Dan

Johnson

It was curious that the A’s didn’t play Johnson yesterday. Now we know why.

''Every day, you have to go out there trying to get better and better,’' Johnson said. ''Whenever the opportunity presents itself, I have to capitalize on it then. I can’t really worry about what’s going on around me.’' At the very least Johnson will make excellent trade bait for the A’s at some point, but he’ll beat up on Triple-A pitching again to start 2005.

Johnson, probably Oakland’s first baseman of the future, went 9-for-19 with three home runs and 12 RBI in Sacramento’s four-game series against Edmonton.

Johnson has homered in three straight. The A’s face Jose Lima tomorrow, so the opportunity will be there for him to make it four in a row. Lima has an 11.93 ERA in three career starts against the A’s.

Nick Swisher and Jason Kendall were on base four times apiece while Mark Ellis added four RBI. The Athletics collected 18 hits, seven of which went for extra bases, and 10 walks in the blowout. At 63-47, the Athletics are just 1/2 game behind the Angels for the NL West lead and also have the third best record in the American League.

He lost his 10-game hitting streak and his streak of four straight games with a homer.

The rookie also has 10 home runs in 209 at bats.

“I don’t know what time frame they’ve got, but I’m definitely itching to come back,” Johnson said. General manager Billy Beane indicated that the A’s have no plans to recall Johnson soon.

Johnson is hitting .392 at Sacramento. “Dan has certainly done everything we’ve asked and more,” assistant general manager David Forst said. “He took a great attitude, worked on his swing and he obviously has the results to prove it. Now it’s a matter of finding the right opportunity to get him back. It doesn’t make sense to bring him up here and sit.” It makes even less sense to keep giving Bobby Kielty at-bats against right-handers.

Four of Johnson’s six homers have come this month, and he’s driven in a run in each of his last six starts. He won’t be sitting against a right-hander again anytime soon.