Could Micah Johnson Fill the Hole in LF?

[Lillian]

With all of the talk of needing to find another outfielder, why not consider Micah Johnson for that role.

He is ranked as our #4 prospect, and would provide tremendous speed to our lineup. Speed seems to be

the new trend of the game. He is arguably ready for the Big Leagues, but is not yet a polished infielder.

Some have speculated about his potential as a center fielder, but that would take considerably more development time to master.

 

Left field would not require a strong arm, which he apparently lacks. The outfield would sport tremendous speed with Johnson, Eaton and A. Garcia. That would leave 2ND to a solid defender; Sanchez.

Semien could effectively platoon with Gillaspie at 3RD.

 

That would free up the money to pay a high priced free agent, left handed hitting DH, and a starting RH pitcher.

The bullpen could be the best place to allocate the rest of the money.

 

What is the likelihood that he could play a respectable LF?

 

Here is my lineup, using Johnson in LF:

 

CF Eaton

2B Sanchez

1B Abreu

DH Martinez (I hope, I hope)

RF A. Garcia

3B Gillaspie/Semien

SS Ramirez

C Flowers

LF M. Johnson

Edited November 7, 2014 by Lillian

[Eminor3rd]

He probably COULD play there, but putting him there comes with a high opportunity cost, because it seems like his bat is probably best suited for the middle infield, and then that prevents us from getting a better bat to stick in LF.

 

Basically, it might end up being the best configuration for us next year, but it shouldn't be the plan right now for the offseason.

[shysocks]

Respectable LF or no, I'm not sure he can be a respectable bat in 2015.

[LDF]

Respectable LF or no, I'm not sure he can be a respectable bat in 2015.

 

didn't he have arm surgery before ??

Edited November 7, 2014 by LDF

[Lillian]

He probably COULD play there, but putting him there comes with a high opportunity cost, because it seems like his bat is probably best suited for the middle infield, and then that prevents us from getting a better bat to stick in LF.

 

Basically, it might end up being the best configuration for us next year, but it shouldn't be the plan right now for the offseason.

 

I thought that Davidson was ultimately better suited to play LF, than 3B, providing of course, that he gets back on track. Then too, there are several promising guys who could eventually fill the outfield.

I'm thinking J. Mitchell, Jacob May and C. Hawkins. It seems that they are really in greater need of finding someone to get them through the next season or two, before those guys are ready. I think May will eventually take over in CF, and Eaton will move to LF, if he's still around. Eaton just seems like the kind of guy who will slow down due to injuries and age, and without speed, he wouldn't be much of an asset.

[NorthSideSox72]

didn't he have arm surgery before ??

 

Twice. He had a nerve thing in his throwing arm. The good news is, the second surgery is a permanent fix, so it shouldn't recur. The bad news is, it may have been caused by bad throwing mechanics.

 

I thought that Davidson was ultimately better suited to play LF, than 3B, providing of course, that he gets back on track. Then too, there are several promising guys who could eventually fill the outfield.

I'm thinking J. Mitchell, Jacob May and C. Hawkins. It seems that they are really in greater need of finding someone to get them through the next season or two, before those guys are ready. I think May will eventually take over in CF, and Eaton will move to LF, if he's still around. Eaton just seems like the kind of guy who will slow down due to injuries and age, and without speed, he wouldn't be much of an asset.

 

Despite Buddy Bell's repeated protestations otherwise, Jared Mitchell has not shown any reason to believe he's a major league outfielder. I hope that changes, but I doubt it. May and Hawkins both have at least a couple years, if they ever get there. You can't build around assumptions of their presence at this point.

 

[Lillian]

Well, it does seem the organization is determined to use Johnson somewhere, on the Major League team.

I just hope that it isn't second base, because he is apparently not very good there. The defense up the middle is just too important to sacrifice, unless the player can provide a major offensive contribution.

One thing Beckham provided, that was often under appreciated, was a great double play combo with Alexei.

I hope they are able to maintain that strength, and Sanchez seems to be the best candidate to provide it.

He seems like he could be a pretty good 2 hole hitter, with good contact skills.

 

In a similar way, with Johnson batting 9TH, Eaton would provide good skills to bat behind a speedy, base stealing threat, like Micah. Leave the slow power guys in the middle of the order.

Edited November 7, 2014 by Lillian

[Lillian]

Twice. He had a nerve thing in his throwing arm. The good news is, the second surgery is a permanent fix, so it shouldn't recur. The bad news is, it may have been caused by bad throwing mechanics.

 

 

 

Despite Buddy Bell's repeated protestations otherwise, Jared Mitchell has not shown any reason to believe he's a major league outfielder. I hope that changes, but I doubt it. May and Hawkins both have at least a couple years, if they ever get there. You can't build around assumptions of their presence at this point.

 

I understand that, but why not worry about who is, or is not, capable of filling holes, when the time arrives.

Right now, there is a hole in LF, or RF if you move Avi to Left. I still think that the question is: Could Johnson

play LF, without creating a defensive liability out there? We're pretty sure that he would be a defensive liability at second. Or, maybe the argument is that Micah is not ready to contribute on offense. I don't get the sense that the organization thinks that, do you?

[NorthSideSox72]

Well, it does seem the organization is determined to use Johnson somewhere, on the Major League team.

I just hope that it isn't second base, because he is apparently not very good there. The defense up the middle is just too important to sacrifice, unless the player can provide a major offensive contribution.

One thing Beckham provided, that was often under appreciated, was a great double play combo with Alexei.

I hope they are able to maintain that strength, and Sanchez seems to be the best candidate to provide it.

He seems like he could be a pretty good 2 hole hitter, with good contact skills.

 

In a similar way, with Johnson batting 9TH, Eaton would provide good skills to bat behind a speedy, base stealing threat, like Micah. Leave the slow power guys in the middle of the order.

I think the position change thing is much harder than people understand. The guy hasn't played OF, basically, ever. You really think you're going to take a guy who has struggled at 2B glove-wise, and who doesn't have a strong arm, put him in LF where he's never played, and he's going to do well out there? At best he'll struggle a lot. At worst he's not playable out there at all. And you're doing this just as he hits the majors? Just seems like a high likelihood for disaster to me.

 

[Lillian]

"NorthSide", you posted the answer to my question, just as I was posting it, precisely at the same moment.

 

What would be the harm in letting him get some playing time, out there, in Spring Training.

I pretty sure that he is not ready to play second base on a contender (as Hahn suggests that he expects the Sox to be).

Edited November 7, 2014 by Lillian

[LDF]

I thought that Davidson was ultimately better suited to play LF, than 3B, providing of course, that he gets back on track. Then too, there are several promising guys who could eventually fill the outfield.

I'm thinking J. Mitchell, Jacob May and C. Hawkins. It seems that they are really in greater need of finding someone to get them through the next season or two, before those guys are ready. I think May will eventually take over in CF, and Eaton will move to LF, if he's still around. Eaton just seems like the kind of guy who will slow down due to injuries and age, and without speed, he wouldn't be much of an asset.

 

I hope you are right about your expectation of May. I don't see him

or his batting to improve. look at his offensive stats in the minors.

[LDF]

Twice. He had a nerve thing in his throwing arm. The good news is, the second surgery is a permanent fix, so

it shouldn't recur. The bad news is, it may have been caused by bad throwing mechanics..

many thanks, but that is the point. why put him into a situation where the

old injury may affect him even more.

 

2nd base is the answer.

 

[Balta1701]

I think the position change thing is much harder than people understand. The guy hasn't played OF, basically, ever. You really think you're going to take a guy who has struggled at 2B glove-wise, and who doesn't have a strong arm, put him in LF where he's never played, and he's going to do well out there? At best he'll struggle a lot. At worst he's not playable out there at all. And you're doing this just as he hits the majors? Just seems like a high likelihood for disaster to me.

At the very least, this isn't a move you'd make to "free up money to sign another free agent in 2015". Micah would basically be jumping almost completely over AAA, you'd have to expect him to struggle offensively in 2015 for that reason alone, and then you throw in him clearly being a defensive liability while he learns a new position. By doing this, we'd be expecting to lose some games due to Micah struggling, so what exactly is the point of signing a free agent at another position if we're throwing away games for Micah to grow in the OF?

[witesoxfan]

"NorthSide", you posted the answer to my question, just as I was posting it, precisely at the same moment.

 

What would be the harm in letting him get some playing time, out there, in Spring Training.

I pretty sure that he is not ready to play second base on a contender (as Hahn suggests that he expects the Sox to be).

 

The harm could be that throwing long distances reaggrivates injuries and his arm could go to s*** rather quickly, which doesn't help anything. If the Sox are happy with his defense at 2B, I think you try and keep him there as long as possible. It's also possible that they are hyping him up and view him as a trade chip too, so who knows exactly.

[2nd_city_saint787]

Semien was the one they tried out there so I'm guessing if any of the MIs get moved to LF it'd be him.

[NorthSideSox72]

Semien was the one they tried out there so I'm guessing if any of the MIs get moved to LF it'd be him.

Exactly. And that was done because Semien has a pretty strong arm, and had already shown the ability to at least handle all three skill infield positions. Johnson hasn't gotten to that level at even one yet. Semien was also moved because his bat is MLB-ready and they want to get him playing time - I'm not sure Johnson's bat is ready anyway.

 

 

[Lillian]

Do you gentlemen think that Johnson could provide solid defense at second?

If not, then the Sox should think of a position change. If LF is too great of a challenge for him, at the Big League level, then perhaps he should spend some time there at AAA.

 

It doesn't seem like a good move to put him at a key defensive position like 2ND, unless he can provide solid defense. That is a greater defensive liability, for the team, than a less than competent left fielder.

 

What exactly is his greatest short coming at second?

How well does he turn the double play?

Edited November 7, 2014 by Lillian

[Whisox05]

I don't know why everyone is down on johnson. I'm pretty sure he is penciled in to be the second basemen from the start of spring training unless something happens. Until he fails at second base I don't think they are moving him. I'm really intrigued to see him play. He would have been up here in September if it wasn't for the injury. He seems to hit at every level and get on base. Plus when he's on base he's a threat to steal. I'm pretty sure his bat it what's getting him up here. You can still teach him defense. I really hope he comes up plays really well to stop the doubt. If it doesn't work out then you have others that can step in. I know hahn from comments in the past has talked him up and they like what they see. I know you want defense but we had that with Gordon and he couldn't hit. So he got moved for someone that will have a chance to actually hit hopefully.

Edited November 7, 2014 by WhiteSoxLifer

[LDF]

Semien was the one they tried out there so I'm guessing if any of the MIs get moved to LF it'd be him.

bingo!!!

[shysocks]

I don't know why everyone is down on johnson. I'm pretty sure he is penciled in to be the second basemen from the start of spring training unless something happens. Until he fails at second base I don't think they are moving him. I'm really intrigued to see him play. He would have been up here in September if it wasn't for the injury. He seems to hit at every level and get on base. Plus when he's on base he's a threat to steal. I'm pretty sure his bat it what's getting him up here. You can still teach him defense. I really hope he comes up plays really well to stop the doubt. If it doesn't work out then you have others that can step in. I know hahn from comments in the past has talked him up and they like what they see. I know you want defense but we had that with Gordon and he couldn't hit. So he got moved for someone that will have a chance to actually hit hopefully.

He has yet to really show much at Charlotte. Not that he's some out of time or anything, but he hasn't done it in AAA yet. I don't think anybody is writing him off, but it would be surprising if he succeeded in the majors right out of the gate in 2015.

[NorthSideSox72]

Do you gentlemen think that Johnson could provide solid defense at second?

If not, then the Sox should think of a position change. If LF is too great of a challenge for him, at the Big League level, then perhaps he should spend some time there at AAA.

 

It doesn't seem like a good move to put him at a key defensive position like 2ND, unless he can provide solid defense. That is a greater defensive liability, for the team, than a less than competent left fielder.

 

What exactly is his greatest short coming at second?

How well does he turn the double play?

His issue at second is mostly about hard hands.

 

I don't follow your logic here. If a 23 year old is struggling defensively, moving him is not the only option. The other one, the obvious one and the one that most often happens, is that you try to improve him there. As it is now he does make some mistakes, but he also gets to more plays than other guys due to his speed, so he's playable there. With him being the athlete he is, there is every reason to believe he'll improve further at the position with more time there. That should be the path.

 

Also, 2B is a position where it is harder to find offense than LF, so there's more value in him playing there long term, all else equal.

 

However iffy he may be at 2B in 2015, he'd be far, far worse in LF - I'd bet on it.

 

[LDF]

Do you gentlemen think that Johnson could provide solid defense at second?

If not, then the Sox should think of a position change. If LF is too great of a challenge for him, at the Big League level, then perhaps he should spend some time there at AAA.

 

It doesn't seem like a good move to put him at a key defensive position like 2ND, unless he can provide solid defense. That is a greater defensive liability, for the team, than a less than competent left fielder.

 

What exactly is his greatest short coming at second?

How well does he turn the double play?

 

Lillian you made a very compelling argument on this, but let me ask this counter

question. can he be worst than Conor is at 3b, stat wise?

 

there come a time when people have to realize, some prospects are not the finish

product when they make it to the majors. they will have some OJT there. he is too good

not to try him in the majors.

[Whisox05]

He has yet to really show much at Charlotte. Not that he's some out of time or anything, but he hasn't done it in AAA yet. I don't think anybody is writing him off, but it would be surprising if he succeeded in the majors right out of the gate in 2015.

 

He had more at bats and games played this year at Charlotte then in Birmingham. He was hitting over 300 but the leg injury slowed him down and his hitting dropped. you look at his play at levels he doesn't do as well when he gets moved up but he does adjust and plays better the next time.

[Lillian]

Thanks for the comments. It appears that perhaps the best course is to let him start the season at AAA, and work on polishing his defense at second.

I don't find the assessment that he has "hard hands", very encouraging. A guy with foot speed, and hard hands, seems better suited for the outfield. However, so be it. Let's see if he can 'soften' his hands, a little.

 

So, back to finding a left fielder. Some suggest Semien. Next?

Edited November 7, 2014 by Lillian

[LDF]

Thanks for the comments. It appears that perhaps the best course is to let him start the season at AAA, and work on polishing his defense at second.

I don't find the assessment that he has "hard hands", very encouraging. A guy with foot speed, and hard hands, seems better suited for the outfield. However, so be it. Let's see if he can 'soften' his hands, a little.

 

So, back to finding a left fielder. Some suggest Semien. Next?

 

hard hands. may not be the right description. I prefer hand of stone.