One thing the Yankees did was win despite another atrocious outing from Randy Johnson. It was his seventh decidedly non-quality start in his last eight outings, during which he has been reached for 55 hits and 41 runs (36 earned) in 42 2/3 innings. But thanks to the Yankee offense he has come through this dreadful stretch with a 4-3 record and one no-decision.
You've got to be a serious Yankee diehard to see any good in those numbers.
Either that, or you've got to be Joe Torre, who's not bailing on Johnson.
``We know Randy's going to get better," Torre declared.
And that would be based on what, exactly, Joe?
``Why?" he responded. ``I'm a firm believer in the press guide, and knowing who these people are and where they need to get. As long as he's physically healthy -- and we know he is -- it's just a matter of him getting that feel back, and I think I saw some signs of that tonight."
It's true that he fanned eight batters in his five innings. But he was also reached for nine hits and five earned runs, and he needed 105 pitches to qualify for his 269th career win. It's also true that this was the sixth time since April 13 that he has not gone more than five innings. He looks far more like an inconsistent fourth or fifth starter than an ace heading for the Hall of Fame. But Joe's Joe, and if he says he saw something to hang his hat on, then who are we to quarrel with him?
Anyway, the Red Sox have their own starting pitching problems.
The reason Randy got away with this tainted W was that Matt Clement was worse. My fine colleagues have documented his ongoing woes elsewhere in these pages, so all I can say is that you would almost rather see Curt Schilling take his place in the rotation by throwing lefthanded than sending Clement out to get pounded one more time. Throw in the fact that Someone Up There appears to have it in for him -- he was hit by a second-inning Bernie Williams line drive that brought back memories of the Carl Crawford smash that disrupted his `05 season -- and you are less than inspired by the idea of him taking the ball against that potent Toronto lineup Monday night.
