MLB Fastball 07.27.07: Two Hall of Fame Careers Coming To An End
Posted by Neil Borenstein on 07.27.2007
One’s going out on his own terms, one might be forced into leaving based on injuries. But for Craig Biggio and Randy Johnson, the end of the line is coming for two of the Majors’ best players. Also, a look at Scott Linebrink finally being traded by the San Diego Padres!
(Photo Credit: www.cnnsi.com)
Relief Pitcher Scott Linebrink was dealt to the NL Central leading Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday.
There's nothing sadder than an anti-climatic ending to something that has been prolonged for a very long time. Scott Linebrink, the San Diego Padres relief pitcher who was seemingly a part of every single Padres' trade rumor of at least the past year and a half, was finally traded by San Diego. Linebrink went to the Milwaukee Brewers.
But instead of the Padres actually receiving something good on paper, they only got back three minor league pitchers. That's a bummer. The three pitchers the Padres acquired from the Brewers were Will Inman, Steve Garrison and Joe Thatcher. Hell, for all I know these kids could come up and be freakin' amazing for the Brewers. But after so much talk about Linebrink moving, I would have liked to see a more exciting trade go down than this. This is just disappointing.
In all seriousness, though, the Brewers took a big step forward in trying to ensure themselves a playoff spot come October. Though they're only two games in front of the surging Chicago Cubs, the Brewers have been a surprising NL Central leader all season long. And the addition of Linebrink to a bullpen that already has Derrick Turnbow for setup duty and Francisco Cordero as closer amplifies the chances the Brewers have of actually ending the season with a playoff spot very few really expected them to capture before the season started. A 7-8-9 inning rotation of Linebrink, Turnbow and Cordero is actually pretty scary for opposing teams. And just in case one of these guys falls off the wagon a bit, there is insurance readily available. For example, Turnbow could always move back to being the team's closer and Linebrink can move into setup duty – which is what he did with the Padres – if Cordero slips in production.
The Brewers now need to focus on getting starting pitcher Ben Sheets healthy. He has been replaced in the starting rotation by a dependable relief arm in Yovani Gallardo, who has gone 2-0 in two starts since taking over Sheets' spot in the rotation. Gallardo has only given up one run in a total 12.2 innings pitched in those starts. Sheets has been out since July 15 with a sprained right middle finger. Once he comes back, that will allow Gallardo to move back to the bullpen and really make the Brewers a solid pitching organization for the remainder of the season.
For the Padres, a Linebrink trade has been on the horizon for what seems like forever. They don't get anything big in return with the three minor league pitchers. But general manager Kevin Towers does believe that Thatcher will be a key addition to the organization. Thatcher has split time this season in both Double-A and Triple-A ball. He went 1-0 with an ERA of 0.55 in 14 games with Huntsville (AA) and 2-1 with an ERA of 2.08 in 24 games with Nashville (AAA.) Those are some pretty good numbers from the 25-year old lefty, and he should be a good piece for the future of the Padres organization. I don't think he'll make a big impact now, which means he's not going to replace Linebrink in any way. But he could be a good future piece for an already impressive pitching staff in San Diego.
Careers Coming To A Close
Biggio, Johnson Nearing Retirement
(Photo Credit: www.astrosdaily.com)
Houston Astros second baseman Craig Biggio will retire at the end of the years after 20 seasons in Major League Baseball.
One player is choosing to call it quits and leave the game on his own terms. The other might be forced into retirement because of injuries. But either way, Major League Baseball is heading toward the loss of two of its best players ever when Craig Biggio leaves the game at the end of the season and Randy Johnson comes face-to-face with the possibility that he might be in his last season, or have even played his last ball game back on June 28.
On Tuesday, Biggio announced that he would call it a career at the end of this season. Biggio, who is currently in his 20th season in baseball, is 41-years old and has spent his entire career with one organization – the Houston Astros. On June 28th, Biggio became only the 27th player in MLB history to collect 3,000 career hits when he singled in the bottom of the seventh inning against the Colorado Rockies. It was his third of five hits in the game.
"There are a lot of guys that have the game taken away from them by injury," Biggio said. "For me to be able to walk away now, on top, on my own accord, I'm very happy with that. I'm in a good place. I think I've done everything that I was supposed to do on a baseball field. I have nothing to be disappointed about."
Biggio currently sits at 3,019 hits in his career, placing him 24th in league history – one behind Rafael Palmeiro. The seven-time All-Star is the only member of the 600-double; 250-home run; 3,000-hit and 400-steals club.
It's the perfect time for a storied career to come to close. Alongside the retirement of Jeff Bagwell this past offseason, it's the closing of an era in Houston baseball. But Biggio really has nothing left to play for that's in reach for him.
The Houston Astros are having a horrible season at 11 games back in the NL Central standings and there's little reason to believe the team's fortunes will quickly reverse themselves next season. Though Biggio still lacks that elusive World Series ring, it's not going to come anytime soon in Houston – at least not realistically. And you can bet after spending 20 seasons with only one organization, which at this point has him ranked as the longest tenured player with one team among active players, it is pretty much unimaginable that he would suit up for any other organization just to win a championship. Loyalty and longevity with one team will always surpass a World Series Title.
So with no ring in hope and his most important reachable milestone achieved, Biggio should end his career on a high individual note, even if it won't be accompanied by one from the team he's been so dedicated to.
This isn't to say Biggio isn't a productive player anymore. I think the man still has some value in baseball. His numbers will never be spectacular. But his overall playability is still an asset to a severely underachieving Houston roster. After going 2-5 against the San Diego Padres last night, Biggio now has a .252 batting average, seven home runs, 36 RBIs, 53 runs scored and four stolen bases in this 2007 campaign. Though numbers are not mind-blowing by any standard, but they're still decent for a team that needs them. Plus, he's still a great doubles hitter, ranking third in Houston this season in that category.
If Biggio wanted to give it another go just for the love of the game, I think he could still be a very active player for the Astros. But as I said earlier, there's little point in prolonging a career that can't get too much better at this stage for Biggio.
And, since he has the opportunity to go out the way he wants to right now, he should take full advantage.
Unfortunately for another veteran of the game that's aged over 40, going out on his own terms might not be in the cards for one Randy Johnson. One of, if not the, fiercest throwing left-handed starting pitchers in baseball history might be forced to end his career due to an injury that just can't seem to go away.
The 43-year old has had some back soreness that's had him on the DL since June 29, and Johnson wasn't so sure he would be able to come back and pitch for the Arizona Diamondbacks this season after pitching a simulated game on Tuesday. Seemingly, if Johnson was unable to come back this season to help Arizona, it would be highly unlikely that this recurring injury would allow him to come back next season.
Johnson, who was re-acquired by the Diamondbacks this past offseason from the New York Yankees after being dealt there from Arizona in 2005, has pitched in only 10 games this season. He has a 4-3 record with a 3.81 ERA and 72 strikeouts.
One day after Johnson made comments about his potential inability to play again this season, there was some optimism that he might return after all. Johnson will throw a bullpen session today and there's though that Johnson might just be getting frustrated and tired with his situation more than he actually needs to consider retirement.
But I'm not so sure Johnson really is as good as these latest reports want us to believe. Naturally, the team is going to subdue the whole situation since they're really hoping for Johnson to come back to help Arizona not only win games, but put butts in the seats – which was the actual intention on Arizona's part when they traded with the Yankees to get him back with the Diamondbacks. He was supposed to sell tickets by putting a high-profile and familiar face to the organization.
But he's been out for about a month now with a lingering issue that is not going to just cease to exist in a 43-year old body. In fact, rehab on his back kept Johnson out at the beginning of this season as well. The simple fact is his body is wearing down considerably, which is just natural with age and his career.
He is coming off two rather poor seasons with the Yankees that were hardly up to the standard Johnson set for himself in his previous playing experience with the Seattle Mariners and Diamondbacks. And now he comes back to Arizona to have an ERA damn-near 4.00, which is not exactly what Arizona had been accustomed to from his previous stint with the team when he was more in the mid-two's with his ERA.
I think this is just a case of a player trying to push himself too much. There is a lot of money invested in Johnson, and Arizona is actually within reasonable distance of occupying a playoff spot in the NL West standings. But a player has to know his limits and it's just not healthy at this point for Johnson to keep pushing himself if he's just going to hurt himself more in the end.
He has many achievements to his credit, including a World Series ring from 2001 with Arizona and a perfect game with that team as well. And, like Biggio, one can do nothing but assume that he is a sure-fire Hall of Famer. There's little point in Johnson trying to come back a shell of his former self and push himself when his body is basically telling him to just call it quits.
Even if he does come back at some point this year to pitch for maybe a month or so with the Diamondbacks, he really should take a hint and call it a career after that. You never want to go out unless it's your call. And Johnson's stubbornness clearly shows that's a factor. But he's done enough in his career and there's really nothing left for him to prove. There's no point in putting his body through the rigors anymore.
Be sure to check out My Blog over the weekend as I intend to have some reader feedback posted about last week's column there. Hopefully, I'll have that up by Sunday along with responses.
Otherwise, that's going to do it for this week's edition of MLB Fastball!
Send all comments, questions, and suggestions to br7qbsteelers@yahoo.com.
