You’ll see Johnson laughing it up with everybody on the team.

I think management and the pitchers love this guy.

I would hope management would ignore these type of factors (pitchers like throwing to him, good clubhouse guy, works hard, etc).. and take a look at the numbers which show that he’s not a major league ballplayer.

I’m all for Balentien getting more playing time. Endy should be the fourth outfielder as long as Wlad continues to show growth. I’m all for rewarding guys who are producing and I know Wak was very impressed with that opposite field double Wlad hit the other day.

As for Yuni.. I think everyone is in agreement that Cedeno should be the starter, even though he isnt too good either

With Cedeño, Betancourt, Balentien, and Chavez LaRue uses “is”.

With Johnson and Sweeney he uses “may”. If he knew for certain that those changes were pending, as a good writer he would use “will be”. That he uses “may” indicates the last two sentences are LaRue speculative.

Just… don’t.

Maybe he means Sweeney playing first and Branyan playing DH? Does that make any sense?

Not having Branyan hit would make no sense, other than the slump in the past week, he has been our best hitter.

31% k rate? Still Rob Johnson mothafuckas.
.664 wild pitches + passed balls a game? It’s RJ, shawty.
35.7% infield fly ball rate? Oh yeah.

I will go crazy if he gets more playing time.

Yes, Endy Chavez has produced value for the team – he’s been 4 runs above average, and that’s really cool. But Wlad’s added 5 runs in much less time. Yes, the argument about handedness is a concern, but it’s not like the alternative is cutting Chavez… he’d just play less often. I think this is a fine move considering the M’s problems scoring runs.

Rob Johnson. Hmmm.
Look, I actually think there’s an argument to be made for playing him more than Johjima. The issue isn’t Johnson versus average, it’s Johnson versus Johjima, who appears to be 100% done as a major league hitter.
Would it be better to have Clement here? Yes, and I have no idea why the org seems so dead-set against that, but here we are. IF the team doesn’t want to consider giving Clement more MLB starts at C, then the only question is the horrific Johjima/Johnson dichotomy.
The difference in hitting – while not tiny – may close over time (Johnson’s 0-8 against LHP so far). Again, these are marginal things and we’re still talking about starting a guy who if everything goes right might make it up to a .280-.290 wOBA. Johnson may get a few more walks, while Johjima may get more XBHs? Who knows- but Johjima’s last 500 PAs have been absolutely dreadful.
Still, I think the real reason Wak might do this is that pitchers have about a 3.5 FIP with Johnson behind the plate and around a 5.2 w/Johjima. Dave Cameron (and others) will rightly point out that the samples are small, that selection bias/park effects may be at play, etc. cERA has never proven to be predictive. I just don’t know what to make of the vastly superior K/BB/HR stuff with Johnson. Odds are it’s a fluke, but that’s why Wak (may) be making this move.

The Branyan thing is just weird.

can a trade be too far off? It is certain he will not increase his value riding the pine.

“Wakamatsu promised changes” and the lineup TODAY is different. Has anyone read anything that would lead them to believe that the Yuni / Ronny swap is at all permanent?