Reed Johnson Thrown Out of Blue Jays' Nest

Reed Johnson...released.

I read that and I immediately wanted to go back to bed and forget it ever happened. I've been shattered by games before, but in reading that press release, in writing this article, in not seeing his name on the Blue Jays roster anymore.

I feel cold.

I mean, the move just doesn't make sense to me. As much as I loved Shannon Stewart, I was completely prepared for him to not make the team because frankly, I thought Johnson would earn that spot.

Turns out I was wrong.

Apparently Toronto's prodigal son has returned after a four-year hiatus, and evidently Reed Johnson was only keeping his seat warm and the left field grass trimmed.

But maybe this move isn't as terrible as it makes me feel. Maybe the only reason there are so man Jays fans that are angry this Easter Morning is because we became enraptured by Johnson's hustle, his grit, his perseverance, his dog Shooter, and his will to do whatever was necessary (lay down a bunt, take a pitch in the elbow) to get on base and create chances for the Jays.

I already feel like I'm off to a terrible start, but let's try this anyways.

Now for a minute, let's forget that Stewart and Johnson would have probably been gone this off-season in favor of Adam Lind. And we'll also overlook the fact that Johnson is hitting .289 in spring training compared to Stewarts' .226, because if you consider that over everything else, then this move really doesn't make sense.

That said, the easiest place to start with is injuries. Now everyone is making a huge deal about Johnson coming off of back surgery last season and how it hindered him the remained of last season and would prevent him from being the same player this season, but since 2005 Johnson has missed 77 games due to injury—76 of them were in correspondence with his back injury.

Shannon Stewart meanwhile, has missed 100 games with a variety of foot injuries (culminating in a 73 game stint on the DL in 2006) and 7 games due to a shoulder injury since 2005. Now although there isn't a lot of difference in age (Stewart is 34 and Johnson is 31), the injury history—especially with Stewart's feet—seems to be a little unnerving, even if he only missed four games last year with foot troubles.

Offensively, it's fair to say that Stewart has "been around the block before". He's had six seasons with a batting average over .300, stolen over 20 bases (including 51 in '98) four times (although he hasn't done that since 2001), and has even posted some impressive averages while battling through those various injuries.

Johnson meanwhile has only had one season with an average above .300 (.319 in 2006), while he's never stolen more than 8 bases in a season (That might be slightly influenced by John Gibbons managing style, but eight stolen bases is eight stolen bases).

What he does do though, is work to create chances offensively: Whether it be through his bunting ability or his willingness to get hit by a pitch to get on base.

But here's the main reason that Jays fans would prefer Johnson over Stewart: his defense.

With Stewart we've been there, we know what kind of arm he has. I'd like to borrow a quote from an online forum in saying "he couldn't throw out a runner if he was sitting across the dinner table from him". Seriously, that guy wasn't kidding.

Johnson provided the Jays with one of the best throwing outfields in the league. Not only did he stop runners from taking that extra-base from time to time, but the threat of his arm alone (as well as the usage of that arm) probably prevented countless runs.

Throw into the equation that Johnson finds ways to get to balls that most outfielders wouldn't get to, while the arm-strength of Stewart is something fairly easy to exploit and I'll be spitting mad seeing number 4 in left field now instead of number 3.

What the right choice in this situation is however, depends on your point of view. Me? I don't know how I feel, and more importantly—I don't know if the Jays would be better off with Stewart or Johnson. My heart says Johnson, but the track record says Stewart (just because of his offensive history and that he's proven he can come back from injury).

Actually, screw what my head says—none of this makes me feel better about Shannon Stewart. I want Reed Johnson back.

Before I say my final goodbyes though, I've got a few things to say:

To JP Ricciardi, I don't think there's a man more disliked in Toronto than you right now. I think we'd all like Harold Ballard back actually.

If you really want you can stay in Boston after our first road trip there because that's what you really want isn't it?

To Shannon Stewart, you're still one of my favorite Blue Jays, and it's not your fault Reed's gone. You're just doing your job.

But just give us some time to get all the hurt out, because we got cut deep on this one and you'll likely be the whipping boy for a little while at least.

Again, it's not your fault, it's just circumstance.

To Reed Johnson, I hope you catch on somewhere soon. Kind of.

Part of me wants to see you succeed in the National League where some of your skills might be put to better use, while part of me wants to see you end up in Baltimore, Tampa, Boston, or New York just so you can show JP what he gave up on.

But then there's a third part that hopes that you don't sign anywhere, that left field falls apart here in Jays land, and that you triumphantly return midway through the season and carry this team to the playoffs.

Whatever you do though, make us proud Reed because in my heart, you'll forever be a Blue Jay.

Just don't forget about us ok?