There are great moments in the history of the Astros organization. Many will say the '86 game in which Mike Scott threw the no-hitter was the biggest moment. Or how about when Nolan Ryan pitched fifth no-no while in an orange and blue uniform. Well, those are good moments, but I think the best time in Houston's history did not even take place on the field. It was when Drayton McLane bought the team from Satan incarnate, John J. McMullen.
McMullen almost ruined this team and was the man responsible for losing Nolan Ryan to free agency. But McLane brought back hope to the franchise, even though he goofed when bringing in Doug Drabek and Greg Swindell.
Drayton had his best day as an Astro last Friday, when his boy Gerry Hunsicker brought Randy Johnson to the team. More than that, McLane's move proved that he wants to win and will spend another dollar or two to do it.
Yes, this has no doubt been a great week in the life of the Houston Astros. After continually telling fans and the media that they would not spend more money on another player, Gerry Hunsicker took Randy Johnson at gunpoint from Seattle, leaving peanuts in return. Or is all of this just a farce? Did the Astros get burned themselves, only renting Johnson until he finds an owner with really deep pockets? Let's explore.
To their credit, the Astros went out and got a pitcher who gives them instant credibility in a league where San Diego and Atlanta dominate the headlines. As the perennial also-ran, the 'Stros are now the hot topic from ESPN to Seattle talk radio to the pages of the Atlanta Journal Constitution, where Braves fans have shown their disdain for the Astros' new find.
But even though baseball fans are chatting it up about Johnson, they quickly forget about the man who bodyslammed a teammate last month. Johnson and teammate David Segui got into it, and to prove he is the Big Unit, Johnson did his best Stone Cold impersonation and swiftly took Segui to the mat. After Wrestlemania in the Mariners' locker room, coaches and other players had to restrain Johnson, not from Kenny Lofton or Albert Belle, but from his own teammate. Then, in typical Johnson fashion, the Unit struck out 15 batters in a game later that night. He is a schizophrenic pitcher who can go 20-4 one season, then have a sub-.500 record the next. He is intimidating, especially with a 95 mph fastball, but his record this season has no one shouting Cy Young.
Johnson was not happy in a city that loved him and came out to root him on, Seattle, where fans went to the ballpark at a 20-percent hike over days that he did not pitch. Fellow Mariners Ken Griffey Jr. and Alex Rodriquez constantly provided a spark to ignite excitement, especially with Griffey chasing the elusive Roger Maris record. The shortstop affectionately known as A-Rod is the new lifeblood for the Ms, and along with him and Junior, Johnson was supposed to usher in a new ballpark in Seattle.
But Johnson demanded an off-season trade, upset that Mariners management did not want to discuss contract extensions with the 35-year-old veteran. His asking price was said to be over $10 million a season for at least five years, a lot of cash for an older player who is probably in the decline of his career.
Obviously, he did not get that trade. And instead of continually showing what he is worth, Johnson put forth a lackadaisical effort for the first part of the season. Only when he found out he could possibly move to another team did he step up. And when notified in June that Seattle had stopped trade talks with other teams, Johnson discontinued his effort and pitched as if he were just coasting toward the off season.
Hopefully for the 'Stros, Johnson will realize he is a free agent in October and try to pitch like a man who deserves $10 million. Sunday's performance was the first step.
The move to bring Johnson to Houston will definitely put 40,000 people in the stands of the Astrodome on Friday, when Johnson will make his Dome debut. Ticket sales have skyrocketed since early Saturday morning, and he will try to not disappoint the throngs of new Johnson-ites.
The commotion over the Big Unit reached as far as the Astros clubhouse, where Craig Biggio, Jeff Bagwell and Moises Alou were, in Biggio's words, "totally pumped" over the Johnson trade. Yet the mania ended when the media caught up with Johnson and his agent after they found out about the trade in Seattle on Friday evening.
Johnson's agent was quoted on Friday by CNN/SI, saying that he did not want to go to the National League. He said the Unit was going to go to Houston and fulfill his contract, but made no mention of what would occur next season. The Astros had made no agreement with Johnson for an extension, nor would they discuss it with the media. It would seem that the proverbial "rent-a-player" situation is going to suffice for the rest of the season for the Astros and Johnson.
However, Houston gave up mega-prospect Freddie Garcia, Carlos Guillen and the "player to be named later," suspected to be blue chipper Daryle Ward. Garcia was an AA pitcher in Jackson who was scheduled to join the Major League team in the year 2000, just in time for a debut at the ballpark at Union Station. He was called the future of the Houston franchise, but now will go into the Seattle farm system and be lost forever in exchange for 10 to 12 starts by Johnson. Guillen is an AAA shortstop who has not made an impact in New Orleans and is an acceptable player, if there is one, to trade. Ward has been called by Biggio "the best pure hitter ever," but is a butcher in the field. As a first baseman, Ward will not play for Houston in the near future, but would be tough to give away as the player to be named.
And herein lies another point: The team gave up three minor leaguers who could contribute on the senior circuit in two years, and after this season is up the 'Stros will have nothing to show for the trade unless they win it all. However, the Yankees, Indians, Braves and Padres may have something to say about that.
Drayton McLane, even though he has shelled out for players in the past, including Moise Alou this year, will not put up $50 million for Johnson. Johnson could pitch in all seven games of the World Series, strike out 80 batters in the process and go 20-for-25 at the plate and McLane would not give up $10 million a year. Or would he?
McLane, President Tal Smith and Hunsicker have pulled the salesman's promise all year long. Before beginning training camp, McLane said he would have no more than a $30 million payroll this season. After spending $40 million, he looks like a saint. They also found a way to hijack Moises Alou from Florida for virtually nothing, solidifying left field after not resigning Luis Gonzales. Again McLane and Co. put its best foot forward in the middle of a public relations dream. However, the Johnson deal tops it all.
All season Hunsicker said McLane would not be willing or able to pay for another player that could possibly be acquired in a trade. As the Indians and Yankees publicly battled for Johnson, Hunsicker snuck in the back door and made huge waves in the NL race.
The $2 million pricetag was supposedly steep and difficult for the 'Stros to swallow, but with upwards of seven home dates in which Johnson could pitch, McLane will easily make his money back with the exponential increase in attendance, parking and concessions. With the playoffs upcoming, Johnson's home dates could easily pull 50,000 a game, crowds virtually unheard of in the regular season.
After his dominant performance Sunday, Johnson looks like a sure bet. His 2.57 ERA in the National League and his 12 strikeouts were impressive, but are they reasons enough to wager a substantial portion of the future? Most fans will say give an emphatic "hell yeah," but I would disagree. Hunsicker did his job because he really needed to show the current players that the front office is serious about winning. But Houston will lose Johnson after this season. Not only will they lose him, if they do not win at least the NL pennant, many will question the move as being brash. I consider myself to be the first.
However, if this move helps the team over the hump, Hunsicker will be heralded as a genius. Fans will praise him just like they did Rudy T. in the mid '90s. But they will expect more. Astros fans will want Johnson back. McLane will not pay him. Johnson may not want to return. Then what happens? The PR rush that is in full effect now will be lost and disgruntled fans will overflow from the Dome. The writers over at "Houston's Leading Information Source" will jump off the bandwagon and start the criticism.
Okay, they won't start it. I just did. And my bandwagon is welcoming anyone who wants to jump on board. But hurry up, 'cause the train wreck is just beginning, and you will certainly want to be there for the fallout. I think Drayton McLane is a brilliant man and a hell of an owner, but this move will not help the Astros in the longrun. And I will tell one and all of the impending problems the team will face.
Unless they win the Series. Then I take it all back.
D. Ryan Monceaux is a huge Astros fan, but he thinks they screwed up. E-mail him at coogsports@hotmail.com and tell him what you think.