Edmonds-Johnson tandem pulling weight for Cubs
One reason why Cubs general manager Jim Hendry didn't feel the need to make a deal at Thursday's nonwaiver trade deadline is because two of his pickups from earlier in the seasons keep paying dividends on a regular basis.
That would be the platooning center field tandem of Reed Johnson, signed as a free agent in late March following his release from Toronto, and Jim Edmonds, acquired after his release in San Diego.
Two days after Edmonds hit 2 home runs, including a grand slam, to win a game in Milwaukee, it was Johnson's turn to be in the middle of a lot of good things in a victory on Saturday.
Johnson went 3-for-4 with a stolen base and scored 2 runs in the Cubs' 5-1 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field.
"They've been so good," Ted Lilly, Saturday's winning pitcher, said of Johnson and Edmonds. "They're both good on the defensive end as well and bring a lot to our table.
"It's interesting in that they bring different facets of the game. Jimmy is dangerous with one swing of the bat and then Reed kind of brings a different factor into the game when he's in the lineup. I definitely like the balance in our club."
On a day when a cool wind blew in, keeping several long balls in the park, Johnson helped the Cubs manufacture 2-run innings in the second and fourth. He singled and scored on a Ronny Cedeno single in the second, then led off the fourth with a bunt single and later scored on a Cedeno double play ball.
"Nobody's really hitting the ball out of the park today," Johnson said. "We know how this park plays when the wind is blowing in and we did the small things today and I think that's why we won."
Johnson hadn't had a bunt single until Saturday but saw the Pirates sitting back when he led off the fourth.
"I just try to find a way to get on every time," Johnson said. "If the bunt's not there for me then I'm comfortable swinging the bat. I just feel if the other team is giving me something offensively, a bunt, whether it be the left side or the right side of the field, that I have to take advantage of that situation especially when I'm leading off that inning."
Cubs manager Lou Piniella won't be going away from the Johnson-Edmonds platoon anytime soon.
"It keeps them both fresh and we need to do that," Piniella said.
Johnson would like to play every day, but it's winning that comes first to him.
"I think Jim Hendry has the right type of guys in this clubhouse, guys that want to play every day," Johnson said. "If you didn't want to play every day you shouldn't be here.
"I think Jimmy (Edmonds) has got that same attitude and I have, that we prepare ourselves on and every day basis to play if something happens to the other guy. I think that preparation has been a direct cause of our success this year."