f13.net

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/baseball/mlb/05/18/bc.bbn.diamondbacks.braves.ap/index.html

Beware the Unit.

I guess it's about time Arizona trades him to the Yankees.

Yay for Randy. I have always been a fan, even when he pretty much quit on the Mariners before they traded him. Even saw his first 19 strikeout game (Mark McGuire hit the longest home run ever at the Kingdome in the same game...it was going up as it rocketed past me in the 3rd deck along the 3rd base line. Just incredible.).

Ph3@r teh Unit.

Being that the climate in the sports press is what it is, I'm surprised no one trots out a cup and tells Randy "Piss in this now. You must be juiced."

Why is it Barry Bonds gets handed the cup by the media every time he hits a home run, and no one talks shit about Randy Johnson except in glowing terms? Yep, because Bonds is an asshole, while Johnson is likeable.

Not to mention, Johnson is one of the best lefthanders in all of baseball. EVAR.

Randy has been known to be a bit snarly with the media, at least in his younger days. He hasn't, however, grown to 5 times his normal size with a giant, steroid-induced noggin on top of his massively oversized shoulders, as some Giants superstars who shall remain nameless have.

I looked at this and thought... Koufax, Carleton, Ford, Grove, and Spahn.  These are the more notable lefties I could remember off the top of my head.  I think you're right, the Unit is possibly the best lefty EVER.  He's already won 5 CY awards and could grab another before it's all over.  I shudder to think what his numbers would have looked like if he hadn't pitched in Seattle early in his career.  Imagine Johnson as a Dodger... in a park like that he could have had an insane career ERA. Since I hate the Dodgers, I like his ERA just fine.

It has also been fun to see the success of some of the other older pitchers.  It's a nice reminder that there are still aspects of this game that are mental and not just about hurling a 102 MPH fastball.  Though, that never hurt Ryan's career any.

I hate baseball and I like watching him pitch, the guy is fucking good.

Okay, I have to ask, why the fuck do they call this guy the Unit?

Short for "The Big Unit." Motherfucker is what... 6'5", 6'6"? As in he's big, and he pitches like a machine or something.

During the hockey game last night they mentioned something about "The Big Unit" having done something special of some kind.. it sent my wife into giggle fits.  Is there someone in the league nicknamed "The Giant Penis" or "The Large Member"?

Yes actually, The Giant Penis is Barry Bonds.

I think he is actually 6'10'', which is fucking GIANT for a baseball player. Or any normal human being who isn't in the NBA.

Cool article (http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/?040517fa_fact1) on knuckleballers. The knuckler is a lot slower pitch (80 mph is a fast knuckleball) and and causes less stress on the arm which allow pitchers to play when they're older. Instead of tossing a rocket, you're tossing a "butterfly with hiccups".

Beat me to it.

Knuckleballers rock. I remember seeing Charlie Hough being the ace of a shitty Dodgers staff at like 41 or 42, throwing effus pitches at like 50 MPH.

Watching a great knuckleball performance is awesome.   Probably the best game I ever saw live was Tim Wakefield back when he was with the Pirates.  Aside from the comedy value of watching professional hitters whiff badly, there is a tension on every pitch because if the pitcher makes even a little mistake and the ball rotates, the batter essentially gets to play tee-ball.  I think he only gave up 2 or 3 hits that game, one of which was a monsterous home run from one the the tee-ball pitches.

My wife also laughs every time she hears someone on TV say "the big unit."