Rule 5: Johnson on Johnson
Pitcher Steve Johnson was sleeping when the San Francisco Giants magically turned him into a major league pitcher today, but it didn't take him long to process the implications of his selection in the Rule 5 Draft.
"It can't be bad,'' he said in a quick telephone conversation a few minutes ago. "Worst-case scenario is, I come back to the Orioles and that's not a bad thing. It's an opportunity that didn't think would come this soon. I'm excited about it."
Steve was awakened by his dad when the pick was made. Former O's pitcher Dave Johnson was monitoring the draft and also was pretty stoked that his son is going to be a second-generation major leaguer.
"He's excited,'' Steve said. "He wanted me to be picked up by somebody and get a chance."
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Comments
Royals just released Mike Jacobs... I think this would be a nice pick-up for the O's at 1st base... any indication of interest there???
Posted by: Tony P in AZ | December 10, 2009 10:30 AM
What a happy dad......
His son just escaped baseball hell...
We can only hope, for the Johnson family, that it works out in SF!
Posted by: wayne | December 10, 2009 10:32 AM
Jacobs seems to be getting worse rather than better and looks like a poor man's Luke Scott. We need a third baseman more than a first baseman.
Posted by: terpfan | December 10, 2009 10:48 AM
Mike Jacobs excels at one thing: making outs. His OBP has been in the tank for a while now. The O's should do the smart thing and pass on him.
Posted by: Dr. Tom | December 10, 2009 10:57 AM
Mike Jacobs is a great example of a guy whose BA-HR-RBI numbers (which aren't even that great) give a very overrated picture of the type of player he is. He walks almost never and strikes out too much. His OBP has gone down every year he's been in the majors.
Posted by: Bonzi | December 10, 2009 11:01 AM
boo on the giants picking steve johnson,but that is how the cookie crumbles. just hope the oriole pick a good one in the draft. there are a lot posters booing mike jacobs.different scenery sometimes helps.
Posted by: leonard | December 10, 2009 11:09 AM
boo on the giants picking steve johnson,but that is how the cookie crumbles. just hope the oriole pick a good one in the draft. there are a lot posters booing mike jacobs.different scenery sometimes helps.
Posted by: leonard | December 10, 2009 11:11 AM
Good luck to Steve Johnson. I watched him at Bowie and I must say he was a good picture but not a great picture. I wish him well. As long as we have the "Franchise (Josh Bell) protected I am happy. This guy has power from the left side of the plate. Lookout warehouse.
Posted by: JRC | December 10, 2009 11:37 AM
Good luck to Steve Johnson. I watched him at Bowie and I must say he was a good picture but not a great picture. I wish him well. As long as we have the "Franchise (Josh Bell) protected I am happy. This guy has power from the left side of the plate. Lookout warehouse.
Posted by: JRC | December 10, 2009 11:37 AM
Good luck to Steve Johnson. I watched him at Bowie and I must say he was a good picture but not a great picture. I wish him well. As long as we have the "Franchise (Josh Bell) protected I am happy. This guy has power from the left side of the plate. Lookout warehouse.
Posted by: JRC | December 10, 2009 11:37 AM
I had a bad feeling about leaving S.Johnson unprotected.
I am a D.Johnson fan, and wanted to see some of that old school grit come back to O's again. Hopefully the O's get Steven back some day.
Posted by: john | December 10, 2009 12:00 PM
So his dad is happy his son is going to be on an MLB roster without pitching in AAA. Isn't his dad the same man that is on the radio every Saturday saying the Orioles need to be patient and let their young arms get experience at every level of the minors before going to the majors?
Posted by: Tom | December 10, 2009 12:29 PM
Too bad we lost Steve Johnson. Even worse that we lost Davey -
Posted by: joe gee | December 10, 2009 12:58 PM
Unless he moves into the bullpen, I can't imagine Johnson will stick in the bigs with the Giants all year, what, with four fifths of their rotation already taken by Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Barry Zito and Jonathan Sanchez.
I would think that Madison Bumgarner, despite his age (20), would have a better shot at sticking in that #5 spot this season.
I hope Johnson comes back, but if he doesn't, at least it's not too big of a loss.
Posted by: not brooks | December 10, 2009 1:07 PM
Steve will not make the Giants
25 man roster. People are getting worked up over nothing. If this wasn't Dave Johnsons kid, this wouldn't even be a story.
Posted by: ron | December 10, 2009 1:15 PM
Steve Johnson is not a major league pitcher.What were tht.e Giants thinking? Heck when he was at St.Pauls he was never allowed to pitch against Calvert Hall.
Posted by: Rob Quigg | December 10, 2009 6:39 PM
Hope we don't lose Johnson because it sounds like he may be a solid bullpen arm down the road. It never hurts to have decent arms in the system since they can be cost-controlled. But I wouldn't get worried yet...as many have said, I'm not convinced that he's ready to be on a major league rosters, and he'll have a difficult time sticking with a team that has as many arms as the Giants.
As far as Mike Jacobs, please dear God, keep him away. The fact that he was released by the Royals says enough.
Posted by: Ben | December 11, 2009 9:17 AM
Just goes to show that the Orioles GOT NOTHING for George Sherrill. If you think MacPhail is going to turn this club into a winner, then you are delusional.
Posted by: Steve | December 11, 2009 9:46 AM
Hey Quigg,
I was at a game when Johnson beat The Hall at Camden Yards as a 14 year old freshman. Checked and found that he was 4-0 against The Hall in his career. 2 playoff wins and 2 championship wins. All complete games. Hater....are we?
Posted by: Frank | December 11, 2009 11:06 PM