Johnson returned to Orioles (with quotes added)
While I was driving back from Fort Myers, the Orioles announced that pitcher Steve Johnson has been returned to the organization by the San Francisco Giants.
Johnson has been assigned to Double-A Bowie and will report to the minor league camp.
The Giants selected Johnson in the Rule 5 draft in December, costing them $50,000 in the process. The Orioles pay half that amount to reclaim him.
Johnson, the son of former Orioles pitcher and current MASN analyst Dave Johnson, allowed three runs and five hits in 4 2/3 innings. He walked six, struck out two and hit a batter.
"I was a little surprised," Steve Johnson said. "I understood the situation. After they drafted me, they signed a couple guys and that kind of cut my chances down a little bit. But I understood. I wasn't pitching that great and others in the organization were pitching well. I guess it wasn't too much of a surprise, the fact that the Orioles want me back. And they probably want me to get some innings that I wouldn't get here, and I can get back in a starting role.
"I had fun while I was here. It's not too bad."
All three runs off Johnson came in his final inning on Saturday.
"The numbers didn't show it, but I came out feeling like I did some good things," he said. "I threw 3-2 changeups, and some good ones. I got a chance to hang with guys like (Tim) Lincecum, (Barry) Zito, (Matt) Cain and talk to them and learn what they did when they first came up. And I got some good innings against major league guys.
"The numbers don't show it, but I didn't think I did too bad. I was a little rusty and walked some guys, but it was a good experience and I learned from it and found out what it's like to be up here.
"I'm glad to be back. I don't know where they'll have me, but I'll fight for a spot."
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Alright where's the doubters?? Show yourselves.
Looks like Andy was right.
That's good news, although I'm sure Steve and his pops are disappointed that he won't be in the majors this year. Maybe MacPhail does know more than some of the folk who post here. Amazing!
Boy that Andy MacPhail was sure "stupid" not protecting Steve Johnson and letting the Giants pick him in the Rule 5. Welcome back home Steve.
Hey Roch, Love the blog, giving us the thoughts and feelings of coaches and players. It is like having an inside view of the game. Keep up the good work.
Did you notice that Kris Benson signed a minor league deal with the Diamondbacks yesterday. He is still hanging in there.
To all of you who insisted we sign Ben Sheets over the winter check out his ST stats. 4.2 IP, 17 Hits 18 runs, .548 avg. Let the front office do their work, you do yours.
The Giants didn't really have many available bullpen/rotation spots, I was surprised they were the team that picked him up.
Their bullpen is already shaping up with Guillermo Mota, Jeremy Affeldt, Waldis Joaquin, Joe Martinez, Sergio Romo, Kevin Pucetas, closer Brian Wilson and a host of others battling for a spot or 2 at the most. Sounds a bit like our dilema.
Their rotation is Lincecum, Cain, Zito, Jonathan Sanchez and a couple of candidates for the 5th spot that were way ahead of Steve including Madison Bumgarner.
WOW...that is great news...glad we got him back to grow and develop in the minors...AM knows his stuff to risk that..he knew that Steve Johnson was not ready to be a major league pitcher. Good news...more pitching depth in the lower ranks.
Two questions for you, Roch. Is Johnson back in Sarasota already or did you talk to him on the phone?
Second about Roberts... I can understand him ducking reporters, but I expected Trembley or MacPhail to say something to the press. No update from anyone? I wasn't too worried before but this silence is starting to scare me.
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I talked to Johnson on the phone. He was packing up his stuff. There really isn't anything to say about Roberts at this point. They have to wait a few days to see how the epidural worked. - Roch
Interesting article from yahoo about our bats:
Who will be the brightest offensive star in the Orioles' universe?
By Alex Remington
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Who-will-be-the-brightest-offensive-star-in-the-;_ylt=Ah0NMc6wTE7rZbJF.Cikac8RvLYF?urn=mlb,228269
Hey Roch,
Somewhat topic related... I hear Giants' pitcher Lincecum lowered his ERA today to below 10.. Spring training numbers are very important, wouldn't you agree.. I think we could trade two of our future Aces like Berken and Hernandez for him. I'm sure resident GM Brummie would say that would be giving up too much...
Roch,
I take full credit for this move with my premonition to ask you about Johnson earlier today. You're welcome O's fans.
People that say Tillman needs to go back to AAA are forgetting he has more AAA innings pitched than Berken, Hernandez and Bergeson (combined probably.)
Sure am glad that worked out for the O's. Hate to think we left a player unprotected that became the next Cy Young. Now we can get back to worrying about how fast we can lose another 90 games.
Good news!! The savvy posters here knew he would probably be back anyways. Most of Andy's moves work out.
Andy Andy Andy... what were you thinking taking Steve back?
[insert blah blah here]
Dodgers... Cubs... rejects...
[insert blah blah here]
sprechen sie deuutsch.. trade dispute
[insert blah blah here]
Can't do anything right.
*Grumble*
*Grumble*
Sky is falling. Must pay toll to cross bridge.
Well, now they've got firepower......
"The Giants didn't even want this retread. Johnson is terrible, Bell can't play defense, pathetic trade, blah, blah, blah."
I didn't think we would see Steve back here. Good to hear it!
Glad to see that Steve Johnson is back. Looks like MacPhail was right again. Oh...the trollboys wrong again?? Shocking!
in all seriousness, all those who FLAMED MacPhail for Johnson's being drafted in the Rule 5 need to come out and eat their crow.
Now, not only has he had a taste of major league camp, but he's also back in our system AND DOESN'T NEED TO REMAIN ON THE 40-MAN ROSTER ALL YEAR!
The risk of putting Johnson on the 40 man to protect him from the Rule 5 was generally glossed over by the overly critical minority. It's time to recognize that the longtime professional knew what he was doing, and it has resulted in the team having much more roster flexibility with a nice young prospect.
Part of the criticism was always that it was an unneccessary risk, since guys like Gabino were protected instead. Take not, once and for all, that exposing Johnson to the Rule 5 was LESS of a risk than it would have been to try keeping him on the 40-man roster all year.
Go ahead. Say it. We all know who you are anyway.
Thrilled to have Steve back. Love the homegrown story. Its awesome.
Its not so much that they didnt protect Steve, but that they cut Bass the very next day.
Dodging bullets, Andy! Good that we got Steve back in (orange and) black.
Ken Francis -- How much does each player make, and until when? I agree that in just measuring awesomeness there is no comparison, but if we're really "playing GM" we have a whole team to build and maintain (and pay for), at which point Howard's youth and/or salary might make him quite attractive for a GM, esp. when (talking just Cards and Phils) you're presuming annually competitive teams, solid organizations, and fairly robust (though not Steinbrennerist) spending tendencies, all of which would be supporting and surrounding each player. I say this with the caveat that other than knowing Pujols is coming up soon I have no idea what either player makes or for how long, so there's no gotcha "lying in the weeds" here.
I think the more germane question, which could provide some interesting insight, is to identify the "crossover point" at which (each of us believe) Howard and Pujols, not true equals, could become "equals" because they'd represent comparable value (for a club overall, not in dollars, 'cause the contract is part of the point). That is to say, what is the "Howard discount" (with Pujols as standard), the money saved on an impact player vs. the best impact player that would offer comparable value over the long term? What might the "Wieters discount" (v. Mauer) become? Somewhat similar to the way Milton Bradley can end up cheating himself out of money and security because he's constantly giving a "jerk/lemon" discount. I guess they have metrics of "Wins Per Dollar Spent" that might get you there, but in any case it seems that THIS is the real GM question. Not who's better, but who's almost as good for less? And not just to "be cheap", but because there are 29 clubs who cannot have Albert Pujols. And then so fleetingly at that...
Yes, but Darrin, at least acknowledge that giving Bass's spot on the 40-man roster to Johnson would have meant that Johnson would need to keep that roster spot all year, OR, being subjected to a waiver claim from another team who, in turn, would NOT have had to keep him on the 25-man roster.
All things considered, exposing Johnson to the Rule 5 draft was the less risky option. And his returning this early proves it.
Can you ask Andy how much harm if any was done to Johnson's development by him being taken in the Rule V only to come back?
I am glad to have him back but really am wondering if Andy would still see it as a bad thing that he was taken in the Rule V.
Move them goalposts.
NICE
Darrin said:
Its not so much that they didnt protect Steve, but that they cut Bass the very next day.
In otherwords the front office were able to both fish AND cut bait (sorry).
Happy St. Patrick's Day to all!
Roch..You just said in a blog that Brob had an epidural...in your 'AM on Brob' blog AM would not comment on Brob taking the epidural, only that he took meds..what gives?
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He had an epidural. The club had already announced it. MacPhail just chose to not comment on it publicly. - Roch
Great job Andy and Steve!
This was actually a dumb move by the Giants to begin with. Johnson isn't major league ready. He still has to get through AA and AAA to prove his mettle.
Great to hear! I was worried we wouldn't get him back. The kid has the talent, just needs a little more seasoning.
Glad he's back in the organization. The calculated risk paid off, and the Os will subsequently benefit from this young man's abilities.
Steve Johnson got interest from a big-league club, experienced a major-league spring training, talked to guys like Lincecum, Cain and Zito, and ultimately was returned to his hometown team. I'd say Steve made out OK. The Orioles made out OK. In fact, Steve will be better off for having gone through this process. As a bonus, the organization gets to erase a poor public relations move and keep the Johnsons in Baltimore, where they belong. Now Dave can see Steve pitch anytime he wants, carefully watching his progress, as he makes the march toward his Orioles debut. This is a good story.
So no one noticed The Giants scouting Steve ? Think we will just chalk this one up to luck and move on. As it turned out a risk worth taking. With our developing young pitching depth this will probably become a common accurance in future rule 5 drafts.
Thats good news. Another young pitcher headed to Bowir and then Norfolk. Lets hope he has an good start to the year at Bowie and get promoted to Norfolk. I doubt he gets a September call up but who knows. Hopefully the O's protect him next year and keep him around.
Glad he's back. While I never really doubted he'd make it back to Baltimore eventually, I still question whether the whole ordeal was really necessary and whether it was the best thing for the kid.
Couldn't Brian Bass and Armando Gabino (or whatever his name is) have been released a little earlier so none of this would have happened?