Randy Johnson still brushing 'em back

 Top fo the 2nd, Mariners and Diamondbacks tied 0-0.

Aaron Goldsmith: “Welcome inside the booth as we’re joined by the one and only, the Hall of Famer, Randy Johnson. Randy, it’s great to have you.”

Randy Johnson: “Pleasure to be here. Thank you. Thanks for having me.”

Aaron: “We’re all excited to hear the news when we learned that next year your No. 51 will be retired inside T-Mobile Park. Your No. 51 is retired here inside Chase Field so it will be retired with two franchises. What a thrill. What was your reaction when you found out?”

Randy: “Well it has been a long time coming I think, and I think there has been a lot of gray area on the whole matter. A lot of people think one thing, and something else, and all of that, I mean, the fact of the matter is that I’m happy that Kevin Martinez and John Stanton have made it a mission of theirs to make this happen or at least present it to me, and I said the only way it would happen is if Ichiro could have his day, and I’m not in a hurry to have it done, I can wait another year.”

Aaron: “We will celebrate Ichiro this summer.”

Randy: “Absolutely.”

Aaron: “And celebrate you next summer.”

Randy: “That’s fine with me. That’s fine.”

Angie Mentink: “I know it was a long time ago, but just thinking about everything that kind of Ichiro did over the course of his career, the big reason why he wanted No. 51 was because of you.”

Randy: “Well, I think he wore No. 51 in Japan if I’m not mistaken, but what I took from that whole interaction was how respectful he is and you watch a lot of the Japanese players that play today’s game, and they are super-respectful to the game, and when Ichiro reached out to me in 2001 I think was his first year in Seattle, I said, ‘Yeah, go ahead. I didn’t even think anything about it.’

“I think the thing that was kind of like I didn’t have any answers, a player should never expect anything, but I think the thing that bothered me was that if everybody—the fan base was expecting me to go in as …

[Director’s note: Randy paused after Dominic Canzone hits a ground ball into the hole between second and third, and Aaron called the play: “Diving stop by Perdomo and they get Tellez at second base, that’s all they’ll get.”] 

Randy: I think if they were expecting me to go in as a Seattle Mariner—in the Hall of Fame—then why didn’t Howard Lincoln circle back at some point when I retired to make me feel like my 10 years of contribution there—especially in 1995 when I won the Cy Young, 18-2, in the most important year to this point right now—I just felt like under his leadership I felt the 10 years of my contribution were kind of swept under the carpet.

[Director’s note: The camera shot shifted to a view of the broadcast booth as Randy said “to make me feel like my 10 years of contribution there …”]

Angie: “It’s just amazing when you look at your career, and what you were able to do, with less around you, you know what I mean? You were sort of one-of-one back in that day. We often think of you sort of as a finished product, and where you went after you left Seattle. We’ve talked to Dave Valle, and he kind of has reminded us that you really had to grind for a long time to become that finished product.”

Randy: “My gears were all ground down by the time my career was over, I was grinding so much. I’ve proudly said that the 10 years that I played in Seattle, those were some lean years in the beginning, but the fans got to see everybody kind of gel together.

“I came over from the Montreal Expos, and I wasn’t even the best pitcher in the trade. Brian Holman was the best pitcher, Gene Harris was the best athlete and I was kind of like maybe the long shot, you know, put all your chips on him, he’s a long shot, and there was some glimpses of promise. The first, for me, was throwing a no-hitter in ’90. I had now been with the Mariners for a year and a half, two years, and it was far from perfect. I walked six or seven batters in that game, in the Kingdome, and then some of the strikeout games. The fans were animated about that. I became a power pitcher, and struck out batters every fifth day much like Felix did up in Seattle.

“And then ’95 happened, and that was pivotal because there was a lot going on outside of the Kingdome to try to pitch for a new ballpark, and I think based on the history of the team, they didn’t have a lot going for them.”

[Aaron: “Williamson strikes out looking. Two down. That brings up Cole Young.”]

Aaron: “You are one of the most unique players to ever put on a uniform, and obviously one of the greatest, and it did take some time because you are so unique to become that we all think about now. When you watch Major League Baseball, there’s this feeling of immediacy. There’s a wanting for young players to become in their prime from Day One. When you watch the game now, what would you say to people—whether it be in the dugout, in a front office, or maybe on their couch right now—when it comes to just needing to give players time to develop and become who they wish they are.”

Randy: “I’m very thankful that when I came over from Montreal, I was still developing. Omar Vizquel, Buhner, Edgar, Junior, we were still developing. We weren’t the players we were in ’95. We finally got to that point, but that’s because we were developing in an organization that allowed us to develop, and that develop can happen in the minor leagues, but a lot of times organizations want to get the player up there right away and have them develop up there. I would just say that the players that are playing today’s game, a lot of time they need to be seasoned a little bit more. You can’t rush a pitcher up there. And if you are, then you’ve got to be patient with them.”

[Director’s note: Cole Young checks his swing. Aaron says: “Does he go? He does not.”]

Randy: “I’m very thankful that I had some major-league starts under my belt with Montreal, but I really got to sink or swim in Seattle, and that doesn’t happen a lot in today’s game by any means.” 

Aaron: “The 2-2 to Young, he swings and fouls it back.”

“Randy, we can not wait to see your No. 51 up there inside T-Mobile Park and to celebrate you next summer as well. You are one of the greatest in franchise history, you’re one of the greatest in the game’s history, and it has been great talking to you.”

Randy: “Well, I appreciate it very much. I’m looking forward to it myself, and it’s going to be a great day for the fans and myself, and I look forward to seeing all the fans up there are great, again.”

Aaron: “And Randy even let us put his chair to the very lowest setting. We appreciate that Randy!”

Randy: “All right, thank you.”

Aaron: “The one and only Randy Johnson.”

Amen, Aaron. Amen.