On the Yankees beat

Are we worried about Randy Johnson yet? Everyone from Joe Torre to Ron Guidry to Jorge Posada to Derek Jeter says no. And they all took great pains to paint Sunday’s loss to Oakland in a positive light because the Big Unit recovered from a poor first inning and pitched five respectable innings thereafter. Still, it’s hard to ignore the results, especially that bloated 5.13 ERA. Also noteworthy is this: Johnson turns 43 in September.
Even Torre said a “special” outing from Johnson right now is “doubtful.” But if the Stadium radar gun is accurate, a couple of his fastballs hit 94 Sunday. That’s good enough to win if: (a) he hits his spots; (b) his slider is an effective second pitch, and (c) the Yankees get Gary Sheffield back soon and start becoming the offensive juggernaut they’ve been at times this season.
Since the rest of the starters have done well for the most part, Johnson’s shakiness hasn’t shaken the team’s foundation, nor dislodged them from the AL East race. So the team while carry the Big Unit for a while in the hope that he can return the favor later this season.
It sure puts each of his future starts in the must-see category, but maybe not for the reasons the Yankees anticipated when they signed him before the 2005 season. Speaking of future starts, how about his next one Friday against the Mets in the 2006 Subway Series opener. His scheduled opponent? Pedro Martinez.