GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Micah Johnson connected with the first blow in the brawl that is expected to be the battle for the Chicago White Sox's second-base job.
It wasn’t just that Johnson had three hits in four at-bats during Tuesday’s intrasquad game, he also used his speed to cause all kinds of trouble for the defense and was able to score three runs.
“That’s my job to get on base any way possible,” Johnson said. “Yesterday I just tried to work on a few bunts and stuff and then get to two strikes, then just figure out how to get on base then. I was just working on stuff, and when I get on base my next job is to figure out how to score anyway possible and to put pressure on the defense.”
Johnson not only stole two bases, he was on the run a third time and ended up turning the play into another run.
“Probably my favorite play yesterday was 3-1 count, I was on first and Trayce (Thompson) hit a ground ball to short when I was stealing,” Johnson said. “They threw the ball away, and I was able to score on that. That’s just another way to score a run right there. Or (Emilio) Bonifacio bunts when I try to steal second, Melky (Cabrera) hits a ground ball and (Adam) LaRoche hits one in. That’s beautiful baseball man. It’s unbelievable.”
Johnson’s main competition for the Opening Day second-base job figures to come from Carlos Sanchez, with Gordon Beckham available if either falters. Sanchez got the start in Tuesday’s Cactus League opener.
“He just makes stuff happen when he’s out there,” manager Robin Ventura said of Johnson. “That’s part of the draw of him when you see him on the field, you’re drawn to him, he makes a lot of stuff happen. Everything seems to be going 100 miles an hour when he’s out there. He just creates havoc, can put it in play and that means runs because he makes stuff happen.”
And to think, Johnson didn’t start using his legs to his advantage until two years ago. He ended up stealing a combined 84 bases on three different minor league levels. Last season, his leg issues reduced him to 22 steals.
“In college I was more of a power hitter, I guess,” said Johnson, who is completely recovered from hamstring issues. “I hit double-digit home runs. I just never ran as much. Then I realized what you can do to a game with speed. I realized that God gave me the ability to run, and I have to use it now. I never really used it before.”
If he keeps having days like he did on Tuesday, he’s going to use those legs to run all the way to the Opening Day lineup.
“You have to stay consistent,” he said. “Every day can’t be good and every day won’t be bad. The bad days help you appreciate the good ones, and the good ones will help serve as a reminder during the bad days. You have to wash it away.
“You have to stay humble and realize that this game can be taken away at any second. Realize that it was a good day is a good day now but you can go cold quickly.”