Diamondback General Manager Joe Garagiola Jr. wishes everyone could see Randy Johnson an hour after his starts.
The 6-foot-10 “Big Unit” can usually be found sitting at his locker, resembling a tree beaten down by the sun. There is no strength left.
“He is completely spent – physically, emotionally, mentally, just drained,” said Garagiola Jr. – an alumnus of Archbishop Stepinac High in White Plains.
“That is the focus, the intensity he takes to the mound, not just once or twice a season, but every five days. It’s remarkable.”
On Monday, the Mets will face this remarkable specimen in the finale of a four-game Shea series.
For all his greatness, the Big Unit has trouble against the Mets, sporting just a 2-2 record and a 3.58 ERA compared to a career 3.12 mark.
That 3.58 mark doesn’t include a 1999 NLDS Game 1 disaster in which he surrendered seven earn runs.
At Shea, it is hard to measure what makes fans happier – Met wins or Yankees losses. This is why the Diamondbacks and the Unit are liked, maybe even loved, by the Flushing faithful.
Last year, the D’backs did what the Mets couldn’t in 2000. Led by the Johnson, the World Series co-MVP, Arizona beat the Yankees in the Series.
While Johnson displays his greatness on the field, Diamondback fans occasionally get to listen to another all-time great, too.
Former NBC baseball-caster Joe Garagiola Sr., now 76, is a part-time analyst for the team. Sounds like there is nepotism in the Arizona booth?
“No, I don’t think Marty had anything to do with it,” the quick-witted Garagiola Jr. said, referring to Hall of Fame Reds’ broadcaster Marty Brennaman, father of D’back play-by-player Thom.
“It’s a lot of fun. It’s fun for my [father.] Like he says, ‘I’m 76 years old. I’m not exactly a threat to anyone around here.’ ”