ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, February 25, 1996 TAG: 9602260084
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA.
SOURCE: Associated Press
TWENTY-FOUR YEARS after playing in Baltimore, Davey Johnson is back as manager, leading a revamped Orioles team that is the talk of the American League.
Back in his playing days with the Baltimore Orioles, Davey Johnson once took it upon himself to ascertain the team's most productive batting order.
After creating computer cards with hundreds of different lineups, he fed the information into a data processor and learned the Orioles could score an additional four-tenths of a run per game with Johnson as the No.2 man in the order.
He excitedly handed the final report to manager Earl Weaver, who took a cursory glance at the printout, then threw it in the trash.
Thirty years later, Johnson finally has the last word on the Orioles' lineup. As far as he's concerned, his managerial stints with the New York Mets and Cincinnati Reds were merely stepping stones to the job he wanted all along.
``This is where I've always wanted to be,'' said Johnson, the Orioles' first-year manager. ``I've always wanted to be good enough to be considered for this job and be able to give back something to this great organization.
``The other jobs were like going to school, so to speak, because this is the ultimate job. My dream job. Why wouldn't it be? I learned to play baseball here and I have a lot of fond memories here.''
Johnson played second base for the Orioles from 1965 through 1972. His first managerial job came in New York, where he directed the Mets to the 1986 world championship. In six full seasons, he never finished below second place, but the Mets fired him when the 1990 squad was 20-22.
Johnson took over as manager of the Cincinnati Reds on May 24, 1993, leading them to a division title last season. But he was replaced by Ray Knight in the fall in a move orchestrated by Reds owner Marge Schott before the 1995 season began.
Johnson barely had time to clear out his office before the Orioles snapped him up, making him their third manager in three years. He interviewed for the job before the '95 season, but Baltimore chose Phil Regan, who was fired after Baltimore went 71-73 despite carrying a payroll in excess of $45 million.
Given another high-priced team, Johnson has the task of turning around a once-proud franchise that hasn't been to the playoffs since 1983 - back when shortstop Cal Ripken's consecutive games streak stood at 279 games.
New general manager Pat Gillick went out and signed second baseman Roberto Alomar and rebuilt the pitching staff by acquiring starters Kent Mercker and David Wells and closer Randy Myers, giving Johnson plenty of material.
``I'd like to reminisce about being here in an Orioles uniform,'' Johnson said after a recent practice, ``but there's a whole lot of work to do.''
Since joining the Orioles in 1989, catcher Chris Hoiles has seen three managers come and go. He has noticed a different atmosphere at spring training this season, thanks entirely to Johnson.
``He's an upbeat type of guy, very enthusiastic,'' Hoiles said. ``So far, he's brought that to the club. We go out and get the job done, but there's some fun being thrown in there, too. That's something that has been missing the past couple of years.''
Johnson, who owns the highest winning percentage among active managers (.576), runs a loose clubhouse, although he is absolutely serious when it comes to winning baseball games. He has a master plan that sounds as if he intends to hold on to the job for the long haul.
``I'd love to have a lot of prospects in Triple-A and Double-A. I'd like to see us develop our own talent and not be held hostage to the free-agent market,'' Johnson said. ``All those things are what I want to see happen here.''
The process began in earnest when spring training opened, and who should show up but Weaver, who told Gillick: ``You've got the best manager available, I'll tell you that.''
``That meant more to me than I can put into words. I love Earl Weaver,'' Johnson said. ``He was the only manager I played for that I had total admiration for.''
That said, Johnson was reminded about the countless hours he spent putting together the computer readout Weaver promptly tossed.
``Tell you what,'' Johnson said, ``Earl left nothing to chance. I bet he pulled it out of the garbage as soon as I left the office.''
LENGTH: Medium: 84 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP. Manager Davey Johnson walks among the Orioles atby CNBcamp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.