A's Remove Jim Johnson from Closer Role - East Idaho News
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A’s Remove Jim Johnson from Closer Role

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7 31 12%20MLB%20Logo?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1397226376449Sarah Glenn/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — The Oakland Athletics rarely make big splashes in the offseason, but their most recent one is proving to be a mistake so far as Jim Johnson has been demoted from his role as the team’s closer.

The Athletics acquired Johnson from the Baltimore Orioles and thought they were getting one of the best closers in all of Major League Baseball. That is why they decided to pay him $10 million this season, which is a high number for a closer.

Instead, Johnson has been as close to a disaster early on as you can get. He’s pitched three and one-third innings this season, and has allowed seven runs. Hitters are batting .529 off of him, and he has been responsible for two of the Athletics’ three losses this season.

It’s still early, but Johnson is 0-2 with a 18.90 ERA this season.

The previous two seasons with the Orioles, Johnson saved 101 total games and had an ERA under 3 each season.

The team is expected to use a closer-by-committee going forward this season.

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