Projo Sports Blog

PawSox manager Ron Johnson took a half-hour today to answer questions from projo.com readers. He enjoyed the experience and would like to do it again, so stay tuned for details on future chats. Meantime, here's the full transcript to today's chat:

Ron Johnson: hello to people how we doin this afternoon? will be here to 1:30 answering question's

Warren: Ron...can we talk for a second about Daniel Bard...while the kid has a super fastball and has made remarkable progress the last two years...can you explain to me the rational for the sox bringing him up and for the most part have him sit at the end of the bench...last night was only his second outting since being called up...Couldn't he be developing more by pitching more regularly in Pawtucket ?

Ron Johnson: Warren this is a good question and one that come's up a lot---will see if I can give you a insight as to what we think as a organization with these young guy's who get to Boston----biggest concern for a young arm is try to create a comfortable 1st few situation's so they can so experience as and try to put them in as good a situation as we can to let them have success, with the quality guy's we have in the bullpen in Boston already it sometime's leads to a few more days off than we all would like but I believe that Danny will learn a lot even on day's that he does not get to pitch in the game.

fenwaytoys: Where do you spend your offseason RJ?

Ron Johnson: I live in Morrison TN---about a hour from Nashville---Cowboy Up!

Warren: Ron...would you say at times it's difficult to balance the mission of getting the sox minor league talent ready for the bigs and doing what is needed to win ball games in Pawtucket ?

Ron Johnson: There really is no balance---although on a nightly basis we do everything we can to win game's in Pawtucket--- the focus to get players ready to help our major league club is first and foremost.

fenwaytoys: Did you do today's lineups yet? I heard Kotsay is in town again....

Ron Johnson: Not yet, and yes I do the lineup's the night before cause I'm not much of a mornignperson during the season----12 AM to 3AM is my time.

Warren: Ron...I know that there was alot of concern about Ortiz being homerless prior to last night and the stress was not only affecting him, his teamates and manager...I am wondering was it a stress that was throughout the organization and felt even in the minors...

Ron Johnson: Naw---2 thing's I know are absolute's----me drinking DD coffee and Big Papi going deep this year!

PawSox Superfan: How important is hitting to you, vs. pitching? If you could have a team stocked with one or the other, which would it be?

Ron Johnson: Pitching and defense win's game's---got to have some timely hitting but if you don't have the pitchin you wil never consistently out score the opposition.

fenwaytoys: I got a feeling Angel Chavez stock is rising...

Ron Johnson: Never seen a guy played 3rd like him, with the exception of Lowell---

Street Guy: RJ I go to many PawSox games, I enjoy seeing you manage the game. Like every manager, do you aspire to be in the big leagues, and if so would it be with the Red Sox?

Ron Johnson: Has always's been my goal---am on the 18th year of a 5 year plan but will never give up!

PawSox Superfan: Who is the best player you've ever managed?

Ron Johnson: Tricky one as I have had some great's----gotta go with Hanley Ramirrez---for a month in portland he did everything you want to see.---Hope Pedroia doesn't see this!!

Warren: Ron..how is Jeff Natale progressing this year...I thought he was on his way last year till he got hurt...also...isn't it a bit tough for him playing second and aspirng big things when the parent club has a young superstar in Pedroia playing that position...

Ron Johnson: Natale is coming back from a strained oblique and is close to getting back on the field, this guy's a m.l. hitter but we have had a tough time keeping him healthy

PawSox Superfan: Who's the guy we should be watching for on the club who's off the radar?

Ron Johnson: me

Warren: Ron...do you sometimes sit there and wonder how MLB has lost it's innocence...at the minor league level the game still has it's innocence and is all about the game...something that has been lost at the pro level..I come from New York ( the belly of the beast),Yankee land and I can tell you it's digusting how the game has lost it's way, its not about the game anymore...it's purely about fleecing you of your hard earned money ...I am coming up this weekend to see the Pawsox and can't wait to the return to the pure innocence of the game .

Ron Johnson: Can't go there cause my love for the game will never change---did I see you in the mall yesterday cause I met a guy who come's to a lot of game's and he said the same thing.

Street Guy: As I said, I am an avid PawSox fan and enjoy watching you work. It seems during the time you have been here you always seem to get the respect of the players, yet I'm sure you have many tough decisions to make. I'm sure it is a tough balance to maintain order and still have the respect of the players, is there a secret?

Ron Johnson: Be honest with them---good or bad---have simple rule's don't waffle---we have a fun but there is zero tolerance for crossing the line

Warren: Ron...is there a tense rivalry at the minor league level with the yanks farm team ?

Ron Johnson: No doubt---it run's aall the way down

Street Guy: Do you feel the excitement from the crowd at McCoy Stadium? Being part of Red Sox Nation is it all you thought it was, or did it take you a little bit about suprise. You are a fan favorite, and they will stick by you and they love their baseball. However, the Sox fans are very passionate and can turn on you with a couple of bad moves and/or calls. How do you think you would handle that?

Ron Johnson: I came over to this organization in 2000 and had always heard about the nation but never really understood it til I got to Portland in 2003----then when I came to pawtucket in 05 I really got a taste ---yes the nation can be demanding but no one loves like the nation either so it's like you as the player or manager are the child and the nation is the parent---were else in sport's would you get bthis kinda love!!

fenwaytoys: any new players on the team today?

Ron Johnson: Gotta check---good question---just kidding---but we did get Gil Velazquez back today for YOUK

Warren: Ron...ballplayers like the rest of us can be superstitous...what's the wildest thing you've seen among the players...

Ron Johnson: Alejandro Machado played here a few years agao and would go into the parking lot before BP and throws coin's into the dirt?? Your guess is as good as mine?

Warren: we all agree that taking roids has ruined/tainted the game...the one thing we never hear about is whether agents pushed athletes to take the stuff....is this possibly the next ticking time bomb to go off ?

Ron Johnson: I stay away from this topic cause I really have no knowledge of it

Ron Johnson: Goota thank you guy's for the question's---actualy thought this was gonna be aapin but I really liked it so let's do it again---now get out to McCoy and cheer on the boy's--RJ

 Tags  chat Pawtucket Red Sox Ron Johnson

---