Randy Johnson's comments yesterday

[lindeman79]

So did anyone watch his comments yesterday. I was watching Chris Rose and Millar and he wasn't humble at all. All he was saying is how he had it so much harder because he was tall and blah blah blah. He came off so pompous. I could go on. What about all the short guys? I'm six four so I don't have little man complex but the big unit came off as a BIG JERK. At that moment I "put my cards up" to you know where.

[death2redemptions]

Being tall actually worked to his advantage. A higher mound gives an advantage to pitching so I imagine being taller would as well.

[Tvanho]

So did anyone watch his comments yesterday. I was watching Chris Rose and Millar and he wasn't humble at all. All he was saying is how he had it so much harder because he was tall and blah blah blah. He came off so pompous. I could go on. What about all the short guys? I'm six four so I don't have little man complex but the big unit came off as a BIG JERK. At that moment I "put my cards up" to you know where.

I didn't watch the speech, but I know the feeling. I hate having a certain impression of a person, thinking they are a nice person, and then having things turned around. That's why they say never meet your heroes. Sometimes people are way better the way you envision them in your head.

[VeedonFleece]

I saw him speaking/rambling a little (in front of some D-Backs wall) and he came across fine imo.

[Skipscards]

Well, to be fair, he was drunk.

[enbambam6986]

I saw the interview with MLB tonight and thought he couldn't be a nicer guy.

[centereacan06]

Being tall actually worked to his advantage. A higher mound gives an advantage to pitching so I imagine being taller would as well.

I heard him say that and when he said something along the lines of "being so tall almost made me want to quit," I changed the channel because I couldn't listen to that BS anymore. I'm sure he's a great guy, I think he was just hammered during that interview.

[VeedonFleece]

Thinking about it, Pedro came across with much less humility than the Unit.

[Amberkow]

I watched most of his press conference at chase field, and I was impressed how open he was about himself and his career. I was very impressed by the fact that he had an open offer for a job on by the Dbacks for the past 5 years, but that he wanted to spend the time focusing on himself and his family outside of the sport of baseball.

As a Diamondbacks fan, I'm excited to see him back with the organization this year!

[death2redemptions]

I heard him say that and when he said something along the lines of "being so tall almost made me want to quit," I changed the channel because I couldn't listen to that BS anymore. I'm sure he's a great guy, I think he was just hammered during that interview.

Well I like the guy. I don't care what kind of person he is, I just care that he dominated for my team and won us our only World Series title. I never heard the latest speech but I always figured he was an a$$hole anyway so it doesn't surprise me. I mean, it's not like he was some sort of criminal.

[burgbasher]

Well, to be fair, he was drunk.

If this is the case people should take what he said like a grain of salt . Non issue imo .

[BGT Masters]

Have you ever watched the guy swing a bat? He was sort of right in that aspect.

[RetailChamp]

I'll preface this by saying I didn't see any of the interview in question.

But .... why does he have to be humble? He busted his ass, achieved greatness and was recognized for it. He dominated hitters for two decades. I think he should be able to say whatever he wants. Like I said, I didn't hear the interview, but how is saying "it was hard for me because I was tall" a bad thing?

[Devi8or]

All I know is Randy, Pedro, and Mariano Rivera all said the toughest hitter they ever faced was Edgar Martinez.....and he only got 27% of the vote

BOYCOTT!!!

only half kidding

[Ephland]

Being tall actually worked to his advantage. A higher mound gives an advantage to pitching so I imagine being taller would as well.

once he figured out his mechanics, yeah.

[BostonNut]

Being tall did hurt him.

Think about the length of his arms in relation to release points. Since he was towering over every batter he ever faced he had to play around with arm slots probably his entire career.

I'm assuming that's what he meant. (I did not hear the speech.)

[Dman05888]

He is a regular at a restaurant we eat at in Delray Beach, FL. While I have never sat and had a conversation with him, he does acknowledge his fans. Even has a quick back and forth with us occasionally. Seems like a REALLY nice guy. Unfortunately, interviews and the media in general, can often sway the way people think of athletes.

[trogdor]

I did not see the interview but as a tall collegiate pitcher (6'7) I understand what he is saying because mechanically it is hard to get everything moving and working in the right direction. That being said I did not watch the interview

[bigaust001]

I think Pedro was way more full of himself than RJ. What was your favorite moment? Having Ted Williams tell you that you are the greatest he's ever seen... but the way he said it... yuck.

[VeedonFleece]

I think Pedro was way more full of himself than RJ. What was your favorite moment? Having Ted Williams tell you that you are the greatest he's ever seen... but the way he said it... yuck.

Exactly. Pedro was like 'damn right I expected the call.' In his defence, he IS Pedro Martinez!

[rcmb3220]

So did anyone watch his comments yesterday. I was watching Chris Rose and Millar and he wasn't humble at all. All he was saying is how he had it so much harder because he was tall and blah blah blah. He came off so pompous. I could go on. What about all the short guys? I'm six four so I don't have little man complex but the big unit came off as a BIG JERK. At that moment I "put my cards up" to you know where.

He's not wrong. It took him until he was nearly 30 to start being a dominant pitcher. I doubt anyone thought at the beginning of 1993 when he was already 29 years old that he was going to be in the HOF.

[Scottish Punk]

The OP is over reacting a ton, IMHO. I caught the interview, I felt he came across pretty sincere and loose. He was saying it was tough being 6-10 and pitching growing up because he was the only one doing it. I took it as he couldn't emulate somebody else's delivery and work into his own style. He had to adjust all his mechanics from the traditional throwing angles.

[IamRalpho]

Thats Pedros attitude. It comes off as arrogant, hell it probably is but he is very humble and has been very humble with this whole process. But he was adamant this entire time I thought he was a Hall of Famer

His attitude was the reason why he was so good. I mean look at him, not now hes fat, but when he was active he was tiny and he had to puff himself up.

Love the man, love you too Rats and Lindeman for being SO SO wrong

[lobo_hacker]

-I really don't think you can not be at least a bit arrogant/confrontational/prideful and have success as a MLB pitcher.

Comments to the public notwithstanding, every one of them has a bit of #@#@#@#@#@#@#@ in them. Some just keep it on the field better than others.

lobo_hacker

[Zoop]

Never understood this notion that athletes have to say what we want to hear. He didn't say he loves murdering dogs or something so who cares? He spoke his mind. If you don't think you're the best player to ever live, I don't want you on my team. I want mentally tough guys who don't give the opposition an inch.

[Highroller]

If they don't speak their mind they get chastised and if they do well the same thing happens.

[fulltritty]

I spoke to the Big Unit for about 10 minutes at the National Sports Collectors Convention last year in Cleveland. I was in another line that wasn't moving as the athlete hadn't shown up yet and he was at the next table over with no one to sign for. He looked mean as hell like when he was on the mound, but he was very nice once he started talking.

[douglasfir]

Sorry you were so offended about such a trite thing.

[Skipscards]

If they don't speak their mind they get chastised and if they do well the same thing happens.

Great quote.

[dhcollecting]

So did anyone watch his comments yesterday. I was watching Chris Rose and Millar and he wasn't humble at all. All he was saying is how he had it so much harder because he was tall and blah blah blah. He came off so pompous. I could go on. What about all the short guys? I'm six four so I don't have little man complex but the big unit came off as a BIG JERK. At that moment I "put my cards up" to you know where.

you need to get your ears check. he said his height made it difficult on his mechanics! he said he had to work harder to get them right. WTF interview did you see.

OP Fail!

[stera8]

Is he going in as a mariner or dback?


He responded to me on Twitter once and he takes awesome pics

[bdrr]

Exactly. Pedro was like 'damn right I expected the call.' In his defence, he IS Pedro Martinez!

I agree. I know I'm in a minority here, but I think he's the greatest post-war pitcher and easily top 5 all time.

[bdrr]

Is he going in as a mariner or dback?


He responded to me on Twitter once and he takes awesome pics

World Series + 4 Cy Youngs as DBack.

Think it's a pretty easy call.

[frozenntimesports]

I did not see the interview but as a tall collegiate pitcher (6'7) I understand what he is saying because mechanically it is hard to get everything moving and working in the right direction. That being said I did not watch the interview

I was a lousy 5'11" collegiate pitcher. RJ had to manage a whole more foot of body in that delivery. Sure it was an advantage once he got it down, but that had to be tough.

[death2redemptions]

If Randy Johnson hadn't killed that bird he would have received at least 99% of the votes. I know PETA had purchased a few votes.

[preakness]

He's dead on about the difficulty for guys that tall or near that height


It harder to repeat mechanics with such lsrge moving points

Don't get me wrong, the size helps with speed (heck, he's closer to home when he releases ball too) but the mechanics is the key to his success

[TheHeel]

He can come across any way he wants to in a baseball sense. He earned being a pompous dick.

[daverat]

Big unit was always bad with the media, ny ate him alive. In my book he is an a+ person.

[stera8]

Saw the coverage and I'm a bigger fan of The big unit and now a fan of Pedro. He talked about his struggle and how he was inspired by others. He gave his coaches, fans, and other players credit for his success.

He said he struggled because of back pain and getting used to throwing the ball for someone of his height.

[stera8]

Big unit was always bad with the media, ny ate him alive. In my book he is an a+ person.

You could tell he's awkward with them but when he answered a question about his time I'm New York, he had a great answer and only good things to say