Derek Johnson leaving to go to Reds

[SRB]

I suspect he wanted a major pay increase because of the team's success, and David Stearns being an intelligent GM said no.

[Boomer5]

I suspect he wanted a major pay increase because of the team's success, and David Stearns being an intelligent GM said no.

 

How does that make him intelligent? Seems keeping assets is important especially at such a low relative cost.

[SRB]

I suspect he wanted a major pay increase because of the team's success, and David Stearns being an intelligent GM said no.

 

How does that make him intelligent? Seems keeping assets is important especially at such a low relative cost.

 

Because coaches are dramatically more interchangeable than players and don't deserve massive pay checks.

[MrTPlush]

I think it was more than money. Not only was Cincy 10x more attractive to him as a person, but I know he didn’t like the way we used pitchers. Chase Anderson summed it up pretty nicely. The pitching coach likes starters lasting and they often stick up for their rotation arms. I’m not saying it was a huge problem and DJ was miserable/angry, but I don’t think he enjoyed how we employed them. No different than any of us don’t you want a job where you enjoy it more and it fits with your beliefs more?

 

It seems like Cincy trumped us on everything in DJs mind and barring way more money he was a goner. Who knows how many years he got too.

[dlk9s]

DJ gives some reason for moving on to the Reds.

 

 

Was that a little "shot" at the end?

 

The Reds made him feel wanted...

 

Did the Brewers not do the same?

 

Oh god, we don't need to parse every syllable of every sentence everyone says.

[brewmann04]

well its a moot point no disputing he did a great job with the pitching staff.Now he an enemy and its up to DS to find a quality coach to lead this possible young rotation.

[danzig6767]

Because coaches are dramatically more interchangeable than players and don't deserve massive pay checks.

No chance he got a massive pay day, only players get that. Even most managers make less per year than the majority of players outside of their pre-arbitration years, much less bench coaches who make less than managers.

 

Whatever larger amount Johnson was offered by the Red vs the Brewers offer, that would be pocket change in the grand scheme of the Brewers budget next year and going forward. If/when the numbers come out showing what he got from the Reds, compared to the Brewers offer, i'll be surprised if the difference is more than a million per.

[adambr2]

DJ gives some reason for moving on to the Reds.

 

 

Was that a little "shot" at the end?

 

The Reds made him feel wanted...

 

Did the Brewers not do the same?

 

Oh god, we don't need to parse every syllable of every sentence everyone says.

 

If that was all he said, I would tend to wonder if there was more to it.

 

In the context of everything he said though, especially about loving Milwaukee and Counsell and how much he's going to miss it, I agree there's nothing to it.

 

Guy saw a good opportunity and took it. No different than any of us who have ever left a job for a similar one in a different location for various reasons.

[RollieTime]

DJ gives some reason for moving on to the Reds.

 

 

Interesting he only mentioned liking Craig.

 

I think he specifically mentioned Counsell because of the chatter that maybe they didn’t get along and that was why he was leaving. He was probably trying to put that to rest.

[Pugger]

The bottom line is probably that DJ got paid a good deal more by Cincy, so he bolted. Good for him.

 

This is probably what happened. Has there been any news of the size of the contract yet?

[Pugger]

Seems odd the Brewers wouldn't match. I don't think these guys make all that much in the grand scheme of things. Why not just give him the extra dough? Makes me think the Brewers approach to pitching doesn't jibe with some of the old school guys. Maybe they feel like their opinion isn't valued anymore.

 

Without knowing what was offered by the Reds and Brewers its hard to say.

[502 to Right]

"They made me feel wanted." Translation: they offered me a lot more money.

 

I have no problem with this. If the Brewers thought he was worth the money they would have paid it. They know a lot more about his value relative to the replacement who will come in.

 

This could be a big mistake for Johnson in the end. He'll probably be fired with the rest of Bell's staff in two years. In Milwaukee he would have had job security. But if it's a challenge he wanted . . . he got it.

[reillymcshane]

I heard several things about Johnson that may have influenced his departure:

 

- Suspected Ed Sedar of cheating at Euchre one time back in July.

- Felt it was easier to spell 'Cincinnati' than 'Milwaukee'.

- Didn't feel that the 'good job' comment CC gave him this past summer was heartfelt.

- One of the coaches borrowed his soap and didn't give it back.

- Brats were too tempting.

- Closed roof at Miller Park gave him claustrophobia.

- Wife said he looks better in red than blue.

- Resented being mocked by bat boys for not realizing the Ball and Glove logo contained an 'm' and a 'b'.

- Ohio River really pretty in summer.

- Angry he was only given a 9 out of 10 on his 2019 job review.

- Promised by the Reds they'd pick up Oliver Drake on waivers sometime in the next year.

- Summerfest not as good as he had been led to believe.

- Butt-look given to him by Stearns while in contract negotiations.

[SRB]

Because coaches are dramatically more interchangeable than players and don't deserve massive pay checks.

No chance he got a massive pay day, only players get that. Even most managers make less per year than the majority of players outside of their pre-arbitration years, much less bench coaches who make less than managers.

 

Whatever larger amount Johnson was offered by the Red vs the Brewers offer, that would be pocket change in the grand scheme of the Brewers budget next year and going forward. If/when the numbers come out showing what he got from the Reds, compared to the Brewers offer, i'll be surprised if the difference is more than a million per.

 

Easy for us to talk about potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars as "pocket change" as fans who only consider the player payroll, but not for a GM running a major organization like Stearns.

[homer]

Wouldnt surprise me if there were a few quotes between now and end of spring training that shed more light on these departures.

[Brewermania101]

Unless it was a sticking point in Johnson’s original contract why would you put a negotiating window in someone’s contract to began with? Seems to me like you asking for another organization to poach your coaching staff if they do a good job for a lateral move.

[jw5511986]

Reds just got Turner Ward from the Dodgers, another organization that must be in complete turmoil.

[brewmann04]

Dodgers are a mess because they spend the max and still fail to bring home a ws

[homer]

Reds just got Turner Ward from the Dodgers, another organization that must be in complete turmoil.

 

The Reds are apparently going to coach their way back to mediocrity.

[Point Beer Is Best]

Some pitching stats thus far. It's still April, but it's hard to not come to the conclusion that losing Derek Johnson was a huge blow to the team.

 

Current ERA rankings, NL:

 

CIN (3rd): 3.22

MIL (15th): 5.37

 

HR allowed, NL:

 

CIN (1st): 17

MIL (15th): 43

 

OPS against, NL:

 

CIN (2nd): .668

MIL (13th): .791

[pacopete4]

I am not happy at all with our current pitching or pitching coach. I do think we need to have more data though. If those numbers are around the same in another month, it will start to be very telling (and annoying).

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Some pitching stats thus far. It's still April, but it's hard to not come to the conclusion that losing Derek Johnson was a huge blow to the team.

 

Current ERA rankings, NL:

 

CIN (3rd): 3.22

MIL (15th): 5.37

 

HR allowed, NL:

 

CIN (1st): 17

MIL (15th): 43

 

OPS against, NL:

 

CIN (2nd): .668

MIL (13th): .791

 

I was feeling pretty good ... but these numbers are discouraging. I was a big proponent of the idea that moving from Johnson to Hook wouldn't be much of a difference, but so far appearances are quite the opposite. Of course, maybe the Brewers just managed to catch lightning in a bottle last year, and things are evening out now. And thankfully its still early.

[Roderick]

Some pitching stats thus far. It's still April, but it's hard to not come to the conclusion that losing Derek Johnson was a huge blow to the team.

 

Current ERA rankings, NL:

 

CIN (3rd): 3.22

MIL (15th): 5.37

 

HR allowed, NL:

 

CIN (1st): 17

MIL (15th): 43

 

OPS against, NL:

 

CIN (2nd): .668

MIL (13th): .791

 

I was feeling pretty good ... but these numbers are discouraging. I was a big proponent of the idea that moving from Johnson to Hook wouldn't be much of a difference, but so far appearances are quite the opposite. Of course, maybe the Brewers just managed to catch lightning in a bottle last year, and things are evening out now. And thankfully its still early.

 

Maybe if it was just the Brewers sucking, but the Reds also catching lightning in a bottle this year? I'm starting to think it is more than coincidence.

[Brew crew 92]

Some pitching stats thus far. It's still April, but it's hard to not come to the conclusion that losing Derek Johnson was a huge blow to the team.

 

Current ERA rankings, NL:

 

CIN (3rd): 3.22

MIL (15th): 5.37

 

HR allowed, NL:

 

CIN (1st): 17

MIL (15th): 43

 

OPS against, NL:

 

CIN (2nd): .668

MIL (13th): .791

 

I was feeling pretty good ... but these numbers are discouraging. I was a big proponent of the idea that moving from Johnson to Hook wouldn't be much of a difference, but so far appearances are quite the opposite. Of course, maybe the Brewers just managed to catch lightning in a bottle last year, and things are evening out now. And thankfully its still early.

 

Maybe if it was just the Brewers sucking, but the Reds also catching lightning in a bottle this year? I'm starting to think it is more than coincidence.

 

I’ll take the contrarian view here. Coaches are overrated. To give this much credit to Derrick Johnson is ridiculous in my opinion. Last year’s success with pitching staff had as much or more to do with our analytics department and front office brain power in game planning than pitching coach. The numbers will start to even out moving forward. I have faith and trust in David Stearns and his ability to hire the right man for the job.

[Fear The Chorizo]

Gotta be careful jumping to conclusions so early, especially when the Brewers have basically played two of the perceived best NL offenses in LAD and STL, plus the cubs, for all but 6 of their games to date. All those games have been played in good weather as well. There's too much familiarity playing all these games on top of each other.

 

That being said, it will be interesting to see if brewer pitching can adjust and improve. If it cant, then I think criticism of the pitching coach can start being warranted.