Sunday, March 26, 2006
Big Unit rounding into form
03/14/2006
TAMPA, Fla. -- Opening Day is less than three weeks away, and Randy Johnson is right on schedule.
The Big Unit took the mound for his third start of the spring on Tuesday, allowing two runs on five hits over five innings against the Cardinals at Legends Field. Johnson is 0-1 with a 5.25 ERA, but the left-hander believes he's exactly where he should be with three spring starts remaining.
"I think the results on the scoreboard don't necessarily reflect how I feel," Johnson said. "If I'm getting something out of the performance, then to me, it doesn't really matter what the scoreboard indicates."
"He had a real good angle on his slider, had life on his fastball and threw some good splitters," said manager Joe Torre. "He really did it quickly, too."
Johnson looked like he was in midseason form during the first four innings, allowing just one hit. After giving up a one-out single to So Taguchi in the first, Johnson retired the next 11 batters, using just 36 pitches through four frames.
"I still made a couple of mistakes," Johnson said. "They may not have been noticeable on the scoreboard, but to me and Kelly [Stinnett], we realized and knew we made some mistakes and got away with them. You're not going to be perfect out there every pitch, but overall, I felt pretty good."
Johnson struck out Scott Spiezio to start the fifth, but Chris Duncan -- the 24-year-old son of St. Louis pitching coach Dave Duncan -- took Johnson deep to tie the game at 1.
From there, Johnson allowed three consecutive singles, giving the Cardinals a one-run lead. One out later, Johnson walked Taguchi to load the bases, but he got Scott Rolen for the third out on a hard-hit fly ball that sent Bubba Crosby back toward the warning track.
"I cruised along through the first four innings, but then I kind of hit a wall I guess," Johnson said. "When you get to the fifth inning, you can't lose your concentration, despite maybe hitting a wall because you're a little tired.
"Those are the things you go through and get beyond during Spring Training," he added. "I'd rather have that experience now than during the year."
"That's why you start with two or three innings and then stretch it out an inning each time," Torre said. "Stamina is something you work toward right now."
Johnson has thrown 12 innings this spring, putting him on pace to hit the goal of 27-30 innings that he set for himself. His next start will come on Sunday at home against the Indians, followed by road starts against the Twins and Tigers to wrap up his spring.
As a power pitcher, Johnson has more to work into shape than some of his teammates. In addition to working on his mechanics and location, the 42-year-old has to build his arm strength to the point where he can reach the mid-to-high 90s with his fastball with regularity.
"I'd love to have my velocity, location and mechanics all down, but all three things take time," Johnson said. "The only way to work on things is to go out and pitch in games. I've seen little bits of improvement in all three areas; my location was much better today, my velocity was better in my last start and my slider was better today.
"The more you pitch, the more chances you have to work on those things and get everything where you want them to be," Johnson added. "You have to put it all together, and sometime before spring is over, have the finished product that goes into Opening Day."
Source: http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/
TAMPA, Fla. -- Opening Day is less than three weeks away, and Randy Johnson is right on schedule.
The Big Unit took the mound for his third start of the spring on Tuesday, allowing two runs on five hits over five innings against the Cardinals at Legends Field. Johnson is 0-1 with a 5.25 ERA, but the left-hander believes he's exactly where he should be with three spring starts remaining.
"I think the results on the scoreboard don't necessarily reflect how I feel," Johnson said. "If I'm getting something out of the performance, then to me, it doesn't really matter what the scoreboard indicates."
"He had a real good angle on his slider, had life on his fastball and threw some good splitters," said manager Joe Torre. "He really did it quickly, too."
Johnson looked like he was in midseason form during the first four innings, allowing just one hit. After giving up a one-out single to So Taguchi in the first, Johnson retired the next 11 batters, using just 36 pitches through four frames.
"I still made a couple of mistakes," Johnson said. "They may not have been noticeable on the scoreboard, but to me and Kelly [Stinnett], we realized and knew we made some mistakes and got away with them. You're not going to be perfect out there every pitch, but overall, I felt pretty good."
Johnson struck out Scott Spiezio to start the fifth, but Chris Duncan -- the 24-year-old son of St. Louis pitching coach Dave Duncan -- took Johnson deep to tie the game at 1.
From there, Johnson allowed three consecutive singles, giving the Cardinals a one-run lead. One out later, Johnson walked Taguchi to load the bases, but he got Scott Rolen for the third out on a hard-hit fly ball that sent Bubba Crosby back toward the warning track.
"I cruised along through the first four innings, but then I kind of hit a wall I guess," Johnson said. "When you get to the fifth inning, you can't lose your concentration, despite maybe hitting a wall because you're a little tired.
"Those are the things you go through and get beyond during Spring Training," he added. "I'd rather have that experience now than during the year."
"That's why you start with two or three innings and then stretch it out an inning each time," Torre said. "Stamina is something you work toward right now."
Johnson has thrown 12 innings this spring, putting him on pace to hit the goal of 27-30 innings that he set for himself. His next start will come on Sunday at home against the Indians, followed by road starts against the Twins and Tigers to wrap up his spring.
As a power pitcher, Johnson has more to work into shape than some of his teammates. In addition to working on his mechanics and location, the 42-year-old has to build his arm strength to the point where he can reach the mid-to-high 90s with his fastball with regularity.
"I'd love to have my velocity, location and mechanics all down, but all three things take time," Johnson said. "The only way to work on things is to go out and pitch in games. I've seen little bits of improvement in all three areas; my location was much better today, my velocity was better in my last start and my slider was better today.
"The more you pitch, the more chances you have to work on those things and get everything where you want them to be," Johnson added. "You have to put it all together, and sometime before spring is over, have the finished product that goes into Opening Day."
Source: http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/
