Yeah, um, KJ shouldn't get overlooked

Friday, DOB penned an article on Kelly Johnson.

K.J. ready for more: With the moves made this offseason — Tom Glavine’s return, Yunel Escobar replacing Edgar Renteria at short, Mark Kotsay replacing Andruw Jones in center — and contract discussions regarding Mark Teixeira and Jeff Francoeur, it’s been easy to overlook 2B Kelly Johnson.

Can you really overlook 6.7 WARP or 15 win shares from second base?

But I’ve got a feeling that’s going to change soon. As many of you already understand, this is another Texan (nod to Hoss) who can flat-out hit. And until his late-season difficulties with backhanded plays, Johnson played steady defense at second base in his first season at the position after moving from the outfield.

I've been told that making backhanded plays is the toughest thing to learn how to do well. So KJ's struggles are easy to expect. You simply can't just go to a position and have everything go ok.

Do most folks realize how good his offensive numbers were? Think about it — K.J. missed the 2006 season for elbow surgery and had little more than a half-season of big league experience before batting .276 with 26 doubles, 10 triples, 16 homers, 68 RBIs (while hitting mostly 1st, 7th, 8th or 9th) and a .375 OBP.

As a leadoff man, he had 29 extra-base hits (six triples, nine homers), 40 RBIs and a .372 OBP in 306, which ranked among the leadoff OBP leaders in the NL.

And why in the world was he batting 7th or 8th in the second half season? Can we be slightly critical of Bobby on that one, DOB? Let's face it. Kelly Johnson was the second or third best hitter the Braves had last year for the full season.

In the 2008 Bill James Handbook, the statistical guru projects Johnson to rack up offensive totals in 2008 that compare favorably to Yankees star Derek Jeter.

James projects Johnson will hit .282 with 30 doubles, eight triples, 19 homers, 76 RBIs, a .384 OBP, .473 slugging and .857 OPS.

James projects Jeter will hit .312 with 35 doubles, two triples, 15 homers, 76 RBIs, .385 OBP, .443 slugging and .828 OPS.

Kelly Johnson is going to start a fragrance, isn't he? "KJ. The scent. The feeling. The overlookiness."

Some fans (and others) assumed after Johnson was dropped from the leadoff spot last summer, and after he was moved from full-time to platoon duties with Escobar, the Braves must not be too high on the converted outfielder. Not so.

Actions speak louder than words, DOB. According to Bobby Cox and the Atlanta Braves last year, Kelly Johnson was not a significant part of the team in the second half. It is fair to say that the Yunel Escobar's emergence, Johnson was just shit out of luck. But he was too good and with too high of a ceiling to sit on the bench.

Now, we have the Bowman propaganda machine going out there and saying that KJ is likely going to bat 8th next season. The Braves have a good offense.

They just need to use it properly.