06.03.09 NOBODY CARES IF RANDY JOHNSON GETS TO 300

It’s almost hard to believe that San Francisco Giants pitcher Randy Johnson is on his sixth major league team, and almost harder to believe that the Big Unit is still commissioned for service. Johnson, who has gone six innings or more in only 3 of his 10 starts this season, might be doing little more than to secure 300 wins and 5,000 strikeouts, the de facto magic numbers to secure enshrinement in Cooperstown. He could hit that former milestone tonight in DC with a win against the Nationals (if it ever stops raining). Just don’t expect any of his old teammates from Arizona to care. From Yahoo! Sports:

“I think he’s respected, certainly, in there,” said former Diamondbacks player, current television analyst and one-time Johnson teammate Mark Grace. “But I don’t think he’s going to get a big congratulatory card from these guys when he wins 300.”

When asked about Johnson, starting pitcher Dan Haren shook his head. “I don’t really have anything for you,” he said. “I didn’t really know him. Wish I did.” Haren shared a clubhouse and a rotation with Johnson for seven months.

When asked about Johnson, third baseman Mark Reynolds stumbled. “Uh, you know, it was just like playing behind any other pitcher,” he said. Except, of course, if a ball got by you. “Well, the way he reacts sometimes, it could irk guys, irritate guys,” he said. “You can’t take what he does or says to heart, though. That’s just Randy.”

I’m shocked that a 6-foot-9-inch guy with that mug didn’t do a better job of networking. I’m always impressed that athletes tend to be apathetic toward other athletes in the same way that I’m apathetic toward athletes in general. I can only imagine the reaction from San Fran, where Johnson has been for all of two months; but notching his 300th win might be good enough to help Giants fans forget about this guy:

Wait for it…