Brian Johnson's stuff, such as it is

[Sprowl]

It's hard for me to get enthusiastic about Boston's latest soft-tossing lefty. He doesn't throw hard (not even touching 90),

his pitches have movement, but his super-slow curve doesn't miss many bats, and his slider is all over the place.

On the bright side, he did manage to carve out a nice little donut hole of mistake avoidance in the center of the plate, just above the belt.

Overall, Brian Johnson's performance makes me wistful for a Henry Owens who can keep his fastball out of trouble.

 

[DeadlySplitter]

Owens cannot throw strikes. Johnson at least can, enough to scrape through 5 innings tonight. I'd spot start Johnson over Owens in a heartbeat

 

[AB in DC]

his pitches have movement, but his super-slow curve doesn't miss many bats, and his slider is all over the place.

Watching the game last night, I got the impression that he only had confidence in his curveball in the early innings. But then the Jays started to sit on the curve and hammer it all over the park.

 

[Detts]

Owens has a new delivery this year.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=owens-002hen

SSS, but promising.

 

[Savin Hillbilly]

Owens has a new delivery this year.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=owens-002hen

SSS, but promising.

Still walking almost 5 per 9 so far. I'd like to see that get down under 4 before I get my hopes up.

Watching the game last night, I got the impression that he only had confidence in his curveball in the early innings. But then the Jays started to sit on the curve and hammer it all over the park.

Looking at the charts, I'm struck by how completely unable he was to use his fastball at the bottom end of the zone. I only see eight fastballs below the center of the zone, out of 44 I count in the image (the table says he threw 47, but I can't find that many--superimposition maybe):

 

[Buzzkill Pauley]

That's because throwing his fastball down in the zone while throwing curveballs is a recipe for disaster. But if they're looking for a breaking pitch low, he can still sneak some by at a different eye level.

Johnson's fastball just isn't good enough for much more than batting practice, against even scuffling MLB hitters.

I think I'd prefer Owens next time a spot start is needed, even with the penchant for walks.

 

[mfried]

Sad to say, Brian has no chance of becoming even an irregular starter for a contending team. Maybe someone would take him as part of a low-level deal...?

 

[reggiecleveland]

Great work as always, and wonderful thread title.

as the Blue Jays announcer got excited that the Jays were back Buck Martinez tried to temper enthusiasm with lots of euphemisms for bad pitcher.

 

[phenweigh]

Sad to say, Brian has no chance of becoming even an irregular starter for a contending team. Maybe someone would take him as part of a low-level deal...?

I wouldn't say no chance, as there have been successful soft tossing southpaws. But the likelihood he's the next Mark Buehrle is very low.

 

[TFisNEXT]

I wouldn't say no chance, as there have been successful soft tossing southpaws. But the likelihood he's the next Mark Buehrle is very low.

Buehrle had a good change up. Seems like that is a pretty necessary pitch for a lefty who can't light up the radar gun.

 

[Savin Hillbilly]

I wouldn't say no chance, as there have been successful soft tossing southpaws. But the likelihood he's the next Mark Buehrle is very low.

Looking quickly at the successful STS's of the past decade or so (e.g. Buehrle, Moyer, Lilly, Capuano) the one thing they all seem to have in common is a changeup that they use fairly often, usually more than their best breaking pitch. It seems like the lack of a change really hurts Johnson. There are pitchers with just a fastball and one or two breaking pitches who make it in the majors, but not usually, I think, with fastballs as weak as Johnson's.

EDIT: Or, what TF said.

 

[AB in DC]

He was throwing at 90-91 mph a few years ago. If he can get that power back, then maybe he'll have a shot.

 

[107beers]

He was throwing at 90-91 mph a few years ago. If he can get that power back, then maybe he'll have a shot.

When price gets back, seems like wright would be the best option to be the odd man out and used as the sixth or spot starter as it looks like he wouldn't have to be on the rotation routinely to keep the knuckle ball ready and maybe more effective the less batters see it.