Johnson sets table for Sooners

By John Shinn
The Norman Transcript

May 15, 2008 01:31 am

— Jamie Johnson only has 18 RBIs this season, but he might be the most feared hitter in Oklahoma’s lineup. The sight of him walking out of the dugout with a bat in hand makes for some tense moments.
It isn’t Johnson’s .358 batting average or the four home runs he’s hit that strikes fear into pitchers, coaches and catchers.
It’s what he represents.
Johnson is the leadoff hitter in the Sooners’ lineup and the way he’s excelled in that spot makes them a dangerous team heading into this weekend’s Bedlam Series.
“Ever since we’ve moved Jamie up to our leadoff guy, he’s been very good up there and we’ve been scoring a lot of runs,” first baseman Aaron Baker said.
The Sooners have averaged 7.28 runs per game this season and are on pace to average more than seven runs a game for the first time since 1998.
There are lots of reasons for the surge in runs. Designated hitter Mike Gosse, catcher J.T. Wise and Baker have all driven in more than 45 runs. It’s hard to pile up runs without the big bats in the middle of the lineup.
But the table has to be set before they can feast.
Johnson, a sophomore, moved to the top spot in the order four weeks ago and has been a run-scoring machine. Last Saturday’s game against Kansas State was an example.
Johnson went 3-for-4 and reached base four times. Three of those times he scored in what turned into a 10-5 victory for the Sooners.
“He’s got what I would term as ice water in his veins,” OU coach Sunny Golloway said. “There’s been so many times it has come down to his at-bat. He’s had some really clutch at-bats. He doesn’t let the game and the emotions get the best of him.”
OU (31-21-1, 8-15-1 Big 12) expected that from Johnson when they signed him from Texarkana (Texas) Junior College.
Johnson is the prototype for a leadoff hitter. He’s compact (5-foot-8). He’s fast (team-leading 18 stolen bases). He doesn’t chase balls out of the strike zone (team-leading 25 walks).
But it still took about two-thirds of a season for Johnson to settle into the role.
“I was in a little slump and I didn’t deserve to be batting leadoff,” Johnson said. “When I finally got back there I knew I had to prove myself so I could stay there.”
He has. And if there’s an OU player to watch closely in this weekend’s Bedlam Series it is Johnson.
If you want to look for one reason why the Sooners have been swept in the last two Bedlam Series, look no further than scoring runs.
The Sooners scored just two over the three games in 2006 and 16 over the series last season. One of the reasons was a lack of base runners.
“You have to have a guy who can get on and get the game started right,” Johnson said. “It’s gets everybody pumped up.”
John Shinn
366-3536
jshinn@normantranscript.com

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