Randy Johnson gets 299th win

[Auggie]

(05-27) 22:47 PDT San Francisco -- Randy Johnson's 300th major-league victory, a distant speck on the horizon for most of his 21-year career, now has an unmistakable sense of immediacy - because it could happen the next time the Big Unit steps atop the mound.

He pocketed No. 299 on Wednesday night, in his third attempt. Johnson pitched six strong innings as the Giants pounded out 14 hits on their way to a 6-3 victory over Atlanta, completing a three-game sweep.

LINK: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/05/28/SPLM17S2CA.DTL

[Forkboy]

1. I'm 41 but I still giggle at his name every time.

Having "The Big Unit" as his nickname isn't helping matters.

[joeybee12]

2. You have a filthy mind!

And so do I! :blush:

[El Supremo]

3. That's nothing. Do you remember this guy?

Played 5 years with the Bosox and M's. Current pitching coach with the Reds.

[Forkboy]

4. Don't forget this one...

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JEmeeaqnBLM/SKrci2cTt2I/AAAAAAAAAOM/GkWQ0Vo1fAQ/s320/Rusty+Kuntz.jpg

[Captain Hilts]

5. Love the Big Unit. Go, Randy! A face only a mother could love.

[joeybee12]

6. he did so well in NY...he really fit in in that environment...n/t

[cboy4]

7. When he gets #300, it'll bring back good memories!

And Randy may also do it against Washington!

:bounce:

[Onceuponalife]

9. why compare a great pitcher

with a cheater who will ultimately only be remembered as an asterisk?

[cboy4]

10. But I'm not comparing him to Manny Ramirez or Alex Rodriguez

[joeybee12]

13. Try Hooked on Phonics...helps people who can't read...n/t

[Onceuponalife]

23. Neither am I, Einstein

:dunce:

[cboy4]

28. The San Jose Sharks fan roots for all of the L.A. teams and I'm the

dunce?

:eyes:

[TZ]

11. huh. As far as I know no baseball record was

set agaisnt DC. Only some flaxseed oil, giant headed Balco loving liar hitting a few balls. Hank Aaron never played agaisnt DC.

[Upton]

14. Sounds like you're in denial

maybe a little reminder is in order..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-14_zqqd08&feature=related

And in the words of the former HR king Hank Aaron:

“It is a great accomplishment which required skill, longevity and determination,” he said.

“Throughout the past century, the home run has held a special place in baseball and I have been privileged to hold this record for 33 of those years. I move over now and offer my best wishes to Barry and his family on this historic achievement.

“My hope today, as it was on that April evening in 1974, is that the achievement of this record will inspire others to chase their own dreams.”

[TZ]

15. Hank Aaron is a class act.

Saying things because he thinks its the right thing to do, not because he necessarily believes them.
If the situation were the other way around you KNOW Balco Bonds wouldn't do it.
And no, I'm not in denial. 61 is also the single season HR record. I'm far from the only person who thinks this way.

[joeybee12]

16. But think of the children!

You're right...no one in his right mind thinks Bonds is the home run king...single season or lifetime...no one.

[Upton]

17. Well then

I guess the Baseball Almanac must be "no one"..because they show Barry as the career HR, single season HR and single season slugging percentage record holder.

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/himenu.shtml

BTW, perhaps we should go back and question the validity of the Red Sox 2 WS titles. ...since it's probable Manny was using PEDs during those runs.

[Forkboy]

19. Speaking for myself, I haven't judged the Giants based on my opinion of Barry.

I haven't talked about their record with Bonds or anything. Nada, zippo, zilch. In fact, I'm against taking Bonds HRs away because of the effect it has on everyone else's stats around him, from his team to the pitchers that faced him. It would be a nightmare. My opinion of Bonds is my opinion of Bonds and Bonds alone, not the team he played for.

So why do that with Manny and the Sox? Don't you believe in personal responsibility? If you do, then accusing the team for Manny's actions with no proof of the team's approval is pretty much what you complain about all the time with Bonds, judging someone (or in your case here, the whole team) guilty with no evidence.

[joeybee12]

20. Number one, until you can show me even a rumor that can be somewhat

substantiated that manny or anyone else was taking steroids at that time, then you have no basis for that...and let's just talk about how many spankees were on roids at that time, according to the Mitchell report, and America's Team still beat them.

Also, roids helps a team, no doubt, but the one area where it..WITHOUT A DOUBT...gives an unfair advantage is hitting, because of the power...without those steroids EVERYONE KNOWS BONDS TOOK KNOWINGLY...he wouldn't have those recors.

[cboy4]

22. That's because it's clear you were dropped more than once

on your head when you were a kid.

[madinmaryland]

8. Kind of sad to see such a dominant pitcher when he was in his prime, finishing

up with an also-ran.

[Upton]

18. Ahem..

Giants-23-23

Pirates-21-26


Average Attendance

Pirates-15,668..30th filling only 40.8% of their seats

Giants-33,759...10th filling 81.3%

[madinmaryland]

21. Dude, your sockpuppet has been saying the Giants are a disgrace this year.

Just basing my post on what coby4 says.

:shrug:

[Upton]

26. I don't wish to speak for anyone else

but I'm sure cboy was referring to the Giants lack of hitting, their pitching has been excellent. After last night, the Giants are tied for 3rd in ERA but are 29th in runs scored.

Btw, the Pirates are 23rd in runs scored and a respectable 13th in ERA..too bad nobody goes to see their games.

[cboy4]

27. You can speak for me because that of course is what I'm referring to.

If the Giants had a couple of sluggers, there's no telling where they'd be right now.

I'm already on record as saying the Giants could have three pitchers on the all-star team.

But madinmaryland intentionally misrepresents everything I say in order to lure an emotional response from me. :eyes:

[Onceuponalife]

24. still comparing attendance?

how sad.

[Upton]

25. Why not?

It's an excellent indicator as to which areas have the REAL sports fans and which don't.

On Edit: Despite the Dodgers hot start they are filling but 78.7% of their seats compared to the Giants 81.4%. Just thought you'd like to know.

[Onceuponalife]

30. It's sad because

the emphasis in this sports forum should be to talk about our teams and the great achievement of athletic performance, not how many asses are in the seats. The Giants draw good crowds primarily because of still being in that "new stadium" glow* and being conveniently situated (unlike Candlesick Park) right downtown on the Bay where a lot of tourists are. But if they line up enough bad seasons in a row, that attendance will start to dwindle (just look at Toronto for an example).

When sports fans start talking attendance and air pollution it has to be because they can't think of any actual good thing to say about their team's performance. You didn't see me start any threads about the Rams last season did you?

[Upton]

31. Like it or not

attendance is every bit as important to a franchise's success as wins or losses....It's relevant to any sports conversation.

As to your theory of attributing the Giants excellent attendance record to "that new stadium glow"...the Tigers, Padres, Nats, Pirates, Reds, and Astros all opened new stadiums either the same year (Tigers) or after SF's opening in 2000 yet rank below the Giants in average attendance, some of them significantly so.

[Forkboy]

32. It's still damn stupid, and only matters to the most insecure of sports fans.

Record is the ONLY thing that matters in the end. I've been into sports for 35 years and until you two started with it I had never heard anyone try it as an actual debate tactic before. That's because it's stupid, and even the most knuckle dragging of sports fans know it.

Fucking attendance...Jesus, dude, would you listen to yourself?

[Upton]

33. Somehow..

I think that if the Yankees were averaging some 20,000 or so a game you'd suddenly think it was very relevant. Come to think of it, the issue of empty seats at the new Yankee stadium was brought up on this very board...I don't believe it was by you but I also don't remember you complaining.

[Forkboy]

34. This is so sad, Upton. I pity you, I really do, that you think this matters.

I think that if the Yankees were averaging some 20,000 or so a game you'd suddenly think it was very relevant.

No, I'd think it would be funny. Nothing more, nothing less. Only two people give a shit about this and attach any importance to it, and we know who they are, don't we?

I don't believe it was by you but I also don't remember you complaining."

Yeah, no shit. That's because it's fucking stupid. Nice job trying to tie me in to what other people said to construct your weak ass strawman.
:eyes:

I'm literally shaking my head at your vapidness. Your debate here is barely even high school level shit. Seriously.

[Upton]

36. Give me a break

I can turn into NESN anytime the Red Sox are playing at home and listen to Don Orsillo go on about how many consecutive sell outs there have now been. Red Sox fans should be be rightfully proud of that achievement just as Giants fans should be proud of their attendance record.

[Forkboy]

37. Talking about isn't the same as using it to prove your team is better.

It's over 500 straight games or something now, isn't it? But it means nothing beyond that. Repeat:it means nothing beyond that!!! It's an impressive record that relates to Boston baseball, and that's it. Damn that home town announcer talking about a home town accomplishment that is updated every time they do do it again. You know, like each time Baroid* hit another home run? I'm sure glad those Giants announcers didn't orgasm over his records when he was playing or anything. :think:

Go back and read post #32 again, slowly. In fact, read it as many times as possible until it sinks in. I expect that'll keep your busy for a couple of years, at least.

Like I said, high school level.

Give me a break, indeed.

[cboy4]

29. Yet another point that went zipping over your noggin

[madinmaryland]

35. Well, the insanity you display does go over/under/around most of the heads in here.

Fucking stupid, Koby4

[RT Atlanta]

12. Congrats to the "Big Ugly"

I remember him fondly from his time with the M's