Big League Stew: A conversation with USA Olympic team manager Davey Johnson

Jim, Pisoni When You Have To, sends over this Davey-view.

Q: Were Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens ever considered for this year’s Olympic team?

DJ: Not really. I had several requirements that I wanted to see in players. Number one, I wanted them competing in a league. Sure, I’d like to have Clemens, he’s very professional, he could probably handle it, but he hasn’t been competing. He’s not stretched out. (Let’s say) I gotta start him, and maybe get three innings the first game, I mean we only play nine games. Barry could probably come up, but he’s got a lot of other commitments and things going on, and I don’t want that distraction for a bunch of young guys.

I don’t want just names. Performance is going to dictate who wins or loses those games. Just because you were on my team a number of years ago, if you’re not one of the league leaders in your league offensively and defensively, I’m not taking you, no matter how much I might like you.

Q: Did you, or anybody within USA Baseball ever have any conversations with either Bonds or Clemens? Did they come to you at all?

DJ: No, they did not. I was asked by our administrators if I would (consider) Biggio, Clemens ... and my feeling is if they’re not playing, I don’t want ‘em.