« Unit trade looks better every day »

Trading Randy Johnson seemed to be a rebuilding move for Arizona. In return they got Javier Vazquez, who struggled in New York. He's not Randy by any standards when Randy was Randy.

But which pitcher's stats would you rather in 2005?

1. 5-3, 3.65 ERA, 67 K in 74 IP, 1.15 WHIP, 2 CG
   
2. 5-3, 3.99 ERA, 58 K in 70 IP, 1.21 WHIP, 1 CG
   
3. 4-2, 2.98 ERA, 39 K in 66.1 IP, 1.28 WHIP, 0 CG
   

Pitcher #1 is Vazquez. Pitcher #2 is Johnson. Right now, Vazquez has as good or better numbers in every category -- including strikeouts and complete games.

Pitcher #3 isn't as good as either, but he is the Diamondbacks' Brad Halsey. Why did I include him among Vazquez and Johnson? At the time he was a no-name, but this 24-year-old lefthander was shipped over with Vazquez from New York in exchange for the Big Unit. He has given up fewer earned runs (22) this year than all of last year with New York (23) in twice the amount of innings.

Don't get me wrong, I miss Randy so, but given the way the season has progressed I'm glad he's on a different team. I sincerely hope he enters Cooperstown as the first D-Back, but the 41-year-old has only enough left in the tank to be an OK starting pitcher for the remainder of his career.