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Tuesday, July 01, 2008

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.

Repoz Posted: July 01, 2008 at 09:42 PM | 6 comment(s) | Login to Bookmark
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1. Jolly Old St. Neck Wound, Moral Idiot

Posted: July 01, 2008 at 11:06 PM (#2839397)

Q: Speaking of Japan, has Fukudome's success surprised you at all this year?

DJ: No. I played two years for the Tokyo Giants back in the middle 70s. Back then, you only heard of Americans going over to the Japanese league. I was asked back then, could some of those (Japanese) guys play on big league clubs, I said most definitely.

I haven't done a study on this, but I would say back then 15-20 percent in the 70's, those guys in that (Japanese) league, could play in the big leagues. Now, it's probably more like 50 percent.

I don't know about anyone else, but I found the percentages given in that quote to be far more interesting than the five millionth question about Bonds and Clemens.

2. Justin T contains indigenous nudity Posted: July 01, 2008 at 11:33 PM (#2839465)

I like Davey Johnson, but those percentages are about as credible as the "75% of major leaguers were on roids in 2000" to me.

3. Shooty: Applying to be Fearless Leader

Posted: July 01, 2008 at 11:48 PM (#2839520)

I miss having Davey in MLB. To use a cliche, he was just a good baseball man and complete derelict. There aren't many like him anymore.

4. joker24 Posted: July 01, 2008 at 11:51 PM (#2839529)

Could play in the big leagues? I could buy it. There are a lot of bench players out there. Be good in the big leagues? Don't know about that.

5. Brandon in MO (Yunitility Infielder) Posted: July 02, 2008 at 12:41 AM (#2839702)

yeah, Japan also produces things like Aaron Guiel hitting 35 homers. So there may be a curve of pitchers who would totally blow in the US (but maybe some of the flyball guys would be useful here since we have bigger parks)

6. Hurdle's Heroes (SuperBaes) Posted: July 02, 2008 at 09:27 AM (#2840085)

TUFFY. RHODES.

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Tuesday, July 01, 2008

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

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