On Wednesday we asked readers to guess how many people would show up to watch Randy Johnson try to win number 300, despite the rain, the fact that the game was in Washington D.C., and that the Big Unit is kind of a jerk.

But the game got postponed.

On Thursday we tried again, and Johnson pitched a gem, and now the results are finally in.

How many people were there to watch Johnson win 300?

According to Baseball Reference, zero.

Now, clearly that’s not an accurate number. As Keith Law points out on his Twitter feed, there were at least a handful of fans in the seats.

It looks like the Nats let Randy Johnson bring a few close friends to the game … and didn’t let anyone else in the park

The Washington Post estimated the attendance at about 1,000.

We’ll continue to monitor this situation to see if we can get a more accurate attendance number. But for now, you all lose.

UPDATE: We’re going to go ahead and call this thing. Last night’s game was a single-admission doubleheader and the attendance was 16,787. The winner is Joe, who guessed 16,030. Congrats, Joe. You’re the lucky winner of a copy of Ron Darling’s book “The Complete Game.” Thanks for playing.

Yesterday, we asked readers to guess how many people would show up to watch Randy Johnson attempt to win his 300th game.

At stake was a copy of Ron Darling’s new book, “The Complete Game.”

But the game got rained out.

So here’s what we’re going to do. We’ve got four hours before Johnson tries for a second time to win his 300th game. If you already guessed yesterday and you don’t want to change your guess, that’s cool. The old guesses will still count. If you want to change your guess, leave a new one in the comments. If you didn’t guess before but you want to join the fun, now’s your chance. Again, just leave your answer in the comments section.

I’ll close the comments a few minutes before game time, so get your guesses in now. And remember, it’s “The Price is Right” rules. The person who is the closest without going over wins.

On Wednesday, Randy Johnson goes for his 300th win against the Nationals in D.C. The big question: how many people will show up to watch?

Umpbump is giving away a free copy of Ron Darling’s book “The Complete Game” to the person who can come the closest to guessing tomorrow night’s paid attendance without going over.

Some things to consider:

1. There is a 60% chance of thunderstorms.

2. The Nationals are on pace to lose 99 games.

3. Randy Johnson plays for the Giants, who are pretty bad themselves.

Leave your guesses in the comments section. And remember folks, “The Price is Right” rules are in effect.

UPDATE: I’ve closed the comments on the post, because we’re now T-minus 30 minutes to game time. For what it’s worth, I can’t believe nobody guessed 1 person.

As of this writing, the man they call The Big Unit is five wins shy of joining the ranks of the game’s 300-game winners. You know what that means, right kids?

Articles about how he will be the last 300-game winner ever!!!

Long time readers (are there any of you out there?) may be getting a sense of deja vu, because you’ve read this before here on Umpbump. We thought it was ridiculous how some writers were making that same claim back in 2007 when Tom Glavine crossed the mark. And we were right. Because Randy Johnson is right at the door step.

Look, we get it. Unless Jamie Moyer decides to pitch until he’s 55 (may happen at this point), no one else is all that close. Pettite, Pedro and Smoltz are not going to get there and they’re the only active pitchers who have even made it to 200. And unless I’m missing someone, there are only two guys under 30 who have even hit triple digits (Sabathia and Garland). But chances are, someone’s going to do it again. And need we remind you that when he turned 30 back in September of 1993 (Jesus, the guy is old…), Randy Johnson only had 64 wins on his resume?

So we ask you, who will it be, Umpbumpers? Who’s going to be the next to 300 wins?

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When Jeff Kent announced his retirement recently, baseball lost much more than a great second baseman. It lost a great mustache.

Amazingly, Kent’s ’stache is not one of the handful of fuzzes that has its own entry in our Unfortunate Facial Hair pantheon. But don’t be fooled: his was truly fabulous fur. And it is not the only UFH that we stand to lose. Mike Piazza retired in May (and to mark the occasion Paul created a Piazza UFH retrospective). Now it’s looking increasingly unlikely that Sal Fasano will find a job. And both Todd Helton and Randy Johnson are in the twilights of their respective careers.

For the good of the game and, yes, for the good of America it’s time for these UFH vets to pass the torch to a greener generation. Here are a few young players who might consider picking up where the vets left off.

Kent’s actually toned down his mustache late in his career, but in his early years with the mets his flavor savor was large and in charge.

What would happen if we took Kent’s mustache and put it on Troy Tulowitzki’s baby face?

equals…

Whoah! Where does the line for mustache rides form?

Read the rest of this entry »

Close, but no cigar...

For a team two games over .500, the Arizona Diamondbacks were awfully close to winning the division; a fact that belies competitiveness, and rather is evidence of how awfully mediocre those teams that play in the NL West were in 2008.

It actually comes as a surprise, since this same Arizona team had captured the division in 2007, winning 90 games in the process. Looking back at what I wrote before the start of the 2008 season, they were poised to repeat as NL West champs barring, oh, I don’t know, a lapse in pitching, or a below average offense. Or the emergence of worthy contender.

How about two outta three? Though the D-backs featured two of the better pitchers in Brandon Webb and Danny Haren, and a venerable, but solid, Randy Johnson, they eventually missed the playoffs due to great pitching from Dodgers (Who led the league in ERA). Sure the rotation didn’t exactly collapse (fifth best ERA in the league), but it wasn’t good enough to stave off a Dodger resurgence.

If we were to point the finger, however, I’d start with the offense. Their numbers were plain average, hovering near the middle in nearly all offensive categories; and while its true that their 2007 numbers weren’t that much better, even in the mediocre NL West, merely league average won’t do. (If it’s any consolation, the Rockies had a much better offensive season and missed out on the playoffs too).

As far as the pitching is concerned, their 2008 numbers were slightly better compared to a year before. In 2007, they were fourth in ERA (4.13), as opposed to fifth last year (albeit, with a 3.98 ERA); but again, that wasn’t enough to get them over the playoff hump.

I’d hate to attribute a D-back demise solely to the fact that the Dodgers improved a bit, but the evidence seems to suggest that Arizona sat back, waiting for a better offensive performance, and didn’t quite expect the Dodgers to lead the league in pitching.

The major need this offseason, then, was solidifying the rotation. The D-Backs do have a young Max Scherzer waiting in the wings, but GM Josh Byrnes wanted to ease him into his first full season by signing a third or fourth-slot starter.

OM NOM NOM ... Mr. Innings-eater

Given the economic situation most teams find themselves in this offseason, however, Byrnes had limited room to operate. After being unable to resign Randy Johnson, Byrnes sought out Randy Wolf and Jon Garland , both of whom initially turned him down. Money was evidently so tight that while the D-backs resigned Tony Clark, they declined to even offer arbitration to Adam Dunn, fearing he’d accept.

But nowhere was the money issue more at evident than with the Randy Johnson situation. They couldn’t even take up the Big Unit on his offer of a home-town discount late last year. But then they eventually signed Jon Garland to a one-year $6.25MM deal, with a mutual, $10MM option for 2010. So what changed?

Some context, as Nick Piecoro explains: In mid-November, the Diamondbacks were confident that they would get draft picks for Adam Dunn, Orlando Hudson, Juan Cruz and Brandon Lyon. By the time December rolled in, the financial landscape was bleak, thus the decision not to offer Dunn arbitration, while thinking their other draft pick cost obligations would be at or around $10MM.

The D-Backs originally offered Johnson a deal thought to be between $3MM and $5MM, though the Big Unit was seeking around $10MM. Johnson was willing to sign for $5MM less, and waited until the very last day he could to file for free agency, before finally giving up and singing with the Giants for $8MM.

Fast forward to this past week and with Hudson and Cruz still unsigned, the draft pick situation is yet to be resolved. They might get a higher round pick depending on where either veteran signs.

Since Byrnes already addressed some of the other needs, trading for reliever Scott Schoeneweis and replacing a departing Hudson with Felipe Lopez, it made sense to use the money that would’ve been used on Johnson and on the pending draft-picks, and sign Garland.

D-Backs fans are taking the Garland singing with some optimism, setting nostalgic attachments to the Big Unit aside, and realizing that the younger, more durable pitcher is a better option at the back of the rotation.

And yet, I’m not sure if its enough to get back into the playoffs.

Offseason grade: C+

Additions: Jon Garland, Felipe Lopez, Scott Schoeneweis, Travis Blackley

Losses: Adam Dunn, Orlando Hudson, Randy Johnson, David Eckstein, Brandon Lyon, Chris Burke, Jeff Salazar, Wil Ledezma, Jamie D’Antona, Robby Hammock

Projected lineup, rotation and closer:

C Chris Snyder
1B Connor Jackson
2B Felipe Lopez
SS Stephen Drew
3B Mark Reynolds
LF Eric Byrnes
CF Chris Young
RF Justin Upton

RH Brandon Webb
RH Dan Haren
RH Jon Garland
LH Doug Davis
RH Max Scherzer

CL Chad Qualls

Though the Garland signing was a good move, I think the the whole Randy Johnson affair was mis-managed. I know, I know, a mere two months ago, the D-Backs weren’t expecting the economy to hit them so hard. Which probably also prevented them from making any better/more offensive acquisitions, hence the plus in the grade.

- Hot Offseason Index-

Oh my God, it’s June. And it’s gorgeous outside. And you’re stuck inside! The cubicle walls are closing in on you! You struggle to breathe! Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! Don’t despair, gentle reader—just catch hold of this lifeline of links:

The Hardball Times posted a great piece on Johnny Cueto using PITCHf/x data. For those of you involved in fantasy baseball, it’s a must-read. For those of you interested in one of the most intriguing rookie pitchers to come up in a while, it’s also a must-read.

Royals Review has a fantabulous ode to light-hitting first basemen. Just a taste:

He wasn’t strong like an ox

And a pretty sweet mullet

Now THAT is must-read, my children.

Futility Infielder has an interview with 91-year old Marvin Miller, a former head of the players’ union, who respectfully requests he not be elected into the Hall of Fame, thankyouverymuch.

Stet Sports Blog thinks Ozzie Guillen should be fired.

Someone recommended I read this post at Sports Law Blog about media ethics. Frankly, I found the post a bit disappointing. It concludes, “I suggest the players unions and the leagues find creative ways to ‘deal’ with the media on terms that are mutually beneficial to both the participants and the media — in other words, cooperation and access in exchange for accuracy and privacy.” First, that bargain actually strikes me as the sleazy exchange that too often takes place in pro sports already. And second, privacy and accuracy don’t always go hand in hand. Spoken like someone with more perspective as a player or a lawyer (aha!), rather than someone who has actually tried to practice journalism.

John Smoltz reinvents himself yet again—and Shysterball can’t watch.

Another fun Slate article about baseball cards—specifically, the 1989 Ken Griffey Jr. Upper Deck card and how it compares (or doesn’t) to the T206 Honus Wagner.

The Loss Column prays for the new Orioles uniforms to stay classy, San Diego.

Razzball has an enlightening fantasy baseball glossary.

And Babes Love Baseball notes that in his last start, the Unit has tied the Rocket on the all-time strikeouts list. Who needs HGH when you have….mullet power!

I always like to read new things. Send me recommendations!

I feel that Tuesday often gets lost in the workweek shuffle. There’s Monday, which gets a lot of attention for being first. There’s Wednesday, which gets to be “Hump Day.” Thursday is often “thirsty,” or at least gets a sort of half-credit for being almost Friday. And then there’s Friday itself, which, when it rolls around, we’re all so thankful for. But where does poor Tuesday come in? The shock of Monday has worn off, but the ray of hope that Wednesday offers hasn’t yet broken through the gloom. Well, I’ve decided Tuesday needs more love. And on UmpBump, love = links. So let’s get to ‘em. And let’s do it lineup-style!

Leading off, my own Metro Column: A Few Reasons Why Baseball Is Awesome. Need I say more?

Batting second, the June amateur draft is just two months away and The Baseball Analysts are getting ready with a must-read preview series.

Third, Baseball Musings points out that Randy Johnson’s loss last night was unearned. Literally—all the runs the Giants managed came as a result of errors by the D-Backs.

Batting cleanup, Beyond the Box Score looks at some hot starts (and a few slow ones) and identifies which ones are flukes.

Fifth—this one’s for all you Milwaukee Brewers fans. Take heart! There is one closer who may be scarier to have in your bullpen than Eric Smelly Gagne (as my Red Sox-loving roommate still calls him, and will ever call him): Joe Borowski. Bugs and Cranks has the hilarious, heartbreaking rant.  (VegasWatch also chimes in, pointing out that thanks largely to Borowski, the Tigers aren’t in quite as deep a hole as it seems.)

Sixth, Joe Posnanski has a nice post about airport security lines. (And if that’s not baseball-related enough for you, then you can read this one about how much he loves Brian Bannister’s slow-ass fastball.)

Seventh,  this Marlins fan has started Florida Marlins Finances to prove it to the management that they are profitable, dammit, whether they like it or not and with or without that new, taxpayer-funded stadium they want.

Eighth, via River Ave Blues: the Red Sox and New York face off again tomorrow and the first pitch will be thrown from space. (Side note: doesn’t it seem weird that the Sox and Yanks are playing each other again already? And that the Brewers and the Reds will also be facing each other for the second time later this week? And that the White Sox and the Tigers have already faced each other twice? And that the Rays have also faced the Yankees and the Orioles twice? Divisional face-offs are all well and good, but the scheduler may have taken it a bit far this April.)

And batting ninth, the pitcher,  Rumors and Rants, who brings us more good news about Randy Johnson: the mullet (pictured above) is back! It is just as I hoped it would be!

And as a sort of pinch hitter, I have to give a shoutout to Tim Dierkes at MLB Trade Rumors for giving me credit for my foresight on Kyle Snyder, who has cleared waivers and accepted an assignment to Boston’s AAA affiliate, the Paw Sox. There were doubters at the time! But I was right! And as regular readers of UmpBump know, there’s few things Sarah Green loves more in life than being proven right (coffee, my as-yet-unborn children…let’s see…what else? Nope, I think that basically covers it).