WINTER PARK, Fla. (July 14, 2011) - When you have had the opportunity to play college baseball and have been drafted into Major League Baseball, the number of unforgettable memories are countless.
Winter Park Head Coach Kevin Davidson has had some eye-opening experiences having been invited to the Houston Astros big league camp on two occasions, while also having the chance to be around former big leaguers such as Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell. In his last two summers, he added to his resume the title of assistant coach for the DeLand Suns and Sanford River Rats under former MLB all-star and current manager of the Washington Nationals Davey Johnson. Davidson’s first official coaching job came with the Suns in the summer of 2009 under the renowned Johnson.
“That was one of the most memorable baseball experiences I have,” Davidson said.
Davidson, a former catcher, was a four-year starter at Rollins College from 1999-2002. He was selected in the 28th round of the 2002 MLB draft by the Houston Astros and played six seasons in their minor league system. In 2003, Davidson was the Astros Minor League MVP. He currently is a wealth strategist at UBS Financial, in addition to being the skipper of the Winter Park Diamond Dawgs.
“Davey has had the single biggest baseball impact on my life,” said Davidson.
Johnson was a Senior Adviser for the Washington Nationals, prior to being hired as their manager mid-season. During his playing career, Johnson was a four-time all-star, three-time Gold Glove Award recipient, and two-time World Series champion. As a manager, he won the 1986 World Series with the New York Mets and was named AL Manager of the Year in 1997 with the Baltimore Orioles. Johnson managed multiple teams from 1984-2000, and only had one losing season.
“He can make an average team good, and a good team great,” said Davidson.
Johnson also had the opportunity to manage Team USA in the Olympics and in the World Baseball Classic.
The two first met during Davidson’s career at Rollins, where they formed a relationship, as Johnson was his hitting coach during the off-season. Davidson has witnessed Johnson’s coaching ability first hand as a player and assistant coach.
Johnson’s track record shows that he clearly does things that other coaches do not, one of which is that he is hands on with his players.
“He doesn’t just tell a guy, he shows a guy,” said Davidson.
Davidson also noted Johnson’s preparation and aptitude for match ups. For instance, according to Davidson, Johnson always had someone ready, given the situation, and could project the way games were going and could go.
“Just to hear him think through a game, he’s so much more advanced,” said Davidson. “He was always two innings ahead of me.”
Davidson said that Johnson would always tell him “I don’t want to know what would have happened.”
Davidson believes that Johnson’s best quality was managing the pitching staff, and is what he says he learned most about under Johnson. Davidson now specifically makes sure that he works his pitchers, but not to the point where they will tire easily. He has kept a close eye on pitch counts this summer to keep players healthy.
However, Davidson is not completely like Johnson.
His style as a head coach has certainly been marked this summer by being aggressive on the base paths with his team and putting the pressure on the defense as the Diamond Dawgs have stolen 73 bases through 22 games.
Then again, Johnson has a particular method that he goes through in every game according to Davidson.
Johnson’s process involves breaking the game into thirds, where he lets things develop in the first three innings, surveys what is happening in the middle innings, and then makes his managerial moves in the final three innings.
“There have been plenty of times this season where I’ve asked myself what has Davey taught me in this situation,” said Davidson.
Essentially, Davidson’s time around Johnson gave him the once in a lifetime opportunity to sit and learn from a managerial legend, which in turn has given him confidence in the things he does today.
“That guy is the man,” added Davidson. “When you are around him, you feel like he’s smarter than the game.”
Mitchell Adams (UCF)