According to the Orioles Insider blog on the Baltimore Sun’s website, Orioles reliever Jim Johnson will be optioned to AAA Norfolk to make room for starter Brad Bergesen. Johnson’s performance in the bullpen this year has been disappointing based on what he has shown the passed 2 years, but this move is somewhat surprising to me. The move was made because Johnson, unlike Matt Albers, has minor league options left, but I wonder how Johnson deals with the demotion. He has been a significant part of the Orioles ‘pen since 2008 and it seemed like he would be a fixture for years to come. Johnson struggled when he was made the closer following the George Sherrill trade and I have to wonder how much his confidence took a hit. If confidence is what Johnson is lacking, it seems like a demotion will send him spiraling further.The Orioles sent Bergesen down and recalled him quickly, perhaps they have that in mind for Johnson.
There is a looming numbers crunch awaiting the O’s bullpen. With Koji Uehara almost ready to come off the disables list, the club will need to option of release another reliever. If Albers is waived, he would likely clear waivers due to his poor performance. It is amazing that a poor bullpen, like the Orioles, has had numbers crunches over the last 2 seasons. It is one thing to have a numbers crunch at a well performing position, but t his is not the type of predicament the O’s brass wants to be in.
Some nights Johnson's ball moves all over the place, some nights it's like a BP fast ball, nice and straight. I still think he has a bright future. Let him get things ironed out.
What I like is that either Trembley, Andy, or both seem to be done screwing around…You ain't getting it done? Next Man Up, to borrow the Ravens line of note. Good for them!
But to Ravens 288244422884428222848's point, let's bring up Actual Young Prospects (AYP's) to run out there, vice this nonsense with the nearly 29 year old Simoan (and his ~ 20 lifetime MLB Innings Pitched)!!!
Neither is screwing around?
How about the past 2 years?
It's not like they are being proactive and nipping this in the bud. Johnson has been terrible for a year now and they finally pulled the plug for a bit.
BFD.
Mark….That's exactly my point…There seems to be a change in 2010…Guys are getting sent down…Well, except for Markakis, who is "on-pace" for 12 homers and 54 rbis…But I digress…Seriously, I am glad they seem to be taking a new approach with poor performance…Again, just wish the call ups would be legit prospects, that's all…Simoan is not, by any definition, a prospect..Old fella went undrafted in 1999, then didn't make his MLB debut 'till 2008…Only in Baltimore…This message funded by Ravens2484428882248884428!
I have no problem with them going with the guys that are getting the job done, even if they are not young players. It is better for all involved for them to runthe guys out there that give them the best chance to win at this point. Nothing wrong with a 29 year old closer if he is the best man for the job. When the O's had George Sherrill, he was a 30 something closer with relatively little big league experience and there was nothing wrong with what he provided for the O's.