Game 127, Yankees at Mariners
Johnson vs Washburn.
The 1990s Mariners are often associated with Ken Griffey Jr, Jay Buhner, Edgar Martinez, Lou Piniella, and even occassionally Alex Rodriguez. But for me, a lot of the memories that I love have to do with the Big Unit. I remember his no-hitter. I was at a couple of his 19K performances. I skipped school to watch him beat the Angels in the one game playoff. No one can forget the roar of the crowd when he began to warm up in game 5 of the ALDS against the Yankees. Randy Johnson was the most fun pitcher to watch of my youth. He was so dominant, so intimidating, and so tall.
When I was about 10 or 11, I went to Dave Valle’s baseball camp, where we learned not much of use but got to hang out with major league players. I remember asking Brian Holman how he felt when Ken Phelps went yard to end the perfect game and what he’d do if brother Brad ever blew a save for him. I remember asking Valle about Edgar’s toe tap timing mechanism. But more than anything else, I remember the last day, there was several lines for autographs. Valle’s line was the longest, naturally, and the Julio Cruz and Brian Holman lines were pretty long too. But the shortest line led to the table where the tall ugly guy sat. We didn’t really know who he was or why he was here, but I decided to get in that line, and ended up having a 10 minute conversation with Randy Johnson, and he couldn’t have been any nicer to me. He won me over that day, and then spent the next 10 years reinforcing what I already knew – this guy was awesome, and I’d never see anything like him again.
I never got on the Randy sold out bandwagon. I pulled for the Diamondbacks to win the World Series because I wanted to see him get a ring. I didn’t care when he went to the hated Yankees. He’s still Randy Johnson.
Call me whatever you want, but tonight, I’m rooting for Randy Johnson again. I hope he throws another no-hitter. Thanks for all the memories, RJ.
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Despite reading you post twice, I still see his 2005 season as good…at least as a reliever when you take out that one terrible start. Maybe his 2003 was a little better, but I still think he did well last year.
At least we agree he stinks this year.
Reading my posts and understanding the contents of it are two different things.
Amazing game, a ton of fun to watch in person…
By why the hell was WFB batting second and Doyle /ninth/!
Dave, I just want to agree with you about Randy. I moved to Seattle in 1993 and was reluctant in becoming a Mariner fan. Randy and Griffey were the guys that won me over, and in 1995 and 1996 I started going to almost all of Randy’s starts, just to watch him, because you really felt there was a good chance that something historical could happen. He was that dominant. He could pitch a no-hitter or a perfect game, or strike out 20, or maybe 25, or just be wild and start a brawl. He was FUN, especially for such a dour sonofabich. Most entertaining pitcher I’ve ever seen. I think the apoethesis of his dominance was the Randy/John Kruk All-Star game meeting. It was absurd, but it was awesome.
I also went to all three Seattle playoff games in 1995 against the Yankees (and the subsequent Cleveland games), and you’re right: when Randy started warming up in game five, it was unforgettable. And LOUD. I am the total cliché: I became a lifelong Mariner fan that year. I dig Safeco, but I miss how loud the Kingdome could be.
I should add that I grew up an Angels and Dodgers fan. I remained an Angel fan when I moved up here in 1993 and continued to root for them against the Mariners in 1995. I went to a few regular season games in 1995 against the Angels and went rooting for the Angels, but couldn’t help but enjoy watching such an infectious team chip away at that lead the Angels had. I watched the M’s every day and the Angels only when they played the M’s or were on national TV. To make a long story short, by the time that one game playoff took place, I was rooting for the M’s.
Most of this was due to that crazy, heavy metal-loving, mullet-headed, hillbilly mutant giant that I wanted to hate but wound up loving. He’s a total freak of nature, and I’m grateful to have seen him so many times and would have been thrilled to see him no-hit us tonight. I hope the Yankees tank in the playoffs but I hope Randy thrives and pitches succesfully until he’s 50. I’ll always be a Mariner fan, but I also know first-hand that shit happens and people have to make changes in their lives, and that’s okay. When Randy left, it was his time. I wish he could have stayed, but I’m also just glad he’s still pitching.
202
Your own analysis showed he was effective in not allowing inherited runners to score. He had a nice ERA. So despite all the other stats, he didn’t allow HIS runners to score very often, and didn’t allow OTHER pitchers’ runs to score very often. His batting average against was solid too.
Ok, so it didn’t sway me into thinking he didn’t have a good year. But don’t make the mistake that I didn’t understand it. I appreciate the trouble you went to in writing that long post. It obvioulsy had some useful and interesting information.
#163–Anjou kidding me? I love the Pear, especially the way he becomes more pear-like as the season wears on. He’s the apple of my eye.
The P-I is reporting that the PTBNL in the Broussard/Choo deal is Shawn Nottingham, 21, who was pitching at Inland Empire. He was 5-12 with a 4.17 ERA in 26 starts at IE.
So Link
Since Nottingham isn’t on the Future 40, I’m assuming that this is a good thing, that we didn’t lose anybody we’ll really miss, but I’m sure Dave will check in and let us know about Nottingham.
Oops, sorry, didn’t read the whole thread. This was discussed earlier. My bad, I just got home from the game…
Great posts about memories of Randy as a Mariner — tonight was a great game and I’m glad I was there.
Ichiro running down that ball in center is the way center should be played. Nice snap throw to first by Johjima to get Cano. Some timely hitting – and as was mentioned earlier, taking advantage of Johnson early, as he owned the Mariners pretty much from the 4th on.
I’m also glad to see the Mariners could win without Ibanez and Beltre in the lineup. I’m not saying we should run that squad out there everyday, but it is refreshing and reassuring to see that team do what needed to be done to get the win.
Commendations to the bullpen as well — Sherrill and Mateo held it down so J.J. could come in and lock down the save.
Great game, overall great series. Bring on the Red Sox!
Ok, so it didn’t sway me into thinking he didn’t have a good year. But don’t make the mistake that I didn’t understand it. I appreciate the trouble you went to in writing that long post. It obvioulsy had some useful and interesting information.
*sigh*…The struggle continues…
Well, the M’s couldn’t beat NY’s best, but at least they beat a declining RJ.
And A-Rod whiffed to end the game. Yay.
Now back to reality for the bad news. NY is going to win 95+ games anyway and get into the playoffs for the 11th consecutive year. Our hometown nine will be making reservations for tee times and, if they have any interest, watching the playoffs on TV.
It was a good night to be at the ballpark, though.
Well Snelling is .375/.500/.625 so far. When are we finally gonna admit he’s a bust? 🙂
RJ story alert-
I was at that game he pitched (I think it was against the Angels) in his last season as an M, where Shane Monahan made that diving catch in the King Dome’s left field to save two runs, and Johnson wound up winning 2-0. Funny part is that my kid brother and I came over from Spokane for the game. It was his first game in the Dome, and he got a chance to see RJ pitch. I won those tickets on sports radio, so that made it even sweeter. Saw him pitch a lot of other times, and loved it when he took out that full-page ad in the Seattle papers after he was traded, thanking the fans for their support while he was a Mariner.
But the time I mention above was special. My brother called me long distance tonight to talk about the game, and mentioned that game we went to together. It was the first of many (including the 19 inning special against the Red Sox a few years ago, the one that Cameron won with the homer off of Fassero), and it is a special memory.
God, I just *love* baseball.
The only thing better than a Mariners’ win over the Yankees is the reaction of Yankees fans as they gnaw the rug over this loss.
Could Cameron have made that catch?
My initial reaction was no. From where I sat, that ball was a line drive (not a fly ball as reported by Hickey), directly over Ichiro’s head, and required a turn and sprint that Cammy could not have made.
What do you think?
I need to know because I thought I saw God roaming CF last night.
mln, good paste.
This made me laugh:
Ridiculous pitching from a mediocre pitcher + idiotic braindead baserunning = a big f’ing loss.
Whiner + wanker = cutter.
Then this comment has me hysterical:
We could use Arod tonite.
Oh could you?
Ichiro is very good at that last desperate leap to get to a ball beyond his reach while he’s in full sprint. Not a lot of guys can do that. My favourite Ichiro defensive play ever was exactly that sort of play (he ran down a fly ball in right-center, came to a complete stop immediately out of his running leap, and threw the ball over 300′ back the way he came to double off the runner at first).
When Ichiro went back for that ball last night, Ken Singleton said, “I think the Mariners have found their centerfielder.”
and Doyle in the post-game said about his own catch … ‘nah, I think I made it look harder then it was’
I wish I’d heard that Doyle comment, though I can just about imagine it in his aussie drawl.
First home series win over the Yankees since April 7-9, 2000. Amazing.
Doyle looks thinner than I remember him being… back in 2004, I guess it was. His cheeks are a lot less round.
#215 The only thing better than a Mariners’ win ovre the Yankees is the reaction of Yankee fans as they gnaw the rug over this loss.
An even funnier thread — if you don’t mind the gratuitous insults to Washburn — is this one at nyyfans.com.
Someone there, too, said “We need A-Rod” (like he could be depended on to be some kind of late inning savior) before the 9th when he appeared for that lovely little pinch-K to end the game.
Those Yankee fans sure worry a lot for having a team that’ll probably win 95+ games and sew up the division by September 15th…
That’s because they know they’re going to lose in the playoffs.
Great post, Dave, as well as others who shared memories of the Unit.
Just got back from my wknd in Seattle. Tough to get over there and back when you live on the other side of the state. Anyhow, was at this game. Had many of the same feelings ya’ll did all during this thread. Rooted for RJ. Loved Washburn’s intensity. Wow, this is my first in person view of DOYLE. This guy is the real deal. I’d say he’s easily one of the top hitters on the team now. His approach and execution are special to watch. He and Ichiro sparked the team tonight. And without them, Washburn doesn’t win. Ichiro was something special in CF. I was mesmerized by the catch and the ovation he received was well deserved. I was so down on this season and these Mariners. But this night was a memorable night for me. It was also special to see RJ. He looked lifeless in the first..when he dropped the ball. I was like…man this guy doesn’t want to be here. But he sure picked it up after that… he pitched a pretty good game. I sure do miss him. Thanks for the memories RJ.