Randy Johnson: Closer?!?

plasticbryan · 10-07-2002, 12:32 PM

I was at my son's ball game yesterday and we tossed this idea around. When he starts to tire in a year or two, could he be converted to a closer? Throwing fire a for one inning is easier than 7,8 or 9. As enticing as this thought is intially, I always felt that Randy's weakest inning was the first. Could he get sufficiently warmed up to be an effective closer?

I tried to find his stats by inning, but was unable to locate them. If anyone can pull them up to support, or disprove my theory, I would appreciate it.

plasticbryan · 10-07-2002, 12:38 PM

After more research I did find his stats for the year 2002 by inning
C/o sportsline.com

Category W L ERA G GS CG SHO SV SVO INN H R ER HR HBP BB IBB SO SB CS PK BK WP AVG

First Inning 0 0 2.83 35 0 0 0 0 0 35.0 23 12 11 5 2 13 0 37 5 4 0 0 0 .192
Second Inning 0 0 2.31 35 0 0 0 0 0 35.0 19 9 9 3 1 12 0 58 4 1 0 0 0 .157
Third Inning 0 0 2.06 35 0 0 0 0 0 35.0 27 8 8 4 1 8 0 50 3 1 0 0 1 .209
Fourth Inning 0 0 3.09 35 0 0 0 0 0 35.0 31 12 12 3 2 10 0 38 2 2 0 1 1 .235
Fifth Inning 0 0 2.06 35 0 0 0 0 0 35.0 24 9 8 2 2 11 1 41 1 1 0 0 0 .195
Sixth Inning 0 0 3.06 33 0 0 0 0 0 32.1 34 14 11 5 2 7 0 47 1 2 0 1 1 .266
Seventh Inning 0 0 1.16 31 0 0 0 0 0 31.0 26 10 4 3 3 5 0 35 2 4 0 0 0 .226
Eighth Inning 0 0 1.32 14 0 0 0 0 0 13.2 7 2 2 0 0 2 0 17 1 0 0 0 0 .149
Ninth Inning 0 0 2.25 8 0 0 0 0 0 8.0 6 2 2 1 0 3 0 11 0 0 0 0 0 .200

soxfan121 · 10-07-2002, 01:16 PM

Intuition tells me that RJ might not be so amenable to this idea. Smoltz has struggled MENTALLY with the transition and keeps making noises about returning to the rotation - and he was converted because of his arm injury and the fact that he probably would not be able to withstand the work load.

Dominant starters like Johnson have an ego/attitude that they rely on for their effectiveness. I can forsee a scenario un which RJ FEELS more effective as a starter and FEELS underproductive out of the 'pen. Under such a scenario, I can't see a very stubborn and proud man taking a "demotion" to the 'pen. Just my

gyb13 · 10-07-2002, 01:16 PM

so what do you think of your theory now? still looks pretty good for a closer through the first coupla innings. of course, you'd never make him a reliever until he has to become one...and by then he might just hang'em up

JamesI · 10-07-2002, 01:24 PM

Randy would never switch to a closer long term. Maybe for a game or two in the playoffs or emergency.

plasticbryan · 10-07-2002, 01:34 PM

I have to admit, I was surprised at how well his numbers hold up in the first inning. As far as his not wanting to go to the 'pen, it is isn't part of my scenario

. I have heard that as dominant as Smoltz has been that he wants to get back to being a starter, but let's say that the Big Unit realizes that he could be like Eckersley and add four more years onto his career and become known as the dominant pitcher of our era (if he isn't already).

soxfan121 · 10-07-2002, 01:45 PM

I just think RJ 'gets off' on being a starter. It's a different mindset. And Eck became a closer out of necessity - he needed to revive his career, reinvent himself. The Unit will not need to do that until he is well into his 40's and sporting an ERA of 4+. Won't happen.

But is fun to think about.

VNV Nation · 10-07-2002, 02:04 PM

The Unit may pitch until he's 50, so maybe he'll become a short-inning reliever around age 45.

moose · 10-07-2002, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by plasticbryan
I was at my son's ball game yesterday and we tossed this idea around. When he starts to tire in a year or two, could he be converted to a closer? Throwing fire a for one inning is easier than 7,8 or 9. As enticing as this thought is intially, I always felt that Randy's weakest inning was the first. Could he get sufficiently warmed up to be an effective closer?

I tried to find his stats by inning, but was unable to locate them. If anyone can pull them up to support, or disprove my theory, I would appreciate it.

this whole discussion is premised on the idea that randy johnson will one day continue to tire. that may not happen for a while!

he may never tire. he may be pitching [low, echoing voice] forever. [/lev]

trripleplay · 10-07-2002, 09:51 PM

Randy Johnson is your son? Cool.

gyb13 · 10-08-2002, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by plasticbryan
I was at my son's ball game yesterday and we tossed this idea around. When he starts to tire in a year or two, could he be converted to a closer? Throwing fire a for one inning is easier than 7,8 or 9. As enticing as this thought is intially, I always felt that Randy's weakest inning was the first. Could he get sufficiently warmed up to be an effective closer?

Quote:

Originally posted by trripleplay
Randy Johnson is your son? Cool.

good catch!

plasticbryan · 10-08-2002, 11:20 AM

Strange as it seems, yes that is his name too!
.
.
.
Nah, that was just bad grammer on my part.
D'oh!

gyb13 · 10-08-2002, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by plasticbryan
Nah, that was just bad grammer on my part.

<skip> and bad spelling too </skip>

Skip · 10-08-2002, 12:29 PM

Thank you Deputy Gyb.

10-09-2002, 03:03 AM

I don't think he'd be willing to do that.

10-07-2002, 12:32 PM	#1
plasticbryan NetShrine Rookie Of The Year Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 37	Randy Johnson: Closer?!? I was at my son's ball game yesterday and we tossed this idea around. When he starts to tire in a year or two, could he be converted to a closer? Throwing fire a for one inning is easier than 7,8 or 9. As enticing as this thought is intially, I always felt that Randy's weakest inning was the first. Could he get sufficiently warmed up to be an effective closer? I tried to find his stats by inning, but was unable to locate them. If anyone can pull them up to support, or disprove my theory, I would appreciate it.

10-07-2002, 01:16 PM	#4
gyb13 NS Omnipresent Brasilian Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Crazy George's playground Posts: 10,903	so what do you think of your theory now? still looks pretty good for a closer through the first coupla innings. of course, you'd never make him a reliever until he has to become one...and by then he might just hang'em up __________________ Gustavo NDF Moderator Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. - Benjamin Franklin

10-07-2002, 09:51 PM	#10
trripleplay NetShrine All-Star Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Columbia, MO Posts: 114	Randy Johnson is your son? Cool. __________________ "People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." [Rogers Hornsby]

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10-07-2002, 12:38 PM	#2
plasticbryan NetShrine Rookie Of The Year Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 37	After more research I did find his stats for the year 2002 by inning C/o sportsline.com Category W L ERA G GS CG SHO SV SVO INN H R ER HR HBP BB IBB SO SB CS PK BK WP AVG First Inning 0 0 2.83 35 0 0 0 0 0 35.0 23 12 11 5 2 13 0 37 5 4 0 0 0 .192 Second Inning 0 0 2.31 35 0 0 0 0 0 35.0 19 9 9 3 1 12 0 58 4 1 0 0 0 .157 Third Inning 0 0 2.06 35 0 0 0 0 0 35.0 27 8 8 4 1 8 0 50 3 1 0 0 1 .209 Fourth Inning 0 0 3.09 35 0 0 0 0 0 35.0 31 12 12 3 2 10 0 38 2 2 0 1 1 .235 Fifth Inning 0 0 2.06 35 0 0 0 0 0 35.0 24 9 8 2 2 11 1 41 1 1 0 0 0 .195 Sixth Inning 0 0 3.06 33 0 0 0 0 0 32.1 34 14 11 5 2 7 0 47 1 2 0 1 1 .266 Seventh Inning 0 0 1.16 31 0 0 0 0 0 31.0 26 10 4 3 3 5 0 35 2 4 0 0 0 .226 Eighth Inning 0 0 1.32 14 0 0 0 0 0 13.2 7 2 2 0 0 2 0 17 1 0 0 0 0 .149 Ninth Inning 0 0 2.25 8 0 0 0 0 0 8.0 6 2 2 1 0 3 0 11 0 0 0 0 0 .200

10-07-2002, 01:16 PM	#3
soxfan121 Renounced Membership 7/9/03 Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Live Free Or Die, USA Posts: 1,335	Intuition tells me that RJ might not be so amenable to this idea. Smoltz has struggled MENTALLY with the transition and keeps making noises about returning to the rotation - and he was converted because of his arm injury and the fact that he probably would not be able to withstand the work load. Dominant starters like Johnson have an ego/attitude that they rely on for their effectiveness. I can forsee a scenario un which RJ FEELS more effective as a starter and FEELS underproductive out of the 'pen. Under such a scenario, I can't see a very stubborn and proud man taking a "demotion" to the 'pen. Just my

10-07-2002, 01:24 PM	#5
JamesI Netshrine Vacuum Cleaner Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Potsdam, N.Y. Posts: 3,723	Randy would never switch to a closer long term. Maybe for a game or two in the playoffs or emergency.

10-07-2002, 01:34 PM	#6
plasticbryan NetShrine Rookie Of The Year Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 37	I have to admit, I was surprised at how well his numbers hold up in the first inning. As far as his not wanting to go to the 'pen, it is isn't part of my scenario . I have heard that as dominant as Smoltz has been that he wants to get back to being a starter, but let's say that the Big Unit realizes that he could be like Eckersley and add four more years onto his career and become known as the dominant pitcher of our era (if he isn't already).

10-07-2002, 01:45 PM	#7
soxfan121 Renounced Membership 7/9/03 Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Live Free Or Die, USA Posts: 1,335	I just think RJ 'gets off' on being a starter. It's a different mindset. And Eck became a closer out of necessity - he needed to revive his career, reinvent himself. The Unit will not need to do that until he is well into his 40's and sporting an ERA of 4+. Won't happen. But is fun to think about.

10-07-2002, 02:04 PM	#8
VNV Nation Membership Suspended 11/19/02 Join Date: May 2002 Location: VNV Nation Posts: 2,952	The Unit may pitch until he's 50, so maybe he'll become a short-inning reliever around age 45.

10-08-2002, 11:20 AM	#12
plasticbryan NetShrine Rookie Of The Year Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 37	Strange as it seems, yes that is his name too! . . . Nah, that was just bad grammer on my part. D'oh!

10-08-2002, 12:29 PM	#14
Skip NetShrine Vagabond Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Louisville Posts: 7,866	Thank you Deputy Gyb.

10-09-2002, 03:03 AM	#15
Sound2TheBay Posts: n/a	I don't think he'd be willing to do that.

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