It Was Too Bad to Last for Johnson

Davey Johnson began his post-Dodger experience relaxing with friends, something uncommon during the former manager’s brief and stormy tenure at Chavez Ravine.

Johnson and his wife, Susan, returned Saturday to their off-season home in Winter Park, Fla., receiving a much warmer reception than they had from the Dodgers the past few months.

The Dodgers officially fired baseball’s winningest active manager in a Friday news conference at Dodger Stadium, making Johnson their latest fall guy while changing direction again under Fox.

Johnson didn’t attend the session because the longtime manager said it was time to close the door as quickly as possible.

“It was uncomfortable for me from [Sept. 29] on,” said Johnson, alluding to the day the Dodgers informed him he would not return next season. “I knew it was over then, but we still had a series to play [against the San Diego Padres] and I had a responsibility to my players and staff.

“But, yeah, it was hard because you still have a job to do, and you’re determined to do it as best you can, but you know what’s going on and you know how it is. You know what I mean?”

Johnson saw the handwriting on the wall long before he and his agent, Alan Nero, met with Chairman Bob Daly and President Bob Graziano to discuss the firing.

Despite being under contract through 2001, Johnson figured this season would be his last with the club after reading Daly’s comments to The Times at the All-Star break.

Among other things, the first-year baseball executive said, “the frustrating part is that you would like to see the Dodgers win more ballgames when we don’t hit home runs. . . . You’d hope we could manufacture a few more runs . . . and win some of those closer games when we don’t have the two- or three-run home run.”

Daly was perceived to be criticizing Johnson’s strategy, and Johnson prepared to pack.

“I’ve been in this game long enough to understand what had to happen,” said Johnson, 163-161 in two seasons at the Dodgers’ helm. “The things that were said . . . that’s just the way it is and you have to accept it.

“We had a high payroll [$98 million] and someone had to [go]. No matter what was said, or if nothing was said, that wasn’t going to change that fact.”

Daly, Graziano and General Manager Kevin Malone were guarded in their comments about Johnson at the news conference, declining to cite reasons for firing the club’s fourth manager since the middle of the 1996 season.

Malone was forthcoming during the season, saying that the Dodgers underachieved because of Johnson’s questionable game management, lack of communication with players and club officials and seemingly laid-back approach.

Johnson offered another theory.

“I can’t say that the guys underachieved or didn’t do a good job for me because we still lacked a little in some areas,” Johnson said. “We were better in some areas than last season, but it still takes time.

“When you’re trying to build toward being a championship club, you have to have all the pieces in place. The pieces were starting to come together, we spent a lot of time trying to make some strides, but it’s not going to happen overnight when you’re starting from where we did. It just doesn’t work that way.”

Malone apparently disagreed.

He made bold predictions last season before the club finished 77-85. Johnson now acknowledges he was concerned about Malone’s comments because Johnson knew the Dodgers had many holes.

“You’re going to have problems when you grade the Dodgers in the same category as the [New York] Yankees,” Johnson said, alluding to Malone jokingly responding to a question about the Yankees in spring training in 1999.

“It was inevitable, no matter what we did, that it was never going to be enough when you’re put in the same category as the Yankees. I mean, we hadn’t even won 90 games in a couple of years [since ‘96], and we’re mentioned with the Yankees. I knew that one was going to be trouble.”

The pressure Malone inadvertently stirred further strained his relationship with Johnson, contributing to the long-expected firing.

What are Johnson’s feelings toward his former boss?

“That’s really a heck of a great question,” Johnson said, laughing. “I’ll tell you, there’s a whole lot I could do with a question like that, but I’m not going to give a heck of an answer. I’d just rather leave that one for everyone else to draw their own conclusions.”

Johnson is willing to discuss his career plans.

He has been mentioned in connection with the Cincinnati Reds, who Monday fired Jack McKeon. Johnson led the Reds to consecutive National League Central division titles in 1994-95.

Cincinnati General Manager Jim Bowden had been vocal in his support of his embattled friend during the season, saying Johnson wins when management does its part.

“One thing I know is that Jim Bowden is a mover and a shaker, he knows how to put a team together, and they have the pieces in place,” Johnson said. “I enjoyed my time there and it’s good working with someone like Jim, he gets it, but I would like to take some time off.

“I learned a long time ago not to do anything right after the season because the season takes so much out of you. You need to take time and relax, but I guess I’m not ruling anything out.”

Johnson, 57, doesn’t need a job.

The Dodgers will pay him the $1.5 million he is owed under his contract, and Johnson has made many successful investments.

But he has unfinished business.

“Me and Susan are going to our condo at [Daytona Beach]; we’ll do some fishing and see what happens,” Johnson said. “I still love to compete and I still love the game. The last two years have been uncomfortable at times, but that much hasn’t changed.”