CATCHING A GLIMPSE OF THE PAST; JOHNSON, ERSTWHILE CATCHER ROSEBORO LINKED BY PAST, CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCE.Byline: Marc J. Spears Daily News Staff Writer Johnny Roseboro A left-handed-hitter, Roseboro had a lifetime . sat in the Chavez Ravine stands Saturday night and couldn't help but reminisce rem·i·nisce intr.v. rem·i·nisced, rem·i·nisc·ing, rem·i·nisc·es To recollect and tell of past experiences or events. [Back-formation from reminiscence. when he saw Charles Johnson Charles Johnson may refer to:
Roseboro had the unenviable task of replacing Roy Campanella Question Country: United States of America State: Utah Say you're at a red light in a left hand turning lane and the light turns green so you let up slightly on the break antedating moving forward and the vehicle in 1958. And on this night, Johnson had the unenviable task of replacing Mike Piazza Michael Joseph Piazza (born September 4, 1968 in Norristown, Pennsylvania) is an American Major League Baseball player who currently plays for the Oakland Athletics. He began his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers and played for the Florida Marlins, New York Mets, San Diego Padres , who was traded to the Florida Marlins The Florida Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami Gardens, Florida. The Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From to the present, the Marlins have played in Dolphin Stadium. on Friday in a seven-player swap. ``(Campanella) could hit home runs,'' said Roseboro, who played for the Dodgers during 11 of his 14-year major-league career that ended in 1970. ``I could run and throw, but I couldn't hit like him. And I also think that I led the league in passed balls my first year behind the plate. ``But I didn't try to do what Campy could do. After a year, I was one of the best catchers in the league and I said to hell with what everyone else thought. I could hit the ball all over the field, run, throw and block the plate. I did all the things I needed to feel comfortable. And I think (Johnson) was comfortable behind the plate, too.'' Johnson said he thought a negative reaction was possible for him by the Dodgers fans. After all, he wasn't Piazza, the probable future Hall of Famer who was developed by the Dodgers. But the majority of the Dodgers fans welcomed the defensive specialist with surprising enthusiasm. ``I noticed (the cheers). . . . I was very surprised,'' Johnson said. ``Being in a catching position filling a spot that Piazza owned, I didn't know what to expect. It gave me a warm feeling that felt really good.'' Roseboro, 65, also has a warm feeling in his heart for Johnson that goes deeper than both of them being Dodgers catchers. Roseboro is friendly with Johnson's father, Charles Sr. At his father's request, Roseboro said he helped Johnson - who grew up 10 miles away from Dodgertown in Vero Beach Vero Beach (vēr`o), city (1990 pop. 17,350), seat of Indian River co., E Fla., on Indian River (a lagoon and part of the Intracoastal Waterway); founded c.1888, inc. 1919. , Fla. - decide to go to the University of Miami This article is about the university in Coral Gables, Florida. For the university in Oxford, Ohio, see Miami University. The University of Miami (also known as Miami of Florida,[2] UM,[3] or just The U before turning pro. Also, Roseboro has followed Johnson's career and said he gets ``excited for him'' any time he sees him play. While both Roseboro and Johnson had big shoes to fill, Roseboro said his road was much tougher. Roseboro was in his first full season when he replaced Campanella. As for Johnson, he has three years of experience, a World Series ring and three Gold Gloves. ``Charles definitely has an advantage,'' said Roseboro, who owns a public relations/advertising firm in Beverly Hills Beverly Hills, city (1990 pop. 31,971), Los Angeles co., S Calif., completely surrounded by the city of Los Angeles; inc. 1914. The largely residential city is home to many motion-picture and television personalities. . ``He plays (well) and he can be penciled in every day behind the plate. The Dodgers will be more comfortable behind the plate now. And with (Gary) Sheffield, (Bobby) Bonilla and Eric Karros Piazza and Johnson will be linked for many years to come. But Roseboro and many Dodgers coaches and players said it is unfair to compare the two. Piazza's strengths are Johnson's weaknesses and vice versa VICE VERSA. On the contrary; on opposite sides. . Piazza, a five-time All-Star, is one of the best hitting catchers ever to play the game. But behind the plate, he has poor footwork and a slow, inaccurate throwing motion. Johnson, on the other hand, is a pitcher's dream. ``I love throwing to C.J., he's an excellent catcher,'' said Dodgers right-hander Darren Dreifort Johnson also possesses a cannon arm and an unbelievably quick release. He threw out 47 percent of baserunners who tried to steal on him last year (second-best mark in the majors), but he entered the season as a .241 career batter. ``It is almost impossible to fill (Piazza's) shoes,'' said Johnson, who is batting .216 with seven home runs this season. ``I'm not coming here trying to do that, because I'm not that type of player. He isn't one of those guys you see come around every three years. He is one of those guys you see coming around every 20-30 years and one of the greatest hitting catchers in the game. ``I respect what he has done here over the years. I can only do what I can do, and the Dodgers know what they can get out of me.'' And if that is being a replacement on par with Roseboro, the Dodgers will be pleased. BREAKDOWN: CHARLES JOHNSON Hitting: C.J. is batting .216 with seven home runs this season. But in 1997, he raised his batting average batting average n. Baseball A measure of a batter's performance obtained by dividing the total of base hits by the number of times at bat, not including walks. Noun 1. 32 points (.275) and hit a three-run homer off Atlanta's John Smoltz that allowed Florida to take a 2-1 lead in the National League Championship Series. He is vulnerable to offspeed pitches, and breaking balls are one of his biggest weaknesses. But his 19 homers, 26 doubles and .357 World Series average was impressive for a catcher. Baserunning and defense: Johnson has won a Gold Glove in each of his first three seasons. He calls a game beautifully and it is easy to forget his youth because he leads veteran pitchers. He has a strong arm, a quick release and threw out 47 percent of his baserunners last season. However, he has little speed and needs to learn the finer points about baserunning. Source: STATS, Inc. CAPTION(S): 2 Photos, Box PHOTO (1--Color) no caption (Charles Johnson) Terri Thuente/Daily News (2) no caption (Charles Johnson) Gus Ruelas/Daily News BOX: BREAKDOWN: CHARLES JOHNSON (see text) |
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