Jason Johnson looks like a pitcher. Tall, lanky, powerful.

His name sounds like a pitcher. Great alliteration. Masculine. Authoritative. (antithesis: Buddy Groom.)

Unfortunately, that’s where the resemblance ends.

Johnson gave O’s brass and fans a sniff in the fall of 1999, when he threw four excellent starts late in the year. Lat year's Yearbook, however, pointed out that this was more likely a fluke than a harbinger of things to come.

Sometimes, we hate being right.

Johnson had a wild ride in 2000. First, he reported to camp with a bad attitude and a few extra pounds. After being tattooed in one bad spring outing after another, Johnson was always heard to say that he knew EXACTLY what he was doing, and he was going to be fine.

Unfortunately for him, he never recalled that Mike Hargrove had never seen those promising starts, and soon, Jason was being sent out to Rochester. He lashed out in the press, saying he had been "working towards the season", and had no idea he was in danger of being sent out. Surprise !!!

But, after two excellent outings in Rochester, and the meltdown of the starting rotation, Johnson was back. And, two excellent starts followed. Perhaps that September had been for real, and Johnson DID know of what he was speaking.

Or…not.

May…4 starts, 0-3 record, 5.09 ERA, 23 innings, 5 HR.

June…5 starts, 0-3 record, 8.22 ERA, 30 innings, 6 HR.

July…1 start, 0-2 record, 14.14 ERA, 7 innings, 5 HR.

Johnson was shipped out again, and AGAIN he excelled at Rochester. So when he was recalled this time, it was decided to make a relief pitcher out of him.

It didn’t work, either.

August….6 appearances, 6.75 ERA

September…4 appearances, 9.00 ERA

Jason Johnson is no longer a young pitcher. He is a very marginal big-leaguer who has yet to show any reason he should be kept on a ML squad. He doesn’t throw an assortment of pitches, he doesn’t throw that hard, he doesn’t strike out a lot of batters, he has no command of the strike zone, and gives up a lot of hard-hit balls (.488 slugging percentage against).

What did he do well? His first 15 pitches were very effective. (.329 OBP, .368 slugging). After that, he’s toast.

Johnson should be working hard this offseason to develop another pitch or two, and to work his way into the mindset of a reliever. It’s probably his only chance to do anything with the O’s or any other club in the future.

TO SUCCESSFULLY CONTRIBUTE TO THE 2001 ORIOLES, JOHNSON MUST:

Learn another pitch, perhaps a split-finger.

Get humble and listen to instruction.

Prepare his arm for relief work.

NOTES: Jason’s 7.20 starter’s ERA places him at the bottom of AL starters with 8 or more opportunities…gave up 21 HR in only 107.2 innings…had two starts against the Red Sox, pitching to a 2.35 ERA…lefties slugged .508 against him.