When Randy Johnson took the mound Tuesday in Scottsdale, it was just a few exits east on I-10 from the site where he helped build a Major League franchise.  That franchise was the Arizona Diamondbacks for whom he brought home four division titles, earned four of his five Cy Young awards, and captured a World Series title in 2001.

But his first against Arizona, according to Johnson, was just another spring training outing.  Telling MLB.com beat writer, Chris Haft, that he "had enough time to think about it" since signing with the Giants back in December.

If he hadn't fully processed the move, it would be hard to blame the Big Unit.  Johnson truly came into his own in the desert.  Later he would engineer an escape from New York prior to the '07 season so he could retire in the "House the Unit Built," better known as Chase Field.

The Diamondbacks had slightly different plans. Johnson offered to take a "home town discount" this season to stay with the D-Backs and pursue his 300th career win, and envisioned riding off past the Papago Hills and into the sunset. 

But, as it turned out, the Giants made the deal for Johnson and he was replaced in Arizona by free agent Jon Garland for a slight comparative discount; $7.25 million to Johnson's $8 million.

So let's assume RJ, which he prefers to the nickname "Big Unit," was facing the Diamondbacks with the same fervent tenacity he'll take with him to the mound on a Tuesday night against the Nationals.  That's absolutely great news for the Giants.

But if today's start (the one with the seven strikeouts on 42 pitches in three innings) was aided a little by revenge, could you blame him?

I can't.  Like I mentioned Johnson BUILT the Diamondbacks.  Sure, Jerry Colangelo and a few other really rich people (who may not be as rich today) brought the team to Phoenix. But, without the acquisition of Johnson, along with the leadership and integrity he provided that organization, the state of the Diamondbacks would be just as bleak today as the Marlins, Rockies, and pre '08 Rays.

In 1998 the Diamondbacks joined the National League West, they won only 65 games and lost 97.  Typical for an expansion team in their inaugural season.  Fast forward to 1999.  Arizona made a commitment to immediate and prolonged success.  They followed through on that commitment, and Johnson was the main cog.

In '99 Johnson lead the D-Backs to 102 wins and an NL West title.  He took home the first of four straight Cy Young awards, and led Arizona back to the postseason twice more before being traded to the Yankees prior to 2005.

In '04 Arizona finished dead last with a 51-111 record.  Johnson, at the fresh age of 40, went 16-14 with a 2.60 ERA.  Remarkable considering the team around him.  The next two seasons the D-Backs went 153-171, good for a .472 winning percentage without Johnson.

He not only built this organization, he gave the franchise a face, albeit not the prettiest. He pitched as well or better than anybody else in the game during his time in Arizona.  Then he came back and tried to do it again.

If Randy feels slighted by the Diamondbacks, that's fine.  If Arizona wanted to let his cranky back work for somebody else, that's also just okay.  Baseball is a business first, and a game second.  But you will never be able to completely divorce the human emotions from the business side.  But that's why we care.

When Johnson wins his 300th game he'll likely do it wearing a Giants uniform.  But if he's still bleeding a little purple and teal (and some maroon too) on the inside, that's fine with me.  He's earned the right.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are hoping the third time  is the charm when it comes to contract proposals given to Manny Ramirez.

The LA Times Dylan Hernandez published a story at 5:18 pm pacific time Wednesday evening, that the Dodgers have once again asked Manny to complete them. 

The deal is a hybrid of the previous two offers made by Los Angeles thus far.  This is a "two" year deal worth a total of $45 million.  The structure of the deal is slightly unique, being that it's the same one year $25 million pact offered earlier this month with a player option for 2010 which would be worth $20 million if exercised by Ramirez.

We'll see how this unfolds, but it has the feeling of the real thing.

Dodger owner Frank McCourt, previously best known for pioneering Boston's infamous 'Big Dig', has been more involved in the discussions the past week. 

Now Scott Boras will present the offer to his client, and likely any other team who will take a look.  That list of potential pawns of negotiation likely begins and ends with the Giants.

From my perspective the Giants have a chance here, and as I've said before if Larry Baer and Brian Sabean were to have mapped this scenario out in November, it would look pretty similar to what's transpired up to this point. 

Manny desperately wants a third year.  The Giants could sweep in with a three year deal in the neighborhood of $50 to $60 million and probably stand a good shot. Ultimately he wants dollars and years, and the Giants could beat the Dodgers in both categories without saddling themselves with a Zito2.0 type of contract.

Of course, there's no indication of this even being considered, and the Giants continue to play coy, assuming they playing at all.  Sabean said last week the Manny was on the "back burner."  Perhaps its Sabean telling a reporter to get over it, but it could be him posturing. 

This is more like how the Giants traditionally do things.  They don't talk about deals before they happen, period.  Zito was a surprise, the Matt Williams trade was a shock, and Bonds was the best kept secret in the history of big named free agent signings.  We'll know which column this Manny saga will fall into soon.

There is likely one fellow happier than anyone about this news, the Dodger's ticket salesperson who left a voice-mail for a prospective client that included "a little insider info."  The unnamed Dodger employee was hoping to close a deal by promising Manny to a Dodger fan who was less than impressed by the prospects of a Ramirez-less Dodger team.  The team later confirmed that the voice mail was not based on facts just excitement and the feeling that the team was "anticipating and building toward that (Manny resigning)." 

Hey, times are tough, I get it.

You can see the video and hear the message (if you care for that sort of thing here).

The Giants are going to perform their “due diligence” on 29-year-old right hander Muntader al-Zaidi, but team officials say landing the fast-rising star isn’t even “pie in the sky,” but more like “the longest of long shots.”

Zaidi came to prominence late last weekend in Iraq where he participated in an open ‘tryout’ in front of numerous anxious reporters.

President Bush, who was in town to deliver a simultaneous press conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki, offered to catch a bullpen session but was caught off guard upon finding out Zaidi would be throwing his shoes instead of the traditional baseball

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