New York gives warm welcomes to Beltran, 'Big Jerk'

NEW YORK -- Carlos Beltran and Randy Johnson played in an offseason doubleheader Tuesday, a Cirque de Subway for two crosstown rivals hoping they might meet up again in October.

Beltran, the Mets' $119 million man, stepped before more than 100 reporters and dozens of cameras at Shea Stadium in the morning. Strobes flashing off his shiny gold watch, he smiled as he spoke in English and Spanish.

Three hours later in the subterranean Stadium Club at Yankee Stadium, the sometimes irritable Johnson faced an equally large media mob, politely answering questions about his sidewalk confrontation with a television cameraman a day earlier.

East Side, West Side, all around the town, baseball took center stage as freezing rain fell.

Both wore gray, chalkstriped suits, with Beltran sporting a snazzy five-button jacket. Johnson's was slightly darker and a lot bigger -- 46 extra, extra long, to be exact.

Traded Tuesday from Arizona to the Yankees in a deal that dragged out for weeks, Johnson was greeted with banner front-page headlines about Monday's flareup.

"BIG JERK" blared one. "PITCHING A FIT" said another.

Johnson opened by saying he was sorry.

"It was unprofessional and, obviously, I feel very foolish today, at such a great moment in my career, that I would have to sit before all of you, or stand before all you, and apologize for my actions. Hopefully, it's water under the bridge. I hope to do bigger and better things on the field than off the field."

Earlier in the day, Mayor Michael Bloomberg joked about the clash.

"Randy actually has to sit down with me for some tips on how to deal with the New York City press corps," he said at a speech.

Beltran, who spurned the Houston Astros on Saturday night, said Pedro Martinez's decision to sign with the Mets played a part in his decision. The very first question he addressed was about the Yankees, who turned down a chance to sign him for $100 million over six years.

Speaking in the Diamond Club, overlooking a ballfield covered largely by a tarp, Beltran said he was excited about the chance to play for the Mets, trying to overcome their image as New York's No. 2 team.

"I call it the new Mets because this organization is going to a different direction, the right direction, the direction of winning," he said.

His wife, Jessica, said they made the decision early Sunday morning at their home in Puerto Rico and were too tired to celebrate after spending hours on the telephone trying to choose. Mets owner Fred Wilpon telephoned her the following day.

"He called me to welcome me to New York," she quoted him as saying. "We're going to protect you and we're going to take care of you."

Beltran will take No. 15, last worn by Richard Hidalgo. Johnson, his No. 51 already taken by Bernie Williams, inherits No. 41 from Miguel Cairo.

In New York, where even Derek Jeter got jeered during a slump last year, it takes only a miscue or two for fans to turn. Beltran and Johnson aren't used to this level of scrutiny.

"A lot of people said it was going to be tough for me to play in a city like this," Beltran said. "Of course, I'm prepared. I know that in this game, when you do well, people love you. When you do bad, people boo you. That's in every park. I went though that even in Kansas City."

The Mets are trying to transform nearly everything at Shea Stadium -- there was even a cement truck on the field, piping material into the perpetually leaky stands.

At Yankee Stadium, where about two dozen fans waited outside the office entrance to glimpse the 6-foot-10 Johnson, the marquees outside said: "Welcome to NY, Randy Johnson."

On the scoreboard in left-center, the visiting team on the linescore read "Big" and the home team "Unit." Inside, the Stadium Club was packed as a subway car at rush hour.

"I know that surliness is a good label for me the day that I pitch." Johnson said.

He knows Yankees owner George Steinbrenner expects, at the very least, a World Series title.

"I know that the demands will be a little higher," Johnson said. "If I go to a bad movie and the actor get paid $20 million, I'm thinking, wow, what was that all about?"

He also had words that may cause concern for The Boss.

"I will pitch a lot of very good games here," he said. "I can tell you right now, I'll probably lose at least on game, two games this year. I'm not going to go undefeated."

Johnson will have to get used to Steinbrenner's unrelenting demands of perfection.

But when you're the tallest gunslinger in town -- general manager Brian Cashman doesn't even reach Johnson's shoulders -- you stick out.

"I suppose a lot of things are new to me here," Johnson said. "I'm not used to having photographers pop out from behind the bushes and taking my picture or things like that. Do I have to get used to that? Without a doubt."

His intensity, however, won't change. He only grudgingly will crack a smile, especially on the mound.

"It's not hard to find a reason to hate somebody on the day that I pitch," he said, adding with a chuckle, "on the other days, I'm all about peace."