Originally published Monday, July 20, 2009 at 12:00 AM

Wakamatsu likes the way Rob Johnson has been working with best pitchers

Manager Don Wakamatsu made it clear he likes the way catcher Rob Johnson works with Felix Hernandez, Jarrod Washburn and Sunday's starter, Erik Bedard.

By Larry Stone

Seattle Times staff reporter

CLEVELAND — With catcher Rob Johnson starting for the third consecutive game, the question naturally arose about the division of playing time between Johnson and Kenji Johjima. Johjima, you might remember, started the first game of the series, with Garrett Olson pitching. He got three hits and threw out two runners, but hasn't played since.

Manager Don Wakamatsu made it clear he likes the way Johnson works with Felix Hernandez, Jarrod Washburn and Sunday's starter, Erik Bedard.

"I had a discussion with Joh, and we try to prioritize what's most important for this club," Wakamatsu said. "Getting hits is not the No. 1 thing. Winning ball games is, and having a belief system with the starting pitcher, and pitchers in general. Rob right now seems to have a strong relationship with the guys that he's catching. Joh's done a lot of things well. He's throwing the ball extremely well. He's raised his average."

But average is secondary at this point at that position.

"We're predicated right now around pitching and defense, No. 1 pitching. If there's a belief system Rob's doing a better job with that, we'll go with that. I'm not negating what Kenji can do. I guess as he starts to build a stronger relationship, getting back into it — the injuries have been a strong factor with that, him missing time and Rob being able to build that relationship while he was down.

"I told Kenji, too, as he builds that relationship back — he did it in spring training, he did it at the start of the year — it can swing the other way. No one's chastising anybody."

Johjima also still faces language issues.

"I'd say language-wise, yeah. But I've also seen it with Joh. I've seen him build that relationship and engage. He's had success with these guys in the past.

"He's caught guys, whether it's Batista, whether it's Felix, whether it's Bedard, these guys have had success with him. It's just as a manager and a guy overseeing this club, you try to pair up the timing of it. Right now, Rob seems to be catching those guys well."

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