Randy Johnson - Congrats Fans!

[DoubleX]

Yankee fans and the New York media have no one to blame but themselves for Randy Johnson's miserable performances in New York. I don't want hear fans booing Johnson. I don't want to read in the backpages the writers ripping Johnson. Why? Because two seasons ago, when the Yankees were in the middle of winning of their third straight season of winning 101 or more games and only a Boston Red Sox miracle away from their 40th pennant, all anyone could talk about in New York, fans and media alike, was how the team needed Randy Johnson. I remember I was on these boards pleading back then with my fellow fans to gain some perspective and that trading for Johnson was both unnecessary and a bad idea. But you reap what you sow. This is what Yankee fans and the media wanted two seasons ago, so everyone should deal with it!

[Red Sox Rule]

i never see the point in booing your own players cos its not gonna help their confidence at all and if anything its goona have the opposite effect wanted and their slump will just contiune.

The only time i've ever booed a player from a team i support is when he came out and said he didn't like the fans her for no reason, but i never boo a player because of their performances. Even if they are playin poor i can't bring myslef to boo a member of my team.

[Mattingly]

I think that in 2004, the Yanks could've used Randy Johnson. However, in 2005, he was good, but not worth $16m. Perhaps $10m at best.

Before he'd come aboard and insisted that the Yanks were the only team he'd waive his no-trade for, some figured that was some wonderful dedication to a team he'd beaten twice: in 1995 with Seattle (when Donnie played his last game (he'd formally retired in 1997)) and in 2001, when Paulie retired.

To me, it was pure greed, since Boston didn't seem to want to spend that money, and no one else would've given a pitcher his age that kind of money. However, Houston somehow found similar money for Roger Clemens.

I was wondering if Randy shouldn't have pitched vs Boston instead of Jaret Wright, as he'd been scheduled to start Game 4 of the series. After last night, the rain may have been a mixed blessing, in not having to see Red Sox players scamper around the bases with him on the hill.

The only thing worse about this whole fiasco is that in this 3-year deal (1 yr remaining on trade + 2-yr extension), is that he's ours for 2007 also. I always thought he'd have a great 2005, very good 2006, then beware of 2007. He seems to be doing in 2006 when I'd expected from him in 2007, and at $16m for each of the three years, that's quite a price to pay for this.

Randy Johnson: he's killed us in 1995 when he was with Seattle, he was rumored to have gotten faxed scouting reports from Seattle's Jeff Nelson after the 2001 ALCS, he killed us in the 2001 WS (winning both Games 6 *AND* 7), and he's killing us again as a Yankee.

He's like a 1-man army here. Now if George had just figured out that Arizona needed to dump his hefty salary, but couldn't stand seeing him go our way in 2004 when we had about our best chance, then the price may not have been so high, both for players, and for the excessive salary he'd gotten in his extension.

[Outta Here]

i never see the point in booing your own players cos its not gonna help their confidence at all and if anything its goona have the opposite effect wanted and their slump will just contiune.

The only time i've ever booed a player from a team i support is when he came out and said he didn't like the fans her for no reason, but i never boo a player because of their performances. Even if they are playin poor i can't bring myslef to boo a member of my team.

I know it is off-topic, but who was that player RSR?? Out of interest ;)

[Yankeebiscuitfan]

I have the right to boo him. I always was against this trade. :p

[Outta Here]

I have the right to boo him. I always was against this trade. :p

Who did u want then YR??

[Yankeebiscuitfan]

Who did u want then YR??

It was obvious that they would trade Javy Vazquez. I didn't want him to leave, eventhough he had a bad second half of the season. He was a promising young pitcher.

[TonyStarks]

The Javy V trade is ridiculous and stupid in many ways.

Javy was 28 at the time and he had just been to the All-Star game for the first time...he only had a bad 2nd Half.

Then you also trade away Posada's primary Heir apparent and in return you relieve Colangelo of RJ's contract. You gotta give it to the D'Back...they negotiated a hell of a deal!

[Mattingly]

The Javy V trade is ridiculous and stupid in many ways.

Javy was 28 at the time and he had just been to the All-Star game for the first time...he only had a bad 2nd Half.

Then you also trade away Posada's primary Heir apparent and in return you relieve Colangelo of RJ's contract. You gotta give it to the D'Back...they negotiated a hell of a deal!
In addition, the Yanks sent money in Colangelo's way, as Javy had 3 years left on his $44m/4 yr deal.

So the Yanks trade Nick Johnson and Juan Rivera to the Expos for Javy, then trade Javy and a catcher for an aged player who we could've gotten a year later.

All that interest by Big Stein in Unit. It's like the guy buying a house, who shows up in a Rolls Royce with a chauffeur. Even when buying said house, it's like paying sticker price at a car dealership, no haggling, then tipping the salesman another $1,000 for his "efforts".

If I weren't following negotiations, I'd have never thought a pitcher of his age would get a 2-year extension worth that much.

There's something going on in his head. I've seen him do well and lousy with each of Stinnett and Posada. I don't know, he's just giving up way too many runs. Had we lost 4-3, he'd have gone 6-7 innings, I'd have been OK. When your 1-game ERA = 13.50, that means you've given up 50% more earned runs than you've pitched innings. How bad is that?

He's already a lock for Cooperstown, but right now, he should just retire and leave the 2007 money on the table. If not, he'd better re-learn to pitch and stop embarassing himself (and us) out there.

[Red Sox Rule]

I know it is off-topic, but who was that player RSR?? Out of interest ;)

Craig Bellamy springs to mind.

[Outta Here]

Craig Bellamy springs to mind.

A-Ha! Ta 4 that, just wanted to know. Now he has possible chance of cumin to us! :ughh GO REDS (that's LFC, not Cincinatti btw;)) :gt

[Red Sox Rule]

A-Ha! Ta 4 that, just wanted to know. Now he has possible chance of cumin to us! :ughh GO REDS (that's LFC, not Cincinatti btw;)) :gt

He still a good player, just a grade A a**hole

[TonyStarks]

In addition, the Yanks sent money in Colangelo's way, as Javy had 3 years left on his $44m/4 yr deal.

So the Yanks trade Nick Johnson and Juan Rivera to the Expos for Javy, then trade Javy and a catcher for an aged player who we could've gotten a year later.

All that interest by Big Stein in Unit. It's like the guy buying a house, who shows up in a Rolls Royce with a chauffeur. Even when buying said house, it's like paying sticker price at a car dealership, no haggling, then tipping the salesman another $1,000 for his "efforts".

If I weren't following negotiations, I'd have never thought a pitcher of his age would get a 2-year extension worth that much.

There's something going on in his head. I've seen him do well and lousy with each of Stinnett and Posada. I don't know, he's just giving up way too many runs. Had we lost 4-3, he'd have gone 6-7 innings, I'd have been OK. When your 1-game ERA = 13.50, that means you've given up 50% more earned runs than you've pitched innings. How bad is that?

He's already a lock for Cooperstown, but right now, he should just retire and leave the 2007 money on the table. If not, he'd better re-learn to pitch and stop embarassing himself (and us) out there.

You know what...it's George. You know when he gets it in for a certain player...he'll stop at no cost! We know he loves Big Names and he doesn't care if they're on the wrong side of 30.....or 40!! See Doc Gooden, see Darryl Strawberry, see Jose Canseco, see Roger Clemens, and now add Randy Johnson.

That move itself has prolly got to be the stupidest transaction George has ever made!!

Honestly, Randy should just do everyone a favor and retire at the end of the season. Then the Yanks could negotiate what's left on his contract and spread it to about 5 years.

[Mattingly]

You know what...it's George. You know when he gets it in for a certain player...he'll stop at no cost! We know he loves Big Names and he doesn't care if they're on the wrong side of 30.....or 40!! See Doc Gooden, see Darryl Strawberry, see Jose Canseco, see Roger Clemens, and now add Randy Johnson.

That move itself has prolly got to be the stupidest transaction George has ever made!!

Honestly, Randy should just do everyone a favor and retire at the end of the season. Then the Yanks could negotiate what's left on his contract and spread it to about 5 years.
Several people George has wanted. It's like one of those things were people most desire what they don't have. To me, George wants it all. He's also greatly in admiration of other teams' free agents.

For Doc and Straw, he scooped up cheap talent, hoping they could be worthy. Gooden had a nice 1996, but couldn't complete the season. He and Straw returned to their wayward manner, unfortunately. I would say that would be about giving excessive 2nd chances, as I've read articles by some in the anti-drug addiction community have criticized him for being Straw's best friend, seemingly.

I guess you could add trading Jay Buhner for Ken Phelps to the list, as well as the non-move of not bidding in Ichiro (who would definitely have done us better in RF than Mondesi or Sheff), but that move does rank way up there.

George wears his opinion too thickly on his sleeves. He could've gotten Randy Johnson merely because he'd made $15m in 2003, $16m in 2005 (http://www.baseball-reference.com/j/johnsra05.shtml) (scroll to the bottom right for year-by-year salaries). Beyond the absurdity of absorbing that contract (I'm not too sure how much was sent whose way though), but then giving him a $32m/2 yr deal just added to the desperation.

Had they given him $14m and $12m for 2006-07, respectively, how could Randy have complained? Thankfully, they'd been given the same extra time to negotiate an extension to solidify the trade that the Red Sox were given when they'd traded for Schilling. Nice, but at times, I'd wish they hadn't. :o :(

I think that straight-up for Javier Vazquez would've been fine, but Arizona wanted to trade Dioneer Navarro to LAD. The Yanks gave the Snakes a choice of prospects, and with a higher pick of the lot, the Yanks would send less money; with a lower pick, the Yanks would pay more money. I'd have given them a lower pick and sent the money, as guys like backup catchers don't grow on trees and can't be bought.

In other news, the Yanks sent Ted Lilly away in a 3-team trade, acquiring Jeff Weaver (http://www.baseball-reference.com/w/weaveje01.shtml), who was due for a hefty raise, making $6m then $9m in his final two years. He'd made $4m+ in 2003 with the Yanks, but made those bucks pitching in Los Angeles. In return, we got Kevin Brown for the remainder of his $105m/7 yr deal. Need I say more?

One more reason to worry about pitchers who do well in parks the size of airline hangars. Not a very good indication of their true worth, I'd say.

[Yankeebiscuitfan]

You know what...it's George. You know when he gets it in for a certain player...he'll stop at no cost! We know he loves Big Names and he doesn't care if they're on the wrong side of 30.....or 40!! See Doc Gooden, see Darryl Strawberry, see Jose Canseco, see Roger Clemens, and now add Randy Johnson.

That move itself has prolly got to be the stupidest transaction George has ever made!!

Honestly, Randy should just do everyone a favor and retire at the end of the season. Then the Yanks could negotiate what's left on his contract and spread it to about 5 years.

At least these additions helped us. Again I won't say that I know much about baseball, but it is nice to see that I was right about the Randy Johnson trade. What I feared happened.:ughh

[Mattingly]

Me thinks that the players must be reading XX's posts. First Wright doesn't do so much "wrong" :D, then someone else (I won't dare mention his name) is dealing tonight, with 4 Ks over 3 innings on only 36 pitches.

Now let's see how the rest of the game goes. :p