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2017 Atlanta Braves Season Preview: Closer Jim Johnson

By Josh Brown

Aug 7, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Jim Johnson (53) pitches to a St. Louis Cardinals batter during the ninth inning at Busch Stadium. The Braves won 6-3. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 7, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Jim Johnson (53) pitches to a St. Louis Cardinals batter during the ninth inning at Busch Stadium. The Braves won 6-3. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jim Johnson might not be the top closer in MLB, but at 33-years-old he’s still incredibly effective and he had a lower ERA than some guy named Craig Kimbrel last year.

Here’s how good Jim Johnson is. Jim Johnson had a lower WHIP than the guy with the most saves last year – Jeurys Familia. Johnson didn’t have an insane amount of saves in 2016, but let’s be honest, nobody would have for the 2016 Atlanta Braves.

The 33-year-old started his 2016 campaign on a rocky road, to say the least. In April/March, he posted a 5.73 ERA, and his ERA for May (when he only pitched 2 innings) was a whopping 16.88. Once he worked some kinks out of his system, he was dominant for the remainder of the summer.

In his final 48 games in 2016 he posted a 1.65 ERA with 51 strikeouts and 12 walks in 49 innings. This proved to the Braves’ coaching staff and front office that Jim not only still has his stuff, but he’s still really good.

With the Braves’ improved lineup, there’s every indication to believe that Jim Johnson will get more save opportunities in 2017. It’ll be interesting to see how Brian Snitker uses said save opportunities. If the Braves are in contention, and Johnson is pitching well, does Snitker continue to use him? Or does he give other guys save opportunities?

What to expect from Jim in 2017

The Braves will enter their 2017 campaign with Jim Johnson as their closer, and Arodys Vizcaino as the setup man. (And because it’s 2017 and pitch-count has reached a new level of national obsession, Vizzy will also have a setup man, and that setup man will also have a setup man, and even that setup man could also have his very own setup man.) Based on his final 48 games in 2016, Johnson should perform well and be as an effective closer as anyone else in 2016.

“What about Mauricio Cabrera? Isn’t he closer material?” Mauricio Cabrera is certainly special. Anybody who throws that hard is special. But a guy’s velocity is only as strong as his ability to strike someone out. Look for the Braves to flirt with giving him some closing opportunities here and there, but if he can’t figure out how to strike guys out, his future will be bleak.

Next: Predicting the Braves 2017 Opening Day bullpen situation

While Jim Johnson is still very effective, he could be just a place-holder until A.J. Minter reaches the big leagues. Minter’s a 23-year-old southpaw from Tyler, Texas who hurls 99 mph with a nasty slider. Such southpaws are extremely hard to come by. Look for the Braves to give Mo a shot and then move on, because Minter is the real deal.

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