Where does Randy Johnson rank amongst all-time great pitchers?
In terms of career WAR, Randy Johnson ranks 4th all time.Roger Clemens: 133.7 WARWalter Johnson: 117.1 WARGreg Maddux: 116.7 WARRandy Johnson: 110.6 WARNolan Ryan: 106.7 WARBut as someone in the camp that doesn't think WAR is the 'end-all-be-all', I like to look at other stats. After all, those with shorter 'flash-in-the-pan' careers like Sandy Koufax and Pedro Martinez are considered better in their prime but won't have the big career WAR numbers. So let's look at other stats and where Johnson ranks all-time:In K/9 (or strikeouts per 9 innings pitched) Randy Johnson ranks 2nd all-time among qualified starters at 10.57 K/9. Yu Darvish is slightly ahead of him but Darvish has started only 83 games whereas Johnson started 603 games. He's one of three pitchers to get 20 strikeouts in a game and many consider Randy Johnson the best strikeout starter of all-time.He's one of 16 pitchers to have at least 300 wins ranking 15th all-time in wins (301 wins), 26th all-time in innings pitched (4103.0 IP) and 19th all-time in games started (603). Although I like FIP better than ERA, he ranks 57th in ERA since 1970 (3.30 ERA). So overall, he is one of the best strikeout pitchers ever and top 20 to 30 all-time.
What is the best place to buy MLB autographed baseballs?
Hi guys,If you’re serious about investing in MLB autographed baseballs, take a piece of advice from me (I’ve been a collector for 35+ years): do not, as other respondents have suggested, use the official MLBshop. They hugely inflate their prices compared to the rest of the market - which will eat into your profit once your item appreciates in value.If you want autographed baseballs which are unique, professional sourced and sold at prices that are fair for both parties, I recommend using either SteinerSports or SportsMemorabilia.com.For instance, the former is currently selling a 1986 New York Mets Team Signed 1986 Gold World Series Logo Baseball for $799.99 - which is sure to double/treble in value over the next few years, while the official MLB shop is selling a LA Dodgers ball signed by Clayton Kershaw for nearly the same price. I know which one I would buy!
Why is going to a baseball game fun?
It's never over, there's no clock and a team can come back from the biggest defecit no matter what time it is in the game.It's played outside, in the sun. Who wants to sit inside or in the cold? Also playing field dimensions are different from place to place.The game can be taken at so many levels (I think this is true for most sports). I mean you can just watch the game, talk with a friend and wait for the big thing (strikeout, home run, great catch). Or you can score the game and track the pitch count and whos' done what. Or you can watch the strategy of the game and see how the fielders adjust their position based on who's hitting and what the pitcher throws.The game can turn on a dime. One home run can change the course on the game in literally a few seconds at most times during most games.It's got history and stats that allow you to discuss and argue for as long as you want with fans of all ages.
What are your thoughts about Sergio Romo moving to the Dodgers?
Hard to believe, but Sergio Romo, the longtime Giant and San Francisco hero, will indeed be moving to Los Angeles. Yet, looking at the numbers of other players who have moved down to sunny Southern California, one can observe that the Giants who made the switch ended up worse off.Yes, the players who traded in their orange and black for Dodger blue had their numbers depressed. We made a pretty cool graphic on this topic:What you can see is that a so called “Dodger Effect” exists, negatively affecting players in their first two years as a Dodger. Romo, the protagonist of the next chapter in betrayal or enlightenment (depending on who you root for) heads into his inaugural season in sunny Los Angeles coming off numbers over the past two years of a 2.76 ERA, 10.4 K/9, 110 games, a 1.07 WHIP, and a 1-5 record. The last two pitchers to head South—Schmidt and Wilson—saw their ERAs rise by 1.96 and 0.22 respectively.I do believe that Romo’s ERA will increase, not necessarily because of a curse (although baseball is certainly the sport for such beliefs), but because Romo is nearing the end of his career, several years removed from 2011 and 2012 when he maintained an ERA below 2.00 (1.50 and 1.79 respectively).Most pitchers tend to lose their stamina around this time in their career, and while Romo’s 9 years in the league have been outstanding so far, it’s only a matter of time before pitchers lose their arm strength and subsequent pitch velocity/movement. Every dog has it’s day (Ex: Matt Cain), and Romo’s is probably just around the corner. That said, the Dodgers only signed him for one year, acknowledging the inconsistency of veteran pitchers with a negative trend.Hope that helps!You can check out similar analysis at visualfanatic.com
Why are MLB teams still overpaying for relievers?
Supply and demand.First, however, a bigger question is when will MLB teams quit overpaying starters? They aren’t worth $30 million. Hardly anyone throws even 200 innings anymore.You really can’t be paying that kind of money to Clayton Kershaw for 165 innings a season and modest, at-best, post-season performances.As to relievers, that’s where failed starters end up. And you would think with all the failed starters there would be more supply than demand among middle relievers.From a talent standpoint, I would say there is quite a supply of middle relievers. But pitching in the major leagues is a mind game.Pitchers who have success as starters or relievers in AA or AAA reach the major leagues and suddenly are pitching before 39,000 people gets to them.Same game. Different environment. Some guys can’t adjust.I’m convinced there are plenty of minor league pitchers who can transition to being a relief pitcher in the majors if they can overcome the mental part.