Comments on: Going after the big Fish

By: Open Thread: River Ave. Blues top ten of 2009 | River Avenue Blues

Open Thread: River Ave. Blues top ten of 2009 | River Avenue Blues — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 22:02:17 +0000

[...] Going after the big Fish As rumors of pitchers swirled around baseball, Mike urged the Yanks to look at Josh Johnson. The [...]

By: Josh Johnson Jabber « 6Pound8OunceBabyJoba

Josh Johnson Jabber « 6Pound8OunceBabyJoba — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 20:46:00 +0000

[...] talked about Josh Johnson before, and others are mentioning the Marlins’ ace as well. MLBTR mentioned that Keith Law thinks Johnson could [...]

By: Trent

Trent — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:49:30 +0000

Again. Sign Ben Sheets.

By: WayneD

WayneD — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:53:16 +0000

I wouldn’t mind having Josh Johnson as our fourth or fifth starter, but there’s no way he’s a 1 or a 2 at this point. All this talk about WAR and projected dollar value is ridiculous. Johnson pitches in the NL, which basically has little or no hitting, outside of Phillie.

Other than Phillie, no one in the NL East or the rest of the NL for that matter, could finish higher than third in the AL East, and 80% of the NL couldn’t finish higher than fourth. Who cares what his WAR is against a bunch of Punch & Judy hitters. And here’s the proof: Phillie, the only realy good hitting team in the NL destroyed the supposedly great Johnson, as outlined below:

Werth hit .268 for the year, but hit Johnson at a .375 clip.
Rollins hit .250 last year, but hit .308 against Johnson.
Howard hit .279 last year, but hit .333 with 2 HRs & 7 RBIs against Johnson (REAL IMPRESSIVE, huh?)
9 Phillies hit between .500 and .273 against Johnson, and only one really good hitter (Ibanez) didn’t hit him well
As a team, Phillie hit .288 against him with 4 HRs, 6 doubles & 1 triple in 156 ABs.

Want more evidence?
Lance Berkman hit .500 against him with 1 double & 1 HR in 6 ABs.
Carlos Lee, 1 HR in 2 ABs
Pujols hit .333 with 1 HR in 9 ABs
Fielder hit .300 with a 3B (I didn’t even think that was possible, given his heft)
Jim Thome saw him 1 AB, went Um-Um, and promptly hit a 3-run HR against him.

I’m completely underwhelmed by Johnson! His 3.23 era last year and lifetime 3.40 era translate into an approximately 4.25 to 4.60 era in the AL East. He’s a 2-pitch pitcher (67% fastballs, 25 sliders); Boston will kick his butt from NYC to Maine once they’ve seen him a couple of outings & realize he only has 2 pitches, with one being their favorite: a fastball.

The bottom line is this: good hitters will kill a 2-pitch pitcher, even at 95 mph: this guy is no better than Joba or Hughes at this point. And you guys want to give up Joba & Montero for him, plus more prospects? Stop it before some nitwit in Yankeeland listens to you & pulls off this boneheaded trade.

Stop relying on WAR & all of those supposedly scientific methods of studying players when you’re looking at an NL pitcher or hitter. Overall, the talent in the NL is somewhere between AAA and the Kansas City Royals.

And the Yankees would have to be insane to trade Montero or Ajax for anybody less than King Felix. Montero might end up being one of the best hitting catchers of all time, and I recently read that his defense is much underrated. Let’s also not forget that Jorge was never a great catcher, but his all around play (especially his bat) helped us win 5 WS. So, maybe Montero can do the same.

By: chriso

chriso — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:17:56 +0000

The comment about Ian Kennedy being “terrible” is, well, terrible. IPK has got stuff the equivalent of any number of mediocre starting pitchers in the big leagues. A #4-#5 starter is all he ever was expected to be and he’s still on track to be that. I don’t think he’s going to pitch for the Yankees. but watch: after he’s traded to the NL, he’ll thrive.
As for the various comments about Montero, those that suggest he’s going to be a ML catcher are, no doubt, by people who have never seen him catch. He’s bad. He’s got a good arm, but he just doesn’t have the quick mobility that catchers need. And, with a thick body–especially thick legs–he probably doesn’t have range for the OF, either. What this means is: he’s a future DH and/or first baseman. It would take a major leap forward in AAA this year for him to be considered a viable catching prospect.
But Montero is, without doubt, a monster at the plate. He does everything well and could handle ML pitching now.
As for trading him, that’s a decision the Yanks would make only after very, very careful deliberation about the absolutely right deal. In principle, it could make sense to trade him for a young stud pitcher. It wouldn’t make any sense to trade him for any hitter or for an aging pitcher. On the other hand, holding onto him for the sake of holding onto him probably doesn’t make any sense, either.
He’s blocek at first base for years. A-Rod will get a few DH starts in 2010, and more as time goes by. Posada will get more DH time that A-Rod in 2010 and even more in 2011. Even Jeter could see a few DH starts here and there. And both Matsui and Damon are viable DHs and one of them, at least, is likely to be retained. If Montero can catch, he obviously has a place in the Yanks’ lineup. But, if he can’t catch, there wouldn’t be too many at-bats for him over the next couple of years.
Finally, I’m all for signing Ben Sheets and don’t advocate trading Montero or Joba/Hughes unless a great deal comes along (Halladay is NOT that great deal!!)

By: Dwnflfan

Dwnflfan — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:57:04 +0000

Glen, when you’re done with your crystal ball could I borrow it?

There is growing sentiment that Montero will be able to catch in the Majors. Below is a link to an article written by a former scout for the Rangers.

http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/11/13/deep-farm-gives -yanks-plenty-of-chips/

By: trent

trent — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:59:31 +0000

sign ben sheets.

By: Soxhater

Soxhater — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 06:44:18 +0000

when are the rest of the yankee fans in the world going to realize that Ian Kennedy is terrible. we’d be lucky to get a bucket of balls back for him. He has got awful “stuff”, and his control is not as great as he is given credit for. Joba and Hughes could be legit, but i think joba should be in the pen, he and Mo could make games 7innings long. Hughes has a 2nd or 3rd starters make up but really has alot to prove. In my oppinion you’d be lucky to give up just Joba or hughes and not both to get Josh Johnson. Although personally if your going to give up that kinda talent, why not get felix and give up a tiny bit more…

By: Wayne Deleo

Wayne Deleo — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 06:09:48 +0000

I wouldn’t mind having Josh Johnson as our fourth starter, but there’s no way he’s a 1 or a 2 at this point. All this talk about WAR and projected dollar value is bull. Johnson pitches in the NL, which basically has little or no hitting, outside of Phillie.

Other than Phillie, no one in the NL East or the rest of the NL, for that matter, could finish higher than third in the ALK East, and 80% of the NL couldn’t finish higher than fourth. Who cares what his WAR is against a bunch of Punch & Judy hitters. And here’s the proof: Phillie, the only honest to god great hitting team in the NL DESTROYED the supposedly great Johnson, as outlined below:

Werth, who hit .268 for the year, hit Johnson at a .375 clip last year.
Rollins hit .250 last year, but hit .308 against Johnson.
Howard hit .279 last year, but hit .333 with 2 HRs & 7 RBIs against Johnson (REAL IMPRESSIVE, huh?)
9 Phillies hit between .500 and .273 against Johnson, and only one really good hitter (Ibanez) didn’t hit him well
As a team, Phillie hit .288 (again, real impressive, huh?) with 4 HRs, 6 doubles & 1 triple in 156 ABs.

I’m completely underwhelmed! His 3.23 era last year, and lifetime 3.40 era translate into an approximately 4.25 to 4.60 era in the AL East. He’s a 2 pitch pitcher (67% fastballs, 25 sliders); Boston will kick his ass from NYC to Maine once they’ve seen him a couple of outings & realize he has 2 freakin pitches, with one being their favorite: a fastball.

The bottom line is this: good hitters will kick the crap out of a 2-pitch pitcher, even at 95 mph: this guy is no better than Joba or Hughes at this point! And you guys want to give up Joba & montero for him, plus more prospects. STOP IT! before some nitwit in Yankeeland listens to you & pulls off this boneheaded trade.

And the Yankees would have to be INSANE to trade Montero or Ajax for anybody less than King Felix.
Montero might end up being one of the best hitting catchers of all time, and I recently read that his defense is much underrated. Let’s also not forget that Jorge was never a great catcher, but his all around play (especially his bat) helped us win 5 WS. So, maybe Montero can do the same.

By: vinnie g

vinnie g — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:36:34 +0000

i agree. but the potential he has is such that you will find room for him. Hes young. 18. think about if he could play right than his value to a yankee would be tremendous. could he make a switch?