Mientkiewicz stepped out of the batter's box, and then after stepping back in, called time again as Johnson was beginning his windup. Johnson took exception to Mientkiewicz's actions and immediately began barking at the Pirates' infielder.

After the game, Johnson played off the incident, saying: "It didn't bother me at all. If it would've, [Mientkiewicz] would probably be on a stretcher, and I'd be out of the game."

"I've been on a stretcher before and, technically, he's been out of the game for three years in my mind," Mientkiewicz said, alluding to Johnson's seasons with the Yankees and his injury-plagued 2007 campaign. "That just shows me how mentally weak he is. That's why he got out of [New York]."

New York beat him down, let's put it that way," said Mientkiewicz, in no mood to apologize for his outspokenness. "He doesn't have intimidating stuff anymore, so I'm not going to stand for it."

"It affected him completely," Mientkiewicz said. "I know how mentally weak he is. I tried to take the high road, [but] not anymore."

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