No excuse

The New York sports talkosphere has been nothing but complaints about Randy Johnson's lack of dominance after coming over to the Yankees from Arizona during the off season. True, he hasn't struck out 10+ batters a game, and he hasn't thrown a slew of one-hitters. But he does near the league lead in strikeouts and in innings pitched, the latter a vital number for a Yankees pitching staff that has to puzzle their way through middle innings if the starter falters early. You know, when Johnson's the planned starter that night, the Yankees have a good chance to win the game.

And one other thing about Johnson, he hasn't suggested one excuse for his less than over-powering pitches this year. And he's getting tired of the sports wags suggesting excuses for him.

"You're like kids in the backseat: 'Are we almost there?'" Johnson said. "'Are you healthy?' I'm telling you, I'm going to be out there."

Johnson, 41, was removed from Thursday's game after six innings when Joe Torre said he saw Johnson "listing" with a stiff back. Johnson has said he expects to make his next start tomorrow against the Twins and wasn't interested in giving daily updates on his condition.

He also seemed frustrated that so much attention was being focused on him and noted that there are a slew of other Yankee starters who have physical ailments.

"Go talk to the other people who aren't here," he said. "How are they doing? I am here."

That seemed to be directed at Carl Pavano (who is in Tampa rehabbing shoulder tendinitis) and Kevin Brown (who spent a month there, too). Brown got rocked Saturday and wasn't in the clubhouse yesterday because he left the team to see a Denver-based doctor who has worked on his back before.

"Go talk to Brownie," Johnson said.

Johnson's diatribe lasted about five minutes and ended when a team security guard shepherded the reporters away as Johnson continued the children comparison, saying, "Disneyland is 15 minutes away. We're almost there."

What Johnson is saying, if reporters want to hear laments about a player's health, Kevin Brown is all too quick to provide "reasons" for the fact that he has been a terrible member of the Yankees. Good for Randy. We're all pretty tired of Kevin Brown, his excuses, and his tendency to quit when it matters.