Big Unit sighting
The Rangers are expected to face Randy Johnson on Friday in San Francisco. Johnson pitches for the Giants on Saturday night and they are off next Thursday. That means his next scheduled start is on Friday against the Rangers at AT&T Park.
* Johnson is 16-5 with a 3.35 ERA in his career against the Rangers. He has made 32 starts and pitched 2121/3 innings against them.
* His 252 strikeouts against them is the second most by an opposing pitcher and the most by an active pitcher. Roger Clemens struck out 281 batters in 40 starts and 275 1/3 innings against the Rangers.
* This will be his first start against the Rangers since a 6-2 victory over them on July 24, 2006 while with the Yankees.
* His 18 strikeouts against the Rangers on Sept. 27, 1992 is still the most ever against them by an opposing pitcher.
* Johnson's 16 wins is the second most by an active pitcher in their career against the Rangers. The most is by Barry Zito and Bartolo Colon. Both have 17 wins against the Rangers.
* Zito pitches against the Rangers on Sunday.
* Most wins ever against the Rangers is 19 by Bert Blyleven, Jack Morris and Dennis Leonard.
Bring him on. I heartily respect what he did to us in the past, but the best he has to offer now, because of our slippage in plate discipline, would be a strikeout or two. Otherwise, I'll be surprised if he goes 5. You gotta love a great player, but I am glad those Big Unit days are over for the Rangers!
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Hey TR you keep mentioning Blyleven in your stories, yet you won't vote him into the hof? Either vote the guy in, pay him for your poetic license or stop mentioning him in your articles. The only thing Blyleven did wrong was fail to hang around to get those last few wins that would have given him 300 for his career. I can remember when Blyleven and Ryan were both being mentioned as good pitchers but not hall worthy. The difference is that Nolan pitched those last 5 years in Texas, got his 5000th strikeouts, fought with Ventura, earned his 300+wins and threw two more no hitters. Blyleven chose to retire. I thought Randy was gonna sign with Texas???? Nolan reportedly helped Randy with his mental game, but he sure didn't help him with handling the media. Note to Montreal and Seattle, "you never, never ever, trade young pitching, especially when it is lefthanded and has a fastball in 98+. Blyleven had the best freaking curveball period end of story. He should be in on what he did with the Netherland team's pitching staff.
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Does anybody else think Johnson was even more intimidating with the mullet? That was one mean haircut. Ask that obliterated pigeon.
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Dgod, who did you start to quote before digressing multiple times in that last sentence?
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