Johnson Defends Lineup Decisions

Davey Johnson led the New York Mets and Cincinnati Reds to championships, but Johnson has become Public Enemy No. 1 in those cities because of his decisions regarding the Dodgers’ last two games.

The Mets and Reds are in playoff races with the Houston Astros, whom the Dodgers finish the season against today at the Astrodome. Johnson decided Friday that all-star left fielder Gary Sheffield would not play during the last two games of the series because of his season-long ankle and shoulder problems, and 18-game winner Kevin Brown would not start the finale on three days’ rest.

Jose Lima pitched 7 2/3 scoreless innings Saturday in a 3-0 victory over the Dodgers. Sheffield, who did not play Saturday, is batting .636 (seven for 11) with a home run and two runs batted in against Lima in his career.

Johnson has been blasted on sports-talk radio in New York and Cincinnati for supposedly trying to help the Astros.

Nothing could be further from the truth, Johnson said.

“I certainly understand how people in New York and Cincinnati feel, and I understand the attention these games are getting, but that part of the equation is not going to affect my decision,” said Johnson, who said he would have permitted Brown to start today if he had a chance to win 20 games. “I’m not going to risk the future of this ballclub in meaningless games for us.”

Johnson said that maintaining the integrity of the game is important to him. He said he has done his part to field a competitive lineup for the final series despite his decision to rest Sheffield, who is batting .301 with 34 homers, 101 RBIs and a team-high 103 runs.

Johnson said it’s not his responsibility to help the Reds, Mets or Astros.

“We play 162 games that count,” Johnson said. “It’s not my job to rectify the situation for anyone after 162 games.”

TODAY

DODGERS’ ROBINSON CHECO (2-1, 8.22 ERA) vs. ASTROS’ MIKE HAMPTON (21-4, 2.95 ERA)

Astrodome, 11:30 a.m. PDT

TV--Channel 5 Radio--

KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330)

* Update--Checo, a right-hander, gave up one run and three hits in five innings during his only start for the Dodgers, a 9-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on July 28 at Dodger Stadium. Checo left the game because of a strained groin muscle and was sidelined for two months. Hampton is pitching on three days’ rest in an attempt to help the Astros clinch the National League Central championship.