Washington Nationals’ manager Davey Johnson aims for player’s mental makeup - MLB Update
Drawing on his experience with the three teams he managed before, Davey Johnson, Washington Nationals’ manager is all set to invoke a relaxing effect on the team, something that relatively younger lot of the club will benefit from.
No wonder then, atmosphere at Nationals’ camp is altogether different from that of last season, with players more relaxed and focused, eager to understand their weak points instead of growing stressful at the sight of minor flaws.
Arrival of Johnson has rendered a soothing effect on the whole camp. Players as opposed to complying with tough practice schedules imposed on them previously now hit the nets at 10am and practice. It is more about clearing the mind and analysing things precisely
than just spending long drawn-out sessions on nets.
“Play smart and be more relaxed,” he said while elaborating his goals for Nationals. “Relax, relax, relax, throw the h**l out of the ball. Relax, relax, relax, hit the h**l out of the ball.”
While debate between “intense focus” and “free attitude” for bringing improvements remains, one thing is for sure, Johnson is going to maintain a delicate balance between both, if he were to lift the side to great heights this season.
Going by Johnson’s past record, what comes out is the fact he has make or break kind of reputation. Either his master strokes ensue immediate results or nothing altogether.
Believing more in the theory of “talent win the games not the text book obsession of techniques”, he relies more on the mental stimulation of players and attempts to streamline their deficiencies accordingly.
“We should make the playoffs this year. If we don’t, they can fire me,” he said. By thrusting confidence on the players unlike highlighting their weaknesses, he tends to unleash a stirring influence on them.
Taking inspiration from his own manager Earl Weaver and according him the credit for his spirited attitude, he narrates the difficulties managers face and how excruciating it is for them to infuse confidence into players especially into those not performing
well.
“When Earl came up to Baltimore [from managing in AA], he fell into a gold mine,” said Johnson. “He’d be nervous and pacing. [Jim] Palmer used to tell him, ‘Just shut up, smoke another cigarette and let us play.’”
Whatever strategy he employs, there is no denying the fact managing players like Bryce Harper, Jordan Zimmermann, Danny Espinosa, Wilson Ramos and Stephen Strasburg is an uphill task. The fact all of them are extremely talented, anything below their potential
coming about in the season from them will result in direct blame on him. Something he may or may not be responsible for entirely. While lightening the burden on them is good, the risk of players making wrong evaluations of their play is something that he must
take care of.
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