Micah Johnson should be White Sox second baseman

[NorthSideSox72]

I'm now fully in on Micah as the 2B. Got into a discussion with James Fegan (from The Catabird Seat blog), as he feels Micah isn't there yet.

 

So here's a sort of response to his piece, where I make the case for Micah as the Opening Day 2B.

 

Agree? Disagree? Not sure yet? Grammatical errors?

 

[Dick Allen]

I'm now fully in on Micah as the 2B. Got into a discussion with James Fegan (from The Catabird Seat blog), as he feels Micah isn't there yet.

 

So here's a sort of response to his piece, where I make the case for Micah as the Opening Day 2B.

 

Agree? Disagree? Not sure yet? Grammatical errors?

At this point, I agree with you. There is still a couple of weeks to go, but you have to figure it's his job to lose. It seemed he was the guy the Sox wanted there from day 1, and he hasn't done anything to say he doesn't deserve it.

 

The question is, if he is your Opening Day 2B, how long a rope you give him when he struggles during the regular season? That is probably determined by when those struggles occur.

[LDF]

At this point, I agree with you. There is still a couple of weeks to go, but you have to figure it's his job to lose. It seemed he was the guy the Sox wanted there from day 1, and he hasn't done anything to say he doesn't deserve it.

 

The question is, if he is your Opening Day 2B, how long a rope you give him when he struggles during the regular season? That is probably determined by when those struggles occur.

 

yeah when he will hit the proverbial wall. i want him to succeed, but will it be better to allow him to grow for 1 more yr in the minors??

 

i think the real idea was to allow Sanchez play 2b, with Gordo as his backup, and let MJ spend 1 more season in the minors. i guess, his progress threw a monkey wrench into that idea.

 

i just hope he can over come when he will hit the 0 fer part, the part that all players goes through and it will not deter him or his confidence.

 

edit ... i could not read the article which i will when i am at work. my security is too tight to allow popups.

Edited March 18, 2015 by LDF

[shysocks]

I'm now fully in on Micah as the 2B. Got into a discussion with James Fegan (from The Catabird Seat blog), as he feels Micah isn't there yet.

 

So here's a sort of response to his piece, where I make the case for Micah as the Opening Day 2B.

 

Agree? Disagree? Not sure yet? Grammatical errors?

I would still rather have the certainty of Sanchez' defense, but Micah has the job. I'll be thrilled if I've been wrong about this.

[bmags]

I'm rooting for Micah and will be happy, but considering the resources we've put into betting on ground ball pitchers, I would not mind Sanchez at all.

[NorthSideSox72]

I would still rather have the certainty of Sanchez' defense, but Micah has the job. I'll be thrilled if I've been wrong about this.

I think you can make a good case for Sanchez, almost as good as Micah in my opinion. Heck I think you can make a case for any of the five really, which is what makes it so interesting and hard to decipher.

 

[Eminor3rd]

I would still rather have the certainty of Sanchez' defense, but Micah has the job. I'll be thrilled if I've been wrong about this.

 

Same. I don't see much downside, though, to letting Micah run with it out of the gate and just optioning him to AAA if he isn't able to hack it. It can be Sanchez time then.

[NorthSideSox72]

I would still rather have the certainty of Sanchez' defense, but Micah has the job. I'll be thrilled if I've been wrong about this.

 

 

I'm rooting for Micah and will be happy, but considering the resources we've put into betting on ground ball pitchers, I would not mind Sanchez at all.

 

See, here is where I was able to make up my mind. I have concerns about the defense too, but his range as I've seen over the years (and we're seeing more in ST now) is such that he can easily make up for an extra 10 or 12 errors and go beyond that in the course of a season. And that's without considering he could improve with the glove. What I've seen so far is focus - he's not making the mental mistakes, in an admitedly small sample size. If that holds true even most of the time, I think he ends up a better defender than Sanchez - and that makes it case closed in my view.

 

Just my opinion though, as this is a lot of projection and I could very easily end up wrong.

 

[southsider2k5]

Great work NSS... compelling piece for sure.

[shysocks]

See, here is where I was able to make up my mind. I have concerns about the defense too, but his range as I've seen over the years (and we're seeing more in ST now) is such that he can easily make up for an extra 10 or 12 errors and go beyond that in the course of a season. And that's without considering he could improve with the glove. What I've seen so far is focus - he's not making the mental mistakes, in an admitedly small sample size. If that holds true even most of the time, I think he ends up a better defender than Sanchez - and that makes it case closed in my view.

 

Just my opinion though, as this is a lot of projection and I could very easily end up wrong.

Do you think he ends up a better defender right now though? I'm only able to rely on what you and others say from scouting his defense and if his glove is indeed major league ready then he deserves it.

 

30 AB's in March also don't change my mind about his need to show something at the plate in Charlotte. But it's helping.

[LDF]

Do you think he ends up a better defender right now though? I'm only able to rely on what you and others say from scouting his defense and if his glove is indeed major league ready then he deserves it.

 

30 AB's in March also don't change my mind about his need to show something at the plate in Charlotte. But it's helping.

 

the best scenario is he keep producing the rest of spring training, going north and continue to produce.

[Whisox05]

Do you think he ends up a better defender right now though? I'm only able to rely on what you and others say from scouting his defense and if his glove is indeed major league ready then he deserves it.

 

30 AB's in March also don't change my mind about his need to show something at the plate in Charlotte. But it's helping.

 

Again micah was hitting pretty well through July in Charlotte. He got up over a .300 average. We started to decline in august but that was due to the hamstring issue that he was eventually shutdown half way through august.

 

 

[NorthSideSox72]

Do you think he ends up a better defender right now though? I'm only able to rely on what you and others say from scouting his defense and if his glove is indeed major league ready then he deserves it.

 

30 AB's in March also don't change my mind about his need to show something at the plate in Charlotte. But it's helping.

 

Right now, hard to say, but I think he'd be on par overall (just better at some things, worse at others).

 

This 30 PA in Arizona are really only a small part of the evaluation for me, and the stats are not even a major part of that, as I detailed in the article.

 

Again micah was hitting pretty well through July in Charlotte. He got up over a .300 average. We started to decline in august but that was due to the hamstring issue that he was eventually shutdown half way through august.

 

That too. Though he still really only has a short time in AAA, which is a concern.

 

[shysocks]

Again micah was hitting pretty well through July in Charlotte. He got up over a .300 average. We started to decline in august but that was due to the hamstring issue that he was eventually shutdown half way through august.

I appreciate that the injuries were unfortunate for him, but an unhealthy season is absolutely justification for having him test AAA again. A prospect isn't ready until he proves he is. And even his "while healthy" numbers were not indicative of a guy ready to break the doors down.

 

Now the Sox seem to think that everything he's done beyond the numbers shows he is ready, and I can respect that belief too. They've got more information than me.

[Dick Allen]

Right now, hard to say, but I think he'd be on par overall (just better at some things, worse at others).

 

This 30 PA in Arizona are really only a small part of the evaluation for me, and the stats are not even a major part of that, as I detailed in the article.

 

 

 

That too. Though he still really only has a short time in AAA, which is a concern.

There are more than a few players that didn't spend much time in AAA. If he were 21, that may be a concern, but being a little older and a little more mature, I don't think that is much of a factor. The only time Frank Thomas or Robin Ventura spent in AAA were rehab assignments.

Edited March 18, 2015 by Dick Allen

[CaliSoxFanViaSWside]

Right now, hard to say, but I think he'd be on par overall (just better at some things, worse at others).

 

This 30 PA in Arizona are really only a small part of the evaluation for me, and the stats are not even a major part of that, as I detailed in the article.

 

 

 

That too. Though he still really only has a short time in AAA, which is a concern.

I think the time is now for Micah without extra seasoning in the minors. As you said he's got options to burn and he brings the most to the table of any of his competitors. Certainly a case can be made for Sanchez but he is almost 2 years younger and Micah seems very mature and ready for the challenge that lies ahead. It wouldn't hurt Sanchez to spend another year in the minors . Micah's speed will only play for so long as that mid twenty something age turns to 30 quickly . If his speed is going to play I'd rather it be sooner than later.

 

BTW it's caveat emptor not umptor .

[Señor Ding-Dong]

I haven't had time to read the article yet and I'm probably repeating what others have already said, but oh well.

 

I had my money on Sanchez to win the opening day 2B job given his limited ML experience and his solid defense combined with Micah's lack of time in the upper minors and his questionable glove.

 

While it's possible Sanchez may still come out on top, it definitely looks like it's Micah's job to lose at this point. I'm fine with that and am firmly on the Micah bandwagon now. Not that I ever doubted him, just that I thought Sanchez was the better short-term option (and who knows, that may still be the case). However, Micah's just made too much of an impact with his bat to ignore and his defense hasn't been as bad as I thought it was going to be. His speed cannot be ignored either.

 

Still, I am worried about his defense playing 2B everyday and I'd be more comfortable with Sanchez, Bonifacio, Saladino, etc. manning that spot. Also, I do think Micah could use some more time in AAA, so hopefully him starting in the majors won't hinder his long-term development.

 

So while I still harbor some concerns, I'm all for going with Micah. He seems like he'd make the biggest impact despite some concerns.

 

However, if it's clear early on that he's not ready and needs more time, I hope we look to Sanchez and/or Saladino first so as to leave Bonifacio and Beckham in their bench spots.

Edited March 18, 2015 by Señor Ding-Dong

[Señor Ding-Dong]

i just hope he can over come when he will hit the 0 fer part, the part that all players goes through and it will not deter him or his confidence.

I actually think this may be understated.

 

I read something recently that, if I recall correctly, implied Micah is too hard on himself when he makes a mistake. It may have just been posts on this board of observations of his body language during games. Anyway, from what I recall, he gets angry when he makes a mistake instead of forgetting about it and moving on.

 

I think this may have contributed to Matt Davidson's struggles last year, too. Under performing or making a mistake, focusing on it rather than forgetting about it, and then pressing too hard to make up for it rather than playing your natural game.

 

If that is true about Micah, I'm sure it's just due to his youth, inexperience, and wanting to be perfect as he guns for the starting job. He'll probably grow out of this as he matures, but it's possible that it could affect him early on.

Edited March 18, 2015 by Señor Ding-Dong

[NorthSideSox72]

BTW it's caveat emptor not umptor .

D'OH! Speaking of trying to get too cute, haha. Fixed it, thanks.

 

[LDF]

i just got the chance to read it, a great article.

 

going into spring training, i just naturally assume, that CS will be the 2b. but this spring and how MJ responded, it does not make it a bad choice. more of a pleasant choice to make either CS or MJ..

 

many thanks

[SCCWS]

i just got the chance to read it, a great article.

 

going into spring training, i just naturally assume, that CS will be the 2b. but this spring and how MJ responded, it does not make it a bad choice. more of a pleasant choice to make either CS or MJ..

 

many thanks

 

STOP THE PRESSES. After Beckham's performance today, he gets 2B and Micah to AAA......................................

 

[LDF]

STOP THE PRESSES. After Beckham's performance today, he gets 2B and Micah to AAA......................................

[SoxAce]

I was team Sanchez, but there is no doubt Micah is the more exciting of the options. He is fun to watch.

[ILMOU]

Nicely done, North. Argument well made.

 

I'm cautiously optimistic that his bat to ball skills are a little better than some of his detractors have estimated, but time will tell.

[Jake]

I think you shortchange Sanchez a bit.

 

I would not put him in with Bonifacio and Beckham as you do, calling them "known commodities." This works both for and against Sanchez. If Sanchez is anything like the (younger-than-Johnson) guy he was last year in AAA, which seems to be ruled out as an impossibility by most, he'd be an excellent choice at 2B and would never get pushed off the spot except to (possibly) move to SS. There's intriguing upside with Sanchez and, more importantly, a fair amount of mystery.

 

More nit-picky, I think Johnson having "far more speed" than Sanchez is probably a stretch. Maybe not literally so much as the extent to which it makes for a meaningful difference between these two players.

 

I'm also inclined to believe that Sanchez is such a far superior defender to Johnson that this aspect is not being adequately considered, but I'll admit to seeing very little of Johnson's D.

 

More generally, I'm concerned about Johnson's poor production in AAA and his general up-and-down production that is typically only "up" when his age compares favorably with his competition. I also think that a bad run in MLB is not harmless, but rather that a stretch of really poor play in MLB can really hurt a player's development and confidence. Likewise, even if the bad play doesn't do it, the demotion can do it. Sanchez has nothing to prove in MiLB so I don't see a great reason to protect him from MLB failure at this juncture.