Baltimore Orioles super closer Jim Johnson not a fan of statistics- MLB News
During the spring training in 2012, no one could have predicted that Jim Johnson will have one of the most memorable years of his baseball career. There was a constant chatter about the diminishing speed in the public and the press and his returns were anything but satisfactory during spring training.
His 6.75 ERA in eight appearances with a 0-3 record was making people doubt Jim’s readiness as a closer in the upcoming season. Such doubts even did not escape the mind of manager Buck Showalter.
Jim proved all the apprehensions wrong, had 51 saves in the 2012 season and now is one of the more sought after relievers in the game at this point in time. It is highly unlikely though that the O’s will put him on the trade block.
The reliever himself believes that the numbers presented using different formulas aren’t always an accurate picture of how things are. There is a greater need to look at the games rather than the numbers which can be misleading at times.
"These statisticians come up with these formulas that tell you how good you're supposed to be. You're pitching better than your numbers or you don't pitch as well. People need to quantify it. But if you just watch the games, you can see the bigger picture. I think it's easier to see it that way," Johnson said recently in an interview with the ‘’Hot Stove Baseball Show’’ on the WBAL Radio.
The birds will certainly not be making too many changes to a bullpen that seems to be well settled this off-season. Johnson believes that at this point in time it is best that the team’s bullpen would best left as it is. Jim used a cliché’ in a very timely manner in his talk.
"With the success we had, I think that's part of the reason why. If it's not broke, don't fix it," he said.
He also said that the team will look to keep as many guys from the 2012 season as possible as the rule applies to the whole team and not just to the bullpen.
"It’s not just the bullpen. I think they're trying to keep as many guys here that we had last year," Jim said referring to manager Buck Showalter and executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette.
The O’s are a team that tries to keep people associated with it for a long period of time. Jim Johnson is a crucial member of this current Baltimore Orioles lineup. The team has shown faith in him and he has responded well by getting the most saves in the 2012 season.
One hopes that he can carry forward the good work into the 2013 season and plays an important role in his team’s success.
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