D-Backs executive Johnson leaves for Mets

azdad1978 · November 11th, 2004, 07:14 AM

By Ed Price, Tribune

The Diamondbacks have lost a key member of the front office, as senior assistant general manager Sandy Johnson has left to join the New York Mets as a special assistant to the GM.
Johnson has been a behindthe-scenes yet valuable member of the organization since before Arizona’s first game. He joined the club in November 1996 to help prepare for the expansion draft, was promoted to assistant GM in 1998 and again to his most recent position a year ago.

"It’s been eight great years," Johnson said.

"We had a lot of ups and downs and it was a big challenge. It was rewarding to be part of a world championship team and work with the Diamondbacks organization."

Johnson, who was instrumental in talent evaluation and dealing with other teams, expressed his appreciation for general manager Joe Garagiola and the Arizona front office and said he was leaving not because of any dissatisfaction with the D-Backs but to be close to family. He will be based in Baltimore, where he has a daughter and three grandsons, and he also has two sons and two grandsons in New York.

"It’s hard to put into words, it really is, everything that he brought to this organization," Garagiola said. "His reputation, which is as good as there is in the game; his judgment; his willingness to always say what he thought, no matter who was in the room.

"He has been a tremendous person to work with and became a great friend, someone who I have the utmost love and respect for. The organization will miss him. I will miss him."

Arizona is expected to seek a high-profile executive to fill Johnson’s role.

Former Toronto, Baltimore and Seattle GM Pat Gillick has passed on the job, sources said.

"I have some ideas," Garagiola said. "It’s still preliminary.

"It’ll be a difficult job to fill. I think it is really beneficial to the organization to have someone in that position, but there aren’t a lot of people like Sandy Johnson."

Elsewhere in the front office, scouting director Mike Rizzo has signed a one-year contract to return, and assistant GM Bob Miller is expected to continue to oversee player development, which he has done since Tommy Jones went from farm director to first-base coach in July.

Johnson, 64, has a close relationship with new Mets GM Omar Minaya, who was a Texas Rangers scout when Johnson was that team’s scouting director.

"There is no baseball executive I respect more in this game than Sandy Johnson," Minaya said in a statement.

"Whether it be scouting, player development or International play, Sandy has been involved with it all. I was with him in Texas and I can’t tell you how excited I am to be with him again here with the Mets."

Johnson — who has been in professional baseball since 1959, as a minor league player and manager, scout and scouting director — will start with the Mets on Saturday.

The Mets also hired former big-league player Tony Bernazard, who had been special assistant to the executive director of the players’ union, as a special assistant to Minaya.

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=31320

WildBB · November 15th, 2004, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azdad1978

By Ed Price, Tribune

The Diamondbacks have lost a key member of the front office, as senior assistant general manager Sandy Johnson has left to join the New York Mets as a special assistant to the GM.
Johnson has been a behindthe-scenes yet valuable member of the organization since before Arizona’s first game. He joined the club in November 1996 to help prepare for the expansion draft, was promoted to assistant GM in 1998 and again to his most recent position a year ago.

"It’s been eight great years," Johnson said.

"We had a lot of ups and downs and it was a big challenge. It was rewarding to be part of a world championship team and work with the Diamondbacks organization."

Johnson, who was instrumental in talent evaluation and dealing with other teams, expressed his appreciation for general manager Joe Garagiola and the Arizona front office and said he was leaving not because of any dissatisfaction with the D-Backs but to be close to family. He will be based in Baltimore, where he has a daughter and three grandsons, and he also has two sons and two grandsons in New York.

"It’s hard to put into words, it really is, everything that he brought to this organization," Garagiola said. "His reputation, which is as good as there is in the game; his judgment; his willingness to always say what he thought, no matter who was in the room.

"He has been a tremendous person to work with and became a great friend, someone who I have the utmost love and respect for. The organization will miss him. I will miss him."

Arizona is expected to seek a high-profile executive to fill Johnson’s role.

Former Toronto, Baltimore and Seattle GM Pat Gillick has passed on the job, sources said.

"I have some ideas," Garagiola said. "It’s still preliminary.

"It’ll be a difficult job to fill. I think it is really beneficial to the organization to have someone in that position, but there aren’t a lot of people like Sandy Johnson."

Elsewhere in the front office, scouting director Mike Rizzo has signed a one-year contract to return, and assistant GM Bob Miller is expected to continue to oversee player development, which he has done since Tommy Jones went from farm director to first-base coach in July.

Johnson, 64, has a close relationship with new Mets GM Omar Minaya, who was a Texas Rangers scout when Johnson was that team’s scouting director.

"There is no baseball executive I respect more in this game than Sandy Johnson," Minaya said in a statement.

"Whether it be scouting, player development or International play, Sandy has been involved with it all. I was with him in Texas and I can’t tell you how excited I am to be with him again here with the Mets."

Johnson — who has been in professional baseball since 1959, as a minor league player and manager, scout and scouting director — will start with the Mets on Saturday.

The Mets also hired former big-league player Tony Bernazard, who had been special assistant to the executive director of the players’ union, as a special assistant to Minaya.

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=31320

It's another big loss the team can't deny. Especially at this juncture with the mgmt. change.

I wonder if the Wally B. fiasco hastened this departure. If Backman was his guy.

AZZenny · November 15th, 2004, 12:21 PM

This was rumored before Backman was even named - as soon as Minaya went to the Mets, in fact. I wouldn't make too much out of a guy in his late sixties-early 70's moving to be nearer family when a good chance arises, especially since it is very likely (OK - devoutly to be hoped) there will be a lot more front-office change in the coming year or so and everyone knows it.

I think re-signing scouting director Mike Rizzo for another year is a very positive sign; curious to hear next what they do with Tommy Jones. He's generally been well-respected and well-liked.