Reed Johnson’s Return Reminds Jays of What They Are Missing
After an agonizing prolonged absence due to a broken laptop, I was forced to watch this most recent series with the Cubs without the beauty of an outlet to vent my frustrations.
One substantial kick in the groin came in the series finale when the Jays were unable to touch Ted Lilly was about all I could take. As a reminder, this guy played decently, at best, during his time in Toronto, whined about being taken out of games that he had no control over, fought the manager, and then got a contract he did not deserve in any way, shape or form simply by virtue of being a lefty in the NL. It would have been great vindication if the Jays had been able to give Lilly a pounding. Instead, he pitched 6 innings of one-hit ball. Way to show him who’s boss, boys.
Without dwelling too much on that piece of frustration, another aspect of the Cubs visit to Toronto has been bothering me.
This Easter, when Reed Johnson was released by the Jays as Ricciardi made an “effort” to deal the fan favorite, I lambasted Ricciardi for giving simply financial reasons for letting go of a guy whose value cannot be quantified.
I am sure that my opinion of Johnson has been glorified in the time since he left, but the facts are relatively undeniable and ironic that a player like Reed is exactly what this team is missing.
Since releasing the billy-goated leftfielder, the Jays have endured a revolving door in left field that included such studs as Shannon Stewart, Adam Lind, Brad Wilkerson, Kevin Mench, Buck Coats, Matt Stairs and Joe Inglett. Of those, Stewart and Wilkerson were given the most legitimate shot at becoming everyday players for the Jays.
With an injury/lackluster production from David Eckstein, many different players have been used in the leadoff spot with differing, but equally depressing, results. Stewart and Wilkerson are not the answer in the top spot, and putting Rios there only weakens the middle of the lineup.
With Reed Johnson, the two glaring problems of no left fielder and no leadoff man would be solved. Not to mention the fact that Reed offers determination and clutch production that no other Jay could even dream of.
For example, in Johnson’s lone at-bat in the first game of the series, he grounded out to second on a routine play, and hustled for every step down the line. If I ever saw Vernon Wells or Alex Rios do that on any other at-bat than in the bottom of the ninth, I would adjust my television set. Reed Johnson simply cares more about baseball and maximizing his potential than any outfielder currently on the Jays roster.
Those of you who agreed with the release of Johnson from a strictly financial standpoint are entitled to your opinion, but the move really only saved the Jays roughly $1 million because of the bonus they were forced to pay Stewart for being moved to the major league roster. In addition, that disparity became less when the Jays acquired Mench and Wilkerson.
I have such difficulty believing that the same GM that splurged $55 million for AJ Burnett, a pitcher who had a career record below .500 at the time, would be the kind of GM who would penny-pinch when it comes to keeping a guy around who did everything right.
Even if Johnson had not made an appearance in the series, or did not hit a clutch home run off of our ace, I would still be advocating his worth to a team like the Jays. Johnson gives effort, does not go in slumps and comes through when it matters and the irony of this Jays team is that their flaws in those areas could ultimately end their season.
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11 Responses to “Reed Johnson’s Return Reminds Jays of What They Are Missing”
June 15th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
Leadoff is not a position and Reed Johnson is a platoon partner outfielder at best. What the Jays need is good hitters, Reed Johnson is not going to solve that need short-term or long-term.
June 15th, 2008 at 9:52 pm
Johnson hits last (ex-pitcher… NL) more often than he bats leadoff. As a leadoff hitter, Johnson is hitting well… below the Mendoza line this season!
So, I’m curious - is it his .196 average as a leadoff hitter or his .600 OPS that’s inspiring his teammates?
June 16th, 2008 at 2:14 am
Johnson could have been kept but JP wanted to cover his infield bases more. The gamble on Stewart was foolish, but what’s even worse is the manager’s handling of its up-and-comers. Lind was thrown into it and then upon his struggles has been essentially cast aside. Snider will get the next call, but i sure think Gibbons should have been handed his republican ass long ago. And i thought it was great that Lilly beat them. He’s no Carlos Silva when it comes to pitching with smoke and mirrors and making out like a bandit.
June 16th, 2008 at 6:30 am
“Johnson could have been kept but JP wanted to cover his infield bases more.”
Huh? The Jays started the year with five OF - Wells, Rios, Stewart, Stairs, and Scutaro. Are you suggesting that they should have carried 6 outfielders and a DH that couldn’t play the field?
“The gamble on Stewart was foolish, but what’s even worse is the manager’s handling of its up-and-comers…”
Gamble on Stewart? He was cheaper, has a better track record as a hitter and can be considered far more effective against RHP than Reed Johnson.
Further, the GM decides the roster (i.e. whether Lind stays in the minors or not), not the manager. Snider will not get the next call up - he’s way too young.
“Gibbons should have been handed his republican ass long ago.”
What do a man’s politics have to do with his managing? I have issues with Gibby’s managing style that I laid out in my posts. That’s my opinion about what I would do if I were in his shoes, which I’m not and won’t ever be. But as long as he isn’t raping children as a member of Al-Qaeda, what difference does it make? Your asinine attempt at wit fails.
“And i thought it was great that Lilly beat them. He’s no Carlos Silva when it comes to pitching with smoke and mirrors and making out like a bandit.”
Carlos Silva? Really? Ted Lilly’s career stats are average… Silva’s aren’t even that!
There, I just handed your presumably non-Republican ass to you. Nice.
June 17th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
The problem with the Jays is simple. They have not invested wisely. They wrapped up a TON of money in two players that simply do not play everyday.
Between AJ Burnett and BJ Ryan the Jays have hamstrung themselves in a very real way. When you think that the Jays made Ryan the highest paid closer in the history of the game.
The Jays’ average age is 30, Only one position player is under the age of 29.
The highest paid players are all north of 30. The starting catcher is 37.
The Jays are old and need to get younger. Unfortunately , much like my Orioles, they have spent much of the last 10 years in a FA battle with the financial powerhouses and all indications are that the Jays farm system is not very solid.
They have one player ranked in the Baseball America top 100, Tavis Snider (11) and he is in High A ball right now.
JP Riccardi has set the Jays up for a bad stretch of seasons.
June 17th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
the Jays are not built for winning anything this year. Move on folks, nothing more to see here.
June 19th, 2008 at 11:05 am
Aaron Hill - 26
Alex Rios - 27
The Jays aren’t really that old. Their pitching is incredibly young. (and Syracuse is leading the international league in ERA so there’s more). Zaun and Stairs are on their last legs but nobody else is particularly in decline. Snider is in AA.
–
Reed Johnson does not slump? Huh?? Comes through when it matters? You mean like close and late, when he’s hitting .125?
June 20th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
Yeah but Hill is on the DL right now, I should have clarified. Still only having two position players under the age of 30 is not good.
I was going off the latest list from ESPN, so if that changed, I apologize.
Still, only one player in the entire farm system in the top 100 is a bad sign. Trust me, I know. The Orioles were in the same situation for a long time.
The Jays need to unload some of these bad contracts for young position talent.
June 20th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
I called for Cito coming back on my blog this month
Good for him!!
http://sullybaseball.blogspot.com/2008/06/blue-jay-fans-why-not-bring-back-cito.html
June 20th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
Hey Matt,
Can’t wait for your take on Cito and the gang back in the saddle at the Dome. Like old times. The glory days. I am looking for my ole Jays T shirts and the old logo ball hats. Are we going to rock? Is Dave Steib still alive?
June 22nd, 2008 at 11:28 pm
But there are not really any contracts that are particularly ugly/aging or unloadable. Wells? No way. And nobody else is signed into their golden years, so it’s not a big deal. Replacements will have to be found for Stairs and Zaun, Burnett will opt out and Halladay will run out of gas eventually, but it’s not like the core of the team is aging like Tejada, Lopez, etc…The real problem is guys mysteriously declining in their prime.
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