It is hard for a baseball player to get attention playing in South Florida. You have to be good, real good, before the baseball world starts to notice.
Just ask Josh Johnson. He is one of baseball's best pitchers, yet even the local Miami Herald did not include him in a comparison of the league's best.
Last season, he returned to the Marlins after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2007 after beginning the season 0-3 with a 7.47 ERA. Look at what the kid has done since then:
In 2008, he posted a 7-1 record with a 3.61 ERA. The ERA was not great, but the record was. Those who saw him pitch knew Johnson had special stuff.
So what has he done almost halfway through the 2009 season? He is 7-1 once again, but this time he has knocked his ERA down to 2.66. Opponents are hitting a poor .219 against Johnson, and he has only walked 25 through 105 innings.
Almost two years removed from his Tommy John surgery, Johnson is leading the league in innings pitched as well as quality starts. Johnson ranks third in the NL for wins, and his strikeout totals come in seventh. Even his 7-1 record is a little unfair, as the Marlins are 12-3 in games that he starts.
So, why isn't Johnson's name mentioned along with the likes of Halladay and Greinke?
Johnson, if used properly, should have a long and illustrious career. When considering his impressive record, it should be noted that Johnson, more times than not, is facing the ace of other team's staffs.
I throw in there "if used properly" because already I do not like how Fredi Gonzalez utilizes Johnson. Johnson is among the leaders for pitches per game, and he has already had a major surgery on his arm.
Just last week, Gonzalez sent Johnson out to finish a complete game against Toronto, even though the Marlins had an eight-run lead and Johnson's pitch count soared into the 100s.
Johnson is something special. As a Marlins fan, I have seen a lot of special pitchers come and go. I have also seen how some great pitchers have had arm problems because of how their arms are abused in South Florida. Dontrelle Willis, AJ Burnett, and Josh Beckett have all had injury problems after being part of the Marlins' 2003 champions staff.
Johnson could be the best pitcher to ever play for the Marlins, surpassing the likes of Josh Beckett and Kevin Brown. Hopefully, the Marlins decide to lock him up with a new stadium on the horizon. When the end of the 2009 season starts to come around, expect Johnson to be right at the top of the debate for NL Cy Young.
- Login to post comments