Far be it for us to jump to conclusions less than 10 games into the MLB schedule, but Oakland Athletics reliever (since relieved of his closer duties) Jim Johnson is currently stinking up O.co and other stadiums around the league more than any amount of sewage possible could.
Johnson has appeared in five games for the A’s thus far this season. In those five games, the 2013 MLB saves leader has given up nine hits, seven earned runs while walking six more and just striking out four batters. His astronomical 4.50 WHIP is beyond description at this point. It has even gotten to the point where manager Bob Melvin has had to pull him from two outings.
Let’s take a look at the numbers here.
Innings: 3.1
Hits: 9
Earned Runs: 7
Strikeout: 4
Walks: 6
Opposing On-Base Percentage: .577
Percentage of A’s earned runs allowed: 33 percent
Percentage of A’s inning pitched: 4.3 percent
A’s Record when he pitches: 2-3
A’s Record when he doesn’t pitch: 3-0
Apparently the A’s have decided to move in another direction at closer following their fourth consecutive win on Thursday.
#Athletics Drumbeat – Jim Johnson out as closer: http://t.co/pObI0IKw30
— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) April 10, 2014
We fully understand that baseball isn’t a game where you jump to conclusions early in the season. Oakland is also paying Johnson $6.5 million to be the All-Star closer he was for the Orioles last season.
That’s not necessarily the point here.
Two years ago, the American League West was decided on the last day of the season. Johnson himself has blown two of the A’s three losses and nearly blew another one against the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday.
It isn’t like the A’s are without options here.
It remains to be seen who will take over the A’s closer role, as they weren’t put in a save situation in a 6-1 win against the Twins on Thursday. The likeliest options are Ryan Cook, Sean Doolittle and Luke Gregerson, who have combined to give up just two earned runs in 13.1 innings this season.
In any event, it’s hard to imagine the A’s being able to go back to Johnson at any point in the near future. His pure inability to do anything worthwhile on the mound may end up costing the team should they make the decision to do just that. Luckily for fans in Northern California, the A’s have a ton of other options and boast a 1.93 ERA from the starting rotation. Better this happen in April than October.
That’s my unfiltered take.
Photo: Bruce Kluckhohn, USA Today