Why Nick Johnson’s Health Is Not a Concern
By Mike Silva ~ March 5th, 2010. Filed under: Mike Silva.
So Nick Johnson “tweaked” his back yesterday. An injury to a player who has averaged 96 games a season for his career shouldn’t come as a surprise. There is no reason for concern yet as Johnson claims he could have played if it were the regular season. Tweaking your back on the batting mat does go down with some of the odder injuries in the history of baseball. Have no fear Yankees fans, Johnson is important to the Yankees lineup, but not critical because of the presence of Juan Miranda.
When I mentioned the “Darren Reed Awards” yesterday I should have put Miranda in the equation. For his MILB career he has an OPS of .840, hit .280, and homered 47 times in three seasons. In his two big league “cups of coffee” he is 7 for 19. I advocated the Mets going after Miranda last year when there was some Yankees interest in Billy Wagner.
The Yankees are obviously the wrong situation for the Cuban defector as he is stuck behind Mark Teixeira at first and Johnson at DH. The good news for him is Johnson’s injury history might finally pave the way for the kid to get the playing time he needs. Miranda’s plight reminds me of some of the kids in the Yankees system back in the fifties before free agency. Fortunately for him he will be free to sign elsewhere at the end of the year.
Until then Miranda will have to wait for his chance. That may come sooner rather than later. He is lucky that Nick Johnson is one of the two players in front of him. The Yankees are also lucky they have him as well.
