Pitcher Jason Johnson has reason to be optimistic

He has never pitched a full season for a team that won more than 78 games.
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (AP) -- After years of playing for losers, Jason Johnson was delighted when the Indians called him over the winter.
"I told my wife that it was going to be nice to be on a team like this, that has a chance to win every time it takes the field," he said.
Johnson has spent parts of nine different seasons in the big leagues, pitching for Pittsburgh (1997), Tampa Bay (1998), Baltimore (1999-2003) and Detroit (2004-2005). He has never pitched a full season for a team that won more than 78 games.
His career numbers aren't pretty -- 52-86 with an 4.88 ERA -- but Indians general Mark Shapiro and his staff considered other factors when they researched his career.
The inner story
"I looked at some of the numbers within the numbers," Shapiro said. "He's pitched for some teams that averaged 92 losses. He's given those teams some innings. If you go that deep into games, you give your team a good team a chance to win those games."
The Indians and the 32-year-old Johnson agreed to a one-year, $4 million contract on Dec. 26 with a mutual option for 2007.
Johnson will go into the season as the Indians' No. 5 starter. He replaces Scott Elarton, who signed with Kansas City. Johnson will join left-handers C.C. Sabathia and Cliff Lee and right-handers Jake Westbrook and Paul Byrd in the rotation.
There are some numbers in Johnson's favor. He pitched a career-high 210 innings last season. To put that into perspective, the only Indians starter to log a higher total than that last season was Westbrook, who threw 2102/3. Johnson threw more innings than the other Indians starters last year: Lee (202), Sabathia (1962/3), Kevin Millwood (192) and Elarton (1812/3).
Johnson has made at least 32 starts and pitched a minimum of 189 innings in four of the past five seasons.
"Jason wants the ball and he wants to pitch deep into games," manager Eric Wedge said. "He's a tough competitor. To pitch deep into games, you have to be a competitor."
Notes
C Einar Diaz, in camp on a minor-league contract, is competing with C Kelly Shoppach for the backup job. Shapiro said he hasn't had any lengthy discussion with Diaz about going to Triple-A Buffalo if he doesn't make the team. ... C Tim Laker, also in camp on a minor-league deal, is expected to start the season at Buffalo. ... RHP Matt Miller is scheduled to pitch Friday against Houston. He only pitched once after the All-Star break last season because of a sore elbow. "I'm probably a little bit behind," he said. "I want to make sure I'm ready to start the season."