View Full Version : Okay, you sold me on Nick Johnson
Saw him play today - all I have to say is: WOW.
He's always on base!
He made a few bad plays at first, but never didn't make the play. It was also on turf, so you have to expect that.
On top of that, he's a really nice guy.
Sorry Tino fans, I am now a Nick Johnson fan. A big one...
-jim
CaptainCargo
05-05-01, 05:53 PM
Quite the about face Senor.
Casey
It's great that he looks good ...he'll serve the Yankees well in the **FUTURE**
Future........
Future..........
Future......
flyankgrrrl
05-05-01, 06:02 PM
I saw this thread Jim and I thought you meant New Jersey and couldn't figure out why the heck it would be in baseball discussion! :lol:
Anyway, I saw Nick Johnson play at Spring Training this year and he is great. But I'm not ready to kick Tino to the curb yet!
And I thought he was really nice guy too. He signed a lot of autos at ST and didn't even seem to be really pissed off when multiple balls were thrown into the dugout at him at once or when he was hit with pens...:D
He's going to be an absolute star.
Can't wait to see him. I'll set my watch for 2005!!!![I can hope can't I?]
silverdsl
05-05-01, 07:12 PM
I'm a huge Tino fan and I'm still happy to hear that Nick Johnson is so good. Unless the Yankees do something stupid, NJ is Tino's replacement at some point in the near future and I'd like to see him do as well as possible.
-Deborah
Heh, seeing him play would make any "neysayer" do an about face. He is the real deal. I am always skeptical of "top prospects", but this kid earns it.
He hit a HR in the second inning that cleared the signs above the outfield wall. For anyone that has ever been to Lackawanna County Stadium, he hit it OFF the rocks in RF.
Amazing.
-jim
Yankee Mike
05-05-01, 07:48 PM
Contrary to what some might think, I like Nick. I just want him to come up when he's ready. Keep in mind that we have seen incredible prospects struggle for a while at the major league level. Not many come up and excel immediately. I would still like to see him improve defensively. I hear mixed reviews about his D, some saying he isn't a great first baseman, and some saying he's wonderful. I always keep in mind that First Base is a busy place lately at Yankee Stadium, and it's a comforting thought to have a veteran there patrolling it. Some think that First Base isn't a big deal, but I don't think you can make that case after watching this team for the past three years.
Anyway, if Nick Johnson becomes everything some say he will, I will be able to retire off all the baseball cards I have. :D :D :D It's going to be club seats from now on.
Sillycon
05-05-01, 07:51 PM
That bodes well for Yankee fans. The knock in the past on Nick Johnson was that his power was lacking. Scouts say that his ability to recognize strikes also hindered him a bit in that he would shoot the ball towards LF ala a Derek Jeter type and that he couldn't really turn on the ball unless it was a slow breaking pitch. With his plate discipline, increasing power, and that short rightfield porch, us fans have something to look forward to in the near future...
allybear
05-05-01, 10:00 PM
I've never said I didn't like him, just that I didn't think he was needed right now. I'm glad to hear that he seems to be as good as the hype - although one thing you said does make me happy that he's still got at least part of a year in AAA - the defensive part. We are having enough defensive struggles without bringing up a rookie first baseman too! Be that as it may, defense is definitely something that can be improved with practice, and I have no doubt that he'll be at least OK by the time he gets here.
Thanks for the update! :)
Scouts say he's a Gold-Glove caliber defensive First Baseman. He's just a great baseball player. Powers always the last thing to develop for young hitters, and since he was originally signed he's added a lot more muscle weight. Keep in mind, also, that the Double-A stadium he played in was a pitcher's park. He's going to love that short rightfield porch. Oh, and he's Larry Bowa's nephew, but apparently didn't inherit the temper thing.
orangemom
05-06-01, 07:44 AM
I'm very glad to hear he's doing well. Patience is the key here IMHO. I would hate to see him brought up before he's ready. There's a world of difference between AAA pitching and major league pitching. When he's really ready, he'll get his shot. I'm looking forward to it.
#1PaFan
05-06-01, 08:00 AM
I saw him play while he was in the Eastern League. He absolutely tore up the pitching at that level.
Since we will have a double digit lead, I expect Nick to get a Septembet call up. If nothing else, he will get his feet wet and see some Major League pitching. Plus, having Tino around will help him immeasurably.
Why do we have to get rid of Tino to bring him up anyway? Can't we figure something out here!!!!!! Like put him in for DH??
I say that if Justice continues to struggle this badly then the team should consider giving Johnson a call-up to DH. At the same time, though, management might be a little hesitant. I don't think anyone really doubts his ability to hit. They're more concerned with getting him regular playing time on the field and he won't get that if he's just DHing until Justice picks it up again. I would think a September call-up is the way to go, and if he continues to improve both on the field and in the batter's box, then he most definitely should get a few games in the majors this season.
i'm sure that most people here would know by now that i am in total agreement with jim.. nick johnson is a brilliant player waiting to get his chance..
my only question is where are the certain forumers (they know who they are, i'm not aloud to mention them by name) who like to question the "baseball knowledge" of anyone who has something good to say about an "unproven" player? since they ripped into everyone else for not having "baseball savvy", i'd hate to think jim would be given a free ride.. lol
sorry jim, couldn't resist..
If he continues to hit and get on base, I would imagine that he will be on the roster before September, since the team usually drops a pitcher for the postseason and Johnson could be an important bench player. "Can't miss" players burning up AAA usually don't miss. We may see him sooner than expected...if Tino ever needs a few days to nurse a boo-boo, or goes on the DL, Johnson may be the better alternative than Sojo or Bellinger.
I love Tino, I really do, and I want him to at least stay on another season (maybe just because I don't want to let go) but Tino isn't that old. He is probably not going to re-sign just for one year to bring up a new first baseman. I think he might be gone after this season. Then again, you really never know...
I think our future is incredibly exciting. Jeter, Johnson, Soriano (who I believe will be awesome with some patience and time) Henson (probably not next year, though), and Jimenez (where ever he's needed...could he move to the outfield?), plus pitchers like El Duquecito...it's looking good! ;)
I'm glad to hear that Jim, as a fan of the team, we need to look into the future and be prepared.
On the other side, I can relate to wanting to hang on to your favorite player, I can admit that I will be absolutely devasted if this is Paulie's last year. I can't even let myself think about it :( You'll probably be sitting next to me at Spring Training next year, Jim, and have to listen to me cry about it, so be prepared ;)
However, as a fan of the team we need to be prepared to take those steps towards the future, but I certainly cannot place blame on anyone wanting to keep this team intact, exactly the way it is now. It's not all about business to the fans, it's also about emotions.
Man, do I really sound like a chick or what? :D
Kim :)
Originally posted by Kim*21
I'm glad to hear that Jim, as a fan of the team, we need to look into the future and be prepared.
On the other side, I can relate to wanting to hang on to your favorite player, I can admit that I will be absolutely devasted if this is Paulie's last year. I can't even let myself think about it :( You'll probably be sitting next to me at Spring Training next year, Jim, and have to listen to me cry about it, so be prepared ;)
However, as a fan of the team we need to be prepared to take those steps towards the future, but I certainly cannot place blame on anyone wanting to keep this team intact, exactly the way it is now. It's not all about business to the fans, it's also about emotions.
Man, do I really sound like a chick or what? :D
Kim :)
I agree with ya!!!!! I can't imagine no Paulie next year. I makes me sick to my stomach.
Bluesexy's daddy
05-06-01, 04:28 PM
Thanks for the eye witness report Jim. It's so hard to tell anything about a AAA player by raw stats because we don't know what the coaches have been asking a player to do. Like in ST players in the minors are at times working on a particular aspect of hitting rather than taking their best swing to get a hit. There is nothing like watching a youngster up close for a couple of days and seeing him actualy swing the bat and react on the field.
It might be possible for Tino and NJ to be on the team at the same time. They could take turns playing first and DHing alternately. Ofcourse a lot will depend on how Justice as well as Tino and Johnson play this year.
In the mean time it's great seeing Soriano convert some of his potential to reality. YANKEE stadium is not the easiest place in the world to learn to play second base(or any new position) but he is handeling it well. It is starting to look like the legions of scouts were right. Most of the same scouts that rated Soriano so highly also have rated Johnson very highly.
Every time a home grown YANKEE succeeeds redsox management must feel a twinge of pain...or maybe outright agony.
For all the "small market" whining that goes on the YANKEES success has come from within the last five years.
1TonHumanHamsterWheel
05-06-01, 08:46 PM
Thanks for the update. Looks like he's the real deal and can play 1B/DH in Sept. I'm looking forward to seeing him play in Columbus this summer.
Slippery Elm
05-06-01, 08:53 PM
Well, that's it for Tino. Move him outta here! :D
P.S. Johnson better live up to the hype whenever he does show up.
yankeesrule2000
05-06-01, 10:18 PM
bring nick johnson up next year and sign tino to a one year contract as a backup first baseman..
A backup 1st baseman!!! Why not offer him a minor league contract to thank him for all he's done for the Yankees.
It's just my opinion,I think Tino has a few good years of playing time left in him and playing backup 1st base isn't how he will spend them.
KENMonteSS86
05-07-01, 08:01 AM
Originally posted by KLJ
my only question is where are the certain forumers (they know who they are, i'm not aloud to mention them by name) who like to question the "baseball knowledge" of anyone who has something good to say about an "unproven" player? since they ripped into everyone else for not having "baseball savvy", i'd hate to think jim would be given a free ride.. lol
OK, KLJ, here I am (don't think I know how you're talking about, hmmm??? :lol:
Hell, I never said NJ definitely wouldn't be the real deal, (I seriously questioned whether he's ready to be the real deal in the Majors RIGHT NOW), and if he's half the player in the majors that everybody (now including Jim) thinks he'll be, then the Yanks will be set for years at first base once he's major-league ready and Tino moves on.
Free, ride eh?? OK, just for that--NJ might've hit a whale of a dinger, but who'd he hit it off of?? Another "can't miss" major league pitcher prospect, or some journeyman in the minors who may never make it to the bigs??? After all, "can't miss" prospects BETTER be able to hit moon shots off of chump change--it's a little different going up against the likes of Pedro, Wells, Hudson, Colon, Radke, etc., etc., etc.... :P
But seriously, I HAVE said in my previous posts that NJ BETTER be brought up in September, especially if he continues to have a good season in AAA, get some REAL experience hitting ML-level pitching as pennant races heat up in the majors, get some day-in, day-out mentoring from Tino at first base, and allow the Yankee senior brass to get some sort of idea where he stands in terms of major-league readiness, so that hopefully, the Yanks will have some sort of idea of what they want to do in the offseason...
I believe that Nick Johnson could probably hit major league pitching now, today. I base this on his hight OBP. Sure, the pitching is different in AAA and the bigs, but the strike zone isn't that different. This kid knows the zone and gets on base. His OPS of over 1.000 is hard to post at any leve. I can't wait to see him.
Having said that, there is no place for him to play on the Yankees right now. Tino has really turned back into being a hitter and his glove is without match at first base. In addition, time in AAA does all players good, especially players who have never played there before and who have been hurt for a year.
Nick Johnson does give the Yankees some comfort. If Tino or Justice were to get hurt, I would not be surprised to see NJ come up as a temporary fix. Of course, could you imagine the problems that would create if NJ came up and was actually good, right off the bat.
With NJ doing so well, guess we can call him up during the stretch run and trade Tino to the Red Sox... :lol: Kidding folks, watch those stones! :smokin:
YankFan36
05-07-01, 12:48 PM
Glad to hear an eyewitness report about what the stats and scouts tell us-- this guy's got real talent.
It sounds to me like-- knock on wood-- he's on track to have a great Triple-A year, come up in September and get some experience in the majors, and then, if all goes well, I'd really really love to see him at first base in 2002. While I love our veterans, I just get this special thrill seeing young guys come up and prove themselves. It's nice having the fresh blood of Soriano around, and Nick Johnson, a highly talented but unproven rookie, would just be so darn exciting next year. :) Don't get me wrong, I'd cry buckets about losing Tino, but the baseball lover in me is so psyched about this kid...
--Britt
(YF "yes, he's always on-base!! :) " 36)
bagger015
05-07-01, 03:45 PM
Johnson is the real deal. He just has to prove that he is healthy and can stay that way.
skullee2
05-07-01, 06:25 PM
I was talking to a scout from the Dodgers at a game recently and we were discussing Nick Johnson. While I told him I never saw him play in person, he assured me that he was the "real deal". He said the guy was "Unbelievable" and that he will be ready to take Tino's spot next year. I asked him about his defense, he just reiterated that he'll be ready next year! From what everyone says this guy is really good... now just if he could get rid of the black cloud that follows him around! The future looks good.... but for right now I think Tino's doing a hell of a job!
I saw him play in spring training.
Average to poor game for him that day.
But I didn't run around in circles screaming get rid of the bum!
He can't catch, can't hit etc.
He was sloppy at 1st base and went 0-2. He did have an RBI, however.
The next time I saw him play he was 2-3 with 2 RBI, but again his fielding was suspect. I guess that's because for years I've been watching stellar defense at 1st base for the Yankees. Donnie, Tino etc. I didn't run around screaming, can Tino, this guy is for real, likewise.
I'm all for, and was in favor of bringing him up.
I just didn't have to bash Tino to justify it. And point out how horrible Tino has been playing the past 3 years.???? If some posters felt that it was needed so be it.
My point of contention or concern is at the present time, how could it be done?
Who gets sent down?
Nick's only chance it seems, is an unexpected circumstance to arise.
I also wondered about letting him DH since Justice is struggling.
Every idea seems to hit a brick wall with Yankee management.
Contrary to some beliefs, criticizing Tino isn't going to work either!
I keep hearing people knock his defense. When he was first signed, defense was one of his best points. Scouts say he could win a Gold Glove. If anything, he'll be a better defender than Tino, because Nick throws left, and having the glove on your right hand is a huge defensive plus for a First Basemen.
Well Mr. Roy,
I have to admit you were right. Looks like Johnson is hurt again. Hmmmm.
#1Coneyfan
05-09-01, 04:36 PM
I found this article on a Yankees' e-mail list:
Nick Johnson
By John Sickels
Special to ESPN.com
One of the most common questions I receive is, "When will Nick Johnson be ready to take his place among the all-time greats at Yankee Stadium?"
That's an exaggeration, of course ... no one is ready to put Johnson in the Hall of Fame. But between excited Yankee fans and intrigued fantasy owners, there is a lot of interest in Johnson. Let's take a look at his prospects
for the future.
Nick Johnson
New York Yankees
Position: 1B Height: 6-3 Weight: 225 Born: 9/19/78
Bats: Left Throws: Left
Year Team Level G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB K SB CS BA OBP SLG
1999 Norwich AA 132 420 114 145 33 5 14 87 123 88 8 6 .345 .525 .548
2000 Injured
2001 Columbus AAA 29 91 20 25 4 0 6 13 24 29 1 1 .275 .446 .516
The best plan of battle never survives contact with the enemy.
Nick Johnson was supposed to supplant Tino Martinez in 2001. Following his awesome '99 campaign in Double-A, Johnson gave the Yankees enough confidence to project that he would be ready for a major-league job by '01,
assuming a solid '00 campaign at Columbus. His strike zone judgment was terrific; his power was developing, and his defense at first base drew raves.
Last year was solid all right ... solidly on the disabled list. Johnson missed the entire season with a mysterious wrist injury. The wrist was painful and sore all year; doctors couldn't diagnose it. Rest didn't help, and it finally took several weeks in a cast to completely immobilize the joint and let it heal. By that time the season was lost.
The question this spring was if Johnson had lost any of his extraordinary timing or plate discipline. The answer is: no, absolutely not. Johnson hit .333 for the Yankees in spring training, and is doing just fine at Columbus, showing his usual awesome strike zone judgment.
Wrist injuries often sap power from young hitters, but so far that hasn't been a problem either. Johnson is on pace for 20+ homers, which would be a career high. I expect his batting average will get closer to .300 than .270
as the season progresses, and of course his on-base percentage will be excellent.
Projecting his ability to the majors, Johnson looks like a .300 hitter to me, with a ton of walks, enough to lead the league in on-base percentage in some years. I don't see him as the 40-homer sort, but he is strong enough
to belt 30+ in his best seasons. Even if he hangs around in the 18-25 range, his on-base skills will make him an integral part of any major league lineup. Take Mark Grace in his prime and add more power, if you want
a good comp of what Johnson can do.
Although he is not a fast runner, Johnson is a quick athlete with good reactions around the bag. Some scouts call him a future Gold Glove winner, despite the fact that he made 20 miscues in '99. He's made just one so far
this year in 29 games. Johnson is alert and a leader on the field, which also endears him to managers, coaches, and scouts.
So, what's the timetable now? Assuming that there are no more health setbacks and that he doesn't start taking plate discipline lessons from Alfonso Soriano, Johnson should be in line for a major-league job next year. He's probably ready now, but with Tino Martinez hitting well so far, there is no need to rush Johnson just yet.
For all the flak the Yankees take for signing expensive veterans, the fact is that much of their success is built on home-grown products of the farm system. Johnson should be ready to take his place besides Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada and Bernie Williams in that category very soon.
-----------------------------
John Sickels is the author of the 2001 STATS Minor League Scouting Notebook. He lives in Lawrence, Kansas, with his wife, son, and two cats. You can send John questions or comments at JASickels@aol.com, or you can visit his homepage at hometown.aol.com/jasickels/page1.html.
Of course, I read Johnson was hurt in Newsday. I went to the Clippers official site to check out the report. If Johnson is hurt, he did it recently, like less than 24 hours ago. He played the entire game last night and Monday night. There was no news about him being hurt in any articles in the Columbus Dispatch over the last seven days.
Does anyone have any information on this???
Elfdood
05-10-01, 10:30 PM
Nick didn't play on the 9th, but he was back in the lineup tonight. He went 1-3 with a double, a sac fly and three RBI. I guess it was just a small problem - I never heard anything about it outside of this thread.
I have confirmed that he is not injured. He was just given a night off.
I agree with Yankee Mike!
I am glad you got to see a future star Jim!
:)
PinstripePride
06-03-01, 09:24 AM
Jim, you mentioned Lackwanna county stadium....and that Johnson tanked a HR there...I went to Lackwanna this year to watch the Clippers play and Johnson hit a HR, off the rocks.....could we have been at the same game?????
I was there May 5th.....let me know when you were there!
-Pinstripe
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