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Time for a new closer, Johnson's time has come

ADZ23

By ADZ23
in Orioles Talk

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jjnono All-Star

jjnono

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Oday was/is better than Johnson anyway. I think he should get the nod from this point forth, with Matusz being another (distant) option.

I will say that Johnson doesn't provide me the greatest confidence, and never really has. But it was hard to argue with the results for the most part. This recent skein is troubling to say the least. And I WOULD give the ball to someone else for the next save opportunity. But I don't think he loses his status as closer. Probably still a bit early for that. I don't think he's in Heath Bell territory. Yet...

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Jonesy10 Hangout Veteran Council

Jonesy10

Posted
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I don't know. We sent Jorge Julio, Willis Roberts, Mike Gonzalez and Kevin Gregg out to close games much longer than we've stuck with Johnson.

I say give him at least a dozen more save opportunities before we pull the plug...

The difference is this team is a playoff caliber team. The difference between 26-18 and 23-21 is huge. Thanks alot JJ...

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Spy Fox Hangout Veteran Council

Spy Fox

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Put O'Day or Matusz in there the next couple of times and let Johnson throw a couple innings in non-save situations to hopefully get his groove back.

But I still see Johnson as the best 9th inning option long term for this season. He did just save 35 consecutive, it's not like he's a bum out there. Just having a bad (terrible) week.

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pollaxt Major Leaguer Cup of Coffee

pollaxt

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I will say that Johnson doesn't provide me the greatest confidence, and never really has. But it was hard to argue with the results for the more part. This recent skein is troubling to say the least. And I WOULD give the ball to someone else for the next save opportunity. But I don't think he loses his status as closer. Probably still a bit early for that. I don't think he's in Heath Bell territory. Yet...

Because JJ doesn't strike out a lot of guys as a closer is supposed to, it's hard to watch him if he's even a little off.

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Three Run Homer Hangout Veteran Council

Three Run Homer

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We don't have to write off JJ, but he needs to take a break from save opportunities for a while. Even the best closers blow a save every now and then, but three in a row is a trend. He's lost command of his breaking stuff and he's leaving his fastball up in the zone. You can't keep letting him lose games while he's pitching this badly.

Let JJ work in low leverage situations for a while and go to a closer-by-committee for two or three weeks--O'Day, Matusz, Strop and Hunter can all get opportunities here and there. Once JJ regains command of all his pitches, ease him back into higher leverage situations.

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Mondo Trasho Major Leaguer Cup of Coffee

Mondo Trasho

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The difference is this team is a playoff caliber team. The difference between 26-18 and 23-21 is huge. Thanks alot JJ...

Is it? How often do we bat our DH in the 9 hole? We have no starting second baseman. JJ Hardy is a double play machine when he goes up to bat. Our rotation is a mess and outside of O'Day and maybe Matusz the bullpen isn't a shutdown pen anymore.

I say let Johnson work out the kinks. There's no one else I trust in his spot anyway. Dennis Eckersley ain't walking through that door...

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Uli2001 Hangout Grand Counsel

Uli2001

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Some of his pitches have been up, which can be a fatigue problem, but he hasn't pitched horribly. At least he didn't today.

The fact of the matter is that you can't be in so many tight games in sequence and not blow a few. Yes, the O's were lucky last year. You can't sustain that kind of formula. For whatever reasons, their offense goes to sleep as soonas they get a lead. They have relied for too long and too often on the bullpen to close the door on close games.

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Il BuonO Hangout Grand Counsel

Il BuonO

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Oday was/is better than Johnson anyway. I think he should get the nod from this point forth, with Matusz being another (distant) option.

Yeah,as much as I believe the whole idea of having a set closer to be antiquated thinking within baseball circles I don't see it changing anytime soon. Neither will ours.

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glenn__davis Hangout Grand Counsel

glenn__davis

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Needs to be given a little break from the save opps. He has been great. He will be great again.

I truly understand the frustration, but have to say I've very disappointed in the reaction to a bad week from a guy who's been an outstanding Oriole for the better part of his career. We're better than that.

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