At the trading deadline last season the Arizona Diamondbacks sent an over-rated 1st baseman, a solid reliever with alot of potential, and a couple of minor league pitchers to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for one Curt Schilling. At the time comparisons to Drysdale and Koufax were made but the buzz from such a potent rotation quickly susided when the Arizona Diamondbacks plummeted miserably out of first place.
2001 has been almost identical to 2000, will we see another post All-Star meltdown? Not if Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling have keep pitching like in the 1st half. This is the Curt Schilling the Diamondbacks thought they were getting in 2000. The Randy Johnson we've seen lately has been a rested and very effective strikeout machine. Drysdale and Koufax comparisons now seem very appropiate.
So far this season Curt Schilling leads all of baseball with 14 wins. Randy Johnson leads all of baseball with 225 strikeouts. In the last 2 outings Curt Schilling gave up only one hit over 9 innings, on only 3 days rest. Randy Johnson finished the Power Outagge delayed game and set a new record for strikeouts by a reliever. Striking out 16 over 7 innings and allowing only one hit.
All this phenomenal pitching will mean zero unless the offense of an aging staff can provide run support. Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling will forever be remembered as the best one-two punch in baseball only if the offense can take this team to the big dance. We'll have to wait and see.
|
