Dan Johnson

[beatlehead84]

Anybody else have any worries about Dan Johnson losing time? With Bradley, Kotsay, Swisher, Payton and Kielty in the OF and Swisher able to play first, will Dan Johnson see a little bench time? Obviously Swisher can play DH but I just wonder if anybody is lowering his value because of this.

[Ballwreckers]

I was wondering the same thing, but I think he will be starting. I would like to know where he would bat though? 5th?6th?

[Havok1517]

It does seem like Oak has some expendable players that they could combo to improve their team. They seem to have a lot of similar players and a logjam of starting pitching. I'm waiting for Beane to make a move. Personally, I really like Saarloos.

[RynMan]

They aren't viewing the excess players as a logjam, but depth. They know Kotsay, Bradley, Thomas, and now even Chavez are potential injury risks. What are the chances all of these guys are healthy for 600 ABs? I say 5%. That means Payton, Swisher and Johnson would see additional time.

I don't see Johnson as a bench player either, he can rake. I have also heard rumblings about a platoon, which wouldn't make sense considering he hit lefties as well as righties.

My sig is my attempt at a generic lineup (without considering lefty righty combinations too much). I say he bats 5 or 6.

[George_Foreman]

I don't see Kielty being a problem as much as Peyton, who's probably going to get occasional starts in LF and RF. Johnson shoudl split time between 1B and DH when Thomas sits/is injured, and I'd be surprised if he gets fewer than 130-140 ABs.

[Old_Style]

i don't know if thomas will play that much 1B this season, he should get the nod at DH most of the time with swisher and johnson playing first

[George_Foreman]

I'm pretty confident that the As are going to want Frank Thomas DHing as much as they can get him there.

edit: Oh, I see what I did. I meant above that Johnson will split time at 1B with Swisher and DH with Thomas. I'd give Johnson 100 starts at 1B, 30-40 at DH, Swisher 60 starts at 1B, 80 starts in RF, and Payton the remaining starts in RF as well as some in LF.

Or something like that.

[Ballwreckers]

I am just catching wind of Chavez kinda achey..what if he needs to get some DH time that might take some time away from John..or do you think they could throw him at 3rd?

[George_Foreman]

Johnson will not play 3B.

[RynMan]

I am just catching wind of Chavez kinda achey..what if he needs to get some DH time that might take some time away from John..or do you think they could throw him at 3rd?

If Chavez DH's, Thomas will sit.

I don't think Thomas will be on the field at all this year.