Don’t mess with the Big Unit

It’s not wise to irritate the Big Unit. That’s almost what Doug Mientkiewicz of the Pittsburgh Pirates did Monday as Arizona Diamondbacks starter Randy Johnson felt that Mientkiewicz took too long to get into the batter’s box. Though the minor altercation did not lead to fisticuffs – it did empty the benches and bullpens.

While I’m not surprised that something like this happened (seeing that many hitters take their time), it was Mientkiewicz’s words after the game that caught my eye.

After the game, Johnson played off the incident, saying: “It didn’t bother me at all. If it would’ve, [Mientkiewicz] would probably be on a stretcher, and I’d be out of the game.” Fair enough. But now it’s Mientkiewicz’s turn to reply.

After hearing Johnson’s comments, the Pittsburgh utility man responded with the following statement. “I’ve been on a stretcher before and, technically, he’s been out of the game for three years in my mind,” Mientkiewicz said, alluding to Johnson’s seasons with the Yankees and his injury-plagued 2007 campaign. “That just shows me how mentally weak he is. That’s why he got out of [New York].”

It’s not a good idea for Mientkiewicz to awake a sleeping giant. After all, maybe it’s Mientkiewicz that hasn’t mattered for the last three years, seeing that he hasn’t played in over 100 games in any of the last three years, and hasn’t batted anywhere near the .300 mark either (this season Mientkiewicz is hitting a scorching .228!). But if a lifetime .269 hitter wants to criticize a guy that has won 288 games and is second all-time in career strikeouts with 4,683 – let him do it. But soon he will realize where his place is in baseball. One that won’t even come close to Cooperstown. As for Johnson – it’s only a matter of time until the Big Unit’s name is called to join the Hall of Fame.

Photo: Newscom