Projo Sox Blog

By Joe McDonald
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON _ When former PawSox manager Ron Johnson was informed of his promotion to be the new first-base coach for the Red Sox, one of the first people he called was a New York Yankee.

Johnson has been a close friend of Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long since "RJ" was his Double-A manager in Wichita in 1995. When Johnson, a minor-league manager for the last 18 seasons, was told of his call up to the big leagues by Red Sox manager Terry Francona recently, Johnson had one message for Long and the Yankees.

"I said, 'Hey, buddy. Congrats on the World Series, but it's not going to happen next year, bro.' When he asked me why, I told him. He told me that I deserved it and congratulations," Johnson said.

Johnson, 53, has been riding buses throughout the minor leagues since 1992 when he took his first managerial job for Single-A Baseball City of the Florida State League for the Kansas City Royals. Now there will be no more 3 a.m. stops at some greasy spoon along some highway from Buffalo, N.Y. to Gwinnett, GA.

Now he'll be flying on the Sox' charter flights and sleeping in the best hotels.

"I'm out of my mind," he said. "I'm excited beyond belief. My first big-league job will be with the Boston Red Sox. Are you kidding me? I've been around the game for a long time and I know I can do this and I know it'll be a good fit."

With the departure of Red Sox bench coach Brad Mills, who was named manager of the Houston Astros last month, Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein & Co. decided it would be best to promote from within. There were many qualified candidates and the final four were: Johnson, minor-league field coordinator Rob Leary, Lowell manager Gary DiSarcina and minor-league outfield and baserunning coach, Tom Goodwin.

The official announcement was made Monday evening and as expected DeMarlo Hale, the club's third-base coach for the last four seasons, has been named as Mills' replacement as bench coach. Tim Bogar will move from first base to the third-base coach's box, while Johnson will be at first.

Even though Johnson knew he could handle any role in Boston, there was still a little bit of doubt in his mind that the Red Sox would give him the opportunity because of his value at the Triple-A level.

Francona was vacationing in Las Vegas when he called Johnson to give him the good news.

"You still want to be our first-base coach?" Francona asked Johnson.

"I was like, 'Hell, yeah. More than I want to go out and ride my horse right now.' He said, 'Okay, you're our first-base coach.' I was doing a lot of yelling and screaming," said Johnson.

Francona told Johnson he deserved this opportunity and the Sox believe it will be a good fit for the club. Epstein followed with his own phone call to wish his congratulations.

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