Randy Johnson: The Latest 300 Win Pitcher!

Way to go, Randy Johnson!  Win No. 300.  It was a well pitched game.  Should he have waited until the Giants returned home?

I don’t think so for a few of reasons.

Reason #1

Pitching well has been hard for Johnson to do on a consistent basis.  Holding the tough hitting Washington Nationals to one run is no easy feat.  There is no way to know if this Johnson would show up or the dead arm Johnson.

Reason #2

Offense.  Will the clutch hits appear, or will the Giants struggle to find them?  Scoring, especially on the road, has been hit or miss.  When faced with such a dysfunctional pitching staff, they have to rip it apart.  That is exactly what they did.

Reason #3 

Defense has been sketchy at times.  The Giants’ young players have made mistakes that cost them runs that they can’t afford to allow.  Emmanuel Burriss and Randy Johnson made spectacular plays, which most likely saved them from a possible rally.

Reason #4

The team the Giants were facing was the Nationals, who were originally the Montreal Expos.  The first franchise Johnson pitched for?  The Expos.  There are not many opportunities for that situation to arise. 

Given these reasons, I think the Giants would not be able to guarantee Randy Johnson his 300th win.  I also think the situation is rare enough that winning this game was just as good as winning No. 300 at home.

Would it have been nice for Johnson to win it in San Francisco?  Of course!  But, I believe that this win gave Johnson more satisfaction than if he had played it anywhere else!  Good job, Randy Johnson and the Giants, for the perfect No. 300 win in my book!

Lastly, I don’t think Johnson will be the last No. 300 win pitcher.  There will definitely be another young, dominate pitcher who will cross this milestone.  I guarantee it!