Davidi on Johnson: Getting grounded

TORONTO – On Tuesday, Kelly Johnson’s world was rocked both figuratively and literally.

Still digesting news of his acquisition by the Toronto Blue Jays from the Arizona Diamondbacks while on the phone with his agent, the second baseman’s hotel room was shaken by the 5.8 magnitude earthquake that rattled Washington.

Two manic days later, after zig-zagging the continent to pick up his passport and tie up some loose ends before finally joining the Blue Jays, the ground is finally settled again beneath the 29-year-old’s feet.

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“I had no idea what was going on already, getting traded I was in shock, now I’m getting thrown about my room. It was crazy,” Johnson said before making his Blue Jays debut Thursday against the Kansas City Royals.

“I was shocked (by the trade). I’m not real familiar with the whole waiver trade (process) but it’s part of the game. Both teams were looking to something different and get a look at new guys. Anything in the past is good to learn from, but it’s the past, and I like to worry about today.”

It’s a good frame of mind to be in for Johnson, who went from a team leading the National League West to one well off the pace in the American League East.

The swap cost him any realistic chance of playing in the post-season for the second time in his career, leaving him instead to focus on finishing out what has been a somewhat difficult year strongly over the final five or so weeks.

“My rookie year was the only time I’ve been in the post-season, I had a blast, post-season baseball is what we live for,” Johnson said. “We were in last place last year and went through some peaks and valleys to get to where we were. It’s always fun to play in the post-season – I’ll leave it at that.

“There are always new opportunities and there’s no telling what’s going to happen from here on out, and there’s always a time for a similar situation here to try and turn something around and do something special next year.”

That Johnson is even talking about being a part of things in 2012 and beyond is a good sign since he’ll be a free agent at season’s end and the Blue Jays will need to find a second baseman.

Along with one of the players he was traded for, Aaron Hill, Johnson will be among the most attractive options at the position come this off-season.

General manager Alex Anthopoulos said after making the deal that the coming weeks will give both sides some insights into how a relationship might work out, and the native of Austin, Texas couldn’t agree more.

“That’s the exciting part,” he said. “When you switch teams and cities, it’s an opportunity to experience something new, it’s fun. Baseball is a long season, it can wear you down, you get a chance to move, get a little refreshed, there’s only five weeks left but it almost feels like a new season already.”

Helping matters is that neither Toronto as a city or the Blue Jays as an organization are foreign to Johnson, who has also done some leisure travelling in Italy and Mexico.

As a kid he visited Toronto with his aunt and uncle, and years later he returned to attend the wedding of former Atlanta Braves teammate Pete Orr, a native of suburban Newmarket.

On top of that, after he was non-tendered by the Braves after the 2009 season, he nearly signed to play left field for the Blue Jays, but opted to join the Diamondbacks and continue at second base instead.

“I was very close, there were a lot of positives to both places,” he said. “I wanted to stay at second and I’m glad I did. I think everything’s worked out for a reason. There’s always a reason for the way things happen, whether they present themselves now or later.”

One possible benefit that may show up sooner rather than later for Johnson is a greater comfort level with the Blue Jays’ aggressive approach at the plate, rather than the Diamondbacks’ more patient philosophy.

Much like Hill, Johnson is grinding through a down year, with his .209 batting average before Thursday’s play a career low and his 132 strikeouts putting him on pace for a career-high. Those struggles come on the heels of a brilliant 2010 when he hit .284 with a .370 on-base percentage, 36 doubles, five triples and 26 home runs to go with 71 RBIs and 79 walks.

Johnson is looking forward to working with Blue Jays hitting coach Dwayne Murphy, and he feels the AL may suit his style.

“It’s a get-ready-to-hit league, it’s a great ready-to-hit kind of team, be ready to hit the first pitch,” he said. “That’s not saying that’s going to play into my strengths, what it’s saying is it’s a different philosophy. I know when I’m at my best there is some patience, there are some quality plate at-bats. I haven’t been having them, but I’m looking forward to having successful and quality at-bats from here on out. …

“I’m definitely looking to cut down on strikeouts but I’m looking to do that still ready to hit, still ready to do damage.”

If he does, he will only enhance his chances on the open market this fall.

Now in control of his rights, the Blue Jays will get a first crack at him should they want to bring him back, but Johnson insists he’s not thinking about his longer-term future right now.

“That plays itself out, it’s time to play baseball,” he said. “I’ve been travelling for two days, I’m anxious to get back out and play the game … and go from there. There’s plenty of time for that stuff later on.”

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