Ever since I heard journeyman Jason Johnson would be starting for the Dodgers in Colorado on Tuesday, I've been wondering is there could be a hidden reason why the team's umpteenth best pitcher would be handed the ball at this stage of the season.

Would Clayton Kershaw, James McDonald or Jonathan Meloan be better? Would Brad Penny, who had a pain-free 40 pitches the other day, be a more valuable addition to the roster even if throwing for only a couple of innings?

Here are some Devil's Advocate (or Angel's Advocate, if you prefer) points on JJJ's behalf: 3.82 ERA, 7.6 strikeouts per nine innings and 1.28 groundout-airout ratio this season in the hitter-happy Pacific Coast League. By comparison, Eric Stults, whom I've backed as a legitimate 2008 option and who will start at Colorado on Monday, had this resume: 3.59 ERA, 7.3 strikeouts per nine innings, 1.04 GB-air ratio.

McDonald has had a fine season in AA Jacksonville, including a nearly 9.0 K/9, but his groundout ratio is 0.69. Given that you probably don't want him making his first major-league start in Colorado, it makes sense to pass on him at least for this start. Similar issues affect Meloan.

A good case can be made for Kershaw. I'd be up to see what he could do. But I'm not heartbroken over waiting. If Johnson gets bombed, we might see Kershaw, who hasn't allowed an earned run in his past two starts for the Suns, real soon.

And of course, you could just start the game with Hong-Chih Kuo, whose qualifications I shouldn't have to detail at this point.

In any case, the best strategy might be something radical that I'd not normally endorse. Instead of activating Mark Sweeney (which is pretty much plan Z in any good strategy anyway), the Dodgers could use their bullpen depth as a strength and throw the entire staff at the Rockies. Play matchups. Tell your pitchers not to hold back on their stuff in the hopes of coaxing an extra inning out.

In other words, whether or not JJJ is the right choice, lighten his burden as much as possible. The pitcher that gets sent down to make room for Mark Sweeney will actually be more valuable next week.

Update: Good guy alert - Johnson is one, according to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com. "He pitches with an insulin pump, is a true role model to countless diabetics and a tireless charity worker."