D-Backs playing it safe with creaky, goal-oriented Unit
"I got right into those last year. Took batting practice."
And broke down far sooner than anybody anticipated.
"I'm trying to be a little more wise this year in going about my business," he says. "Obviously, there are a lot of things I'd like to do, but I've backpedaled. I realize it might be too much. So I'm adjusting, and spreading it out a little bit."
The Diamondbacks are not counting on him being ready for their opening day rotation. Don't rush the guy!
They are, however, planning on a productive season from him once he does return. Even at 44. Even with a back as brittle as a pretzel stick.
"I think he's got some pretty lofty goals," says Melvin, the 2007 NL Manager of the Year. "Last year, he was a five- or six-inning guy. He was a guy who ran out of gas in a hurry. I had to figure that out. When he lost it, he lost it in a hurry.
"This year, his goals are higher. It might be seven innings or more. He wants to go seven or eight innings. He doesn't want to be a five-inning guy."
With Webb and Haren, the Diamondbacks boast as good a rotation 1-2 punch as there is. If they can slot Johnson in at No. 3, then go to 200-innings guy Doug Davis and Micah Owings, the Diamondbacks arguably will go as deep as anyone.
"My first year in Seattle, we had all five of our guys pitch 200 innings and take all of their starts," Melvin says of a 2003 Mariners rotation that included Freddy Garcia, Jamie Moyer, Joel Pineiro, Gil Meche and Ryan Franklin. "We won 93 games, and that was a really good rotation.
"This one, based on results, gets your attention a little more."
Outfielder Eric Byrnes compares it to the Tim Hudson-Mark Mulder-Barry Zito rotations when he was with the Athletics and the trio was in its prime.
"This staff is right up there with that, as long as Randy stays healthy, as far as 1-2-3 goes," he says. "But Brandon Webb and Danny Haren, I can't think of a better 1-2 punch in this game."
Better, no. Equal? Perhaps Erik Bedard and Felix Hernandez in Seattle. But even though Bedard led the AL in strikeouts last season, they're not as decorated. Neither has won a Cy Young award like Webb, and neither has started an All-Star Game like Haren.
Meantime, the most decorated pitcher in camp -- heck, one of the most decorated pitchers in major league history -- remained encouraged after throwing 43 pitches over three innings here Saturday.
It was 10 more pitches than his brief 33-pitch first outing of the spring against Colorado, though he didn't get to his 50-pitch limit because of the way things worked out. As Melvin says, last spring he would have maybe allowed Johnson to finish an inning even if it stretched him beyond his prescribed pitch count for that day. This spring, no. Better to be cautious than to risk pushing the Old Unit, er, Big Unit a bit too hard.
Against the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday, Johnson cut loose on several pitches, unleashing more sliders ("I'm happy with where my slider is at") and establishing pretty good command. He was mostly happy with his control.
He still has a long way to go, but he finds it highly encouraging that he worked three "quality" innings against the Angels. Gary Matthews Jr.'s solo homer in the first was the only hit or run he allowed.
For now, his arm strength is good, his location, his mechanics ... now it's just a matter, he says, of making sure that his back keeps pace with everything.
"I don't want to jump the gun," Johnson says. "But my back feels a lot better. The way I carry myself. I feel more confident in what I'm able to do."
Five Cy Young Awards on his shelf, he should know.
And 16 wins short of becoming only the 24th pitcher in big league history to reach No. 300, the fierce, burning desire remains.
