six innings Thursday, leading the Giants to a 5-1 victory over the Nationals.

Giants sign the Big Unit

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 16:11:59 -0500

During the winter meetings this month in Las Vegas, Giants general manager Brian Sabean didn't hide the fact that he was seeking a veteran starting pitcher for a short-term deal and that Johnson would be a great fit. Randy and the Giants agreed to an $8 million, one-year contract. Read more by following the link! Get all the iPhone Sports Apps by InGameNow - InGameNow iPhone App - NFL InGameNow iPhone App - NCAA Football InGameNow iPhone App - NBA InGameNow iPhone App - Soccer InGa...

Alice Cooper Wants You to Eat Randy Johnson's Big Unit

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 15:32:15 -0500

Last night on No Reservations, Tony Bourdain took a tour of the Southwest and stopped in at the Alice Cooper/Randy Johnson-owned Cooperstown Sports Bar in Phoenix. At Alice's "prodding," Tony proceeded to stuff his face with the 2-foot long "Big Unit."

The Pursuit of 300: Randy Johnson Just Might Sniff it in 2008

Mon, 19 May 2008 12:48:27 -0500

Can Randy Johnson reach 300 career wins this year? or at all? Before spring training had even started and before the Big Unit had thrown a warm up toss, many in the valley were betting against the big fellow

Baseball's Ugliest Men

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 17:38:27 -0500

Some of the finest athletes to ever play the sport are also some of the most unappealing people on the planet. And after a very ugly World Series, I figured this seemed appropriate. So without further ado, here's a short list of some of baseball's ugliest men.

"Big Unit" might be done

Wed, 25 Jul 2007 09:59:13 -0500

Looks like the "Big Unit" might be done pitching. Three stints on the DL this year is taking a mental toll on him "I think everybody in this clubhouse, maybe not the players but the coaching staff and front office, would like to know, and I would like to know, whether I'm going to be able to pitch and help this organization," he said. "If not, I think that I need to take care of things and they would need to take care of things."

10 reasons the Big Unit rocks my world!

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 17:41:10 -0500

Guess who's back

Randy Johnson's Back is Fine, Face Still Ugly

Fri, 23 Feb 2007 22:47:59 -0500

The Arizona Diamondbacks' prized acquisition from the offseason has had a nice start to his Spring Training. It's not much of a story but regardless, it's a baseball story. After a nightmarish tenure in the Bronx, Johnson had to have been stoked when he was traded to the Diamondbacks for a few prospects.