Johnson's competitive spirit still strong

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TUCSON, Ariz. -- The long angular body and whip-like delivery were familiar. The results were not. But Randy Johnson's first start of spring training Monday was not about results.If the Big Unit can be half the pitcher he once was -- say, a reliable No. 3 starter for the Arizona Diamondbacks behind Brandon Webb and Dan Haren -- it will make things that much more interesting in a what figures to be a tight National League West race.At 44, Johnson is no longer the top-of-the-rotation intimidator he was for so long. In fact, he would be more than happy to replicate his performance in New York, even though New Yorkers were disappointed he didn't resemble more closely the Yankee killer who went 3-0 with a 1.04 ERA as the D-Backs won the 2001 World Series.He won 17 games in each of his two seasons in the Bronx, but his ERA ballooned to 5.00 the second year."Heck, I would do anything to win 17 games this year," Johnson said after giving up three runs to the Rockies in 1 1/3 innings. "They said that I was terrible to win 34 games there. Either year that I had there I would be willing to take, and I think the Diamondbacks would, too."Johnson is coming off his second back surgery in as many years and knows if a temperamental disk fails him again, he's probably done. A year ago, returning to action less than four months after back surgery, he managed 10 starts, going 4-3 with a 3.81 ERA, before going down again. In part because the relapse happened so quickly, he is coming off six months of recovery this time around and said he felt no pain Monday.He made it through the first inning without much trouble, throwing 17 pitches and stranding Troy Tulowitzki at second after a one-out double. He got Todd Helton to pop out on a two-seam fastball and struck out Matt Holliday on a pitch out of the strike zone.He wasn't so fortunate in the second, surrendering singles to Garrett Atkins and Brad Hawpe, then falling behind catcher Chris Iannetta 3-0 before giving up a three-run homer. He departed with one on and one out, having thrown 33 pitches, roughly his first-start target."I haven't pitched competitively since August, so it was fun just getting out there," he said. "I didn't want to labor too much. Unfortunately, I kind of went into a defensive mode. Typically, I don't do that. That's what I kind of did in the second inning."Minus the results, there was a lot of positive things. But as competitive as I am, I'm still disappointed that I would pitch like that. But I guess I'll be like that until I die."Just 16 wins from 300 for his career, Johnson has plenty of motivation to pitch another season or two, but the Diamondbacks might need him more than he needs them. Somehow, they won 90 games and the NL West title last season despite being outscored 732-712 over the course of the season and finishing last in the league in batting at .250.The Rocks were pretty much their mirror image, leading the league in hitting (.280) and needing one more game, the wild-card playoff against the Padres, to get to 90 wins.After Webb, Johnson was the Diamondbacks' second most effective starter last year despite his back issues.Although the D-backs hope their developing young hitters will improve this season, they know their hopes of repeating will again rely on pitching. The acquisition of Haren, Oakland's ace last season, gives them a formidable duo at the top of the rotation.The rest of the starting staff is nothing special, likely to feature some combination of Doug Davis, Edgar Gonzalez and Micah Owings. In the NL West, having two imposing starters doesn't exactly set you apart. The Padres, with Jake Peavy and Chris Young, and the Dodgers, with Brad Penny and Derek Lowe, are in a similar position.The Rockies, with their high-powered offense, have a different formula, but even they hope to be improved on the mound if young fireballers Ubaldo Jimenez and Franklin Morales prove ready to join 17-game winner Jeff Francis and veteran Aaron Cook on a consistent basis. Even the Giants, who have an awful lineup, feature three impressive starters in Barry Zito, Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum; four if you count injured Noah Lowry.So Johnson's availability figures to be a key factor for the Diamondbacks within the division. Told Monday the club hopes he can make 25 or 26 starts, Johnson cracked, "I put myself down for 34 in my fantasy league."Asked if he drafted himself No. 1, he smiled. "Not quite that high," he said.The Diamondbacks don't need him to be a No. 1 starter anymore. They already have two of those. But if he can bring that whip every fifth day, even at 44, it will make them tough to beat.(Contact Dave Krieger at kriegerd@rockymountainnews.com.)(Dave Krieger writes for the Rocky Mountain News at www.rockymountainnews.com.)