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Randy Johnson News & Rumors

Giants, primed for reality TV, take victory lap with World Series trophy
January 15
Oakland Tribune
 columnist Cam Inman
"Coming soon to a Giants' ballpark near you are 1) San Francisco's first World Series trophy for display, and 2) Showtime television cameras for a reality series. Pause here for dramatic effect. (Sigh.) The Giants are creating a mass-exposure phenomenon. Yes, they should proudly show off their long-sought prize, taking it on a victory tour throughout the West Coast, as well as to their native soil in New York. Such exhibitionism is encouraged, as opposed to the kind that may emerge in Showtime's just-announced series on the 2011 Giants. A trophy is real, has staying power and creates goodwill. A TV show, not so much. Make the trophy visible, not the clubhouse. Who knows what will transpire"
Big Unit really was alone at the top
January 6
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
 columnist Larry Larue
"Randy Johnson's retirement got me wondering just when it was that he stopped caring if anyone liked him, and how one of the greatest left-hander pitchers in history could have played for six teams without making a friend. Don't misunderstand - every fifth day, the Big Unit was a man teammates loved to see on the mound. In between starts, he grated at managers, pitching coaches, players, trainers or anyone he happened to encounter. When he arrived in Seattle from Montreal in '89, he was a long, lanky young pitcher with a great arm, little confidence and no idea how to pitch effectively. But he was funny, and fun. A merry prankster who wore a conehead in the Kingdome dugout, Johnson was"
Randy Johnson's legend won't diminish with time
January 6
Oakland Tribune
 columnist Carl Steward
"TRUE TO THE SPIRIT of his astounding longevity, Randy Johnson conducted an exhaustive 43-minute retirement news conference Tuesday, even joking near its conclusion that most people had probably hung up on his long-winded goodbye. Doubtful, at least among media members who appreciate baseball history and true greatness in their midst, even if it's just over the telephone. Forty-three minutes is nothing when it comes to a player they'll be marveling at long after the last person who actually saw Johnson pitch breathes his last breath. From an inauspicious start as a gawky 6-foot-10 kid from Livermore who threw the ball hard but didn't have much clue where it was going, Johnson evolved into"
Ex-Mariners Randy Johnson, Edgar Martinez joined by history, week's events
January 6
Seattle Times
 
"They are forever enjoined in Mariners history, rising to their greatest heights on that magical October night at the Kingdome. Randy Johnson striding in from the bullpen. Edgar Martinez lashing the ball into the left-field corner. The human pile of joy at home plate. The images are eternal. And now they are enjoined again, Johnson and Martinez. Big Unit and Papi. The electric, enigmatic left-hander and the spectacularly steady hit machine. The one that got away, and the one that never left. Johnson on Tuesday announced his retirement, starting the clock on a Hall of Fame vote in five years that will be merely ceremonial. He'll be a no-brainer, first-ballot choice. The only mystery is"
Big Unit retires after 22 seasons and 303 victories
January 6
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Randy Johnson retired Tuesday. Though it was expected, his announcement brought home the fact that no longer will we see that tall, gangly frame on the mound, glove covering his face, with a sidearm delivery that made left-handed hitters find religion and a slider so good that it had its own name, "Mr. Snappy." Giants fans were the last to cheer him as their own. Johnson concluded his 22-year Hall of Fame career in San Francisco, where he earned the final eight of his 303 wins. His 300th came at Washington on June 4. His 4,875 strikeouts rank second to Nolan Ryan's 5,714. His 100 complete games included two no-hitters, one a perfect game, and he won a World Series ring with Arizona in"
Randy Johnson: 'Not a lot left for me to do'
January 6
San Jose Mercury News
 
"True to the spirit of his astounding longevity, Randy Johnson conducted an exhaustive 43-minute retirement news conference Tuesday, even joking near its conclusion that most people had probably hung up on his long-winded goodbye. Doubtful, at least among media members who appreciate baseball history and true greatness in their midst, even if it's just over the telephone. Forty-three minutes is nothing when it comes to a player they'll be marveling at long after the last person who actually saw Johnson pitch breathes his last breath. From an inauspicious start as a gawky 6-foot-10 kid from Livermore who threw the ball hard but didn't have much clue where it was going, Johnson evolved into"
Decision on Big Unit's future near
December 9
MLB.com
 
"Randy Johnson is still deciding whether to come back for a 23rd Major League season or retire, his agent told The Associated Press on Tuesday. Johnson's agent, Alan Nero, speaking from the Winter Meetings in Indianapolis, said the left-hander is currently spending time with his family in Arizona and could begin working out again soon. Johnson, 46, is expected to make his decision in the next few weeks, Nero told the AP. Johnson went 8-6 with a 4.88 ERA with the Giants this past season and became the 24th pitcher to reach the 300-win plateau in June. But Johnson missed two months because of a strained left shoulder and returned as a reliever in late September, posting a 6.23 ERA in five"
Randy Johnson to return?
November 23
Foxsports.com
 
"Free-agent left-hander Randy Johnson remains undecided about whether he will return for a 23rd season in 2010. Johnson's agent, Barry Meister, said that he had dinner with Johnson in Chicago over the weekend, and that the pitcher is still not sure about his immediate plans. "We talked about whether he wants to play or not," Meister said. "He's still in the process of evaluating all of his options and thinking through it. "He has played a long time. If anyone has the right to really think it through and figure out what he wants to do, he's the guy." Meister said Johnson has not set a timetable for his decision. Johnson, 46, spent last season with the Giants, and threw only 4 1/3 innings"
Big Unit is last Giant to file for free agency
November 17
MLB.com
 
"Randy Johnson left open the possibility of returning for a 22nd Major League season by filing for free agency Monday. This marks the second consecutive offseason in which Johnson, 46, has opted for free agency. Last December, he left the Arizona Diamondbacks to sign a one-year, $8 million contract with the Giants. Johnson's season in San Francisco was a memorable one, featuring his 300th career victory June 4 in the opener of a doubleheader at Washington. But Johnson injured his left (throwing) shoulder on July 5 against Houston in what proved to be his 17th and final start of the season. He recovered in time to make five relief appearances in September, but the 303-game winner clearly"
Giants' Johnson encouraged by BP session, but won't be activated for Rockies series
September 15
San Jose Mercury News
 
"Johnson won't pitch during Rockies series Randy Johnson and Madison Bumgarner sat at adjacent lockers, wearing twin icepacks on their left shoulders, and shared a laugh. Johnson is 46, he has a torn rotator cuff and he's trying to make it back for one last fist pump. Bumgarner is the Giants' 20-year-old top prospect, with all the benefits of youth. "I go out there and I pretty much get loose from the first throw," Bumgarner said. Better not tell that to the Big Unit. As Johnson said after throwing two simulated innings Monday, "I don't think with another one of these, I'll go from this to 25 again and knocking the catcher over." Johnson owned eight major league wins when Bumgarner was"
Johnson determined to help out in Giants bullpen
September 13
San Jose Mercury News
 
"Johnson's determined to help out in bullpen The Giants are slipping from contention, but Randy Johnson remains determined to contribute as a reliever in the final weeks. Even if the team fails to realize its playoff dreams, Johnson wants to leave on his terms. "I felt I owed it to everybody in this clubhouse to come back," said Johnson, who will throw a simulated inning Monday. "I owed it to the ownership, and I owed it to myself. "It would be easy at age 46 to say, 'OK, well, I've got a torn rotator cuff. I'm not coming back.' But I didn't do that when I had any of my knee surgeries or back surgeries. Why should it be different now? "After 21 years of coming back from things, I don't want"
Johnson still hoping to provide relief
August 31
San Jose Mercury News
 
"Johnson hoping he still can provide some relief Barring a rehabilitation setback, Randy Johnson has a loose two-week target date to return to the Giants. But he doesn't expect to be back as the pitcher everyone remembers. Johnson, 45, has a rotator-cuff tear in his left shoulder that isn't going to heal over the next month. But based on his pain-free rehab, Johnson believes he can help the Giants down the stretch, most likely in relief. "By no means in the next seven weeks will I be able to go back out there and throw 91-92 (mph) again," he said. "But it would be well-worth it if I could just pitch to a couple batters this year and get a couple more outs." Working out near his home in"
Updates on Johnson, Sanchez
August 24
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Though the disabled list is an option for Freddy Sanchez, it might not be the final destination for Randy Johnson. The Giants aren't ruling out a Johnson comeback, and the plan is for the 45-year-old lefty to begin tossing on flat ground during the upcoming homestand, perhaps in Arizona. With 38 games remaining in the season and perhaps more in the postseason, Johnson still could be a factor after slightly tearing his rotator cuff on a July 5 swing. "It's possible," manager Bruce Bochy said of a Johnson return. Sanchez missed his sixth straight game (10th of 23 since his trade) with a strained left shoulder and is doubtful for today. A DL stint would be retroactive to Tuesday. The second"
Randy Johnson's hometown welcomes its favorite son
August 12
Contra Costa Times
 
"San Francisco Giants pitcher Randy Johnson isn't accustomed to having fastballs blown by him; let alone two thrown by a 5-year-old. But the 6-foot-10 Livermore native deserves some slack, he isn't normally on the receiving end of pitches and it's a long way down for him to get into the catcher's position. Evelyn Pizer also unloaded the first pitch before the Giants pitcher, nicknamed "The Big Unit," was ready. The pitches ended a ceremony hosted by a number of sponsors to have a newly finished baseball field at May Nissen Park named in Johnson's honor. And Johnson, 45, would not changed anything that happened Tuesday. "Anybody should be flattered to have something named after them," said"
Livermore to welcome Randy Johnson home
August 8
Contra Costa Times
 
"Future generations of Livermore children will get to grow up playing baseball on a field named after one of their own. A newly renovated field at May Nissen Park has been designated Randy Johnson Field, after star San Francisco Giants pitcher and Livermore native Randy Johnson. The athlete, who has been with the Giants since the start of the year, is expected to return home for a dedication ceremony at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the field at 685 Rincon Ave. The 6-foot 10-inch Johnson, nicknamed "The Big Unit," will throw out the first pitch at the event, which will also include hot dogs, a game after the ceremony and an appearance by Giants mascot Lou Seal. The public is invited. "When we"
No victory laps appears in cards for 'Big Unit,' Giambi
July 30
Contra Costa Times
 
"THE STRATEGIES were sound, the costs reasonable, the gestures noble, the risks low and the rewards potentially high. Each team made the right call. There should be no regrets in Oakland for signing Jason Giambi, and none in San Francisco for signing Randy Johnson. But these are not the farewell tours anybody hoped for. Not the A's, not the Giants, not their fans - and certainly neither of the players. Johnson and Giambi take pride in their willingness to prepare, physically and mentally, for the demands of a 162-game schedule. Each pushes himself hard, then harder. It's a part of the makeup. And each spent the first half of the season persuading a disobedient body to take the field on a"
Injury lands Johnson on 60-day DL
July 29
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Randy Johnson was in a chipper mood for a 45-year-old pitcher who just learned he has a slight rotator-cuff tear in his left shoulder and will not pitch until September. Johnson was placed on the 60-day disabled list Tuesday to clear a 40-man spot for Ryan Garko, which means he will not be able to return before Sept. 4. "The first thing I thought of was I won't be able to do my instructional hitting video. That will be on the backburner for a while," Johnson said, before getting serious and adding, "I've overcome three back surgeries, there or four knee surgeries. I've been on the DL and rehabbed and know what that's all about. It's one more speed bump in the road of my career." But he"
Randy Johnson's return still up in the air
July 28
Contra Costa Times
 
"Randy Johnson said Monday he felt much better than he did three weeks ago when he strained his left rotator cuff on a swing against Houston on July 5. But when he'll be able to pitch again remains to be seen. Johnson was examined by Dr. Ken Akizuki right before the Giants' game with the Pittsburgh Pirates, and manager Bruce Bochy didn't have much in the way of new information after the Giants' 4-2 win. "Randy was re-evaluated, and it's still going to be a little bit of time," Bochy said. "We don't have a target date for him, but it's still going to be a few days before we get him throwing. I'll know more (today) after I get what the (doctor's) plan is, and we'll know more about where we're"
Johnson's return remains undetermined
July 25
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"The most optimistic prognosis for Randy Johnson's return was three weeks. Sunday will mark 21 days since he strained his pitching shoulder, and the Giants still cannot even guess when the Big Unit will return. Manager Bruce Bochy said Friday that Johnson, who has been strengthening the shoulder in Arizona, will return to San Francisco for an MRI exam on Monday "to see where we're at. It's going to take some time. I couldn't give you a date till Monday." Johnson needs to regain arm strength once he starts throwing, so the Giants would have to be thrilled with a mid- to late-August return. "We're still being optimistic we'll get some good news Monday and he'll start his rehab," Bochy said."
Randy Johnson out at least two weeks
July 7
San Jose Mercury News
 
"The Giants' All-Star-studded pitching staff will be without its biggest member for at least two weeks, and possibly longer. Randy Johnson was placed on the 15-day disabled list after an MRI exam revealed a strained rotator cuff. The Giants, who already had 13 pitchers on the roster, recalled infielder Kevin Frandsen from Triple-A Fresno; Manager Bruce Bochy said left-hander Jonathan Sanchez will start in Johnson's place Friday against the San Diego Padres. Bochy said Johnson, 45, will begin a strengthening program and "hopefully be back in two to three weeks." But the manager acknowledged that Johnson's timetable will be unpredictable, saying, "I'm sure age becomes a factor at this stage.""
Big Unit hurts shoulder in Giants' loss
July 6
MLB.com
 
"The Giants began Sunday by celebrating their pitching. They ended the afternoon worrying about it.Randy Johnson departed after 3 2/3 innings with a strained left (throwing) shoulder, establishing the subdued tone of the Giants' 7-1 loss to the Houston Astros.Johnson's immediate pitching status is uncertain. He's expected to undergo an MRI on Monday, which could reveal the extent of his injury.If Johnson has to miss a start, it would mark a rare encounter with adversity for the Giants pitching staff, who placed Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum on the National League All-Star squad before the game. No member of the starting rotation has missed a turn this year due to injury.Manager Bruce Bochy"
Johnson injures shoulder
July 6
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Though the Giants maintained a 11/2-game lead in the wild-card race after their 7-1 loss to Houston on Sunday afternoon, their potential run to the postseason might have taken a disheartening turn. Randy Johnson left the game in the fourth, an inning after injuring his throwing shoulder on an off-balanced swing. The Giants are calling it a "shoulder strain" and waiting for MRI test results today before making predictions about the severity. "It was very scary," Bengie Molina said. "He was throwing a lot slower. You just hope and pray that nothing happened too serious and he can make his next start." The images of Johnson laboring in pain were about as frightening as his postgame chat with"
Giants' Randy Johnson to have MRI exam on shoulder
July 6
San Jose Mercury News
 
"Johnson to have MRI exam today The rollicking start to the Giants' homestand came to a sobering halt Sunday when left-hander Randy Johnson abruptly exited his start in the fourth inning because of a left-shoulder strain during a 7-1 loss to the Houston Astros. The extent of the injury won't be clear until Johnson has an MRI exam today. Johnson was in no mood to discuss his status after the game, saying, "It's a strain, I'm getting an MRI. That's all I have to say." Then he brusquely walked off, presumably for additional treatment. The first sign of trouble came when Johnson swung awkwardly during a strikeout in a third-inning at-bat, wincing as the bat sailed out of his hands and to the"
Unit, Pujols ready to rekindle rivalry
June 29
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Randy Johnson was asked Sunday how he has fared against Albert Pujols, now the best hitter in baseball, and said with a smile, "I'm sure he's hit a home run off me and I'm sure I've struck him out once." Actually, Pujols has slammed three regular-season homers against Johnson, and Johnson has struck him out three times. On Tuesday, Pujols will take a .429 lifetime average against the Big Unit into the second night of a four-game series at Busch Stadium, which begins tonight with Tim Lincecum pitching. "I'm looking forward to the challenge," Johnson said. The Giants actually have limited the potential damage by Pujols in recent years. Even in San Francisco last month, Pujols went 7-for-11"
When Radar Gun Hits 100 M.P.H., Theres More Than Meets the Eye
June 21
New York Times
 
"In every obvious way, Randy Johnson and Tim Lincecum are the polar opposites of pitching. Separated by 20 years in age, nearly a foot in height and 270 victories, they embody contrast: Johnson as the older, taller, surly left-hander; Lincecum as his younger, shorter, right-handed, more personable counterpoint. Yet for all their differences, these San Francisco starters and Cy Young Award winners have each flung fastballs in excess of 100 miles an hour, a rarity even in the rarefied air of the major leagues. The question, then, is how? How can Johnson, the towering lefty with the intimidating scowl, and Lincecum, the marvel of motion who has been mistaken for a batboy, accomplish the same"
Giants set to fete Big Unit for 300th win
June 20
MLB.com
 
"Randy Johnson's 300th career victory must feel like it occurred weeks ago. Well, technically, it did. Johnson joined the club every starting pitcher aspires to become a member of when he pitched six solid innings against the Washington Nationals on June 4. The Giants will honor Johnson on Saturday at AT"
D'backs honor Johnson
June 11
San Francisco Chronicle
 columnist Bruce Jenkins
"The Arizona Diamondbacks were in a more celebratory mood than Randy Johnson was Wednesday night. After missing a day to attend his daughter's eighth-grade graduation, Johnson declined media interviews on the night he was given a video tribute at Chase Field, saying he had too much catch-up work to do. As well as he pitched for so many teams over the years, Johnson was most dominant in his first of two stints with Arizona (1999-2004). He was co-MVP of the 2001 World Series, pitched a perfect game against Atlanta in May of '04, racked up 36 complete games, had a 24-5 season in 2002, led the National League in ERA three times, and had a phenomenal four-year run of strikeouts, leading the"
D-Backs fans give Unit standing ovation
June 11
East Valley Tribune
 
"Randy Johnson returned to Chase Field Wednesday as a 300-game winner, and Diamondbacks fans gave him a standing ovation. Johnson, who recorded his 300th career victory last Thursday, was honored during a video tribute at the end of the third inning of the Diamondbacks-San Francisco Giants game. Several of his career highlights were shown, including his perfect game in May 2004, his 20-strikeout game three years earlier and, of course, the famous shot of Johnson and Curt Schilling hoisting the World Series trophy high above their heads. When the tribute was completed, the crowd rose as one and warmly applauded Johnson, who stood up from his seat in the dugout, tipped his cap and"
Giants' Johnson could go for win No. 301 on short rest
June 7
San Jose Mercury News
 
"The Giants aren't talking about skipping Randy Johnson's next start any longer. Amazingly, they might send the Big Unit to the mound on short rest instead. Manager Bruce Bochy made the stunning announcement that Johnson would be a candidate to pitch Monday's series finale at LandShark Stadium. Johnson, the newest 300-game winner, noted significant improvement to his bruised left shoulder while playing long toss Saturday. "Better than I thought it'd go," said Johnson, who didn't hold anything back during the flat-ground session. "I was encouraged. We'll see what they have planned and go from there." Johnson threw 78 pitches while winning his 300th game Thursday. Matt Cain threw 86 pitches"
From history to future: Unit looks forward
June 6
MLB.com
 
"To Randy Johnson, his performance now can be viewed properly in terms of how it affects the team, not just his personal record. Johnson has repeated since he joined the Giants last offseason that his goal was to help the club improve, not to secure the five victories he needed to reach 300. With Johnson having achieved the latter Thursday night, he hopes that attention will be paid to his efforts to hasten the Giants' turnaround. "The part that I really came here for starts from my next start until the end of the year," Johnson said Friday in the wake of his six-inning, one-run outing in the Giants' 5-1 triumph at Washington.When that next start will come is an issue. Johnson's bruised"
Next up for Randy Johnson is to pass Tom Terrific
June 6
Contra Costa Times
 columnist Carl Steward
"DARTING HERE and there ... i So what's next for Randy Johnson? Anything he wants. Even though he's just 155 strikeouts from 5,000, his amazing career doesn't really require any additional milestones. But here's one that hasn't been dwelled on much: He's the greatest pitcher Northern California has ever produced, and arguably the entire state. Johnson became the 24th major leaguer to achieve 300 wins, but he's only the second California-born player to do it. Tom Seaver, a Fresno native, was by himself until Thursday with 311 wins. The chance to pass "Tom Terrific" might be more incentive for Johnson to stick around another year than the 5,000 K's. The Seaver-Johnson "who's better""
Giants' Johnson flooded with messages after notching 300th win
June 6
San Jose Mercury News
 
"When Randy Johnson receives a text message, his cell phone trills like a slot machine. So when he switched it on a few hours after achieving his 300th career victory Thursday night, the visiting clubhouse at Nationals Park sounded like the floor at Caesar's Palace. "The final tally was 50 text messages, 39 voice mails, and when I fired up my computer in the hotel, 40 emails," said Johnson, who spent most of Friday morning returning calls. If any of the well-wishers asked about No.301, Johnson didn't have an answer. The 45-year-old left-hander said his shoulder was "pretty sore" on Friday, one day after he jammed it while making a diving throw in the sixth inning. Johnson's next start is"
At his core, Johnson is a laborer
June 5
East Valley Tribune
 columnist Scott Bordow
"It was never easy for Randy Johnson. Even when he was slinging fastballs in there at 99 mph and his slider was turning hitters into pretzels, pitching was always a heavy weight for Johnson. He knew no other way. He'd work himself into a competitive rage on the days he pitched, often fueled by some perceived slight or injustice. He'd give everything he had - both emotionally and physically - so even when he was perfect for nine innings that magical night in Atlanta, it took a young catcher named Robbie Hammock to run toward him with a silly grin on his face before Johnson would allow himself to relax and, finally, crack a smile himself. "It was a total laser-beam focus," former Diamondbacks"
Empty seats for milestone game
June 5
Washington Examiner
 columnist Rick Snider
"The Big Unit reached a big milestone - 300 wins. Randy Johnson looked like the sure Hall of Famer he'll one day become. Relying on a fastball 10 mph slower than his prime, the San Francisco Giants left-hander secured his historic moment with a 5-1 victory over the Washington Nationals on Thursday. Johnson opened with three perfect innings before dinged for a walk in the fourth, a hit in the fifth and an unearned run in the sixth. Fans clearly were behind Johnson, moaning twice over questionable ball calls that would have been strikeouts while cheering Johnson after chasing down a grounder while tripping. Johnson became baseball's 24th and perhaps last 300-game winner for many years. It was"
Big win for the Big Unit
June 5
Washington Examiner
 
"It did not matter that the climactic win came 3,000 miles from home. It did not matter that it came on a rainy weekday afternoon against a last-place team in an empty stadium. History can still be made in such places. And Randy Johnson was ready for it on Thursday against the Nationals. The San Francisco Giants' 45-year-old lefthander put an exclamation point on his brilliant 22-year career, pitching six solid innings in a 5-1 San Francisco victory to earn his 300th win. Only 23 other pitchers in Major League Baseball history have won that many games. It is unlikely anyone will do so again soon. After the final out was recorded - a swing-and-a-miss strikeout by Nats catcher Wil Nieves -"
Cowboy up! Johnson wins 300th
June 5
Contra Costa Times
 columnist Cam Inman
"NEITHER RAIN NOR a near-empty stadium (nor a league-worst Washington Nationals team vs. the Giants' iffy bullpen) prevented Giants pitcher Randy Johnson from winning his 300th career game Thursday. The conditions were terribly sad for a significant milestone. But Johnson, a Livermore High School Cowboy, blocked out the elements in six impressive innings of work. He exited with a 2-1 lead, and the Giants used a three-run rally in the ninth to cushion their (Johnson's) 5-1 triumph. Take a moment and appreciate this pitching milestone, especially because hitting milestones (see: 763 home runs, 3,000 hits) won't be as regaled because of the steroid-era's effect. Great scene (via Comcast"
Johnson reaches 300-win milestone
June 5
Baltimore Sun
 
"The 6-foot-10 lefty with perhaps the most menacing sneer and imposing mound presence in baseball history had to take a few exaggerated breaths to keep from breaking down Thursday night. Sitting before reporters at Nationals Park after becoming the 24th member of major league baseball's 300-win club, San Francisco left-hander Randy Johnson's face reddened as he struggled to explain what he was feeling after the Giants' 5-1 win over the Washington Nationals. "This is kind of a long-term thing that has been going on for 21 years, and you finally get to this day," said Johnson, who at age 45 is the second-oldest pitcher to reach the milestone. "And you know that if your team plays well, you"
Johnson wins 300th game
June 5
Baltimore Sun
 
"The 6-foot-10 left-hander with perhaps the most menacing sneer and imposing mound presence in baseball history had to take a few exaggerated breaths to keep from breaking down Thursday night. Sitting before reporters at Nationals Park after becoming the 24th and newest member of Major League Baseball's 300-win club, San Francisco Giants left-hander Randy Johnson's face reddened as he struggled to explain what he was feeling after the Giants' 5-1 win over the Washington Nationals. "This is kind of a long-term thing that has been going on for 21 years, and you finally get to this day," said Johnson, who at age 45 is the second-oldest pitcher to reach the 300-win milestone. "And you know that"
Despite gloomy day, Big Unit still shines
June 5
Washington Times
 columnist Thom Loverro
"Some might say it was wrong for Randy Johnson to make history on such a rainy, gloomy day before such a sparse crowd at Nationals Park on Thursday afternoon. That is not the case. It was a fitting way for Randy Johnson to get his 300th career victory - a dark, dreary day, befitting his public persona, as a handful of fans witnessed the historic 5-1 win by Johnson and the San Francisco Giants. The 6-foot-10 left-hander who once shoved a New York cameraman out of his path upon his arrival as a free agent with the Yankees carried himself throughout his career as if he would have rather pitched with no one watching. There won't be any tears shed when Johnson finally leaves the game. His"
Johnson gets 300th win
June 5
Washington Times
 
"When the Montreal Expos traded a gangly left-hander named Randy Johnson to the Seattle Mariners in May 1989, they were unloading a 6-foot-10 mountain of hyperbolic contradiction. Johnson's fastball touched 100 mph, but he rarely knew where it was going. He stepped toward the plate with swirling aggression, his scraggly mullet and moustache framing a permanent scowl. In his first no-hitter, for the Mariners in 1990, Johnson struck out eight and walked six -- the latter being the statistic his father, Bud, harped on in a phone call that night. Johnson pitched Thursday looking as different as the franchise that traded him away all those years ago. The team had been threatened with"
Randy Johnson notches 300th victory
June 5
Chicago Tribune
 columnist Phil Rogers
"Somewhat shy, somewhat aloof and armed with a Hall of Fame glare, Randy Johnson rarely has slapped backs. He never has led the league in hugs and postgame beers with the boys. But his greatness commands respect. His 300th victory on the line, Johnson needed some help in the eighth inning Thursday at a soggy, mostly deserted Nationals Park. He got it from plate umpire Tim Timmons. Timmons gave San Francisco Giants closer Brian Wilson a phantom strike call on a 3-2 pitch at the ankles with the bases loaded, stunning Adam Dunn and preserving a 2-1 lead. Hello, Cooperstown. "That was a huge pitch [to Dunn]," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "That got the win for Randy." As Wilson finished off"
On First Try, Johnson Joins 300 Club
June 5
New York Times
 
"After Randy Johnson recorded victory No. 300, after he tipped his cap and hugged his family and soaked in a standing ovation, it was hard to conjure a similar milestone played under worse conditions, with less fanfare. Johnson pitched Thursday at Nationals Park in front of a sparse crowd whose members carried umbrellas and wore ponchos. He pitched in both light and pelting rain. He left after 6 innings and 78 pitches because of his "senior moment," a diving throw that bruised his shoulder. After some 21 seasons and more than 22 hours of rain delays, Johnson celebrated his milestone victory and the San Francisco Giants' 5-1 win over Washington inside a cramped office in the visitors'"
Rain delays Johnson's shot at No. 300
June 4
Washington Times
 
"Randy Johnson's pursuit of career win No. 300 will have to wait another day. The San Francisco Giants left-hander was due to start Wednesday night against the Washington Nationals in his first attempt at joining the most exclusive pitching club in baseball, but several lines of vicious thunderstorms and a soaked field forced the game to be postponed after a delay of more than 3 1/2 hours. "We really tried," Nationals president Stan Kasten said. "The umpires did a great job. We were all trying to get it done. But at the end of the night, it's not worth the risk to our players to play on that field tonight." The two teams now will play a true doubleheader Thursday beginning at 4:35 p.m."
Johnson Has to Wait To Go for 300th Win
June 4
Washington Post
 
"Randy Johnson's pursuit of his 300th win must wait. After a rain delay that lasted 3 hours 42 minutes, last night's scheduled game between the Washington Nationals and San Francisco Giants was called at 10:47 p.m. because of the condition of the playing field. Johnson, the veteran Giants pitcher, will chase history in the first game of a traditional doubleheader. He will match up against Nationals pitcher Jordan Zimmermann at 4:35 today. Fellow rookie Ross Detwiler will start the second game for the Nationals against San Francisco's Matt Cain. "The field is not playable, and that's the reason we can't play tonight," Nationals President Stan Kasten said minutes before 11 p.m. "As you know,"
Johnson's first try for win No. 300 will wait till Thursday
June 4
San Jose Mercury News
 
"There was only one way Randy Johnson could've sparkled on the mound Wednesday night: Walk onto the field and hold a 7-iron in the air. Steady rain and occasional lightning made it impossible for Johnson to throw the first pitch in pursuit of his 300th career victory. Mindful of the milestone, the Giants and Washington Nationals waited until 10:47 p.m. EDT before relenting to a postponement. The game will be made up as a traditional doubleheader today at Nationals Park; Johnson will start the first game, which is scheduled to begin at 4:35 EDT. But with more problematic weather in the forecast, both sides could be stuck in another holding pattern. "For a game with a player going for a"
Johnson at the height of his profession
June 3
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Had the Norse deity Thor grown his hair into a mullet, he might have looked something like Giants pitcher Randy Johnson. For nearly two decades, Johnson was baseball's god of thunder, a scowling, intimidating left-hander, 2 inches shy of 7 feet tall, who could sling a baseball side-armed at 100 miles an hour and gelatinize the knees of even the best hitters. At 45, Johnson no longer hurls lightning bolts the way he once did, but he still can win, as he has done four times in 2009. When he returns to the mound today in Washington to face the Nationals, the worst team in the majors and the franchise that drafted him 24 years ago, Johnson has a chance to become the 24th major leaguer to reach"
As 300th victory looms, Randy Johnson perseveres
June 3
Chicago Tribune
 columnist Phil Rogers
"Randy Johnson had just become the oldest pitcher to throw a perfect game -- a feat that left him with some mixed feelings. He wasn't looking to take the Advil account away from Nolan Ryan. "You guys keep saying I'm old," Johnson said to reporters. "And someday I will be." That was more than five years ago, after his 2004 bit of perfection against the Atlanta Braves, a game in which his final pitch clocked at 98 m.p.h., and the truth is we're finally closing in on that chapter in his one-of-a-kind career. Johnson can't go to the mound and beat hitter after hitter with his blazing fastball anymore. He has to pitch. But you figure that's probably all right with the 6-foot-10-inch left-hander"
Johnson Quietly Nears a Defining Moment
June 3
New York Times
 
"Anticipation shot through the visiting clubhouse Tuesday, briefly interrupting the video games and the card games that occupied the San Francisco Giants. They seemed to sense a milestone approaching, a date sure to be recorded, a moment they will not soon forget. Only this moment had nothing to do with Randy Johnson, the pitcher who will attempt Wednesday to become the latest 300-game winner. Instead, Wednesday's scheduled visit to the White House dominated conversations the way Johnson has long dominated the opposition. Johnson strolled through the clubhouse, slim as ever, 6 feet 10 inches, unnoticed and unbothered, on the verge of a landmark victory but not inclined to speak about it. He"
Randy Johnson on future 300-game winners: 'Anything's possible. Look at me.'
June 2
San Jose Mercury News
 
"If you believe the prevailing wisdom, Randy Johnson is about to become a 6-foot-10 dodo bird. With his next win, he'll be the 24th pitcher in major league history to join the 300-victory club. And it's fashionable to suggest he'll be the last of his kind. But if you make that suggestion to Johnson, don't expect a polite nod. Johnson's own fossil record suggests that the next 300-game winner could be among us right now, not necessarily ticketed for greatness but toiling to throw strikes. "I'm not going to say I'll be the last because everyone overlooked me," said the Giants' 45-year-old left-hander, who pitches Wednesday at Washington. "That was the talk when (Tom) Glavine got there (in"
300 wins is still a huge unit
June 2
Arizona Republic
 columnist Bob Young
"For the most part, Randy Johnson's pursuit of a 300th career pitching victory has been met with indifference. He could become the 24th pitcher in major league history to reach the milestone Wednesday when he goes for No. 300 against the Washington Nationals. Whenever he gets there, he will be one of only four pitchers to record at least 300 victories and 4,000 strikeouts. Considering that with so much specialization in the game, only four other pitchers have reached 300 victories from 1990 on, it is even more newsworthy. So how come it doesn't seem like that big of a deal? Part of it is Johnson's own doing. He hasn't exactly connected with fans through the years. Plus, he has no history"