Interview with Braves Leadoff Hitter Kelly Johnson

I was able to catch up with second baseman Kelly Johnson in the Braves clubhouse on Memorial Day Weekend.

Martin Gandy: We talked during spring training, and you were confident about playing second base, but you just didn't know how it would go. It's gone pretty well, so how settled indo you feel at second base?

Kelly Johnson: I feel very good, but it's still going to take this entire year and maybe even another year just to get all the different things that could happen, like the way the ball bounces, or how to deal with situation with the runners, there's always going to be something. So, it's going to take another year or two to get all those things to come out in a game, because you can only get them in game situations. But as far as the other stuff goes, the fundamental stuff, standard day to day stuff that's going to happen each game, I feel really good, I feel confident, I feel like I have a routine set and I'll go forth from there.

MG: You started out slow but patient, and then you caught fire for the last three weeks towards the end of April, but since then you've slowed down a little bit this month. This is really your first full-time big league experience, how are you making adjustments?

KJ: The league's made adjustments, so it's my time to make adjustments too. It's a long season so it's going to be a roller coaster - offensively, defensively - things are going to be hot and cold. It's the same way it is in the minor leagues. There's going to be days when your body hurts a little more. There are going to be days when you're facing a string of really good teams and really good pitchers. It's one of those things where you just have to bear down and stick with your routine and don't change anything and don't get too panicky.

MG: How have you handled left-handed pitching?

KJ: It's been fine. Actually it helps a lot of times I've noticed when I get into funk when I can get some lefties, when I can get in there against some lefties, it kind of helps me get locked back in because I don't try to do too much; I let them come to me. Then when I get some righties I feel like I'm locked-in again. Facing the lefties actually helps. Like right now we're in the middle of a streak where we're going to face a bunch of lefties and to be honest with you it's perfect timing really.

MG: So you're looking forward to it?

KJ: Yeah, I don't mind the lefties. I look forward to it, because like I said, I feel like they get me back on track...gets me right again for the most part just getting back to being myself and not trying to be too much.

MG: Any advice for Saltalamacchia, switching positions to first base part-time?

KJ: It's something that a lot of people have speculated about for a while now and he looks like he's willing to do whatever just to be up here. He's got such a big bat you want to try and get his bat in the lineup somehow. I just tell him to do it every day. I've already told him once to get with the infield coaches and try to make it a point to get something going each day.

MG: Have you noticed a difference in the way the team plays when they're facing winning teams versus when they're facing losing teams?

KJ: No, not really, I think it's all just kind of random and coincidental how you seem like you don't play as well and get into some kind of funk. I just think, we have so many other good teams in our division, and we know that, so I think we definitely are a little more focused and a little more up to the task when they come to town and when we go there. I don't think anything that we purposely do, I just think it's human nature.

MG: Do you all think you'd be this close to the Mets at this point in the season?

KJ: Yes. Absolutely! We have a really good team and they do too, but I feel like with our pitching and if we just continue to do the things that we can do offensively, as far as scoring runs and getting on base, we'll hang with them all year and it will be a good race all the way to the finish.

MG: Well, thanks a lot and good luck to you.

KJ: Okay, thank you.