Thursday, February 21, 2013
VIDEO: Davey Johnson one-on-one
One year ago, sitting along the first-base line at Space Coast Stadium, Davey Johnson told my former colleague Kelli Johnson the Nationals could fire him if his team didn't win the NL East. So when I had the chance to interview Davey in that same exact spot this week, I couldn't help but ask what he though the Nats could do to him if this year's team doesn't win the World Series. You'll enjoy his answer to that question and several others in this segment from Comcast SportsNet.
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38 comments:
Classic Davey answers. Hard to believe he describes himself as an introvert.
So refreshing!!!
I think most of you know I used to coach and most coaches have a catalog of quotes. Here are a couple on "worry" that I liked.
1. Worry is a misuse of imagination
2. There is no benefit in worrying whatsover (huge paraphrase from the Dalia Lama)
3. Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.
and finally "don't worry, be happy!"
Davey answered Mark's question perfectly. Why should he worry? He is a caretaker. So all you folks that will now worry about this or that, just sit back and let it play out.
Go Nats!!!
Thanks for the positive philosophy. Applies to life in general, not just sports.
Absolutely!
"Misuse of imagination." I love that one.
@sjm I think he also said "Save your peonies and the dahlias will take care of themselves."
Man is an absolute genius. Win it for Davey!
Scooter, here's one for you old fogies. ; )
Matt Vasgersian was just on 106.7 and dished new theories on Biogenesis. He said it could all be about monies owed and used the term "extortion".
Too many people (not here) are giving Tony Bosch credibility. Sure, it appears they were distributing PEDs but it also appears they may have been charging a ton of money for services and supplements that possibly then the Athletes decided not to pay.
Certainly another theory that I hadn't heard discussed before and probably something Vasgersian wouldn't discuss on his MLB Network show since its a touchy subject.
LOL, Gonat! I used the term extortion the first time I saw that list! Occurred to me right away--a lowlife puts stars' names on a handwritten list that some how "leaks" to a minor-league tabloid outfit??? Not farfetched at all. Neither is the NY Times theory that he was trying to attract customers by putting down a fantasy league of MLB players that supposedly patronized his clinic. The Miami New Times may have verified that the documents were authentic but that doesn't mean they were accurate.
Fascinating Gonat/NatsLady. Athletes and celebrities have notorious reps for not paying their tabs and it's well known that Braun's lawyer called Bosch's analysis "negligible" and I'm fairly certain they disputed the bill.
It could make sense that money is at the root of ARod's issue.
This actually makes sense. It could very well be a money issue and Gonat is correct that this will not be brought up on the mlb channel. I am not a fan of Vasgersian, at least not the way he handles his duties on mlb. When the story first came out, he was like Jason Stark, concluding guilt and making the story bigger (in my opinion).
sjm308,
I think that to say that Stark was concluding guilt is an over simplification. I think Stark described in great detail several very famous 'denials' by famous athletes and how they fooled writers into taking up their battles in print only to be discredited later.
I think the gist of what Stark said was 'fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me'. He simply wasn't going to assume that a player was telling the truth just because the player said so and I think that this is reasonable.
JD, you are probably correct. I just hated hearing certain catch phrases in his article about Gio. I do understand how many athletes have denied "stuff" only to be proven guilty. I just thought Stark went after Gio a little too hard at first. Your analysis makes perfect sense, but I also remember when this first came out and Vasgersian was almost relentless while the former players that night were saying, give this time and lets see what the investigation proves, he was almost certain Gio was going to be suspended.
MLB just showed a list of teams impacted by the WBC. The Brewers have 14 going. The Nats have 9 (including minor-leaguers).
Stark and others have milked this for airtime. Every time another name was leaked they got huge ratings. It was the biggest story Baseball had given the slow sports news week after Lance Armstrong to Manti Te'o that baseball had no big drama brewing prior to Spring Training starting.
The behind the scenes story of what they aren't saying is even larger I believe, and the fact that I heard some of these talking heads say slanderous things about Gio and others and get away with it is even worse.
The entire evidence is junk. If it wasn't backed up by 3 positive drug tests last year for Melky, Colon and Grandal, I don't think there would be any credibility. It became where there's smoke there's fire and all that guilt by association.
I trust the New York Times article that NatsLady posted and MLB Network never even discussed that as a possibility that much of the story was concocted.
I hope the players sue but doubt it. Maybe that would shut the Networks up. As someone else said if they sue it opens the players up for discovery and they may not want to open their lives so wide.
http://nationalsprospects.com/2013/02/nationals-unveil-accelerated-camp-roster/
Good article on Accelerated Camp. Chock full of prospects!
sjm308,
I have to tell you that I am tickled to death that Gio appears to be clean. As I said before; I am not only a huge Nats fan; I also happen to be a real huge Gio fan. I like his personality, I like his compete level and I think he was our best pitcher last year wire to wire.
Am I 100% sure that Gio is 100% clean and that he's telling the entire truth? no. I am however willing to give him the benefit of the doubt (I am sure he could give a s*it about what I think) until proven otherwise.
As far as all the theories being discussed here; you know they are just that; theories.
Gonat said...
The Reds vetoed Cueto's request to pitch in the WBC. Under the current CBA, the teams can't veto unless the player finished the season on the DL which I guess Cueto did.
February 20, 2013 10:26 PM
NatsLady, not sure if you saw this post yesterday. I believe that is correct that a team can't tell a player they can't go unless they meet an exemption on the CBA like an injury.
On a much brighter note; my son and I are going to Viera on March 7th for 5 days. We have talked about doing this for years and we were gonna do it a couple of years ago but a work project prevented that.
I can't wait !!
Ghost,
Given Cueto's injury history and the fact that Dusty like to get like 300 innings from his starters that's probably a good thing for Cueto.
JD, like I said, the stories that aren't being told are bigger than the whole story that's been pieced together.
I am one that finds no credibility that Bosch was going to ARod's place to shoot him with drugs. I also don't believe Ryan Braun got any PEDs from Bosch and I don't believe some of the other names on the back pages.
Buster Olney said a couple of weeks ago the big name was soon to be revealed. There could be several reasons why the name wasn't released and it could be like the others, no credible evidence. Imagine that. One player was spared.
JD, no doubt a relief for Dusty as Cueto is the ace of their staff.
I asked this question on Nationals Prospects but will repeat it here. That is a huge list of players coming to "accelerated camp". Will they all be in Viera at the same time as our major league group? I have no idea how large the facilities are but it seems like a lot of athletes in one place. Thanks in advance for the answer
JD, that is great about your trip to Viera! How old is your son?
Ghost,
23; just graduated college in December. He and I have been going to Expos/Nats games for years. Olympic Stadium, Yankee and Shea Stadiums, whatever the heck they call the Philly ball park and both Washington locations. We make it to Nationals park about once a year. It's always fun although 2 of the visits were at the height of the Philly occupation and the games felt like road games.
Ghost,
+ Citi Field and Fenway and I have also been to Wrigley (my favorite park).
Very nice piece on Druuu by (AFLAC?) Jayson Stark. :-)
natsfan1a,
I read Stark's piece on Storen and I really liked it:
1) I agree with his assertion that he made pretty good pitches but just got beat by a good team on that day.
2) I also agree that both Molina and Freese should have been called out on strikes. You can't take pitches on the black with the entire season on the line without even trying to foul them off.
3) I think the home plate umpire didn't have the guts to end the game and series on a 3rd strike call.
Sorry about rehashing; but the article reminded me how pissed off I was at the ump that night.
JD, Mrs. Natsie and I will be in Viera Mar 8-9. Have seats in sect 102. Hope to see you and your son.
sjm, there are multiple fields to accomodate the advanced players. There will also sometimes unique opportunities for those players to fill in for split squad and later in games.
NCNatsie,
I will try to make that happen.
JD, that is wonderful bonding time with your son. Congratulations!
I love Wrigley too and have to get back to Fenway as I haven't been in years. I still think the best time to see the Nats is on the road and if your wallet allows, stay at the team hotel as that is a treat. If you do go to Chicago I'm fairly certain the team stays at the Westin.
Ghost,
I have always fantasized about going to every stadium in the circuit but as you says there is that wallet limitation as well as work schedule issues.
I went to Wrigley years ago; I was doing some work for a company which had some ties to Sandberg and I somehow got a ticket through him. There is nothing like soaking the sun in that park with a cold one and baseball.
My son went to school in Boston so he got to go to Fenway on multiple occasions (the entire Nats series last year). I have never been to Fenway.
JD, I think it may be a while for the Nats to get back to Boston.
One day, you have to get to Petco in San Diego and ATT in San Fran as 2 of the best in the circuit.
I recommend PNC Park as well (PIT).
natsfan1a,
Funny enough we lived in Pittsburgh for 3 years in the 90's (we are still big Steelers fans) and we had access to a box at 3 rivers (awful stadium). I would love to visit PNC, it looks like a wonderful park.
California will take some more effort to organize but someday.
That interview with Davey makes me really, really glad he's the field general of our Nats this year. Confidence is an important trait, and if the team can play with the confidence Davey expresses--and they've all done their work--then there is nothing we can complain about.
And certainly nothing to worry about. (I too appreciate that quote about misusing one's imagination.)
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