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JOE: UNIT WILL BE BIG
Steve Serby
July 14, 2006 -- SOMETHING tells Joe Torre The Big Unit is finally ready to
be The Big Difference.
Over the first year-and-a-half of his Yankee career, Randy Johnson has been
forced to read too many tabloid back page headlines blaring The Big Mystery,
The Big Stiff, etcetera, etcetera. New York knocks the smile off some
mercenaries and the scowl off others. It can make a pitcher two months shy
of his 43rd birthday grow old overnight. Torre, who could probably look at
Yogi Berra and see Brad Pitt if he had to, is undoubtedly hoping against hope
Johnson has tamed whatever inner beast has shaken him the way it did Bobby
Bonilla, and Roger Clemens, and Alex Rodriguez, and Carlos Beltran.
But when you are chasing the Red Sox, 21/2 games in front when Johnson takes
the ball tonight against the White Sox, you hope against hope.
"He's about as relaxed as I've seen him since he's been here," Torre said
yesterday at his Safe At Home Foundation charity golf tournament at Trump
National Golf Course in Briarcliff Manor. "I don't think anybody really
prepares themselves for what you have to deal with here. Especially guys
that have been around, and they're on their way to Cooperstown . . .
'All right, I'll just do what I do.'
"They don't realize the questions they have to answer that they never had
to answer in Phoenix or Seattle or wherever. And not taking anything away
from those cities, but the enormity of the media here . . . I'd say over
the last six years, that there's no insignificant piece of news. Some
throwaway stuff that may happen there, I think it takes time for these
guys to understand that this is something they have to deal with, and I
know last year, he was . . . I hate to use the word overwhelmed, because
I know he won't agree with me. But I think he was dealing with more than
he ever thought he needed to."
I asked Torre whether he has had to lower his expectations for The Big Unit
(10-7, 5.13) over the second half.
"No, I really haven't," Torre said. "What I've seen in his swagger here,
the anger that you see - when I say anger, determination, I guess, when
he gets his feathers ruffled a little bit . . . guys foul some pitches off,
it's fun to see that. All of a sudden, OK, and all of a sudden, boom!
There's that 96. I don't need 98 miles an hour. I'd say over the last half
dozen starts, if we see that, we're gonna be all right as far as his
contribution."
GM Brian Cashman is trying to get Torre help before the July 31 trade
deadline. A step was made in that direction yesterday, when the Yankees
reached agreement on a deal with free agent right-hander Sindey Ponson,
recently released by the Cardinals. "If there's gonna be a common thread
that's gonna keep us in the race, it's gonna be our pitching," Torre said.
A-Rod will hit, and turn the Stadium boos to cheers. Hideki Matsui and
Gary Sheffield vow to return. Torre needs the 1-2 punch from Johnson and
Mike Mussina every five days that Willie Randolph has with Pedro Martinez
and Tom Glavine. If Life Begins At 40 for Glavine, it damn well better
for Johnson. "We have to find some way to get to Mariano," Torre said.
It means Johnson has to be counted on to be The Big Bridge. "I think RJ's
gonna be fine; he's been starting to throw the ball really well the last
four, five times out," pitching coach Ron Guidry said.
Chien-Ming Wang is unflappable and untouchable. Jaret Wright is showing
signs. "You'd like to believe (Shawn) Chacon can be the Chacon of last year,"
Torre said.
Over the last 31/2 years, Johnson is 49-37. He is 27-15 as a Yankee. He
isn't the young Mike Tyson on the mound anymore and he sure isn't young
anymore. But somehow, some way, The Big Unit has to make The Biggest
Difference, from here to October. Because Torre, who has been to the
playoffs every year since taking the job in 1996, may not have the wild
card to fall back on if they can't catch the Red Sox.
steve.serby@nypost.com
http://0rz.net/af1Cy
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