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Brad Johnson

Brad Johnson

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For more than 25 years, pitching guru Brad "Bogfella" Johnson has provided insightful evaluation and analysis of pitchers to a wide variety of fantasy baseball websites, webcasts and radio broadcasts. He joined RotoWire in 2011 with his popular Bogfella's Notebook.

Fantasy sports articles written by Brad Johnson

Mound Musings: The Changing Landscape

Teams are increasingly using the draft to find players who are nearly major-league ready. Such is the case with the Astros' first-overall selection of Mark Appel, who could be in Houston later this year.

Mound Musings: Kids on the Rise

Arguably the Astros' best pitching prospect, Jarred Cosart is waiting patiently for his callup to the big-league club.

Mound Musings: More Arms Arriving

Michael Wacha turned in a sterling major-league debut, but long term, what should we expect from him and other prospect pitchers set to be called up?

Mound Musings: New Arms Arriving Daily

Jake Odorizzi finally got an opportunity with the Rays, and other prospect pitchers are about to get theirs as teams reach into the minors for callups.

Mound Musings: Making the Crystal Ball Less Cloudy

High ceiling, low ceiling or no ceiling. When it comes to pitchers, which is easier to spot? And What does that mean for a pitcher like Derek Holland?

Mound Musings: The Days of Whine and Closers

Addison Reed has been one of the reliable closers in a season that has seen seemingly more volatility than most years.

Mound Musings: Location, Location, Location

What do restaurants and pitchers have in common? Location, location, location. Matt Cain's recent struggles can be blamed on inconsistent location.

Mound Musings: Chicks Dig Strikeouts

Few things in baseball compare to the K, especially these days with so many pitch-to-contact hurlers. Stephen Strasburg might be aiming for too much of the latter.

Mound Musings: In the Zone

Does Cliff Lee throw too many strikes? Brad Johnson takes a closer look at the importance of pitch location, and setting up opposing hitters.

Mound Musings: Avoid Time Bombs

Josh Collmenter's over-the-top delivery initially fooled hitters. When hitters adjusted, Collmenter imploded. Here's how to avoid those ticking time bombs.

Mound Musings: Pitching Insanity

Cleveland "ace" Justin Masterson still lacks an effective pitch to get out lefties, so why should you expect different results?

Mound Musings: The Dream Staff

Stephen Strasburg is any easy pick, but who else makes the Dream Team of pitching?

Mound Musings: NL West Spotlight

After a nightmare year last season, Tim Lincecum should come at a healthy discount this season.

Mound Musings: AL West Spotlight

Like many southpaws at this stage of their careers, Derek Holland is still finding, or at least looking for, consistency.

Mound Musings: NL Central Spotlight

Adam Wainwright is high on the list for potential draft-day value this season as he is now healthy.

Mound Musings: AL Central Spotlight

It would be hard to imagine Chis Sale having a better year than he had in 2012, but it's not beyond the realm of possibility.

Mound Musings: NL East Spotlight

This week's installment of the season-opening pitching series turns to the NL East.

Mound Musings: AL East Spotlight

Mounds Musings opens the 2013 season with a new look and with its spotlight on the AL East.

End Game Odyssey: Closer Carousel in Chicago?

Carlos Marmol has been the Cubs' closer for the past few seasons, but a new addition could compete for the role. Brad Johnson examines that, and some of the more intriguing closer situations, in 2013.

Bogfella's Notebook: Kids on Parade

Trevor Bauer makes Bogfella's list of young pitchers to watch.

Bogfella's Notebook: More Targets For Next Year

Adam Wainwright represents a class of pitchers that Bogfella likes to go after - established pitchers a full year removed from a significant injury.

Bogfella's Notebook: Keeper Decisions

Bogfella will bid adieu to Tim Lincecum after this season.

Bogfella's Notebook: September Viewing Tips

Andrew Bailey is finally giving us reason to find a picture with him in a Red Sox uniform.

Bogfella's Notebook: Wait Until Next Year

Bogfella looks at potential callups for September and beyond.

Bogfella's Notebook: Collection of Random Thoughts

Bogfella weighs in on a handful of different pitching topics.

Bogfella's Notebook: NL Bullpen Review

Chaos in Milwaukee, excellence in Cincinnati.

Bogfella's Notebook: AL Bullpen Review

Joakim Soria's spring training injury was the start of a chaotic spring for AL closers.

Bogfella's Notebook: More Traded Pitchers

Francisco Liriano now calls the South Side of Chicago his new home.

Bogfella's Notebook: Chips Beginning to Fall

Monday brought a flurry of trade activity, but is the Rays' James Shields one of the next big names on the move?

Bogfella's Notebook: Arms to Avoid

A.J. Burnett has found greener pastures in Pittsburgh, but Bogfella warns that it may not last.

Bogfella's Notebook: Futures Game Pitchers

Bogfella reviews the top pitching prospects that appeared in the Futures Game.

Bogfella's Notebook: The Bogfella Nine

Derek Holland is on his rehab assignment now and has caught Bogfella's attention.

Mound Musings: Second-Half Names to Know

Bogfella's Notebook: Pitchers on the Move?

Jair Jurrjens was frequently mentioned in trade rumors this offseason. Will the Braves still offer him around prior to the trade deadline?

Bogfella's Notebook: The King Remains the King

Bogfella took a good look at Felix Hernandez's recent start over the weekend and came away impressed.

Bogfella's Notebook: Is Liriano's Resurgence For Real?

Francisco Liriano has had a couple of good outings after a miserable start to the season. Is he viable going forward? His fastball command is the key.

Bogfella's Notebook: Two Pitchers Coming Off Great Games

What did Bogfella see in watching Johan Santana's no-hitter?

Bogfella's Notebook: A Matter of Trust

Phil Hughes got knocked around by the Angels on Monday night. What are Bogfella's thoughts on Hughes?

Bogfella's Notebook: Which Season is the Outlier?

Justin Masterson is still lacking an out-pitch against lefties.

Bogfella's Notebook: Go Time For Gallardo

Is Yovani Gallardo an ace?

Bogfella's Notebook: Hochevar Out of Synch

Luke Hochevar killed a lot of lineups last week with two disaster starts.

Bogfella's Notebook: Beware the Blowups

Examining Chad Billingsley's early results.

Bogfella's Notebook: April Performances

Bogfella is worried about Tommy Hanson's new delivery and the velocity that he's generating.

Bogfella's Notebook: Taking Notice

Tim Lincecum has started poorly - what can we learn?

Bogfella's Notebook: Early Closer Review

Bogfella takes a tour of the bullpens.

Bogfella's Notebook: What the Formulas Won't Tell You

James Shields' mechanical adjustments made a huge difference last season.

Bogfella's Notebook: Spring Training Eye-Openers

Bogfella is skeptical about Francisco Liriano's spring training rebirth.

Bogfella's Notebook: Bogfella's $1 Pitching Staff

Are you looking to compose a staff chock-full of $1 pitchers? Bogfella has some names in mind for you.

Mound Musings: Giving Pitchers the Eye Test

Bogfella's Notebook: Eight NL West Arms to Watch

Is Clayton Kershaw undervalued?

Bogfella's Notebook: Eight AL West Arms to Watch

Bogfella's Notebook: Eight NL Central Arms to Watch

Even in seasons where he wasn't returning from injury, Adam Wainwright has been consistently undervalued.

Bogfella's Notebook: Eight AL Central Arms to Watch

Chris Sale has caught the Bogfella's eye.

Bogfella's Notebook: Eight NL East Arms To Watch

Bogfella's Notebook: Eight AL East Arms To Watch

Clay Buchholz is on Bogfella's radar this draft season.

Bogfella's Notebook: End Game Odyssey

Bogfella's Notebook: Bridging the Gap

It's hard for any team to measure the Phillies' depth in starting pitching, given that Cole Hamels (pictured), Roy Oswalt and Vance Worley are their third, fourth and fifth starters.

Bogfella's Notebook: Value Reflections

Ian Kennedy is a pitcher whose value spiked in 2011.

Bogfella's Notebook: Pitchers on the Do Not Draft List

Bogfella's pitchers-to-avoid list.

Bogfella's Notebook: The Bogfella Watchlist

Kids on Parade

Bogfella's Notebook: Pitchers of Note in 2011

Justin Verlander is the easy choice for most valuable AL pitcher. Who is Bogfellla's surprise pick for the NL?

Bogfella's Notebook: Top Arms for 2012

In this week's column, Brad shares what he looks for in an ace and sets the table for 2012.

Bogfella's Notebook: Pitching in Keeper Leagues

Stephen Strasburg is working his way back to the major leagues from Tommy John surgery.

Bogfella's Notebook: The Dynamics of Closing

What does Bogfella look for in a closer?

Bogfella's Notebook: Let's Make a Deal!

Beyond the movement of big names, sellers have to replace the pitchers they unloaded at the July 31 non-waiver deadline.

Mound Musings: Trade Deadline Fallout

Ubaldo Jimenez is among a number of pitchers whose trade deadline status will impact fantasy rotations and bullpens.

Bogfella's Notebook: Twelve Second Half Slippers

Jeff Karstens tops Bogfella's list of pitchers who could fall off over the second half.

Bogfella's Notebook: Twelve Arms For the Second Half

Derek Holland is a feast-or-famine pitcher currently on a roll.

Mound Musings: Scouting Japanese Pitchers

Bogfella's Notebook: Fireballers At the Futures Game

Bogfella reviews some of the standout pitchers from the Futures Game.

FAAB Factor - AL: Fishing For Trout

Mike Trout surprisingly got the call by the Angels this week. How much should you bid?

Bogfella's Notebook: The Pitch Count Dilemma

Is the focus on limiting pitcher workloads making a difference?

Bogfella's Notebook: Adjust, Adjust, Then Adjust Again

Chris Carpenter has had to adjust his repertoire of pitches this season.

Bogfella's Notebook: The Double-A Report Card

Dillon Gee goes under the Bogfella's microscope.

Bogfella's Notebook: Potential

Bogfella's Notebook: The Organizational Context

Luke Hochevar alternately tempts then frustrates his fantasy owners.

Bogfella's Notebook: Recognizing the Ticking Time Bomb

How to identify when a pitcher is about to go on a bad stretch.

Bogfella's Notebook: It's the Little Things

Minor mechanical adjustments have yielded great results for James Shields this year.

Bogfella's Notebook: Seeing is Believing

The benefits to seeing your guy pitch.

Bogfella's Notebook: Power vs. Finesse

Bogfella discusses the nuances in finding power pitchers for your fantasy staffs, and talks about the mess that is Francisco Liriano right now.

Bogfella's Notebook: Like Fine Wine ... Better With Age?

Bogfella discusses age-and-level when scouting pitching prospects, and talks about Mat Latos' early-season struggles.

Bogfella's Notebook: Which Pitch Can Make You Rich?

Breaking down the various pitches in a hurler's arsenal.

Bogfella's Notebook: It's Not All Hit or Miss

You can learn a lot about a pitcher from the batters, including by the type of foul balls they hit.

Bogfella's Notebook: Go to the WHIP!

Why you should target low-WHIP pitchers, all things being equal.

Bogfella Scouting Notebook: Opportunity Knocks

Bogfella Scouting Notebook: Role Playing