Randy Johnson
Randy Johnson
Randall David "Randy" Johnson, nicknamed "The Big Unit", is an American former left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from 1988 to 2009 for six teams, primarily the Seattle Mariners and Arizona Diamondbacks. His 303 career victories rank as the fifth-most by a lefthander in major league history, while his 4,875 strikeouts place him second all-time behind Nolan Ryan and are the most by a lefthander. He holds five of the seven highest single-season strikeout totals by a lefthander...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionBaseball Player
Date of Birth10 September 1963
CityWalnut Creek, CA
CountryUnited States of America
They actually swung today. The sooner they get their swings down, the better for me as well. I'm not trying to break bats and strike people out, I'm just trying to throw my pitches and feel like I'm accomplishing something. The more I throw, the better my pitches will get.
I was pretty animated; tonight's game was probably the most energetic and emotional that I've had in a long time. It was just coming back here; Seattle, where the opportunity was given to me to throw every five days regardless of how I pitched. I knew I would get the opportunity to develop here. This is where it all kind of started.
When things are working, it's the greatest thing. When I'm out there pitching and I have a catcher putting down the finger for the pitch I want to throw and I've already got that gripped, that's a great rapport.
I feel pretty good overall. When I'm out there throwing batting practice, it's just what it is, batting practice. To work on my pitches and trying to get something out of it a little bit as far as some intensity.
Throwing 95 (mph) is a luxury for me now. I'd much rather be efficient when I go out there.
Tonight's game was the most emotional one I've had in a long time, ... I don't get worked up about who I'm up against -- I think it's just being here in Seattle. This was where I got the opportunity to throw every five days.
That's probably more than I wanted to throw in four innings. But the velocity on my fastball increased, and that's a good sign. My mechanics were a little better, too.
It was nice to be able to get out of there and not have to go seven, eight, nine innings and throw all those pitches,
To be able to throw 96, 97 in the eighth inning after throwing 100 pitches, that's me. My velocity was back to where I'd like to have it, and the sharpness and velocity of my breaking ball was there as well throughout the whole game.
He's a throwback pitcher from the day. The game's changed quite a bit since then, but I can still learn. If you think you know everything that's when you'll be sadly mistaken. If I can take some input that he has and apply it towards what I'm doing out there and use it, then that's a good thing.
He hit 97, 98 without trying. I'm out there throwing 95 and grunting.
I'll continue to throw and get ready. Whenever they have me slotted to pitch in my first game, I'll be looking forward to it.
I'm comfortable with all my pitches. I'm throwing strikes and that's the bottom line. My mechanics are the biggest thing and I feel like I'm able to hit my spots now.
By staying back I was able to get the arm angle I need for my fastball and my slider, and I haven't had it consistently. To be able to throw 96 and 97 in the eighth inning after throwing 100 pitches is ... is ... me.