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He won 1,148 games and a World Series title as a manager for four teams, but starting Saturday, former Orioles skipper Davey Johnson , 63, will try to help the United States make the 2008 Olympics at the COCABE Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Cuba.
The Nationals hired you as a consultant prior to the trade deadline. What did you do and were you surprised few trades were made?
I had a good time scouting all those minor-league players. I enjoyed writing up and looking at players we had interest in. Maybe if my reports were a little better we would've made a deal but I enjoyed doing it.Organizations don't want to cut loose their top prospects. I think Jim [Bowden] was right in saying, 'I've got to have some top flight prospects if I am going to trade [Alfonso] Soriano.'
How different is managing an Olympic team than doing it in the majors?
I think everyone is going to be hungry playing for the Olympic team. It's like being in the big leagues trying to make your mark. The motivation is there. It's pride and it's representing your country, and there's peer pressure. The guys who play good play the most. All those things are very motivating factors and probably in the majors leagues it's proving you can play there and establishing a role.
You can't use big leaguers. How hard was it to put together the USA Team roster?
I like my ballclub. It's not like you have 60 guys at spring training and you take the best 25. The problem is putting together the right mix you need. Every time you get one guy that fits the clubs say yea or nay and you have to start over again.
You last managed in the big leagues with the Dodgers in 2000. Does managing this team give you an itch to manage again in the majors?
I live pretty much in the moment. I am not a person that dwells on the past. I am not doing this to try to get back to the big leagues. I am doing this because I have a passion for it and I love representing my country. Putting a team together, getting them to play together, those are the challenges I like.
Would you be happy never managing again in the majors?
I had a good career. I'm still fine with it. It's tough up there. I see what Frank [Robinson] is struggling through and what Dusty [Baker] is struggling though and they're not alone. It's a big commitment. If you want to win, you've got to love it. Every day is a new challenge, a new experience. I can take a hint. I've been fired four times. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure things out. I was successful. I guess I've got bad breath.
