Berardino: Johnson's Star is Rising Again

[John Bonnes]

One of seven legitimate candidates for the fifth and final spot in the Twins' rotation, Johnson also could get a look in the bullpen given his career path. At 29, he doesn't much care what his role is as long as it's in the majors.

 

"Late 20s, time to start doing something," he said. "Last year was a huge confidence booster for me. It's never been stuff with me. It's always been mind-set."

 

Well, this about wraps it up for me. I hope he does well, and maybe that insane ERA he posted last year wasn't an illusion, but a lot of the big stuff flows the wrong way for Kris Johnson:

- He's 29.

- His strikeout rate was around 6 last year.

 

Now he's a lefty. And looking at his hit rate in general, the last year or two is one of the few times it hasn't been insanely high. So maybe there is something goofy that's been going on. But he doesn't strike me as a difference maker.

[Craig Arko]

Well, this about wraps it up for me. I hope he does well, and maybe that insane ERA he posted last year wasn't an illusion, but a lot of the big stuff flows the wrong way for Kris Johnson:

- He's 29.

- His strikeout rate was around 6 last year.

 

Now he's a lefty. And looking at his hit rate in general, the last year or two is one of the few times it hasn't been insanely high. So maybe there is something goofy that's been going on. But he doesn't strike me as a difference maker.

 

My best guess is that with Albers gone, he's insurance in case Diamond is waived and claimed. Perhaps cut-rate insurance. Perhaps not. They have a few lefties now.

[TheLeviathan]

My best guess is that with Albers gone, he's insurance in case Diamond is waived and claimed. Perhaps cut-rate insurance. Perhaps not. They have a few lefties now.

 

Right, probably behind Gilmartin and Darnell at AAA much less as far as the Twins go this year. John's right, not a difference maker but probably not a bad option to have in your system.

[h2oface]

The team got rid of Valentine, the source of the dysfunction. I mean a team that manages to lose with a starting rotation of Buchholz, Lester and Doubont is far different than a team with Walters Hendiks Diamond and Deduno

 

Kris Johnson, no matter how good the pre-story is, is not my idea of rebuilding. I wish him so very well, and hope that after the Red Sox discarded him, the Pirates tried and gave up, and he became a hope at 29 for the Twins, (not too much different than Walters Hendiks Diamond and Deduno in previous rebuilding years) that the Kris Jonson story goes viral. This is the 4th year of the rebuild, and no prospect is really changing things yet. All still hope (and with Gibson and now Sano, delayed hope). Now I like Kris Johnson and Chris Colabello, I hope they prove all wrong and are the best story of the Major Leagues this year. Fans and posters here will refer to Johnson or Colabello as a "kid", but they are definitely young men hanging on a dream. I think getting rid of Gardenhire, like the Red Sox did Valentine, couldn't have hurt (but I have felt that since 2006). Kris Johnson will have to perform much better than many others to be given that final shot at his age...... 29.

[howieramone1406390264]

Kris Johnson, no matter how good the pre-story is, is not my idea of rebuilding. I wish him so very well, and hope that after the Red Sox discarded him, the Pirates tried and gave up, and he became a hope at 29 for the Twins, (not too much different than Walters Hendiks Diamond and Deduno in previous rebuilding years) that the Kris Jonson story goes viral. This is the 4th year of the rebuild, and no prospect is really changing things yet. All still hope (and with Gibson and now Sano, delayed hope). Now I like Kris Johnson and Chris Colabello, I hope they prove all wrong and are the best story of the Major Leagues this year. Fans and posters here will refer to Johnson or Colabello as a "kid", but they are definitely young men hanging on a dream. I think getting rid of Gardenhire, like the Red Sox did Valentine, couldn't have hurt (but I have felt that since 2006). Kris Johnson will have to perform much better than many others to be given that final shot at his age...... 29.

 

Ryan has been back 29 months. At 41 months, the start of the 2015 season, the rebuild will be much clearer. Kris Johnson is just another small piece of the puzzle.

[bird]

Ryan has been back 29 months. At 41 months, the start of the 2015 season, the rebuild will be much clearer. Kris Johnson is just another small piece of the puzzle.

 

Exactly.

 

Kris Johnson is not Ryan's idea of rebuilding either. Why is it so unclear that: 1) we're going through an incremental process here of building assets up from very low levels; 2) that it's not going to happen on anybody's "schedule" and will be subject to some fits and starts, such as injuries and other setbacks; 3) that most of this rebuilding absolutely HAS to come from prospects, since we have lacked tradable assets and scouring the FA market has its perils when overdone; and 4) there are other, more reality-based measurements of progress that looking back at a W-L record?

 

So yeah, the first few months of 2014 will probably consist of some unwatchable baseball. But 2014 wll be better than 2013 just like many of us hoped. And when we express further optimism about 2015, we won't deserve criticism for sounding like a broken record to some of the rest of you.

 

Regardless of when (or even if IMO) it all comes together, I'm going to treated to the unfolding of this rebuilding process. Remember, just two years ago, the consensus around here was that we had a crappy prospect pipeline. Some of these guys will fail, but many will begin their carreers in earnest some time during 2014.

 

Only a handful of teams are infusing their MLB roster with this kind of talent over the next 2-3 years. This is going to be fun!

 

So Kris Johnson, Sean Gilmartin? Meh.

[TheLeviathan]

So yeah, the first few months of 2014 will probably consist of some unwatchable baseball. But 2014 wll be better than 2013 just like many of us hoped. And when we express further optimism about 2015, we won't deserve criticism for sounding like a broken record to some of the rest of you.

 

But see, you're a reasonable person. You see Johnson for what he is and you can see that the team's timeline has been setback. I, and many others I'm sure, have no problem with optimism. It's optimism with no room for valid criticism that leaves rational discussion behind and turns discussions around.

 

The team has had setbacks. The roster starting 2014 is not what we optimistically (and realistically) had hoped for a few years ago. Hell, it's not even what most of us were optimistic we'd see right now in the middle of the summer last year. It's discouraging and it's valid to be discouraged.

 

Now hopefully a guy like Johnson or Gilmartin or Colabello or Parmelee (spelled that sucker right too!) surprises the heck out of us this season and we get some things to hold on to.

[jokin]

Right, probably behind Gilmartin and Darnell at AAA much less as far as the Twins go this year. John's right, not a difference maker but probably not a bad option to have in your system.

 

I responded to you earilier, but my post got lost in the ozone. Johnson is probably not a bad option to have in the system. But....at what cost? We trade away a veteran starter for a guy soon to turn 30 whose career has been all over the map, literally, when you include going the Indy route, besides. Is this the right move for a rebuilding team, to load up with Colabellos, Thielbars, Hamburgers and Johnsons? Doumit for Gilmartin at least gives you some pedigree, youth and some potential for a decent reward while he's still in his 20s.

 

 

If the Twins really wanted to have some insurance LHSP depth, why not go after Andy Oliver? Oliver is the guy the Pirates acquired to replace Johnson. He's only 26, also a LHSP, and also a high draft pick with college pedigree- the Twins should have known all about him since they drafted him out of high school...... the difference being, his minor league career shows much more promise than Johnson's..... and his peak years physically are still ahead of him. Oh, and all he cost the Pirates was a disposable minor leaguer.

[Seth Stohs]

Right, probably behind Gilmartin and Darnell at AAA much less as far as the Twins go this year. John's right, not a difference maker but probably not a bad option to have in your system.

 

Unlike others though, Johnson has the ability to hit 93-94 (Darnell, Raley, Gilmartin top out at 90-91). Obviously Johnson's not going to make the Opening Day roster, but depth is a good thin.

[TheLeviathan]

Unlike others though, Johnson has the ability to hit 93-94 (Darnell, Raley, Gilmartin top out at 90-91). Obviously Johnson's not going to make the Opening Day roster, but depth is a good thin.

 

Unfortunately though, that velocity hasn't aided him in missing bats. You're right though, it's not a terrible thing to have a guy like that around. But let's not fool ourselves about what depth he represents - emergencies only.

[old nurse]

Ryan has to rebuild more than the Twins. He needs to have winning teams at the minor league as well. If Johnson works out for the major league team, great. If he ends up AAAA filler, that is a good thing, too. Look at the filler that was brought in last couple of years. I hope he is an upgrade from that.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I don't see the consternation with a guy like Johnson. He's not even taking up a 40 man spot. I would assume that the Twins saw something in him they felt they could tweak. I wouldn't expect him to suddenly be an ace, but hard throwing lefties are hard to find, and if the Twins think that they can do something with him in exchange for a year at Rochester, I'm quite fine with that.

 

Johnson will only be pitching in Minnesota this year for the following reasons:

 

1) He forces it, and everyone will be happy.

2) There were A LOT of injuries/ineffectiveness this year.

 

I'm not sure I'd call this a "crazy depth" situation, but Johnson is still a better starting option than several of the options that got way too much time starting last season. There are several guys on the 40 man who would be promoted ahead of him, and I'd imagine that they'd add Meyer to the 40 man before they add Johnson as well.

 

Johnson is a low risk guy with a potential reward.

[Monkeypaws]

The depth may be "crazy" but is it even "decent"? I for one certainly do not think so.

 

Throughout the entire organization? I've followed the Twins for a long time, and I don't recall them ever having the kind of pitching they have now. We are quite removed from the days of having Dan Serafini, Ryan Mills, or Nick Blackburn as our top pitching prospect.

[cmathewson]

At minimum, he's a better option than Diamond, who needs to be so fine with his control that he is highly unlikely to have sustained success.

[TheLeviathan]

Throughout the entire organization? I've followed the Twins for a long time, and I don't recall them ever having the kind of pitching they have now. We are quite removed from the days of having Dan Serafini, Ryan Mills, or Nick Blackburn as our top pitching prospect.

 

To be fair, I reread your quote and I would've never assumed you were referencing prospects as well.

[Monkeypaws]

To be fair, I reread your quote and I would've never assumed you were referencing prospects as well.

 

Well, seeing as we were talking about a prospect, I assumed....

[jimbo92107]

So now the Twins start the year with a whole bunch of mediocre pitchers. Is a .500 season their lofty goal?

 

Hurraymeh. Wowmeh. Yippeemeh.

[Craig Arko]

So now the Twins start the year with a whole bunch of mediocre pitchers. Is a .500 season their lofty goal?

 

Hurraymeh. Wowmeh. Yippeemeh.

 

You gotta walk before you can jaywalk.

[TheLeviathan]

Well, seeing as we were talking about a prospect, I assumed....

 

29 year old journeymen aren't prospects.

[savvyspy]

The sooner the Twins stop bothering with zero upside roster fill like Bartlett, Kubel, Diamond, Fryer, and Worley and replace them with guys like Hicks, Gibson, Arcia, Pinto, and Santana, the sooner I believe they are commited to this rebuild. Losing another 90+ games with Kubel and crew makes ZERO sense. They have neglected the major league roster to save money three years in a row, its time to move this thing forward NOW.

[Otto von Ballpark]

I don't see the consternation with a guy like Johnson. He's not even taking up a 40 man spot.

 

Actually, Johnson is on the 40-man roster.

 

Perhaps you are confusing him with Gilmartin?

[Monkeypaws]

Actually, Johnson is on the 40-man roster.

 

Perhaps you are confusing him with Gilmartin?

 

If he's the guy we got from Atlanta, yes!

 

Sorry Leviathan, my confusion.

[TheLeviathan]

If he's the guy we got from Atlanta, yes!

 

Sorry Leviathan, my confusion.

 

No, that's ok. If your point was that we have crazy depth in our farm compared to the last decade you have my complete agreement.

 

Using Johnson as the springboard was why I think your quote was misleading. Makes much more sense now and is absolutely spot on.

[Tibs]

Ryan has to rebuild more than the Twins. He needs to have winning teams at the minor league as well. If Johnson works out for the major league team, great. If he ends up AAAA filler, that is a good thing, too. Look at the filler that was brought in last couple of years. I hope he is an upgrade from that.

Well last year Rochester, Ft. Myers, and Cedar Rapids made the playoffs. Cedar Rapids and Ft. Myers were also two of the best teams in their leagues. I don't remember how Elizabethton or the GCL teams did though. I would say Mr. Ryan is doing a good job on building winning teams in the minor leagues.

[oldguy10]

Isn't the proper function of minor league teams producing hopefully good MLB players and not winning necessarily if at all?

[Jim Crikket]

There's no doubt that development is the primary function of the minor leagues, but I'm really not sure you want to impress upon your developing players that winning isn't as important as building up individual stats is.

[ashbury]

Isn't the proper function of minor league teams producing hopefully good MLB players and not winning necessarily if at all?

 

Minor league teams change their affiliations periodically to address perceived indifference by their major league counterparts. Do you want to be the GM that gets stuck with the substandard facilities¹ that your players will hate at the AAA site in Las Vegas, because every other AAA owner said no thanks to you? We nearly lost Rochester a few seasons ago.

 

¹ Last I heard

[AlwaysinModeration]

...Obviously Johnson's not going to make the Opening Day roster, but depth is a good thin.

 

Nice Freudian slip there, Seth.

[Monkeypaws]

If your system is stacked with good prospects, then winning will be a part of the picture, especially at the lower levels.

[Tibs]

Isn't the proper function of minor league teams producing hopefully good MLB players and not winning necessarily if at all?

 

If you have good players you are going to win, so it kind of goes hand in hand.