Nolan Ryan Part Deux?

It is rumored that when/if/hopefully not Randy Johnson gets traded to the Yankees, a 2 year extension will be placed on his contract. If he doesn't retire before the contract is up-and he probably won't- the last year of his contract will have him hurling 97 mph of raw limburger cheese at 44 years old. Unless you are Nolan Ryan, which fortunatly for most hitters he is retired, this is unprecedented territory. Even stranger yet? At 40 years of age he had his best full year of his career rate-wise. His strikeout-to-walk ratio was the highest it has ever been at 6.59:1, his OPS against was the lowest it has ever been at .555 and he threw a career low 14.8 pitches per inning. (You paying attention Kerry Wood? He threw 7 innings per start, averaged over 10 k's per 9 innings and still only threw 100 pitches per start! This is who you could be! Or you could be that uncontrollable, inconsistent waste of talent you are!) Don't forget about that perfecto! So my question is "How far Johnson can get into the record books?" A couple of issues stand in the way of him reaching far into the books. Of course, I detail the most prominent.

Health Issues


Randy Johnson has had two surgeries that effect him pitching wise. His first surgery was in 1996, and that was on his back. Randy's back is very important to his delivery. He generates tremendous velocity by creating large amounts of momentum. Large amounts of momentum cause extreme torque on his back. Too much torque and a twist the wrong way? Ker-Pop, end of career.

The other surgery he has had was in 2003. The surgery involved removing almost all of the cartilage from his right knee. Cartilage is the substance that is between bones so bone does not rub against bone. Since Randy is left-handed the right knee is his landing leg. This leg takes tons of punishment since he explodes forward onto it before releasing the ball. Currently Randy takes several injections of lubrication into his knee to keep the joint working, and to preserve the final pieces of cartilage. However, eventually the final cartilage will break down and Randy will be forced to pitch in pain or retire.

How is Randy still pitching after these delabilitating injuries and surgeries? Since his back surgery in 1996 Randy has kept himself in peak physical condition. His workout regime includes: using weights, balance boards, rollers, resistance equipment and stretching exercises to keep his back in shape. After his knee surgery he hit the weights strngthening his lower body to take stress off his knee. Plus the fact that he's a genetic freak with a bionic arm.



Record Books


Career Strikeout Record:
Nolan Ryan - 5714

Randy was and still is the nastiest pitcher of his generation. Years and years of 300 k's paint a picture on his resume. Unfortunatly for Randy, Nolan was the bionic man and pitched longer then my grandma has been sewing. Randy is still 1513 k's away from the seemingly unbreakable mark. If we took Randy's career average of 11.18 k's per 9 innings and project it out, he would need to pitch 1220 more innings. When healthy he averages approximatly 240 innings, this places him breaking Nolan's record 5 seasons from now. Randy would be 46 years old, the same age as Nolan when he retired from baseball.

Chance of this happening?
IF he doesn't blow out his knee, IF he doesn't blow out his back, IF he doesn't blow out his arm, IF Stewart Scott stops using his tireless cliches on Sportscenter......you get the idea.
Zero Nil Nada None

300 wins
Randy Johnson Currently-246
Despite not coming into his prime until the age of 30, Randy has a shot at 300 wins. He does need a couple of things to make this run possible.

1. He needs to be dealt away from the D'Backs to a good team
2. A 2-3 year extention must be reached with the new team
3. Randy must stay healthy during those years.

When Randy was pitching with good teams (1997-2002) he averaged 20 wins a year. This is what he must do while in his early 40's. Impossible? errrrrrrrr.....no. Improbable? Yes.

Chances of this happening?
I think Randy can do this as long as he can stay healthy. I'd give it a 30 percent chance of happening.

All said and done, no matter what records he attains, Randy Johnson is easily a HOF'er and a pitcher I will be telling my grandchildren about.