Will the Big Unit be the last 300 game Winner?

THIS IS SPARTA! Well maybe its not but Randy Johnson could be one of the last to complete this task before it is kicked into a bottomless pit to be forgotten forever. Speaking of forgotten forever where is Chris Hoiles to spoil this moment for the Big Unit?


Fortunately for the unit Hoiles is a manager in the independent league for the York Revolution, big sigh of relief, he doesn't have to face him. Honestly the "Natinals" should have signed him to a one night contract that (if the game actually gets played) he would bat fourth and own Randy like he used to in his hayday. In fact sign Hoiles up for the home run derby, go back in a time machine and grab Johnson in his prime and I would put up even money that he could at least get to the championship round.


Oh wait I'm sorry, got a little sidetracked there. Back to the story at hand, should the game be played tonight(its been postponed to Thursday at 4:35) and Johnson was able to do what Tim Lincecum couldn't, he would be the 24th player to reach 300 wins. A question has been all over ESPN and the web today as people ponder whether he would be the last one. We have all been told as children to never say never but most sound like Chris Rock when they adamantly state "never."

Tim Kurkjian of ESPN believes that CC Sabathia has an outside chance at 300 due to his youth and his overall numbers. Sabathia turns 29 on July 21st and right now has 122 wins. Meaning he would need 18 wins per season his next 10 seasons and he is in there. Not a simple task considering this is a man who has only met this task once. Probably why Kurkjian was quoted in his Sportscenter interview saying, "the next 300 game winner may not have started his career, he may not have even been born yet." This makes you think, who can honestly do it?

There are a lot of young arms out there, some a mere 10 minutes from my house at Camden Yards, but it is WAY too early (since none of them are Wieters) to predict Cooperstown. So what about some of the older veterans who are close to 300. Jamie Moyer is closest after Johnson with 250 but I don't think Moyer has 3 more seasons in him to get to the 300 mark. Andy Pettite is next on the list with 220 and at the ripe age of 37 you figure unless he is Phil Niekro(who played until 46) he probably won't get it. Pettite may have 5 more seasons in him, if he averages 16 wins per season he could prove me wrong. However it seems like he flirts with retirement after every season lately so asking for 5 more years might be asking a little much. Pedro Martinez is pointless to discuss, he is stuck at 214 and has no one willing to sign him. John Smoltz is next with 210 but unless he has 90 wins this season, if he ever plays, its not going to happen. The next guy ALL the way down the list at 184 is Tim Wakefield. As long as the knuckleball keeps dancing he could pitch until he's 80. I joke but lets get serious for a moment. As far as the older veterans go I would say the best chance is Pettite, as long as someone will pay him what he wants and he stays healthy I don't see a problem with him reaching that number.


What about or younger arms, well younger then those mentioned previously. Barry Zito...pff hahaha, who am I kidding? It has been 2 years since his last winning season so it is going to be hard enough for him to eclipse 200 wins (he is sitting at 124). Tim Hudson is sitting not too far from him at 146 but unfortunately he is currently on the 60 day DL, planning on missing most of this season after tommy john surgery on his pitching arm. Without that last part you might pick him as a sleeper. Out of all the names I am combing over on Wikipedia and all those I saw today on ESPN I have to agree with Woodrow Wilson Paige from Around the Horn and pick Roy Halladay. Honestly when your team is facing Halladay don't you just assume an L? I know I did last week when we faced him, luckily his bullpen blew it. While Halladay has had some injuries in years past he is the most consistent out of those left.


Halladay wouldn't be considered a "younger" arm but he's only 32 and is 160 wins away from 300. Currently he is 9-1 and has a very respectable 2.77 ERA. Halladay is also one of the few pitchers who you see throwing complete games in this modern era of relief pitching and pitch counts. He currently has two but in the previous two seasons he had a total of 16(9 in 2008 and 7 in 2007). So you have to assume he has the ability to throw more. This could be his best season since...last season when he went 20-11 with a 2.78 ERA and had a career high in K's. Clearly he is consistent, when you look at his stats since 2002 unless his year is shortened by injury he has easily had double digit wins. His highest total being 22 back in 2003. He could reach that mark this season with a surprisingly successful Blue Jays club that has one of the better offenses in baseball. If you get him 3 runs you are almost set up for victory. So when you honestly think about it and look at all the evidence Halladay seems to be an obvious choice.

Now history waits as Johnson takes the mound today. Will he be the last one? No one really knows. However I think everyone is entitled to an opinion. That being said... THIS IS BSing WITH BRANDAN SPIEGEL! I want to know your opinion. Halladay is my choice but one of you may honestly be stupid enough to choose Zito. I will kick you into the pit if that is so. So let me hear it readers, all 3 of you.