Rob Johnson News

My friend once told me a story about San Francisco Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum. He said his cousin went out to a bar in San Francisco and saw Lincecum there.

A Major League-best 24-game improvement last season provided a good start for the Mariners' new regime, but taking the next step could be just as challenging.

Made a call to Mariners catcher Rob Johnson this afternoon to see if he's still feeling great after surgery Oct.

Since Kenji decided to head back to Japan, one of the things that Jack said to the media afterwards has gained a decent amount of attention, is that this creates a hole where they're probably going to have to bring in a veteran catcher this winter.

Kenji Johjima's return home didn't cost him too dearly as the former Seattle Mariners catcher agreed to a reported four-year, $21 million deal with the Hanshin Tigers in Japan's Central League on Tuesday.

Former Seattle Mariners catcher Kenji Johjima has agreed to join the Hanshin Tigers of Japan's Central League.

The 2009 season is almost behind us and the Mariners have gone their separate ways for the winter after bringing winning back to the organization.

The Cardinals were hugely relieved when Albert Pujols needed surgery only to remove bone chips and debris from his right elbow, not Tommy John surgery to repair a torn ligament.

BASEBALL Johjima opts out of contract Catcher Kenji Johjima opted out of the final two seasons and $15.8 million of his contract with the Seattle Mariners, allowing him to sign with a Japanese team.

I put in a call to Rob Johnson on Monday to get his reaction on the Kenji Johjima news, seeing as how he's now the senior catcher in the organization with his one year and 57 days of service time.

Japanese catcher Kenji Johjima has opted out of the final two years of his contract with the Seattle Mariners with the intent of continuing his playing career in Japan.

The A's will bring back their coaching staff in the same positions for the 2010 season, the team announced Tuesday.

Rob Johnson needs surgery ...er, surgeries.... Mariners catcher Rob Johnson faces an arduous offseason of medical procedures, starting Friday with surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left hip.

Rob Johnson #32 of the Seattle Mariners bats against the New York Yankees on July 1, 2009 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City.

Mariners catcher Rob Johnson, who was right-hander Felix Hernandez's personal catcher for most of the season, will have surgery on Friday to repair a torn labrum in his right hip, the first of several surgeries he faces in the next several weeks.

Editor's note: Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik answered questions from readers Wednesday in an exclusive, hourlong online chat, the first of The Seattle Times' weekly series with local sports newsmakers.

On closing day of 2008, the Mariners couldn't bolt the clubhouse fast enough, and fans couldn't wait to see them go.

Zach Greinke likely gets the memento, but Felix Hernandez got the moment. A day after Greinke, the Kansas City ace and Cy Young Award favorite, finished his season by working six difficult innings for a Royals team forced to serve as a doormat for the hard-charging Twins in Minnesota, Hernandez occupied a prominent place in the sun at Safeco Field.

Ichiro won't win the batting title this season or score 100 runs, but he's added another of those shake-your-head marks to his considerable resume.

Given the mum-ness going around the Mariners concerning the future of Ken Griffey Jr., we don't know if this will be the last week of his career or simply his season.