Former Mets, Reds, Orioles, and Dodger manager, Davey Johnson, has been named manager for the US team in the World Baseball Classic.
Johnson guided the US National team to a bronze medal in this year's summer Olympics in Beijing.
After being eliminated by Mexico in the last World Baseball Classic three years ago, Johnson is looking to change things: "I just don't think we were ready," Johnson said Wednesday at the winter meetings, where he was formally introduced. "I don't think anybody knew what to expect. A lot of the pitchers had not had enough throwing and they weren't prepared."
Although metsfan73 believes that the World Baseball Classic is nothing more than forced world competition, sort of like inter-league play, it will be great to see Johnson back managing.
Johnson, who was always a rebel as a manager, seemed to be black-balled after being terminated by the Mets in 1990. He didn't get another managing job until hired by Cincinnati in 1993. Three years of unemployment who's teams finished no worse than second place, and first in 1986 when the Mets won it all, and in 1988 when they won the East Division. He must have ticked someone off.
Davey Johnson was fun to watch manage. I was never a huge fan of his, but I always respected his ability to think outside the box, and how he had his players backs. He would be unconventional. My fondest recollection was in 1985 when he had both Jesse Orosco and Roger McDowell playing. He kept switching them batter by batter, and moved them between the outfield and pitching. The best was when Orosco actually had a put out. I later found out that Jesse Orosco was a real good outfielder, and many thought he might be able to play there if he didn't pitch.
Although I totally detest the idea of the World Baseball Classic, I send along the best of luck to one of the best managers the Mets ever had, Davey Johnson.
Source: Janie McCauley - AP
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