35 replies to this topic

[BSLChrisStoner]

Johnson is back in the lineup tonight. If his current 0 for 26 was in the middle of the year, it would still be rough looking, but would be noticed far less. Coming at the start of the year, the attention is mounting, and you wonder how much rope he has left?

If he goes hit-less tonight, is he on the team tomorrow? If he has some productive ab's tonight, does he get going?

He had a good year in '09 (.831 OPS, 34 xbh's, 457 ab's). Due to injuries, he only played 24 games in the bigs in '10. He again dealt with injuries last year, but only posted a .648 OPS in 184 ab's for AAA Columbus.

When he was signed, my immediate comment was that I thought the odds were highly unlikely he would come North with the Birds. He earned his spot, looking like the Johnson of old. Good ab's, strong plate discipline.

Despite the start, I think his bat will probably come around. Even though, I believe I'd rather have Antonelli on the roster. Antonelli (.734 OPS, .234 batting average) is not setting the world on-fire at Norfolk, but he would be more versatile than Johnson. Antonelli does have 16 bb's (19 k's), and a .402 on-base %.

[DJ MC]

My worry is that he isn't looking like the Nick Johnson of old right now, batting aside. He has one walk and three strikeouts in his 30 plate appearances. He is still seeing a lot of pitches, but in his 30 PAs he only has two three-ball counts. Even in the field he made that one bad error. All of this is SSS, obviously, but he hasn't been a good hitter since 2009 and he just might be done.

[LanceRinker]

I also think that perhaps he's gotten to the point in his career and physical ability (what's left of it) where he just can't go at an MLB level anymore. I think we'd be much better off if he would accept an assignment to Norfolk and we called up Matt Antonelli and his .402 OBP or just outright released Johnson and still called up Antonelli.

I also feel that way about trading away Mark Reynolds for an open jar of jam and calling up Antonelli...

[BSLChrisStoner]

So the night this thread was started, Johnson was 2 for 4, with 2 doubles, and 3 rbi in NY. The next night he was 2 for 5, with another double, and an RBI.

He did not play again until the 6th, where he was 1 for 4 against Boston. He was 0 for 2 in the 4 games against Texas.

You have to feel really good for him, playing the role of hero tonight against the Rays. First homer since 5/5/10.

[Oriole85]

Nice to see NJ coming through again yesterday. If he can keep driving the ball, he can ideally by a good guy off the bench.

[BSLChrisStoner]

Johnson had his 5th walk in 5 games last night. Thought his double in the 13th was getting out.

[BSLChrisStoner]

With his 2 homers Wednesday, N. Johnson is now batting over .200, and his OPS is .785. He also now has 8 walks.

[RichardZ]

With his 2 homers Wednesday, N. Johnson is now batting over .200, and his OPS is .785. He also now has 8 walks.

I think you have to consider at this point that Johnson is healthy and has a lot left in the tank. I would plug him into the DH spot on a regular basis and see what happens. He could wind up being the best hitter on the team.

[mweb08]

Yeah, I'm also for Nick getting more PT. Especially with Reimold and Reynolds out.

[Ovechkin8]

Holy Crap: courtesy of Richard Justice: Nick Johnson's May OPS is 2nd in baseball behind Carlos Beltran.

[Adam Wolff]

Holy Crap: courtesy of Richard Justice: Nick Johnson's May OPS is 2nd in baseball behind Carlos Beltran.

Wow.

Agree with mweb and RZNJ. Let's get him more PT as our primary DH.

[FlavaDave10]

Holy Crap: courtesy of Richard Justice: Nick Johnson's May OPS is 2nd in baseball behind Carlos Beltran.

Wow.

Agree with mweb and RZNJ. Let's get him more PT as our primary DH.

Thirded. Let's milk what we can from Nick Johnson before his inevitable random injury happens.

[Oriole85]

Yeah, I'm also for Nick getting more PT. Especially with Reimold and Reynolds out.

Ideally I'd say no, because I doubt NJ is on the team next year, I'd much rather they audition someone who could be a long-term fix in this role, guess they don't have better choices.

[JTrea81]

Nick Johnson had a terrible start, I think we can all agree, but this guy has a track record of getting on base and having lots of XBHs and being a dangerous hitter when healthy.

Yet health is not an issue for Johnson and the Orioles have proceeded to get only 88 PAs for him in only 30 games. Case in point he's on the bench again today after going 2-3 yesterday.

Johnson OPS'd over .900 in May and yet he's only had one start in his last 10 games. And the Orioles' offense hasn't exactly been clicking in that timeframe.

I know the guy is 33, and he's not likely in the future of this club past this year, but he's healthy and it's pretty clear he can contribute, and he's more than just a bench player but yet bench players are getting more time than he is and not performing.

Buck has given up on Reynolds at 3B which is unfortunate, but that's the way it is. But by doing that and his wanting to play Davis, it's pushed Nick Johnson to the bench full time. And Johnson is one of the best pure hitters on the team.

The solution is pretty simple IMO. Move Mark Reynolds to LF, where he's said he's willing to play, let Davis and Johnson share a 1B/DH rotation, and Betemit can man 3B until the Orioles get somebody better.

I think the Orioles are a lot better with Nick Johnson in the lineup than without him, but what is it going to take for Buck to realize that?

[Chris B]

The Trea lives!

[You Play to Win the Game]

I'm fine, and prefer for Reynolds and Davis to get the AB's. These are two guys who can help us moving forward, as to where Johnson really isn't. This isn't that big of a deal, IMO.

[JTrea81]

I'm fine, and prefer for Reynolds and Davis to get the AB's. These are two guys who can help us moving forward, as to where Johnson really isn't. This isn't that big of a deal, IMO.

The issue isn't Reynolds or Davis - the issue is that Paulino, the backup catcher, and Tolleson and Flaherty, two Fahey/Bynum-like clones, have recieved more ABs this month than Johnson has.

When the backup catcher is DHing over the DH, something is very wrong there.

And you can say we've faced a lot of LH pitching, but Johnson owns a career OPS of .860 vs. LHP, one of the highest marks on the team.

Reynolds having to play 1B or DH is a major problem, but there is a solution other than playing the backup catcher as a DH or playing the no-hit twins of Tolleson and Flaherty.

[You Play to Win the Game]

The issue isn't Reynolds or Davis - the issue is that Paulino, the backup catcher, and Tolleson and Flaherty, two Fahey/Bynum-like clones, have recieved more ABs this month than Johnson has.

When the backup catcher is DHing over the DH, something is very wrong there.

And you can say we've faced a lot of LH pitching, but Johnson owns a career OPS of .860 vs. LHP, one of the highest marks on the team.

Reynolds having to play 1B or DH is a major problem, but there is a solution other than playing the backup catcher as a DH or playing the no-hit twins of Tolleson and Flaherty.

Are you suggesting Johnson be the back-up catcher for Wieters?

[BSLChrisStoner]

Are you suggesting Johnson be the back-up catcher for Wieters?

No, he's just saying Johnson should have more ab's than Paulino.

I agree with Trea's point overall, and have made it several times. After his 2 homer game 5/23, Johnson has had 12 ab's in the subsequent 14 games.

Showalter should not be afraid to play Johnson against LHP. I like the ab's Johnson has had overall since his season starting slump. I'd like to see him stay on the roster and be used.

However, if you are not going to find him any more time than you have... then I probably cut Johnson when Roberts comes back Tuesday, and keep Tolleson on the roster. Tolleson's versatility might be better utilized in the coming road interleague games anyway.

[JTrea81]

Are you suggesting Johnson be the back-up catcher for Wieters?

No, I presented my solution which was to get Reynolds some time in the OF, freeing up a 1B/DH spot for Johnson.

Either that or move Reynolds back to 3B, which Buck doesn't seem to want to do.

Let's not forget also Reynolds could be gone after this year as his option is pretty excessive for his production, so he doesn't likely have much of a future on the team as well.