This is the fourth big-league camp for Johnson, who has switched lockers, jersey numbers, positions and spring training sites since he first arrived in 2007 as a second baseman. Johnson, who will play the infield and outfield this spring, is out of options and appears to be a long shot to make the team.
Didn't you used to wear No. 9?
Westy (clubhouse manager Chris Westmoreland) called me into his office (Tuesday) and said Hank Blalock wanted his number, so he gave me No. 37.
It's tradition for the experienced player to receive his number when he moves to a new team. It's also tradition for the experienced player to offer something.
Did Blalock pay for his number?
Nope. Nothing like that.
Did it bother you the switch was made without consulting you?
No. My number changes every year. I was 43, 29, 9. What bothers me is they write your number on everything, hats, gloves, shirts. I keep crossing off the numbers and writing the new numbers. There are only so many places you can write a number.
What number do you want?
My number is 8, and somebody (Jason Bartlett) has that locked down.
So, what's life like as No. 37?
I was called out on a pitch (Tuesday against the Orioles) that I didn't think was a strike. When I got back to the dugout (hitting coach Derek) Shelton said, "If you still had No. 9 they would have called it a ball."
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