Daryl Van Schouwen ‏@CST_soxvan 20s

 

Erik Johnson had a second straight strong start for Charlotte today. Will "continue" for at least one more there, RV said.

Seth Lakso ‏@SethLakso 43m

 

Skinner on Johnson: "The goal is just to get him back on track, that’s all. Today was a step in the right direction."

 

Seth Lakso ‏@SethLakso 46m

 

Erik Johnson: “(The White Sox) just want me to get back to me being me and attacking the zone with multiple pitches and working ahead."

…"The big thing for me is taking things start-to-start and thinking about what I need to do to prepare for my next one...

...and what do I need to do to continue that progression and keep getting better."

He's better than he showed in April.

 

Glad he's taking the demotion seriously.

He's better than he showed in April.

 

Glad he's taking the demotion seriously.

Really shows the type of person he is and to me the way he is handling this so professionally is a good sign about his future (from a mental perspective).

He is part of the future of the Sox pitching staff. I think with a good positive attitude like that there is no limit to how good he can be.

His attitude and makeup don't mean a damn thing if he's throwing 89.

His attitude and makeup don't mean a damn thing if he's throwing 89.

 

Hi, I'd like you to meet Mark Buehrle.

Hi, I'd like you to meet Mark Buehrle.

 

 

I don't think anyone would expect a youngster to adapt so quickly to a loss of 3-4 MPH off his fb and make that up with command and control in the span of one off-season.

 

It also requires the ability to change speeds, arm angles and have a devastating change or offspeed pitch in the high 70's.

 

We could have said, I'd like you to meet Dylan Axelrod (or John Danks).

 

 

Of course, Putnam and Carroll hardly throw harder than 90 and have been very successful. Takatsu. But the league usually catches up and makes an adjustment at some point.

Hi, I'd like you to meet Mark Buehrle.

 

Boy, I hope the Sox response to his woes is stronger than this.

Hi, I'd like you to meet Mark Buehrle.

 

Because Mark Buehrle is the norm.

 

I really like Erik Johnson, but the velocity loss is indeed concerning. He was sitting in the high 80's again today.

If he is coming back and going to be passive every start stay at AAA until he gets aggressive again.

Edited May 8, 201411 yr by Soxfest

I would have more confidence in Zach Putnam starting at the major league level pitching in the mid to high 80's with his splitter than Johnson at 87-90.

If he is coming back and going to be passive every start stay at AAA until he gets aggressive again.

 

 

The problem is very few pitchers can be confident or aggressive consistently with less than their best stuff.

 

Right now, Johnson's best pitch is his breaking ball. You can pitch backwards for awhile, but eventually the scouting will catch up to you...unless you can get ahead in the count consistently and keep the hitters guessing with 2 strikes.

I don't think anyone would expect a youngster to adapt so quickly to a loss of 3-4 MPH off his fb and make that up with command and control in the span of one off-season.

 

It also requires the ability to change speeds, arm angles and have a devastating change or offspeed pitch in the high 70's.

 

We could have said, I'd like you to meet Dylan Axelrod (or John Danks).

 

Of course, Putnam and Carroll hardly throw harder than 90 and have been very successful. Takatsu. But the league usually catches up and makes an adjustment at some point.

 

This is true, but doesn't it make a difference how many soft tossers you have on your staff? For example, is it possible that someone like Dylan Axlerod was more effective last season because he had hard throwers around him? After facing a Chris Sale, or a Hector Santiago for example, the hitters timing might be a little off to hit the slower stuff hard.

Was there any reason for the drop off in velocity on his fastball?