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While this website has now twice predicted Jim Johnson's demise, Wednesday night's performance, conceding four runs, three earned, to the Houston Astros in the eighth inning, completely took the cake. This is the first time that Jim Johnson has been handed a lead of any kind since June 15, where, given a 7-run lead in the ninth against the New York Yankees, he gave up two runs and could not finish the inning, leaving two on and two out after giving up two hits and two walks, including a home run.
Bob Melvin said after the game he hoped to use Johnson for two innings, or at worst bring in Eric O'Flaherty for the ninth, the other reliever not used in Tuesday's extra-inning loss. Instead, the A's used three relievers they did not want to use in Dan Otero, Luke Gregerson, and Sean Doolittle. That the go-ahead run came to the plate in the eighth inning was completely ridiculous.
The scene of Bob Melvin regretfully coming to the mound to take out Jim Johnson when he just wanted Johnson to eat innings has played out too many times. The people are speaking:
Jim Johnson's career in Oakland really hasn't gone well.
— Athletics Nation (@athleticsnation) July 24, 2014
Carter with an RBI double. #Athletics lead 9-3.
— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) July 24, 2014
More boos for Jim Johnson after he gives up a run.
— Jane Lee (@JaneMLB) July 24, 2014
I hope they went to sleep RT @ThanksBilly: I hope the Marlins are watching. #Athletics
— Alan Torres (@cuppingmaster) July 24, 2014
Dan Otero now up in #Athletics bullpen, and I'm sure Melvin did not want to have to get him up in a game like this.
— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) July 24, 2014
RBI single for Krauss and heavy boos for Johnson. 9-4 #Athletics. Melvin coming to get him.
— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) July 24, 2014
I really do feel bad for the guy but my lord...literally every time he comes in the game...runs score.
— James sanosdzija (@EastBay_Sports) July 24, 2014
I don't know what Melvin can do at this point. If you can't use Johnson in this game, when can you use him?
— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) July 24, 2014
Just release him billy. Please for the love of god.
— Casey H. (@Chowrilka) July 24, 2014
Wondering if that outing was the final straw for Johnson & #Athletics?
— Brodie Brazil (@brodiebrazilCSN) July 24, 2014
I get the $ involved, but with Fernando Rodriguez and Evan Scribner in Triple-A, hard to believe Johnson is still on the team.
— Melissa Lockard (@oakclubhouse) July 24, 2014
Jim Johnson may be soon be informed that he has tactical tendinitis and needs to be shut down for awhile.
— Ray Ratto (@RattoCSN) July 24, 2014
Scratch what I said earlier. F**k Jim Johnson. Let's start a @Kickstarter to buy him out. #Athletics
— carlos (@ProducerLos) July 24, 2014
This is a disgrace. Jim Johnson faced four runners, who eventually all scored. #Athletics
— Christopher (@mebetopher) July 24, 2014
Giving up earned runs is Jim Johnson's super power.
— Athletics Nation (@athleticsnation) July 24, 2014
A's return from next road trip on trade deadline. Not sure they can even deal him, but can't see Johnson still being here on next homestand.
— Jane Lee (@JaneMLB) July 24, 2014
It all started with Jim Johnson. I swear to God if he steps on the mound again this season I just might boycott.
— Ricky R. Marshall (@KingRafique) July 24, 2014
Three good relievers with MLB experience with good numbers at AAA -- Savery, Scribner, Rodriguez. No rational for JJ to have a roster spot.
— Duncan Morrow (@DunxMuro) July 24, 2014
JJ needs a change of scenery so bad, he should be in a Southwest Airlines commercial.
— Vanessa (Van) Demske (@vdemske) July 24, 2014
Gregerson strikes out Gonzalez to a loud ovation from the crowd. 2 outs.
— Brandon McClintock (@BMcClintock_BSN) July 24, 2014
Gregerson gets the final two outs and the A's keep the lead, 9-7. #Athletics
— Brandon McClintock (@BMcClintock_BSN) July 24, 2014
The post-inning people tuning back into the game:
I am going to have nightmares about that inning
— Duncan Morrow (@DunxMuro) July 24, 2014
I turned off the #Athletics game to play @DestinyTheGame Did I miss anyth...oh F%^# Jim F@^&ing Johnson? Really?
— Tyler Bleszinski (@papiblez) July 24, 2014
Johnson's 2.06 WHIP is second worst among all qualifying AL relievers.
— Jane Lee (@JaneMLB) July 24, 2014
This game was a cake walk Jim Johnson says different
— Fake Ray Fosse (@FakeFosse) July 24, 2014
Does Billy still work out during games? Can we check to make sure he didn't crush his foot dropping a barbell last inning?
— Steven Earl Chambers (@stevenEchambers) July 24, 2014
Jim Johnson's Coliseum ERA jumps from 10.29 to 12.86. That's 20 ER in 14 IP. 3.07 WHIP, too. #Athletics
— James Venes (@jamesvenes) July 24, 2014
Sean Doolittle now in to close. You can bet that with a day game tomorrow, Melvin did not want to use him. Or Gregerson. Or Otero.
— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) July 24, 2014
We might lose Tomorrow thanks to Johnson today. Way to go Jim. Way to overwork everyone.
— Steven Earl Chambers (@stevenEchambers) July 24, 2014
Tonight's #Athletics stress makes sense. though: #Astros broke Grant Balfour's save streak on this date in 2013. #CalendarCurse
— Adrian Garro (@adriangarro) July 24, 2014
Post-game:
#Athletics Drumbeat: Quick recap as A's survive another Johnson debacle: http://t.co/TSVvUpnvrO
— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) July 24, 2014
If this one gets Johnson out (and Cespy and Moss avoid the DL), the messy win was worth it.
— Alan Torres (@cuppingmaster) July 24, 2014
Jim Johnson is the definition of a sunk cost. He's sunk. He costs. Time to end this debacle.
— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) July 24, 2014
For the record, rather have Evan Scribner, Fernando Rodriguez and Jeremy McBryde in place of Jim Johnson.
— Chris Kusiolek (@Oak_AllDay) July 24, 2014
Beane doesn't like to react so obviously to one result. But: Yes. RT @SportsNthebay have a feeling it might happen before tomorrow's game
— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) July 24, 2014
Only three relievers in MLB have a worse WAR than Johnson right now: Romo (LOL) and Chris Perez.
— Alan Torres (@cuppingmaster) July 24, 2014
If they can't trade him and get some kind of return, cutting Johnson would basically be addition-by-subtraction. No longer able to hurt team
— Brandon McClintock (@BMcClintock_BSN) July 24, 2014
A's win despite Jim Johnson's best efforts.
— Devin Pangaro (@devinpangaro) July 24, 2014
— Devin Pangaro (@devinpangaro) July 24, 2014
— Alan Torres (@cuppingmaster) July 24, 2014
"Bob, how does the bullpen look for tomorrow?" "Samardzija"
— Jason Burke (@BaseballMiAmor) July 24, 2014
@FakeFosse @cuppingmaster Johnson for half-chewed wad of gum that has a little bit of sweetness left but is still kinda gross
— Duncan Morrow (@DunxMuro) July 24, 2014
Guide to fleeing when A's relievers enter the game: pic.twitter.com/O320mbsSdC
— Ken Arneson (@kenarneson) July 24, 2014
Had to do that joke today, because I might not be able to do it tomorrow.
— Ken Arneson (@kenarneson) July 24, 2014
Melvin on Johnson: "He’s just not getting any outs at this point."
— Aaron Leibowitz (@aaron_leib) July 24, 2014
Hot take
Both the A's and the Miami Marlins are traveling to Texas for road trips starting on Friday. If Jim Johnson is on the team plane to Dallas, it's only to save money for the A's to fly him to Houston to meet up with the Marlins.
