JAMES Gandolfini sat recently with George Steinbrenner in the Yankee Stadium owners box, just two guys who play impatient Bosses for pubic consumption.
Of course, when Tony Soprano’s patience expires so often does the person who tried his tolerance. Steinbrenner’s punishments tend to be less, well, permanent, though often full of cruelty nevertheless.
However, like the role Gandolfini plays, there is a fictitious nature to some of Steinbrenner’s notorious impatience. Don’t misunderstand. He still makes life miserable for his executives should any Yankee losing streak reach one game. It is just those executives have improved at keeping Steinbrenner’s knee-jerk personality from overwhelming the organization.
The current example of that is Nick Johnson’s continuing presence in the lineup and on the 25-man roster. In a previous era under Steinbrenner, Johnson would even now be playing across the diamond from Drew Henson at Triple-A. Maybe he would have been busted all the way to Double-A.
But the reality is the Yankees have shown far more patience with Johnson than other organizations have with many pre-season Rookie of the Year touts. Texas already has demoted Hank Blalock, perhaps the most heralded first-year player coming into the league this season. Oakland sent down Carlos Pena, Tampa Bay sent down Toby Hall, Houston sent down Morgan Ensberg and San Diego was just about to send down Sean Burroughs, when the third baseman got hurt and needed to be placed on the disabled list.
Johnson, meanwhile, received a pep talk from Joe Torre in the Metrodome three weeks ago when his demotion seemed imminent. Torre told Johnson the organization “was not planning to do anything” as far as demoting him. Johnson has responded with the kind of disciplined, successful at-bats the team had envisioned.
From the closing game in Minnesota to Sunday’s finale against the Red Sox, Johnson was hitting .423 (22-for-52) with four homers and 17 RBIs in 20 games. He has lifted his overall average from .196 to .240. And while his on-base (.323) and slugging percentages (.402) are not impressive, they have been climbing recently and – even in their current state – are akin to the .333/.430 primary DH David Justice produced for $7 million to get traded.
Johnson, who is to insightful conversation what the Tampa Bay Devil Rays are to quality major-league play, said, “no” and giggled when asked if he had noticed how other touted rookies had been sent down. Yankee GM Brian Cashman was a tad more perceptive on the issue.
He noted the Yanks’ patience with Alfonso Soriano and Ted Lilly as rookies last season has provided them with two players making vital sophomore impacts. He is hoping for the same with Johnson; solid production this season followed by blossoming afterward.
“It is a delicate tightrope,” Cashman said. “We are trying to give players time to develop as they adjust to the next level while not affecting the bottom line for us, which is winning.”
Even on Sunday, during a non-descript 1-for-3 in a 7-1 Red Sox triumph, Johnson sprinkled indicators he is growing in his rookie season. He crushed a liner so hard in the third that first baseman Tony Clark dropped the ball before recovering to get an out at first. He singled on a full-count pitch in the fifth. In the seventh, he struck out, but not before turning an 0-2 count to a 3-2 count.
Since a discerning eye is central to Johnson’s offensive talents, his ability to work counts is important. He is still striking out too much, but has begun to walk more regularly, having a five-game steak with a base on balls that ended Sunday.
“When he’s right, he’s not getting himself out,” hitting coach Rick Down said. “And that is where he mostly is now.”
The Yanks like that Johnson hangs in against lefties, though his average was just .176 with one extra-base hit against southpaws. He also has performed better while at first base (.269 average, .500 slugging) than adjusting to the DH role (.218/.327), and Torre has been more and more working in his superior glove to Jason Giambi’s.
Even with the steady improve^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ment, Johnson is no certainty to remain a Yankee. Inexpensive with a high ceiling, Johnson will be in demand if the Yanks go fishing for a Bartolo Colon or Cliff Floyd in July. And there is always Steinbrenner lurking, ready as ever to play the part of the impatient Boss.
