The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Johnson fighting through struggles
Jim Johnson is having one of the worst stretches of his 12-year major league career, a slump so bad that Braves manager Brian Snitker indicated it might be time to shut him down for a bit after Johnson gave up four runs for the second consecutive outing Wednesday and blew an eighth-inning lead in a loss to the Mariners.
But after the team’s day off Thursday, Snitker said before Friday night’s series opener against the Rockies that Johnson would keep pitching and try to work through his struggles. The sinker baller’s sinker isn’t sinking and his 5.69 ERA is the second-highest of his career and climbed steadily in recent weeks.
“Just work through it,” said Snitker, adding that when rosters are expanded Sept. 1, Johnson could get a break if he needs one, since the Braves will have more options in the bullpen.
Snitker said he would have used Jose Ramirez in the eighth inning Wednesday if the manager hadn’t decided beforehand that Ramirez, closer Arodys Vizcaino and left-hander Sam Freeman would get a rest after each pitchedin the first two games of the Mariners series.
Johnson, a former 50-save closer, has been through it all, but rarely has the 34-yearold been this bad for such an extended stretch. He signed a two-year, $10million contract extension on the fifinal day of the 2016 season that included a $1 million bonus and salaries of $4.5 million this season and again in 2018.
In one-run games, Johnson has allowed 25 hits and 13 walks for a .301 average and.388 on-base percentage.
In eight August appearances he has a 16.50 ERA, .433 opponents’ average and 1.171 opponents’ OPS, after posting a 6.48 ERA, .306 opponents’ average and. 854 opponents’ OPS in 10 July appearances.
When Johnson converted seven of eight saves in May, he had a 2.25 ERA ,.143 opponents’ average and .414 opponents’ OPS in 13 appearances for the month. But in 30 appearances since the beginning of June, he has a 7.57 ERA, .302 opponents’ average and.847 opponents’ OPS, allowing 35 hits, 23 runs, four homers and 15 walks in 27⅓ innings.
In 17 appearances dating to July 2, he has an 11.48 ERA and 1.041 opponents’ OPS, allowing 24 hits, 17 runs and 10 walks with 12 strikeouts in 13⅓ innings.
Swan son changes stance: Your eyes do not deceive you. Dans by Swan son said he indeed is standing closer to the plate, the most notice able of otherwise subtle changes the rookie shortstop made during a recent two-week stint in Triple-A Gwinnett.
Hitting coach Kevin Seitzer said last weekend that Swanson’s swing hadn’t changed and that re gained con fifi den ce was the big reason for his improvement since returning Aug. 9 from the minors.
But comparing video of his stance side-by-side before and after his Triple-A stint shows Swanson closer to the plate, which might help explain his marked improvement against sliders, pre- viously his biggest weakness andone that opponents exploited.
“Just works better with what I feel like I want to do,” Swanson said of his position in the batter’s box. “I don’t want to, like, talk aboutwhat I’m trying to do every time I go up there, but it gives me a better sense of confifidence being up there.”
Swanson hit only .213with a .287 OBP and .599 OPS in 324 at-bats over 95 games before he was optioned to Triple-A on July 26, including .119 (7 for 59) with six walks, 22 strikeouts and a .386OPS in his last 21 games before the demotion.
Since returning Aug. 9 — sooner than expected because of infifielder Johan Camargo’s knee injury — Swanson hit .304with a .400 OBP and. 857O PS in 14 games before Friday, with more walks (eight) than strikeouts (seven) in 46 at-bats, and one of the highest linedrive rates in the majors.
Seitzer was correct about Swanson’s swing itself being basically the same now as before; it’s the stance that is noticeably different.
“I don’t feel like I’m, like, hovering over (the plate),” Swanson said. “I just feel that that’s created the best margin for error, which is what hitting is, it’s being able to give yourself a chance, whether you’re late, early, up, down. It just gives you a chance to use the whole field. Everybody does it differently, and that’s just the way I’ve been able to do it.”