Reed (HBP) Johnson rocks.
Johnson is the overachieving, left-field platooning outfielder for the Toronto Blue Jays who is probably best known for his penchant for being plunked by pitches, or HBP (Hit by Pitcher), as it says officially in the box scores.
He's currently tied for the league lead in the majors for being Hard Ball Prey. Rick Weeks of the Phillies is co-leader of this dubious category. Weeks, though, has twice as many at-bats as Johnson.
Which means in the statistically-obsessed world of baseball that Johnson is a really setting himself up as a target twice as effectively as Weeks, especially when you consider that there are no wind-aided HBPs at the SkyDome....er....Rogers Centre...er...Ted's Toybox.
What you have to love about Johnson is that he's one of those classic utility guys whose always kept around because of his versatility and always ends up in your line-up because he's just a damn fine player.
If you're sitting on the other side of the field and Johnson comes up, you're undoubtedly saying to yourself: 'Let's not let this little pipsqueak beat us.'
Like a lot of those pesky types, Johnson is good at a lot of things because he's had to learn everything to make himself useful enough so someone will hang on to him.
He runs well. He can steal a base. He hits in spurts. He'll take a walk. Plays all the outfield positions. Can lead off, hit second, bunt and put the bat on the ball for the hit and run. Most importantly of all, he hustles and takes nothing for granted.
While some millionaire outfielder who makes more per at bat than Johnson makes in a year is rounding second base too widely as he ponders how his stock portfolio is doing, old HBP is throwing behind him to make an out.
Last night, Johnson played one of his best games. He had four hits and scored three runs. He's been a run-scoring machine this year with 21 in 54 at-bats. By contrast Troy Glaus leads the Jays with 30 in 120 at-bats and Vernon Wells has 23 in 135.
Of course, when it came time for somebody to make a game-changing play here came Johnson, who has short legs that make him look like the Tasmanian devil when he really gets churning, diving head-first to catch a Texas Leaguer down the left-field line. He even let the ball bounce around a couple of times in his glove for dramatic effect.
Johnson's the kind of guy that some people (like our sports editor) insist is a fringe type, not the type you get to the World Series with. Couldn't disagree more. Reed's the kind of guy who, when you get there (this would be a good year) could be MVP. Then all kinds of folks will be asking themselves: Where'd this guy come from?
Everybody has faults, of course, and Johnson sports his on the end of his chin. It's a little, wispy goatee thingy that can't rightfully be termed facial hair.
My theory is that Reed is trying to distract pitchers so he can work more walks. Either that, or he's going to stick his chin out one day, get his goatee parted and earn another free pass.