Still letting Steve's season sink in
I guess you can go with "Expect the Unexpected." This has been a crazy summer for the Johnson family.
Of course, most of you know my oldest son, Steve, was with the Dodgers organization. He had a goal to get to AA this season--he just had no idea that would be in Bowie, Maryland.
He was having a good season at Inland Empire, the High-A team for the Dodgers. After the minor league All-Star break, he got the idea that it was possible that he might be moved to Chattanooga, the Double-A team for the Dodgers. When he finally got the call, he went there and pitched great.
Then that crazy day with the postgame show with Tom Davis at Camden Yards came along. When the trade for George Sherrill went down, I could not believe it. I was very happy, but concerned as well.
Steve had spent the better part of five seasons making a name for himself with the Dodgers. I was hoping he wouldn't put so much pressure on himself that he would try to do too much in first couple of games with Bowie.
In his second start, he pitched in Fenway Park on TV. I was doing the Orioles pregame show while watching Steve pitch on the Internet during the breaks. He pitched well in Fenway Park.
When Steve finally got home, everyone was saying "I'll see you at Steve's game." - I had to keep telling them that Tera would be there, but I would be working on the pre- and post-game shows. It was strange having Steve so close and still not being able to go see him pitch. Hey, I'm not complaining. I'm very fortunate to have the best job I've ever had in my life.
It was great for Steve to live at home and be able to catch up with his high school buddies. They got to go see him pitch and then hangout with him after the games back at home.
It's still kind of odd realizing that my son actually has a chance to pitch for the Orioles one day. Wow!! Can you imagine that? I'm still trying to take it all in. I didn't expect this at all.
Finally, in case you're interested in how Steve has been progressing...
-He capped off his 2009 season by being named the Eastern League's Pitcher of the Week.
-Steve's goal this season was to get to AA by the end of the year. Mission accomplished and more. He not only had a solid campaign at Inland Empire for the Dodgers' High-A affiliate, but he was promoted to Chattanooga in the AA Southern League.
-While at Chattanooga, Steve pitched 2 games before he was traded to the Orioles with teammate Josh Bell for George Sherrill. They were both assigned to Bowie of the Double-A Eastern League. Both players adapted well and performed admirably for Bowie down the stretch. Josh hit .289 with 9 home runs for Bowie and combined with his .296 and 11 home runs at Chattanooga, he finished his first Double-A season at .295 with 20 HRs. Way to go Josh!
Steve finished strong as well. After 2 games in Chattanooga, he was 1-1 with a 1.69 ERA. After the trade he pitched 7 games for Bowie where he compiled a 3-2 record with a 2.84 ERA. He won his last 3 starts and was named Pitcher of the Week for the Eastern League, and he won 12 games for the 2nd consecutive year.
-This was Steve's fifth year of professional baseball, as he signed out of high school at 17. He must be protected on the Major League roster or be subject to the Rule 5 Draft in December. Here is hoping he did enough to be promoted to the 40 man roster and go to camp with the Major League Club next spring.
Obviously, I am very proud of how he has handled himself as a professional baseball player. There are many people who have helped in many ways. I thank you for your help and hope you share a little pride in Steve's success to this point in his career.
Thank you for your support,
Dave Johnson
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Dave i bet you r a proud father. Dave i wish good luck for Steve the rest of his Baseball career.
Dave,
I've heard you say that your boy is a better pitcher than you were.
I've said before on Steve's blog that if your Steve has half the guts and grit you had, he will have an excellent career.
I'm really happy for you that things have worked out the way they have. You can have him home with you.
Maybe we will have a Johnson pitching for our next championship team.
Wishing much good luck for him in his career.
You and Tom (or Steve), Joe and Fred are my lifeline to my much beloved Orioles. No cable or satellite here, and slowest internet connection so even gametime is slow.
The radio keeps me going. I feel close to you all, and much enjoy listening.
While I'm on that, I have to say that you have given me my two best memories this year.
First, in the game where we came back against the Red Sox. Fred was screaming as the runs scored. It the background, very quietly, you can be heard exclaiming, "yes" with the all the emotion and more than Fred had. Just that quiet Yes!
And second, of course, was the postgame with Tom when you heard about Steve. You were in tears, Tom was too and I was right with you.
Thanks to you for being there and tellings things like they are. I love that about you and Tom.
Dear Dave,
All the best to Steve, you and the rest of the Johnson family. It's nice to have some REALLY homegrown players to root for, especially when it comes in such a talented and well-grounded package as your son. Not only that, as a pitcher who apparently uses his brain as much as his arm, there's nothing the club needs more right now.
Here's hoping that you'll never again have to wonder where Steve's home plate will be...
Im happy for your family and the O's future. Steve will be on my radar screen for years to come. Im hoping to see him pitch live next year in Norfolk. Good luck Johnson Family !!1
Dave,
I am so happy for you and your son, I live in Connecticut but have been an Oriole fan for over 40 years now and was able to go to New Britain, Ct. to see Steve pitch his first game in the O's organization. I wish you and him well I think this was a great trade by Andy McPhail and your son will prove that some day. I listen to you on the internet and really enjoy your personality.
Keep up the good work Dave and may God Bless you and your family.
You're the man Dave! Congrats!!!!
Dear Dave,
I watched you pitch for the Birds and I fully expect to see your son pitch for the Birds, too. We live near the bay on the Northern Neck of Virginia. We expect to travel 85 miles to Richmond, the home of the Richmond Whatevers AA team for all the Bowie games as we did for the Tides AAA team when they played at Richmond. We look forward to seeing if Steve has the same desire to win as you did. If so, he will be a treat to watch, too. Thankyou. - Andy & Betty Johnston, Oriole Fans
Yes, the Orioles lost him in the Rule V draft, but I think he'll be back in Baltimore before it's all said and done. Here's to seeing him at Camden Yards wearing No. 27.
Dave:
After listing to you yesterday on Wall to Wall Baseball, I couldn't agree with you more about Adam Jones and being a leader on this team. I personally think he's be reading too many of his praises and they went to his head. Not to mention being nominated to the All Star game, when one from every team was required. Next, he gets the Gold Glove. Didn't anyone watch Nick?
Jones has a lot of potential and has shown some, BUT, the thing I fear the most about him is he's not "playing with his brothers", or playing the the minors. He's playing in the Major Leagues where pithcers love to make mince meat out of "young studs" like this. He started out last year hitting the ball hard while swinging the bat correctly on an even plain and line drive home runs began to go over the wall. Unfortunately, he turned his line drive swing into an "upright swing" and that's when problems started to come and he never recovered. A lot of things are coming too fast for him and I think it's time for him to sit back, relax and stop reading his praises in the papers. By changing his swing, he opened many holes and the pitchers took advantage of them and everything suffered. He probably pushed himself to the point and he got hurt again and didn't finish the year for the second year in a row. I hope he can find himself because he's got too much talent for it to go to waste.
Do you think one of the veteran players may pull him aside and get him straight? If the don't, it could be a long year for this talented young man. Trembley isn't helping matters with the way he has been pumping him up, or am I reading Trembley the wrong way?
Love your work with Tom and Phil, plus the pre and post game comments every night. I hope your son does well with the Giants and gets some great experience. But, hope he's the last cut and returns to the Orioles.
JO
Dave hope your son makes the bigs thats a dream come true. I am always proud to tell people I played with you Mike Bilecki and the kendall brothers. I think the birds might surprise some people this year looking forward to a good year hope your son does well. GOD BLESS dave clark