294 replies to this topic

[RShack]

As I write this, the Umpires have reviewed call at Fenway, and Johnson has his first blown save of the year. This is the first adversity Johnson has really faced this year a Closer. Will be interesting to see how he responds.

Had to happen. I thought our review had a chance because the fan hit it with his hat. A lot to ask of the ump there though. Tough, we need this game.

Yeah, hit it with his hat... when it was in HR territory...

I'm not sad that this happened. We won the game and now I won't have to cringe every time an announcer brings up the streak...

I think Cal wore me out about streaks of any kind, I just don't wanna hear about them... if I was a player, I'd hate them... they cause reporters to ask you the same stupid questions again and again and again when you're just trying to focus on the next game...

[Adam Wolff]

Even with his first hiccup last night, I don't see anyway Johnson isn't an all star. He's tied for 2nd in the entire majors in saves and has the lowest ERA. I know some funky things have to happen with all star selections, but JJ should be a no brainer.

[Oriole85]

Even with his first hiccup last night, I don't see anyway Johnson isn't an all star. He's tied for 2nd in the entire majors in saves and has the lowest ERA. I know some funky things have to happen with all star selections, but JJ should be a no brainer.

If he keeps this up I agree with you. Here's how I see him not getting it though, some team needing a token selection and selecting a reliever since Jones is virtually assured a spot. Think Kansas City a few years back with Aaron Crow. It's been many years since the O's got two players (or had a decent record when these picks were announced). All that being said, if the choice was being made today, I would expect him to be chosen.

[Oriole85]

Yeah, hit it with his hat... when it was in HR territory...

I'm not sad that this happened. We won the game and now I won't have to cringe every time an announcer brings up the streak...

I think Cal wore me out about streaks of any kind, I just don't wanna hear about them... if I was a player, I'd hate them... they cause reporters to ask you the same stupid questions again and again and again when you're just trying to focus on the next game...

The worst is the 4-5 game "hit streaks," which should just go unmentioned.

[RShack]

Yeah, hit it with his hat... when it was in HR territory...

I'm not sad that this happened. We won the game and now I won't have to cringe every time an announcer brings up the streak...

I think Cal wore me out about streaks of any kind, I just don't wanna hear about them... if I was a player, I'd hate them... they cause reporters to ask you the same stupid questions again and again and again when you're just trying to focus on the next game...

The worst is the 4-5 game "hit streaks," which should just go unmentioned.

Exactly. Once they reach 20 they're worth a mention...

[Adam Wolff]

Would just like to echo my sentiment that Jimmy better be selected for the all star game.

He's been arguably the best closer in the AL, close to in all of baseball. The only guy I think you can really make a case for would be Fernando Rodney, believe it or not. Same amount of saves, Rodney has a slightly lower ERA. JJ has a lower whip though, so it's basically a wash.

[You Play to Win the Game]

Now that Jim Johnson (err, Ryan Flaherty) blew a 3-run lead against the Tigers on Saturday, I'm allowed to offer a criticism... wait for it...

He needs to be a little more eccentric...

[SportsGuy]

Palmer said in his speech that he could be Roy Halladay if he started..I find that very laughable and I usually respect everything Palmer says.

[Mike B]

Palmer said in his speech that he could be Roy Halladay if he started..I find that very laughable and I usually respect everything Palmer says.

Palmer was trying to be nice to the people who took the time to come to his ceremony. Halladay is a stretch but it is and has been his view that JJ could be a good starter. I think he may know pitchers better than all of us. Not laughable to think JJ could be a good starter.

[SportsGuy]

Palmer was trying to be nice to the people who took the time to come to his ceremony. Halladay is a stretch but it is and has been his view that JJ could be a good starter. I think he may know pitchers better than all of us. Not laughable to think JJ could be a good starter.

It's not laughable to think he could be a good starter although I think it's unlikely.

It is laughable to think he could be one of the top 5 starters in the game.

[BobPhelan]

It's not laughable to think he could be a good starter although I think it's unlikely.

It is laughable to think he could be one of the top 5 starters in the game.

Pretty much. If he could keep his stuff for 100 pitches he'd be in our rotation right now.

[BSLChrisStoner]

Blown saves are going to happen, but last night was a tough game to lose (trailing Oakland in the WC, having come back twice against the A's).

Johnson's era has ballooned to 3.71.

Season: 45 games, 1-1, 3.71 era, 30 saves, 3 bs, 43.2 ip, 38 hits, 3 hr's, 11 bb's, 24 k's, .613 OPS against, 2.02 G/F

[BSLChrisStoner]

4 saves, and 5 scoreless innings for Johnson since blowing the save on the 27th.

Season: 1-1, 3.33 era, 48.2 ip, 41 hits, 3 hr's, 12 bb's, 27 k's, .595 OPS against, 2.08 G/F

Last year in 69 games, he threw 91 ip. This year in 50 games, he has thrown just the 48.2 ip mentioned above.
He should be relatively fresh as we head towards the stretch.

[Mark Carver]

Johnson has converted 37 of 40 saves, and the Elias Sports Bureau credits him with a major-league high 16 "quality saves," defined as one where he either enters with the tying run in scoring position or protects a one-run lead for a full inning. Strop has a 1.51 ERA and 21 holds with just four blown saves.

http://www.cbssports... ... ng-history

[Oriole85]

http://www.cbssports... ... ng-history

I've always found "blown saves" before the 9th inning interesting. I'd like to call them "blown holds" since the intention 99% of the time is not for them to get the "save."

[SportsGuy]

I've always found "blown saves" before the 9th inning interesting. I'd like to call them "blown holds" since the intention 99% of the time is not for them to get the "save."

Thats the whole problem with the save stat and why its so worthless.

You basically just said that saves only happen in the 9th inning. That's just wrong.

A save can happen in the 6th inning when a starter is taken out with runners on 2nd and 3rd and 1 out and the reliever gets out of it when they give up nothing.

That much more of a save than a 3 run save where a pitcher comes in with no one on base in the 9th.

[RShack]

Thats the whole problem with the save stat and why its so worthless.

You basically just said that saves only happen in the 9th inning. That's just wrong.

A save can happen in the 6th inning when a starter is taken out with runners on 2nd and 3rd and 1 out and the reliever gets out of it when they give up nothing.

That much more of a save than a 3 run save where a pitcher comes in with no one on base in the 9th.

Not sure whether it's worthless or not... maybe... but I think it's just got the wrong name. They should call it "closes (in a somewhat close game)", not "saves", because that's what it really is. How useful it is, beats me...

[Oriole85]

Not sure whether it's worthless or not... maybe... but I think it's just got the wrong name. They should call it "closes (in a somewhat close game)", not "saves", because that's what it really is. How useful it is, beats me...

It's very useful in inflating closers salaries especially with arbitration cases.

[RShack]

It's very useful in inflating closers salaries especially with arbitration cases.

That makes sense...

[Oriole85]

That makes sense...

http://espn.go.com/m...eaningful-again

Here's a good article on what I'm talking about.