04/19/24
December 31, 2004
Big Unit to the Big Apple: The Yankees' acquisition of Randy Johnson sets up a classic rivalry with Curt Schilling: "[They] do not seem to consider each other friends even though they were teammates." A revealing Johnson quote from a past interview about playing with Schilling in Arizona (emphasis mine): "I like to think we both helped one another throughout the time he was here, and he became a much better pitcher than he was before he got here. I like to think I helped him with that, and obviously he helped me get a little better."
don't have a scoop, but bobby valentine has some interesting comments regarding the 2001 all-star game.
posted by goddam at 10:19 AM on December 31, 2004
This relationship has always baffled me. We always hear from these two that there wasn't a problem, but the press continually beats the same drum with them disliking each other. I thought I also heard they used to play golf together, and even lived in the same sub division. Who knows? But we all work with people we are indifferent to, so maybe that's the case. That was my long way of saying I have no idea, but plenty of time since today is officially the slowest day in the history of my company.
posted by usfbull at 11:23 AM on December 31, 2004
Damn it, I am still pissed about losing Vazquez. This is not at all worth it. He'll win maybe 2-4 extra games this year. For an extra 8 or so million, once all the extra cash is factored in... ridiculous.
posted by Bernreuther at 11:34 AM on December 31, 2004
bobby valentine has some interesting comments Schilling dismissed those comments in last week's Sunday Globe, FWIW.
posted by yerfatma at 11:45 AM on December 31, 2004
As a Sox fan, I'm not pleased to see the Big Unit in pinstripes. He may yet have another Cy Young left in him. That said, as he advances in years, his history of back trouble would to seem to make him a bit of a risk. I don't think this is a smart move at all for New York. They still don't seem to have captured the idea of rebuilding. They seem destined to try to reload every year until they end up with a fractious .500 team comprised of crybaby prima donnas (just like they did in the 80s). Not that I would mind that at all.
posted by psmealey at 12:03 PM on December 31, 2004
bern, i don't think the yankees are looking so much at the 2-4 extra games during the season but rather what he'll do in october. i like vazquez too, but i'm not pissed about getting johnson (but that may have more to do with the fact that i'll be a season ticket holder this year and will get to see many of his home starts and less to do with worrying about whether this is worth it or not). and at least with this deal they didn't have to give up their top 2 prospects. Schilling dismissed those comments in last week's Sunday Globe, FWIW. schillings dismissals aren't worth much to me. ;-)
posted by goddam at 12:30 PM on December 31, 2004
It's like Steinbrenner is trying to rebuild the 1990's Seattle Mariners. ARod last year, Johnson now, Tino Martinez is coming... How long until Griffey is wearing pinstripes? (side note: Derek Lowe is also available and he was part of that team too, but he sucked rocks back then)
posted by grum@work at 01:15 PM on December 31, 2004
plus luis sojo is coaching third.
posted by goddam at 01:28 PM on December 31, 2004
Is that pre- or post-arrival of Ichiro? This actually made me wonder how long Suzuki will be happy in Rainland with no playoff and championship opportunities.
posted by billsaysthis at 01:34 PM on December 31, 2004
A little OT, but not sure it warrants a separate thread: Have you all noticed that none of the expected starting opening day lineup (not including pitcher) of the SF Giants will be less than 31 years old and the three starting outfielders will be 37, 38 and 40? I mean, seriously, what are Sabean and Crew drinking at SBC Park? Do they get a senior citizen discount on medical supplies?
posted by billsaysthis at 01:42 PM on December 31, 2004
As a Sox fan, I'm not pleased to see the Big Unit in pinstripes. I'm a sox fan who couldn't be more pleased. As the team with the second highest payroll, the yankees are the only team that makes us look, well, less like trying to buy a championship. If the yankees weren't around I'd almost feel evil being a redsox fan. But they're always there, year after year buying the best free agent on the market. If they win it? Well, they should. If they lose? All the sweeter. Losing Arod to the yankees and winning was a hell of a lot sweeter than getting him and winning. Let King George run wild. It wouldn't be the same if he didn't.
posted by justgary at 02:55 PM on December 31, 2004
But they're always there, year after year buying the best free agent on the market. A minor point, but neither ARod or Johnson were free agents. NY gave up an all-star second baseman for the former and a quality starter and prospects for the latter.
posted by crank at 03:11 PM on December 31, 2004
A minor point, but neither ARod or Johnson were free agents. Sorry, miss spoke, but the points the same. Trading for the best left-hander of his era should restart the Yankees dynasty and bring an end to New York's too-long stay as baseball's "lovable losers." Perhaps no other fans have ever suffered as much as Yankees fans have recently -- they haven't seen their team play a World Series game in more than a year. "I always dreamed about having the Big Unit in our rotation but I never thought we would be able to get him," another fan said while standing in line for the Randy Johnson Yankees bobblehead dolls that have been in stores since late October. "After all, when was the last time the Yankees were able to trade for or sign a superstar like this? I mean, not counting Alex Rodriguez, Gary Sheffield, Mike Mussina, Jason Giambi or Roger Clemens." "It really is annoying," another fan said. "We New York fans are so shy and reticent, you would hardly even know that the Yankees have won 26 world championships and 39 American League pennants, far more than anyone else. Why do the Red Sox always have to rub their success in our faces the way they do? If I hear one more Red Sox fan chant '2000' or bring up the Curse of A-Rod, I'm going to puke. "But that's OK. We've got the Big Unit now. And when we win the World Series, it will be all that much sweeter because we went through so much for so long." link
posted by justgary at 03:49 PM on December 31, 2004
If they win it? Well, they should. If they lose? All the sweeter. and people think it's easy being a yankee fan. :-) for all of the kooky (and sometimes downright stupid) things that george does, i would still rather have an owner who puts his money into the team rather than his own pocket. i'm sure there are owners out there who have as much if not more money than george. and for whatever reason they choose not to use it on their team. that makes us look, well, less like trying to buy a championship so you don't consider having the highest payroll of any team to ever win the world series buying a championship?
posted by goddam at 03:50 PM on December 31, 2004
and people think it's easy being a yankee fan. :-) My heart goes out to you goddam. Perhaps the article I linked to summed it up best: "Now I know how Cubs fans must feel," one New York fan said while standing in line to buy officially licensed "2005 World Championship" T-shirts after the Johnson trade was agreed upon. "I spent Christmas Eve sitting by my father's hospital bed and just before they wheeled him in for surgery, he grabbed my hand, looked up at me with tears in his eyes and said, 'I just hope I live long enough to see the Yankees win the World Series one more time.' so you don't consider having the highest payroll of any team to ever win the world series buying a championship? Oh certainly, but it's much better than having the highest payroll of any team not to win the world series. (besides, the yankees will shatter that record when they win their next one)
posted by justgary at 04:40 PM on December 31, 2004
He's coming off a career year so chances are now that he's finally arrived in NY he'll put up good numbers, but not Randy-Johnson-good numbers or his skills will begin to quickly erode.
posted by crank at 05:09 PM on December 31, 2004
Perhaps the article I linked to summed it up best i would hardly call what caple wrote an article. if you get your yankee news from page 2 and you really believe that's what yankee fans are thinking, well, my heart goes out to you gary. but it's much better than having the highest payroll of any team not to win the world series. i could be wrong, but i doubt many baltimore, toronto or tampa fans would see it as being much better. i'm sure they'll always hate the yankees more. but to think that the red sox won't also be target of hatred due to their payroll is ridiculous. and you're right, next time the yankees win the world series they will shatter that record. but like i said, i would rather george spend that money on the team than to see him pocket all the profits.
posted by goddam at 05:17 PM on December 31, 2004
i could be wrong, but i doubt many baltimore, toronto or tampa fans would see it as being much better. i'm sure they'll always hate the yankees more. but to think that the red sox won't also be target of hatred due to their payroll is ridiculous. She's right. As a Toronto fan, we hate the Red Sox AND the Yankees almost equally. It really depends on who most recently kicked our asses. i would rather george spend that money on the team than to see him pocket all the profits. You talk about these things called "profits"...could you explain what they are to me? As a Blue Jay fan with long-term memory loss, I'm not sure I understand what they represent...
posted by grum@work at 08:36 PM on December 31, 2004
After all these off-season moves, it will be even funnier than usual if the Yankees don't win it all. Johnson is the most dominating pitcher on the planet right now, but all you folks worried about his back are on the wrong track. His knee is rapidly going Mo Vaughn (bone on bone). Hope you have a healthy supply of cortisone on hand in the training. As to the dislike between Johnson and Schilling, from a Phoenix perspective I don't really see it. They played golf together regularly when they were both here. Only real issue was Randy didn;t seem to dig on sharing the spotlight after the WS win.
posted by pivo at 03:01 AM on January 01, 2005
The Anti-Yankee fans make me laugh. The Yankees are there every year. The greatest sports franchise in the world. Period. The Yankees took in $300 million
posted by Mick7NY at 08:40 PM on January 01, 2005
if you get your yankee news from page 2 and you really believe that's what yankee fans are thinking, well, my heart goes out to you gary. Please, I realize it's comedy, and to some...not, but I never said that's what I think yankee fans are thinking. It's what I think when I hear how tough it is to be a yankee fan. but to think that the red sox won't also be target of hatred due to their payroll is ridiculous. Again, I don't care what others think. I've been a dallas cowboy fan my entire life, so I know how it feels to be a fan of a hated team. I'm completely realistic about the sox and the money they spend. Very few teams can compete with them financially. And yet the yankees will spend millions and millions more. If the yankees get Johnson AND Beltran, well, I couldn't imagine it being fun to be a yankees fan, and again, speaking for me only. The Yankees are there every year. The greatest sports franchise in the world. Period. There you go goddam. Classy yankee fans... Good luck with less dedicated owners. Please, you're not living even close to reality. George dedicated? Sure, but it's also ny, and he has the money. If an owner in tampa bay is as dedicated as possible to his team winning do you really think he could compete with george? To say that other owners should be as dedicated as george is to be completely ignorant of the situation. You can't squeeze blood from a turnip, and other owners have no way to compete with the ny, or boston for that matter, dedication or not.
posted by justgary at 02:59 AM on January 02, 2005
A series of unfortunate payrolls Because it's never too soon to figure out how many superstars George Steinbrenner can purchase with his big, fat, disgusting wallet of greed (which, by the way, has led to ZERO World Series championships in the past four seasons). And because piling on is fun! ;)
posted by justgary at 03:49 PM on January 02, 2005
I'm not too concerned about Randy Johnson. Many here might assume I would be, but I'm just not worked up about it. Rotation has questions, just like the Red Sox rotation does. Nothing is a guarantee, ever, especially before the season starts. Long season, lots can happen, blah blah. I just want the season to start again. Get back to battling on the field. Plus, the Yankee fans no longer have 1918 to chant. Ha-ha.
posted by jerseygirl at 04:49 PM on January 02, 2005
It's what I think when I hear how tough it is to be a yankee fan. sorry, maybe my sarcasm was lost on you? yes, it's quite easy for me to be a yankee fan because that's what i grew up with. (same with being a giants fan and a rangers fan. shit, talk about high payroll coupled with not winning championships, at least the yankees make it to the fucking playoffs.) it's not because of championships won or big names that have been signed. and yes, george's spending is worrisome to me, not so much because of the amount but because of potentially foolish signings (like womack). there's always a fear around here that he'll send us spiraling down to another mel hall era when no free agent wanted to play here. but if and when that happens i'll still have fun being a yankee fan. and as long as i'll be able to afford i'll still be a season ticket holder. There you go goddam. Classy yankee fans... and another reactionary "yankee fans think they're classy but they're not as is evident by this one arrogant comment" response by a member of red sox nation. ;-) And because piling on is fun! ;) i love you too, gary. :-)
posted by goddam at 06:22 PM on January 02, 2005
Plus, the Yankee fans no longer have 1918 to chant. Ha-ha. that's one chant many of us are happy to see go (but not so happy with the circumstances surrounding it's demise). if only they'd stop the boston sucks one as well.
posted by goddam at 06:30 PM on January 02, 2005
and another reactionary "yankee fans think they're classy but they're not as is evident by this one arrogant comment" response by a member of red sox nation. ;-) Yes, I admit we both have arrogant fans, but come on, that one fell right into place!
posted by justgary at 08:39 PM on January 02, 2005
I'm actually pretty peeved at this trade... I can see trading Vasquez due to his seriously un-even reliability over last season and into the playoffs, but I'm actually more irritated to give up on Dioner Navarro, who was one of the very (VERY) few worthwhile Yankee prospects, and actually looked to be in line to replace Posada in a couple of years. Beh. Wonder if Victor Martinez will be busy in '06. -s
posted by sashae at 02:12 AM on January 04, 2005
I looked, but couldn't find, some hard evidence in the press explaining why they don't get along. All I found was lots of variations on the phrase "whose relationship was not great." Anyone know the scoop?