Charles Johnson finds a new life, new look with Rockies.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)

Byline: Mike Phillips

TUCSON, Ariz. _ He looks lean and mean.

But Colorado Rockies catcher Charles Johnson doesn't just have the look of a new man, he's a man with a new beginning.

Since being traded from the Marlins to the Colorado Rockies, Johnson has lost 13 pounds, grown a goatee and had dinner in the White House.

His biggest surprise since being traded was the night he heard the Marlins signed catcher Ivan Rodriguez.

``I was watching the news on TV with my wife, and they said, `The Marlins have reeled in a big one.' We just laughed and said, `Oh, boy, I wonder who the big one is,' '' the former Marlins catcher said. ``When we heard it was Pudge, we couldn't believe it. I mean, here they are crying over money, and then they go out and spend $10 million on Pudge. What are they going to do? You know they won't re-sign him next year. You know he's going to be there one year and then he's gone.

``I thought they were happy with their catchers with Mike Redmond and Ramon Castro. They kept saying they were in good shape with the catchers. Then they sign Pudge. I mean, I realize why they signed him. They signed him because they could get him, and he's a great catcher. That makes sense. But it's just weird that they cry so much over money and then do something like that on top of how things went with me.