Rob Johnson

by Patrick517 on Sep 24, 2008 11:02 AM PDT Comment 23 comments

Here's an interesting article concerning back-up catcher Rob Johnson: click it!

a sample:

At 25, Johnson is getting long in the tooth for a minor leaguer, despite credentials that would have him holding down a roster spot - at least as a backup - on many major league rosters. He was named the 2008 Pacific Coast League defensive catcher of the year for the AAA Tacoma Rainiers, and his .305 batting average led all regular starters. Despite Johnson's breakout year with the bat, it's his work behind the plate that has earned him rave reviews from managers and scouts across baseball.

I'm left wondering what a catcher like Johnson could fetch on the open market this off-season.

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$1.25 and that resume will get you a soda at 7-11

“long in the tooth” is not good for any minor leaguer, much less for a catcher.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Sep 24, 2008 11:12 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

25's not that old for a prospect

and if his bat is for real (which it probably isn’t but that’s besides the point)…

by seattlebruin on Sep 24, 2008 11:21 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

25's not old at all for a minor league catcher.

Catchers usually take longer to make it through the minors (although that has been changing a bit recently).

I'm back to liking midgets too much.

by Thingray on Sep 24, 2008 11:30 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I skipped the 25 part, read "long in the tooth"

and assumed Crash Davis. 25’s really not that old.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Sep 24, 2008 11:34 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Jeff Clement is 25.

by marc w on Sep 24, 2008 11:41 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not to mention...

that he didn’t really catch regularly until he was in the system and had been an outfielder at one point.

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/milb-mariners/

by JY on Sep 24, 2008 1:10 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

A relief prospect maybe.

by Matthew on Sep 24, 2008 11:15 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

We are using the 2008 PCL Defensive Catcher of the year as the DH

by Robert on Sep 24, 2008 12:46 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

That's the first of many wars he'll have to go through to prove his worth to the org.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Sep 24, 2008 12:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well the article summed his value up pretty well

He’s got the talent to be a backup catcher on a ML roster. What are backup catchers getting these days in trade?

by CKremer on Sep 24, 2008 1:16 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

If only the original poster had thought to ask this question.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Sep 24, 2008 1:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

oh yeah...

I think Houston could use him. We could use some relief in the pen next year.

Cuba Si! Yanqi No!

by Patrick517 on Sep 24, 2008 3:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Heard the Yanks might want a catcher.

With posada maybe heading to 1st a johnson trade to NY might be possible.

by Slurvey on Sep 24, 2008 5:31 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Johnson is a tailor made backup catcher.

With great defense and a strong arm and a passable bat, Rob Johnson is a career backup catcher, in the majors.

by Flamefox111 on Sep 24, 2008 8:57 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I think he will one day get his chance at a starting job

And I’m pretty sure he deserves it. He had a great year and has been getting better whether you guys want to recognize it or not.

I think a case could be made that Jeff Clement going into next season may be the Mariners’ 3rd best catching prospect (although probably by far our best 1B/DH prospect).

by Edgar for Pres on Sep 24, 2008 9:31 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I dunno...

I know marc w’s seen it more than I have, but every time I see Robby’s defense, I get the sense that it’s quite overrated. He passes more balls than…

Well maybe I better not finish that sentence. Okay maybe I will

…than Corco passes highway signs. Okay, maybe not QUITE that many (or even anywhere close), but my point is that his defense doesn’t appear to me to be as good as it’s hyped up to be.

Compared to Clement, he looks better defensively, obviously. And since he’s got nowhere near Clement’s or Moore’s bat, he’s probably been a little bit labeled as a good-glove-no-stick catcher, but I don’t think that’s quite the case. I love Robby as much as anyone does, but if anything his bat is a tick underrated and his defense is a bit overrated. He’s a better hitter — granted, not a HR guy — than he’s given credit for. But a fair assessment of him as a MLB-quality backup fits.

This signature space for rent.

by PositivePaul on Sep 24, 2008 10:01 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I've never seen him play, but man the Tools of Ignorence needs an upgrade around here.

I miss a defensive stud behind the plate, that has the ability to call a quality game. With the DH, I’m kind of so/so on requiring the catcher to be monster at the plate. As long as they’re a great catcher first and foremost.

"Sorry I hit you in the helmet Hank, I meant to hit you in the neck." Stan Williams to Hank Aaron.

by dpseadv on Sep 24, 2008 10:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree with you about the defense first catcher mentality having some merit...

It seems to me that it is a tendency of many National League teams to focus on the defense/pitch-calling qualities of their backstop more than their offensive production. We could always use another arm and I think it’s only fair to let a guy like Johnson get the opportunity to start for someone.

Cuba Si! Yanqi No!

by Patrick517 on Sep 25, 2008 6:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I am so skeptical of the concept of catchers that call a good game that it's not even funny.

I just have a hard time believing it’s a valuable skill.

J.K.L.

by acblue on Sep 26, 2008 1:39 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I often think of the catcher as a sounding board.

The guy closest to the pitcher that’s best able to keep the pitching moving smoothly. Maybe he’s picking up something from the batter, his stance, where he’s locating in the box, whatever. Maybe not. But if the pitcher is in love with a pitch that’s not working for him that night, or wants to use it in the wrong part of the pitching sequence, or the wrong location, that’s the point where I want a catcher who’s worth his salt. Take a walk to the mound and do whatever he’s got to do to straighten things out.

"Sorry I hit you in the helmet Hank, I meant to hit you in the neck." Stan Williams to Hank Aaron.

by dpseadv on Sep 26, 2008 2:43 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs