Josh Johnson News: Pro Sports Daily

Florida Marlins' Josh Johnson benefits from day of bed rest

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September 29

Miami Herald

"Marlins right-hander Josh Johnson was upset Sunday when manager Fredi Gonzalez refused to allow him to start against the Mets because of the pitcher's flu-like symptoms. But it didn't take long for Johnson to realize it was a smart decision. ``The only thing that upset me [Sunday] was I couldn't pitch for my team and battle for them,'' Johnson said. ``I wanted to go. I was a little upset when I first heard it. But after I tried to get up and walk around, I figured it was a good choice.'' After spending Sunday in bed, Johnson was feeling much better Monday and was penciled in to start Tuesday against the Braves. ``I feel a lot better,'' he said. ``My throat and chest are still not quite ..."

J. Johnson too sick to make start

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September 28

Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

"Josh Johnson joined first baseman Nick Johnson in quarantine Sunday. Like Nick Johnson, Josh developed flu-like symptoms that worsened to the point where the Marlins Get your Marlins Tickets now! scratched him from his scheduled start against the Mets. The Marlins sent home Johnson, who did not travel on team's charter flight to Atlanta on Sunday afternoon. Both Johnsons will head up separate from the team. "A little bit [Saturday], but he came in running a pretty good fever," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "You know him. You ask him and 'I'm good, I'm good.' We gave him an hour and he wasn't looking good." The Marlins alerted Chris Volstad to be on standby and told him he would start about ..."

Flu concerns KO Johnson

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September 27

Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

"Turns out there's a mitigating factor in Marlins Get your Marlins Tickets now! first baseman Nick Johnson's current 0-for-21 skid. Johnson is battling flu-like symptoms and his condition deteriorated to the point where he was sent home Saturday for precautionary reasons. Johnson started the series opener and went 0 for 3 with a walk and a run, but he did not take batting practice Friday or Saturday. The Marlins would only say he is under the care of the team physician. They would not confirm whether swine flu has been ruled out. Johnson is not believed to have undergone tests yet to determine whether he has contracted the highly contagious respiratory disease. Part of the reason he was ..."

Johnson inches closer

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September 23

Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

"Marlins Get your Marlins Tickets now! ace Josh Johnson may not have accomplished his immediate goal Tuesday in taking a 9-3 loss to the Phillies in the first game of a doubleheader, but he inched closer to one of his long-term objectives: to throw 200 innings. Johnson allowed seven hits and four runs in five innings, but has reached a career-high 199 1/3 innings pitched, just 25 months after undergoing Tommy John elbow surgery. "It is, but if I don't get there, I'm not worried," said Johnson (15-5), who still has at least two more starts to become the first Marlins pitcher to win 16 games since Dontrelle Willis won 22 in 2005. "We'll get there eventually. That was one of my goals coming ..."

Marlins' Josh Johnson's arm spurs a cautious approach

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September 13

Miami Herald

"Josh Johnson wasn't happy about being pulled from a 2-2 game Friday night after five innings and 89 pitches. But handling the 25-year-old Marlins ace with kid gloves for the rest of the season is going to be a reality, according to manager Fredi Gonzalez. Because Johnson is hitting career highs in innings pitched (188 1/3) and starts (29) a year after coming off Tommy John surgery, Gonzalez said the Marlins will venture cautiously with Johnson for the remainder of the season -- whether that includes the postseason or not. Johnson said Friday his arm and body ``feel great'' and that he wanted to pitch deeper into the game despite what Gonzalez counted as four ``stressful innings.'' ``It's a ..."

Florida Marlins' Josh Johnson sees a masterful start turns sour in loss to Atlanta Braves

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September 1

Palm Beach Post

"How many of the Marlins' seasons at this time of year suffer the same roller-coaster scenario: First heartening, then heartbreaking. Take Marlins ace Josh Johnson. Two weeks ago, he had a no-hitter going into the seventh inning. Monday night, he was repeating that dominance against the Atlanta Braves through 52/3 innings as he protected a one-run lead. Then, an inning later, Johnson gave up a two-run triple and a run-scoring single to watch a gem of a performance turn black as coal in a 5-2 Marlins loss. "You can make one mistake the whole day and give up three runs ... that's baseball," Johnson said. And just like that, more heartbreak for Florida. They came in to Monday night's game tied ..."

Three individual seasons to savor for Florida Marlins

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August 31

Miami Herald

columnist Greg Cote

"Some things defy logic or easy explanation. Quick example: The continuing career of Carrot Top. This, too: How can the Marlins be on the far periphery of playoff contention with three record-setting players simultaneously tearing through the season like they owned it? Never in their 17-year existence have the Marlins had a hitter, a pitcher and a rookie as hot at the same time as Hanley Ramirez, Josh Johnson and Chris Coghlan -- tres fantastico! -- are right now. And yet slumping Florida desperately needed the salvage of Sunday's 6-4 home victory over San Diego just to avoid being swept by the lowly Padres and to keep postseason hopes breathing, however faintly. The late Joe Robbie used ..."

Josh Johnson's gem moves Florida Marlins within 2 games of Colorado Rockies in NL wild-card race

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August 15

Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

"The best indication of how well things were going for Josh Johnson on Friday came between innings in the Marlins Get your Marlins Tickets now!' dugout. "There was nobody coming within 15 feet of me," Johnson said. Johnson (12-2) was one strike away from taking a no-hitter into the eighth before Garrett Atkins spoiled the show with a solo homer. Johnson and the Marlins settled for a 6-5 win at Land Shark Stadium that brought them within two games of the National League wild-card leading Rockies. The Atkins homer was the lone hit Johnson allowed during an overpowering 7 1/3-inning, 114-pitch performance in which Johnson struck out a career-high 11. The Marlins staved off a ninth-inning ..."

Johnson strikes out 11 as Marlins edge out Rockies

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August 15

Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

"The best indication of how well things were going for Josh Johnson Friday came between innings in the Marlins Get your Marlins Tickets now! dugout. "There was nobody coming within 15 feet of me," Johnson said. Johnson (12-2) was one strike away from taking a no-hitter into the eighth before Garrett Atkins spoiled the show with a solo homer. Johnson and the Marlins settled for a 6-5 win that brought them within two games of the National League wild card leading Rockies. The Atkins homer was the lone hit Johnson allowed during an overpowering 7 1/3-inning, 114-pitch performance in which Johnson struck out a career-high 11. The Marlins staved off a ninth-inning Rockies rally that saw Leo ..."

Florida Marlins pitcher Josh Johnson has another special talent

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August 2

Miami Herald

"Nick Johnson and Andy Fox are neighbors and longtime friends and often get together on Sundays during baseball's offseason to watch NFL football. There's just one rule. ``When he walks over to watch football, he sees that big World Series ring that I make sure I put out when he's there,'' said Fox of the finger ornament he won as a player with the 2003 Marlins. ``Now he won't come to the house unless I put it away.'' Johnson was with the New York Yankees when they lost to the Marlins in the '03 Series. Now he's the newest member of the Marlins, joining the club Saturday after being obtained in a trade with the Nationals the day before. Manager Fredi Gonzalez put the first baseman in the ..."

Florida Marlins' Josh Johnson powers, pitches team past Braves

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July 30

Miami Herald

"His strikeout total isn't as high as Tim Lincecum's. His ERA isn't as low as Dan Haren's or Matt Cain's. But based on his consistency and value to the playoff-contending Marlins, All-Star pitcher Josh Johnson continues to make a case to be counted among the National League's Cy Young contenders. Johnson picked up his 10th win of the season Wednesday night, and hit one of the Marlins' three home runs in a 6-3 victory against the Atlanta Braves in front of an announced crowd of 13,518 at Land Shark Stadium. Although Johnson didn't have his best stuff, he extended his streak to 18 starts of allowing three runs or less. Johnson allowed three earned runs and eight hits, struck out one and gave ..."

Johnson hits 3-run homer as Marlins top Braves again

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July 30

Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

"Just like the last time, it was a three-run home run to center field. Just like the last time, it came in the fourth inning and busted open a close game. And just like last time, the shy and reluctant Josh Johnson emerged out of the dugout for a curtain call. The right-hander was his regular steady self on the mound Wednesday, but his clutch two-out hit off counterpart Kenshin Kawakami was the highlight of his night as it propelled the Marlins Get your Marlins Tickets now! to a 6-3 win against the Braves at Land Shark Stadium. "I thought it was gone when I hit it, but I kept running just in case," said Johnson, who allowed three runs on eight hits in six innings. "It's fun. It's fun to be ..."

All-Star advice good change for Florida Marlins' Josh Johnson

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July 26

Miami Herald

"Not one pitch left Josh Johnson's hand at the All-Star Game, but the experience wasn't wasted. Johnson received a bit of advice from a fellow All-Star -- San Francisco Giants pitcher Matt Cain -- that he put to positive use in Friday's victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Johnson, on Cain's urging, threw his changeup like never before. And it worked. ``This could be huge,'' Johnson said following the 6-3 win over the Dodgers. Johnson said he recorded outs by throwing the change to Manny Ramirez, Orlando Hudson, Rafael Furcal and Russell Martin. All told, he said, he threw the pitch at least seven or eight times. Based on Saturday's results, he said it would remain a regular part of his ..."

Florida Marlins keep cautious eye on Josh Johnson as innings pile up

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July 18

Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

"Starter Josh Johnson makes his first start of the second half tonight on pace for 229 innings — just 43 1/3 fewer than he had pitched in the majors before this season. Though Johnson has not completed a full season since 2006, pitching coach Mark Wiley said the Marlins Get your Marlins Tickets now! don't plan to cap his innings. They will monitor him like they do the rest of their young starters for signs of fatigue or any other red flags. "It's something we'll pay attention to because of the kind of arms we have," Wiley said. "Having said that, if we're in the playoff hunt going down to the last month, we probably aren't going to skip anybody. They're going to have to post up. That's all ..."

Florida Marlins' ace Josh Johnson makes All-Star comeback

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July 12

Palm Beach Post

"Marlins pitcher Josh Johnson and his family never have attended an All-Star Game. But growing up in Minneapolis, he remembers one of his brothers wearing a T-shirt from the 1985 All-Star Game in Minnesota. When Johnson goes to his first mid-summer classic Tuesday in St. Louis, he'll bring back at least one T-shirt. It'll be a thank-you gift for the man who's partly responsible for Johnson's all-star rise. One of the first congratulatory phone calls Johnson received last Sunday when he was named to the National League All-Star roster came from Birmingham, Ala. - from Dr. James Andrews, the orthopedic surgeon who performed ligament-replacement surgery on Johnson's right elbow on Aug. 3, ..."

Johnson's All-Star turn eclipses Ramirez's brilliance

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July 6

Palm Beach Post

columnist Greg Stoda

"Josh Johnson and Hanley Ramirez are All-Stars. How many National League teams - compose your own very short list here - have a better pitcher-position player combination than do the Marlins with this starter and this shortstop? And they're both just 25 years old. But it's Johnson who's the most intriguing part of the story and, despite Ramirez's everyday excellence, perhaps the most important part of it, too, as far as the Marlins are concerned. In no manner is that meant to diminish Ramirez's considerable worth (14 home runs, 60 RBI, a league-leading .346 batting average). Nevertheless, what Johnson has accomplished and what he means to Florida is remarkable. Intriguing? Johnson, who is ..."

Marlins' Josh Johnson joins Hanley Ramirez on NL All-Star team

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July 6

Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

"The last time Josh Johnson pitched in an All-Star game was 2005. He struck out the side in his lone inning and got the win as the North beat South in the Double-A Southern League. If not for a three-hit, four-RBI performance from Jeremy Hermida, Johnson probably takes home the MVP trophy. Johnson is back among baseball's best, this time on a much grander stage. For the eighth time in nine years, the Marlins Get your Marlins Tickets now! will have multiple representatives at the All-Star Game. In addition to Hanley Ramirez, who will start at shortstop for the second consecutive season, Johnson will join him on the National League squad. Ramirez becomes the first NL shortstop to start ..."

Josh Johnson will get All-Star votes from all of his Florida Marlins teammates

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June 26

Palm Beach Post

"Marlins pitcher Josh Johnson will get the support of his 24 teammates when players cast their All-Star votes Friday. Florida players hope the rest of the National League supports Johnson, too. "I don't know what he's got to do to get some publicity to make the All-Star team. He's one of the best pitchers in the game, if not the best,'' said second baseman Dan Uggla. "I'm sure he's got everybody's vote around the league. I'm waiting for these guys (the Marlins) to start doing something to get his name out there. He definitely deserves it.'' The Marlins display posters of shortstop Hanley Ramirez around Land Shark Stadium, urging fans to vote for him in the balloting that determines starting ..."

Agent sees big bucks ahead for Johnson

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June 22

Miami Herald

"Don't think the New York Yankees weren't watching Josh Johnson with great interest Saturday. Not the befuddled Yankees hitters, who squeezed out a run during the seven innings Johnson was on the hill -- but the big boys upstairs, the Hank Steinbrenners and Brian Cashmans. They know unless the Marlins lock up Johnson before his arbitration years expire after the 2011 season, he probably won't be around to make the Opening Day start for the Marlins when their new ballpark opens in 2012. He'll be gone, either through free agency or via a trade as the Marlins look to recoup value for him. Think the Marlins would offer Johnson a five-year deal totaling $82.5 million, the one Saturday's loser, ..."

Club eyeing ace's pitches

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June 6

Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

"Josh Johnson entered the weekend on several National League leaderboards: ERA (2.63), innings pitched (82), strikeouts (72), opponents' batting average (.223). One category in which the Marlins Get your Marlins Tickets now! don't want to see him climb any higher is pitches per start. Johnson began the day ninth in the NL at 103.83. Dodgers right-hander Chad Billingsley is leading the league at 110.25, followed by Tim Lincecum (107.55), who the Marlins will face Sunday, and Barry Zito (107.30), who started Friday's series opener. Johnson has topped the 110-pitch mark three times in 12 starts, maxing out at 114 in seven innings against the Rays on May 24. "He doesn't pitch away from contact, ..."

Florida Marlins' Josh Johnson powers key win

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June 5

Miami Herald

"Josh Johnson's arm is a wonderful device. It's his swing that's atrocious. That is why Johnson's pitching gem came as no surprise Thursday, but his home run blast -- his first as a big-leaguer -- left mouths agape. It also made the Marlins winners, considering the three-run shot proved to be the difference in a 4-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. That and another pristine pitching performance by Johnson, who improved to 5-1. Johnson almost made it a one-man show, taking matters into his own hands on a night when his teammates offered little in the way of support. There was Jeremy Hermida missing a sinking fly ball in right, turning what should have been an out into a RBI triple for ..."

Johnson hits three-run homer, works into eighth

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June 5

Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

"The last time the Brewers saw Josh Johnson, he was a shadow of his usual overpowering self. Johnson only lasted four innings, suffering from fatigue attributed to having last pitched at Coors Field, where the altitude makes pitchers work much harder and catches up with them in their next start. On Thursday, Milwaukee got a look at a rested Johnson at sea level at Land Shark Stadium, and the difference was dramatic, as Johnson nearly single-handedly led the Marlins Get your Marlins Tickets now! to a 4-3 win. "A tremendous outing. You couldn't ask for anything more than what he did today," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. Johnson blew his mid-90s fastball by hitters, and then blew the game open ..."

Lineup switch a big hit for Florida Marlins

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May 31

Miami Herald

"Bench coach Carlos Tosca didn't tack the lineup card to the clubhouse bulletin board until a couple of hours before Saturday's scheduled first pitch -- an hour or so later than usual -- as the club waited to see if Hanley Ramirez would be able to start. But the return of Ramirez from a groin injury wasn't the most significant development contained on the blue lineup card. What was could be found right at the top, where Chris Coghlan was written into the leadoff position -- one spot in front of Emilio Bonifacio. Whether the adjusted lineup proves beneficial to the Marlins in the long term remains to be seen. On Saturday, however, it worked to perfection, as the ever-patient Coghlan reached ..."