What a woeful job the press did on covering Randy Johnson last night. None of them state the obvious, that Johnson's mechanics are screwed up. The Boston Globe, New York Daily News and New York Newsday all basically have the same story. Here's Posada in the Globe:

Catcher Jorge Posada was in the corner of the subdued Yankees clubhouse informing reporters there was nothing wrong with Randy Johnson's velocity.

''He threw one pitch 101 miles per hour tonight," Posada insisted.

Right, he was throwing hard last night. What I saw struck me as a lousy follow through, but Jerry Remy on NESN called it the front shoulder flying open. He was "throwing like a girl".

Of course, everyone "throws like a girl" before you're taught how to throw. It's the natural motion to rotate with both arms extended. But eventually, someone teaches you to bring your glove hand into your chest as you throw. This transfers momentum to your throwing arm. It's like a skater bringing his/her hands in to spin faster.

Johnson wasn't bringing his glove hand to his chest last night. He'd bring it about halfway in and stop. That's why his shoulder was flying open. And it could be a physical problem. The Times reminds us:

Johnson has not seemed like the same pitcher since April 13, when he abruptly left a start against Kansas City after five innings. He said that day that his shoulder was stiff but quickly added that it was his right shoulder.

Was he joking? Or was he subtly revealing a problem? Johnson, 42, said nothing about his health after last night's game, but he generally bristles at the suggestion he may be hurt. He was throwing as hard as usual, but his command was terrible.

He has a stiff right shoulder. Is that keeping him from bringing his glove hand into chest and following through properly? I'd love to hear Will Carroll's thoughts on this. It's an example of how the whole body works together to throw a ball. Damage something that doesn't look related, and everything falls apart.