Big Unit to have back surgery
NEW YORK (AP) - Yankees pitcher Randy Johnson will have surgery to repair a herniated disc in his back that hampered him during he final weeks of the season.
General manager Brian Cashman said last week that surgery was probable, but that the Big Unit would first be examined by Dr. Robert Watkins in Los Angeles.
''He's consulted with Watkins. He's going to need surgery,'' Johnson's agent, Barry Meister, said Tuesday. ''I need to talk to Brian about scheduling, but it most likely will be during the week next week.''
Watkins operated on Johnson's back on Sept. 12, 1996, and the Big Unit made his first start the following year on April 5. Cashman said that if Johnson had surgery, he might be behind the other pitchers when spring training starts in mid-February.
''The prognosis leads me to believe he'll be ready,'' Meister said.
The 43-year-old Johnson went 17-11 with a 5.00 ERA in 33 starts this season. He lost Game 3 in the first round of the playoffs against Detroit, giving up five runs in 5 2-3 innings.
