11/05/24
July 12, 2004
Johnson's latest pitch: He's open to a trade.: After a week that saw a lot of speculation and denial, as well as a reported argument between he and a teammate, Randy Johnson confirms he would be open to a trade but has not been asked to waive his no-trade clause by the DBacks, yet. During the media session, he debunked rumors that he'd prefer to go to Anaheim because he has a home nearby. His condition is that the team he'd be traded to would have to have "[good] chance to win. That's the only way." Later when asked about a trip to Boston's North End, Johnson commented, "I was really torn between the Boston clam chowder and the Manhattan clam chowder".
posted by jerseygirl to baseball at 04:11 PM - 20 comments
I'm having all sorts of ARod Trade flashbacks.
posted by jerseygirl at 04:34 PM on July 12, 2004
You guys don't need Randy Johnson, you've got Derek Lowe!
posted by dusted at 04:39 PM on July 12, 2004
Is it within the rules of spofi etiquette to kick dusted in the crotch? :)
posted by tieguy at 05:07 PM on July 12, 2004
Definitely outside the rules of etiquette!
posted by dusted at 05:53 PM on July 12, 2004
you've got Derek Lowe! Stop reminding me!
posted by jerseygirl at 06:27 PM on July 12, 2004
you've got Derek Lowe! AOL is soooo going to sue.
posted by lilnemo at 06:39 PM on July 12, 2004
Sidetrack: I just love the Google ads that pop up sometimes with these threads: Randy Johnson jersey, Randy Johnson jersey, baseball autographs, New England clam chowder. Hee!
posted by lil_brown_bat at 08:53 PM on July 12, 2004
This is Boston's deal to make - their prospects (like Youklis) are more attractive to a team like Arizona, me thinks. I love how anytime someone posts a FPP sorted by hockey the ads offer great deals on 2004 NHL playoff tickets. And they're cheap!
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 12:39 AM on July 13, 2004
I think everyone in Arizona pretty much knows that Randy will have to go. It just isn't fair to anyone to let him ride through this rotten year. What are we, 27 games below .500? Sure, if this was the NBA, we could still talk about making the playoffs! But in Baseball, this year is so over. Please let the man have an impact somewhere. I would like to see him and Curt on the same team again...
posted by eckeric at 11:15 AM on July 13, 2004
Are you in AZ, eckeric? What's the press saying out of Arizona?
posted by jerseygirl at 12:01 PM on July 13, 2004
Pedro for RJ?
posted by djacobs at 12:52 PM on July 13, 2004
The local press and sports radio folks (in Tucson anyway) are pretty much saying that the Diamondbacks are now a rebuilding team and that as much as it would hurt to let Randy go, it doesn't do him or the team any good to keep him here. If he stays, he will win his games, but the team can't contend with just Randy winning. He pretty much spends the rest of the year not making a difference, no matter how good he is. Plus, if they hold on to him, the team loses the chance to get a good trade and actually build for the future. If they miss the chance to trade, it will be that much longer before the club has a chance to contend again. The radio announcers for sunday's game were talking about how there was a lot of hope at the begining of the year centered around the bullpen, and that folks felt like it should be ok moving from last years system where we only scored two runs, but Curt and Randy kept the other team below that. Of course, they had a lot of time to talk, as SF scored their 6th, 7th, 8th runs. Anyhow, they never really brought up trading Randy, but they did a good job of pointing out that we sucked a lot more that we were supposed to (which has got to be hard to do as the homer radio crew), and I think that that gives some background as to why it doesn't make sense for Randy to stay. I think one writer said that the fans will cry into thier beers when the trade happens, but they will also know that it really has to happen. I'm sure the thing that people really want to know, is who the press thinks they may try to trade for, but they haven't had much on that, at least, I haven't seen it. Jerry Colangelo is keeping his mouth shut.
posted by eckeric at 01:00 PM on July 13, 2004
How about Chan Ho Park for the Big Unit? Does he like Chili?
posted by Ufez Jones at 01:09 PM on July 13, 2004
Pedro for RJ? Thanks for the laugh! :D I'm sure the thing that people really want to know, is who the press thinks they may try to trade for, but they haven't had much on that, at least, I haven't seen it. Here, and apparently in Chicago too, there's an odd rumor about Nomar going to the Cubs for prospects... and connecting the dots, the presumed thought is the prospects would be flipped to AZ for RJ. Typical Trade Deadline rumor stuff, mostly.
posted by jerseygirl at 01:22 PM on July 13, 2004
I'm in AZ, and the local buzz is sort of at the "what's out there to even get" stage. It has most definitely come down on the side of getting good prospects in return. Still reeling from the Sexson (not so bad if he didn't get hurt and signed an extension) and Schilling (royally screwed) deals, the folks around here want nothing to do with anything but prospects. With all of the Tucson team in Phoenix, we really need some. Only thing I have really heard was that Cubs, Boston 3-way speculation myself. Pedro for RJ? Thanks for the laugh! :D Yeah, Randy said he would only do a deal that would benefit the D-Backs...that's just a similar salary and a downgrade. Besides, our DL team has enough players already.
posted by pivo at 02:15 PM on July 13, 2004
Still reeling from the Sexson We Milwaukee fans are too, but in a different way. Thanks Arizona! On a different note, some of the coverage of this possible trade has been from a business perspective, mostly folks talking about how "Randy Johnson is the only thing putting butts in seats in Arizona, and why in the hell would they trade him and put themselves further in a hole?" Well, if I might offer my perspective on this, directly related to the Sexson trade: he was Milwaukee's Most Popular Player. He put butts in seats. He was traded away, and our attendance has been higher than it has since Miller Park opened. We traded a star player for a team. Arizona could pull off the same magic, if they shop carefully.
posted by rocketman at 02:27 PM on July 13, 2004
What's the condition of Randy's knee? Last I heard (before the season), he had no cartilage left.
posted by dusted at 02:30 PM on July 13, 2004
Why is Pedro for Randy a laugh? They both have health issues, but I might trade Pedro's edge in pitching for the fact Johnson is signed for 2005. Much as I love Pedro, such a deal (while completely impossible) wouldn't be too bad from a business perspective (if one ignores the potential drop in ticket sales as part of the "business perspective").
posted by yerfatma at 03:43 PM on July 13, 2004
If it's a near even exchange, what's the point?
posted by jerseygirl at 06:27 PM on July 13, 2004
Let the bidding begin!!