SB Nation User Blog: steve johnson

Jeff Davanon a good idea

steve johnson — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 22:23:09 -0000

Here's an intriguing player I came across while perusing the FA lists:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/d/davanje02.shtml

Anyone know anything about him? He's a long-time minor leaguer and role player in the Bigs. I'd think he'd be a good signing as he'd come cheap and seems to have some upside. In any event, even if he's not a starter, Minnesota would do well to add a bit of depth, particularily if they decide to part with Ford.

The future of pitching in leiu of the resergence of hitting

steve johnson — Wed, 16 Aug 2006 21:24:05 -0000

I posted this in the Verlander Crystal Ball thread, but think it better to post a new diary with grammer and sentance corrections:

Does anyone notice that perhaps that Pitchers careers are extending themselves a bit? Wheras lots of guys were done by the mid thirties ten or fifteen years ago, many are pushing into their 40s nowdays thanks to improved training regimens and medical proceedures. I heard some pitcher once decry during the "Juiced Ball" era that there was no response to the bigger/stronger phenomenon effecting hitters, but now, I think there is. I think that medical science has benifited pitchers more than hitters Through various proceedures, they can correct muscle and ligiment damage to the point of making the arm better than before.

As far as I know, hitters, otoh, decline due to neurological decay (reflexes slowing, coordination deteriorating) which cannot yet be corrected. In addition, muscles slow while aging, and I don't think the mechanics of hitting can accomodate this as well as pitching can.

In the Future, what's next? Tommy John Surgery used to be a guarantee of loss of several mph off your heat, but now guys are comming back throwing harder. is it possible that more advanced surgeries will allow pitchers to extend their prime even longer, moreso than hitters?

Am I off with this?

The point is, is it not that pretentious to suppose that pitchers of Verlanders generation maintain better effectiveness through age 40?

Your Allstar Ballot:

steve johnson — Mon, 12 Jun 2006 13:05:56 -0000

Here's mine, it's not well researched, but here goes!

AL:

C - Mauer (Min)
1b- Ortiz (Bos)
2b- Lopez (Sea)
3b- Rodriguez (NYY)
SS- Tejada (Bal)
OF- Guerrero (LAA)
OF- Sizemore (CLE)
OF- Wells (Tor)

NL:

C - Estrada (Ari)
1b- Pujols (Stl)
2b- Utley (Phi)
3b- Rolen (Stl)
SS- Retaria (Atl)
OF- Beltran (NYM)
OF- Bonds (SF)
OF- Jones (Atl)

I did this online, no idea where the pitcher selection is....

Twins: Whom in the rotation would you replace?

steve johnson — Mon, 15 May 2006 14:58:41 -0000

Well, it's about a quarter way through the season and a huge chunk of the rotation hasn't performed as expected. Minnesota has this premier left-handed starter currently pitching middle/long relief in the bullpen. What to do? If you are left with this decision by Twins management, who loses a rotation spot, why, and what becomes of that demoted starter?

Background stats....

Carlos Silva: 2-6 8.80 ERA. Has given up a homer about every three innings and to my recollection, has maybe one quality start all season. Has a gb/fb ratio of 1.06 to last year's 1.55. Comments have indicated that his sinker which he relies soley on just isn't sinking. Needs secondary pitch and has been a candidate for regression for some time now.

Kyle Lohse: 2-3 8.33 ERA, about a walk every other inning and plenty of hits. Has limped his way into a few quality outings but hasn't looked effective in those starts either. Has established himself at age 27 as a pilar of mediocrity and is an impending free agent.

Brad Radke: 4-4 7.57 ERA, a home run every four innings. Has to be fine to succeed, but hasn't been. Pitches are up and out over the plate too much and people are jumping on them. His walks aren't high unless you consider exactly how stingy he's been the last five seasons. Is his velocity slipping?

Who comes out for Liriano, if any, and why? What happens to the veteran (realistic situations only. Note that Radke has a statutory no-trade clause by virtue of being a 10/5 man, for instance)?

Poll

Who goes out of the rotation?

Carlos Silva

57 votes

Kyle Lohse

41 votes

Brad Radke

1 votes

Stick with the Veterans

6 votes

105 votes | Poll has closed

Draft: What your team needs most.

steve johnson — Sat, 22 Apr 2006 02:29:26 -0000

Foregoing the intricacy of actual players. I was just lobbying for thoughts on your team and what their top three draft needs are.

Minnesota Twins:

Outfield corners with Power
Middle Infield
Catcher.

Minnesota is pretty deep in pitching all around, but they lack quality in positional players. Really, there is little power and are relatively few legitimate hitters in the orginazation. Surprisinly to some I'm sure, I included catcher. Yeah, there's Joe Mauer, but there's nothing past him. The Twins ought to know it too, they gave a rostor spot to a mediocre talent like Corky Miller just to keep from losing him last year.

Minnesota found their DH

steve johnson — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 19:59:54 -0000

Foxsports.com reports that the Minnesota Twins have come to terms with outfielder Rondell White, who becomes their much needed solution for a solid right-handed bat.

My thoughts,

Personally, I was looking forward to someone who'd look a bit better in the #4 spot, like Frank Thomas. Having a healthy future Hall of Fame'er batting between Mauer and Morneau 500 times this season was the ideal situation, where he'd bring his power and patience to a lineup desperately needing it. My next choice was perhaps Kevin Millar, a guy who despite putting up down numbers last year was still a guy who has shown decent power and at least has avoided making outs at a decent clip, or Piazza who is also headed for Cooperstown who might also see a career resurgence due to the comforts of not playing the field.

Rondel White was perhaps a fourth or fifth choice. He has certainly hit well the last few seasons, but he's much more of a 'put the ball in play, hope it drops' type of guy that's consistent with Minnesota's theory of hitting.

At least this does seem to justify the loss of LeCroy, a guy who smashed lefties like the Hulk, but hasn't a place to play in the field.

LF Stewart
2b Castilla
C Mauer
DH White
1b Morneau
CF Hunter
RF Lew!/Cuddyer/Kubel
3b Batista/Cuddyer
SS Bartlett

this looks a little better than last year, so...