Randy Johnson Retires

Randy Johnson looked so awkward on the mound early in his career, that shaggy hair dangling down his neck as he fired a blazing fastball in every direction but the strike zone.

Now, after 22 major league seasons, The Big Unit is walking away from baseball as one of the game's greatest pitchers.

The 6-foot-10 Johnson announced his retirement on a conference call Tuesday, a decision that had been expected from the overpowering left-hander who reached 300 wins last June. ESPN

I'll admit it, he was one of my favorite pitchers of all time. He was this huge awkward man, who originally walked everyone, and struck out everyone. But let's look at his accomplishments:

22 Seasons, 303-166 Career record
4,875 Ks second behing Nolan Ryan
5 Cy Young Awards, second to Clemens
2 No hitters, 1 perfect game
2001 World Series, including 3 wins
Second greatest power pitcher behind Nolan Ryan
.646 winning percentage for a 300 game winner

Randy Johnson may be the last 300 game winner for a real long time. He will be in the 2015 Hall of Fame class, so I expect him and his mullet to be in there. The only question is whether he is going in as a Mariner or Diamondback.

Top 25 under 25: #19 Matt Cain

Born October 21st, 1984

Matt Cain came out of the whom a 6'3 235lbs pitcher ready to throw gas. Cain has pitched in the starting rotation for the San Fransisco Giants since 2006 and is currently having his breakout season. Cain has a carer record of 42-47 with a 3.49 era in 128 starts. But do not let that sub-500% record fool you considering the Giants have been a bottom of the division team since Bonds left (un-official...but somewhat true). Thus far in 2009, Cain is 12-4 in 24 starts with a 2.49 era, 4 complete games and 126 strikeouts over 164IP.

Cain has been projected to be a solid strikeout and striking throwing pitcher for many years. In 164IP this season, Cain has only allowed 56 walks. With other pitchers in the rotation such as Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum, Randy Johnson (DL), Noah Lowry (DL), Barry Zito and Johnathan Sanchez, the Giants make a decent pitching staff but it's certainly Lincecum and Cain that keep the Giants in the playoff hunt. Look for a healthy Lowry possibly next season and hopefully a Madison Bumgardner showing to back up the Lincecum and Cain phenoms.

Randy Johnson Joins 300 Club

"Johnson became the 24th pitcher to reach the milestone, and he did it as a mature pitcher, not the overpowering tangle of arms and legs who was all about strikeouts early in his career. He walked two, struck out two, allowed only an unearned run and threw 50 of his 78 pitches for strikes. He faced four batters above the minimum and got shutout relief from his bullpen (ESPN)."

Randy Johnson played most of his career has the angry head hunting power pitcher, but over the past couple of seasons he has transformed himself into more of a "pitcher". What I mean by that is he no longer has the stuff to overpower guys, but he still is affective by placing his pitches in the right spots, and out thinking hitters. This may be the last time we see a guy get his 300th win, so it is a very special day. In a time when very few pitchers pitch more then 6 innings you have to give credit to a guy who has been so good for so long. ESPN has a poll question of who is the most likely to do it after Randy, and to be honest no one is even close, and I really do not think we will see anyone do it in our life time. So congrats Randy enjoy the Hall of Fame.

Randy Johnson To Giants

"The five-time Cy Young Award winner has 295 victories after going 11-10 with a 3.91 ERA in 30 starts last season." ESPN

So, what good for him. It's a one year contract so its not a bad deal. I look at this like a win win situation. If he is wins 15 games then you look like a genius, if not, he's gone next year. Now lets see the Sox get Sheets or Smoltz.