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Originally Posted by JDOldSchool
I think the 15 months between them is enough when the two are rather close offensively. Johnson's minor league numbers were better because he was there a year longer. He was 25 years old hitting in AAA. Swisher has actually shown more development, which is why I think he has a higher ceiling (and needs to get the ABs). I don't think Johnson will do much more than what he did last year, which certainly was good. I want them both to get at bats over Jay Payton, but if I'm picking between the two I want Swisher to get the work.
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If we don't have one of Durazo, Hatte, or Karros in '04, I'm guessing Johnson gets a shot and probably sticks with the A's then. Instead, Johson is stuck in a numbers game while Swisher is rushed through the system because we had one of the worst outfields in baseball. So, that extra year in the minor leagues is certainly not because he wasn't ready, it was just because there was nowhere to play him.
How has Swisher shown more develpment? Last season he struckout twice for every walk. That seems to be more like regression. Johnson continued his minor league trend of striking out as often as he walked.