SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) -Randy Johnson is making quite the first impression in his first spring with the San Francisco Giants.
Johnson has allowed one earned run in 8 1-3 innings in his three exhibition starts with San Francisco after signing a one-year, $8 million contract as a free agent this winter. The five-time Cy Young Award winner has struck out 12, allowed six hits and walked three.
“I’ve always felt like when I come to a new team, I need to impress them and do well, to a certain extent,” Johnson said. “If I were to go out there and not pitch well, everybody would be going ‘My god, he’s 45. He’s done. He can’t do it. Look how bad he is pitching.’
“Unfortunately, it’s kind of unfair, as you know early in spring training with the Diamondbacks from 1999 to 2004, I’d get shelled.”
Johnson pitched against Giants minor leaguers on Friday rather than make the trip to Tucson, where the Giants played the Colorado Rockies.
till did not want Johnson to make the trip.
“The long drive there, get out and pitch, the long drive back, it’s not worth the risk,” Bochy said.
Johnson has had his share of difficulties in past springs. He was 1-1 with a 9.68 ERA in the spring of 2000 for Arizona, when he gave up 28 hits and 10 walks in 17 2-3 innings. He had a 5.00 ERA in 27 innings the next spring but won Cy Young Awards both seasons.
“These are giant strides for me, considering where I have been in the past,” Johnson said.
“My back feels great. It is time to get my arm where it needs to be.”
Johnson was 1-0 with a 1.04 ERA in four starts for Arizona against San Francisco last season, when the bullpen failed to hold two leads for him.
Pitching coach Dave Righetti said he likes Johnson’s approach this spring.
“Even though he’s a power guy, and he can get his strikeouts, he doesn’t try to do it from the first pitch he throws the guy,” Righetti said.
“If he gets ball one, he knows he can turn the ball over and get a groundball. Or he backs off a little. Now when he gets two strikes and the advantage becomes his, then you see him go after a guy like a shark. I like the 1-0, 2-1 pitches that he makes. It shows you the maturity that he has, over the years developing the two-seamer, keeping it down, maybe an off-speed pitch.”
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