Major League Baseball

Johnson doesn't act like league's oldest manager

Published Feb. 29, 2012 10:16 p.m. ET

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Washington's Davey Johnson sure doesn't act like the oldest manager in the major leagues this season.

''The guy's in the weight room every morning, every day," Nationals outfielder Michael Morse said. ''He's in shape, I'll tell you that much. I hope I can have half of his energy when I'm that old. . He knows more about electronics than I do, which is awesome.''

The 69-year-old Johnson doesn't see himself as old, just more experienced.

Johnson won two World Series rings during a 13-year playing career and guided the New York Mets to a World Series title in 1986. After taking over for Jim Riggleman midway through last season, he is entering his 16th year as a manager - and running his first spring training since 2000, when he was with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Though Johnson's resume may resonate with his players, if there is one thing Johnson has learned over the years, it's that experience alone doesn't garner automatic credibility in a clubhouse.

''I always say you gain respect and trust on a daily basis,'' he said. ''History is history. As long as how I relate to them is not antiquated, or way off the mark, I will keep their trust and respect. If you screw that up, I don't care what you were, you lose it.''

Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said Johnson was the ''perfect fit'' to take over the club because of his experience, his baseball IQ and his ability to relate to his players.

''His rapport and his communication skills with these players is remarkable,'' Rizzo said. ''They trust that he knows what he's talking about. When he says something about baseball, or baseball life . he's been through it and he's done it.''

Ask players what stands out, and what they like about Johnson and you'll get a variety of answers.

Shortstop Ian Desmond said that because Johnson was a former player, he understands the grind the game can be and that he ''knows how to take care of players.'' Second baseman Danny Espinosa said Johnson makes him feel ''comfortable'' and doesn't put added, unnecessary pressure on the team.

''He's a sandbagger on the golf course, I'll tell you that much,'' Nationals third baseball Ryan Zimmerman said. ''Don't ever bet him on the golf course. He's a great guy. He loves the game. More importantly, he loves winning. And he doesn't want to win by one run, he wants to win by 10 runs.

''He's very easy to relate to. He does a great job of communicating with his players. It's not just, `Hey, how you doing?' and talk about baseball. He'll ask you about your wife, your dogs, things like that. He's a really fun guy to play for.''

If closer Drew Storen has a question, he knows he can go into the manager's office and instead of getting the politically correct answer, Johnson ''is going to tell you exactly what's going on.''

Johnson is a classic player's manager. He doesn't believe in having a lot of meetings. He trusts his players to do what they need to do to get ready, though he will get on them if they don't. He doesn't have a lot of rules, but his biggest is pretty simple: be professional.

If he wants to make a statement to a player, how they are used - or not used - can send just as big a message as anything he can say.

''Davey likes that old-school mentality, that old-school feel for the game,'' 19-year-old outfielder Bryce Harper said. ''If you come out here and you play hard and really work your tail off, he's going to like that. . He plays it hard and he plays it right. That's the type of manger you want.''

Though Johnson had not managed in the major leagues from the time he left Los Angeles after the 2000 season until he took over in Washington last June, it's not as if he had been away from the game.

Prior to joining Washington as a consultant to Rizzo in 2009, he had managed Team USA in the 2009 World Baseball Classic and in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. He even managed amateur players in the Florida summer collegiate league.

While he has had to adapt to the style of each team he manages, Johnson said his style of managing really hasn't changed over the years.

''You asked me if I've changed . I'm lighter,'' he joked. ''I don't see as good. I still get riled up. I hope I'm a little more mature. My age would dictate I should be. I still feel like a kid.''

Notes: Adam LaRoche (shoulder, ankle) and Chad Tracy (cortisone and Novocain shot in knee) were held out of practice Wednesday. Jayson Werth (muscle spasms in back) was not expected to practice, but came out toward the end of the workout and ended up hitting in the cage and shagging fly balls in the outfield . Johnson said LaRoche ''tweaked'' his ankle running the bases on Tuesday and that his surgically-repaired left shoulder was still not 100 percent. He was held out as a precaution . Outfielder Bryce Harper has shut down his Twitter account. Harper declined to discuss the matter when asked Wednesday afternoon, but Johnson gave some insight as to why. ''I think from the media day that we had (Monday), and some comments from teammates . that was the result,'' Johnson said.

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