Best lefty off all time? My vote is Koufax!

[Peter_Spaeth]

Randy Johnson 1st 60 percent of 1998 ERA 4.33 (SEA)
Randy Johnson 2nd 40 percent of 1998 ERA 1.28 (HOU)

His WHIP went down by .3 from SEA to HOU

Maybe the DHs were killing him.

[BobC]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Randy Johnson 1st 60 percent of 1998 ERA 4.33 (SEA)
Randy Johnson 2nd 40 percent of 1998 ERA 1.28 (HOU)

His WHIP went down by .3 from SEA to HOU

Maybe the DHs were killing him.

In all fairness, part of the reason for that big ERA drop could be from switching to a new league where none of the batters had seen him before. But those are still major league hitters, and as good as Johnson was, I can't ever see such a move creating that big of a change in his ERA in such a short of a period of time. Unless maybe he had some type of injury or something during the first part of that year that contributed to the higher ERA? But I'm not aware of any such thing. It doesn't look good for Johnson otherwise though.

[Tabe]

Originally Posted by BobC

In all fairness, part of the reason for that big ERA drop could be from switching to a new league where none of the batters had seen him before. But those are still major league hitters, and as good as Johnson was, I can't ever see such a move creating that big of a change in his ERA in such a short of a period of time. Unless maybe he had some type of injury or something during the first part of that year that contributed to the higher ERA? But I'm not aware of any such thing. It doesn't look good for Johnson otherwise though.

Johnson complained about his back the entire first half of the season and visibly wasn't giving full effort when pitching. All that magically disappeared when he went to Houston. The assistant GM for the Mariners all but stated as much (that Johnson tanked) at the time.

[BobC]

Originally Posted by Tabe

Johnson complained about his back the entire first half of the season and visibly wasn't giving full effort when pitching. All that magically disappeared when he went to Houston. The assistant GM for the Mariners all but stated as much (that Johnson tanked) at the time.

Was just trying to be nice because we can't actually prove it, but remember hearing the rumors and accusations as well.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by BobC

In all fairness, part of the reason for that big ERA drop could be from switching to a new league where none of the batters had seen him before. But those are still major league hitters, and as good as Johnson was, I can't ever see such a move creating that big of a change in his ERA in such a short of a period of time. Unless maybe he had some type of injury or something during the first part of that year that contributed to the higher ERA? But I'm not aware of any such thing. It doesn't look good for Johnson otherwise though.

The same hitters couldn't touch him for the next four years either. Four years, four Cys, absurd strikeout totals, total dominance. Don't think that explains it.

[BobC]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

The same hitters couldn't touch him for the next four years either. Four years, four Cys, absurd strikeout totals, total dominance. Don't think that explains it.

I know, I know, you're preaching to the choir. LOL