Major League baseball history was recorded yesterday in rain soaked Washington, DC. Randy Johnson, the Unit, won his 300th game of his career. This has been a benchmark for guaranteed Hall of Fame induction in retirement. It also marks the last time we will see one in quite awhile. With the modern era of short careers, bouncing back and forth between bullpen and rotation, and diluted pitching prospects make 300 a long shot for anyone.
While Johnson may not have been the favorite pitcher of his era, we should celebrate his accomplishments. However, I think we should also take the powers that be to task. Why was this game played? Sure, his attempt at 300 was already delayed a day due to rain. But yesterday was no better. The San Francisco Giants do not return to Washington the rest of the season. Maybe that's it. But really that rain was terrible. I don't see any reason this game should have been played except for the Unit.
With the LA Dodgers holding the NL West and the rest of the division in shambles, the Giants could only contend for a wild card berth. Still unlikely as the NL East is still popping with the Phillies, Mets, Marlins, and the reconfigured Braves. Don't forget the Central as well with Cubbies and Cards. The need for these games to be made up at the end of the season are unlikely. So why was the game played? More boggling is that the game was the one scheduled for a 4:30 ET start. 1:30 PT on a Thursday afternoon. The TV draw would be low. The whole decision seems to be a thorough lack of thought.
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I don't know where you got that we are in the "modern era of short careers." I don't have any stats to back this up, but it seems to me that more and more pitchers are pitching later and later into their 40s, with Jaime Moyer, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, Roger Clemens, and Randy Johnson all being examples. Because of that, I do see some other pitcher breaking 300 wins before most people expect. I've mentioned Sabathia before, but how about Andy Pettitte? He's got 220 wins and is 37 years old. If he pitches until he's 45 years old like Randy Johnson did, Pettitte would only need 10 wins a year to get to 300. Two more things both Pettitte and Sabathia have going for them is that they play for good offensive clubs and they are both left-handed.
As for the rainouts, the Major League Baseball schedules have very little wiggle room these days when it comes to making up games that are postponed. Interleague play and an unbalanced schedule means that outside of a team's own division, many teams only come into town once a year. If there's a rainout, the schedule makers are often out of luck, which is why they do everything they can to get the games in.
For me, the combination of all the factors make it unlikely. So when I said short careers, I meant injuries, suspensions, small cities keeping them in the minors longer. They may play until they are 45, but it's hard to see many players hit 15 wins/year from 23 to 43. Look at Moyer. Riding at 250 wins, there is no way he's getting to 300. He'd have to win 15 games for 3 more seasons, putting him at 50. The Phillies, and others cold find better pitchers before he's 50.
Petitte might be the best shot. However, I don't see the Yankees keeping him much more than a couple of seasons. Unless they get frugal in spending, there will be another Santana or Sabathia they'll drop $100M plus on.
It is too bad about the unbalanced schedule. But if you look at the two teams involved, the likelihood of the games counting and need to be played at the end of the season are very low. Also pre-all star break, I would think MLB would at least look at the off days and play them then if it looks like either team is making a playoff run. Given the attendance at the game, there's a good chance the Nationals are making very little if not running a loss, especially on a rain day. MIssing those games could have possibly saved money on stadium operation fees.