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.
How about Chan Ho Park for the Big Unit? Does he like Chili?
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.
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.
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.
What's the condition of Randy's knee? Last I heard (before the season), he had no cartilage left.
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").
If it's a near even exchange, what's the point?
