According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Giants’ starter Randy Johnson has been diagnosed with a slightly torn left rotator cuff.

Johnson suffered the injury a couple of weeks ago during an at bat. He swung wildly at a Roy Oswalt pitch and was in obvious discomfort while he clutched his shoulder. He attempted to go out the next inning to pitch, but couldn’t stay in as the pain increased.

He was supposed to begin a throwing program with the Giants soon, but now he’s been ordered to rest for three weeks and might not return at all this season. At 45 years old, this could spell the end of the Big Unit’s career.

If it is the end, what an ending it was. Earlier this season, Johnson became the fourth 300-game winner this decade and amassed 4,867 strikeouts over his phenomenal career. He also has racked up 100 complete games, compiled a 3.28 ERA and would finish with an amazing record of 303-165.

Even though his chances of returning this season (and next for that matter) look bleak, I don’t want this to be it for the Big Unit. I would love to see him in the postseason just one more time and get a chance to win another World Series. He’s a true student of the game and he’s the ultimate competitor.

But if he doesn’t, Johnson has nothing left to prove to anyone.

It was a moment that had been hyped up since the start of the season, but due to Mother Nature (that whore), Randy Johnson won his 300th career game in front of a rain soaked crowd of about 10 people.

Nevertheless, he’s now a part of the illustrious 300-win club.

Johnson pitched six innings on Thursday, allowing just two hits and one unearned run in the Giants’ 5-1 victory over the Nationals. He got a fair amount of help from his bullpen, who pitched three scoreless innings in a steady rain to preserve the Giants’ lead, which had been 2-1 until the ninth inning when San Fran scratched across three more insurance runs.

With the win, the Big Unit became only the 24th pitcher to get to 300 victories and is the second-oldest pitcher to achieve the milestone. He’s also the first pitcher to get his 299th and 300th win in consecutive starts since Tom Seaver did it in 1985.

One moment that’ll surely be overlooked from this game is an amazing defensive play by Giants second baseman Emmanuel Burriss in the fifth inning. With the Giants up 2-0, Johnson gave up a hit to Elijah Dukes, who advanced to second on a passed ball the very next batter.

Johnson then walked Austin Kearns, which brought the leading run to the plate in Ronnie Belliard. Belliard then scorched a pitch that ricocheted sharply off the mound and looked to be heading into center field for a base hit. But Burriss made a diving stop and flipped the ball with only his glove to shortstop Edgar Renteria, who got the force out at second and then completed the double play by throwing out Belliard at first. Johnson then got Will Nieves to ground out to Burriss to end the inning and preserve the Giants’ 2-0 lead.

Even though nothing can take the moment away from the Big Unit, it’s a shame that not more people were in attendance to enjoy the victory. That said, his family was front and center and that’s all that matters. It’s a fantastic milestone for Johnson, a player that never cheated the game. (At least as far as we know, that is.)