Akinori Iwamura posted

[example1]

I looked elsewhere for a thread on this topic, so if I'm repeating I apologize.

 

Akinori Iwamura was posted on Monday:

 

He has the following things going for him:

 

--44, 30, 32 HR his last three seasons

--.383, .388, .389 OBP his last three seasons

--OPS above .900 the last three seasons

 

If those numbers were in MLB then this guy would look very similar to Aramis Ramirez, except perhaps for the RBI totals.

 

He has also won 3 gold gloves at 3rd, can play 2B and CF.

 

His posting cost has been estimated at about 1 million.

 

 

If I'm the sox I'm posting 3 million and just getting this guy. What more could you possibly want? Offer him 4 million a year and use him as a super UTIL guy, unless he beats out Lowell or Youk, or if we are able to move Lowell or Youk. I would send BOTH to a team, along with a good chunk of Lowell's salary to get a solid #5 hitter.

 

Any thoughts?

[EvilDonut]

I posted something about him a while ago in the Warm Stove discussion. I like him a lot. Im not to excited about his strike-out totals although they have been going down since 2003, i believe he K'd 170 some times. Also Ive seen Japanese baseball and defense isnt emphasized that much so i dont know who his gold gloves compare too.

 

And again look at Matsui's numbers in the Japanese league and look at them now.

 

Other wise he looks solid.

[Cityofchampions33]

I totally agree. If he turns out great he turns out great, if not it's a small cost compared to Matsuzaka. Also, the GG makes him a great late-inning replacement until his contract runs out. How old is he? 27?

[Anuj09]

Can this guy run well ?

[example1]

Can this guy run well ?

 

From what I've read he's got decent speed (enough to play CF) but isn't really a stolen base threat.

[jacksonianmarch]

the bid is expected to be in the 5-10 mil range with the potential for it to go higher if the cubbies jump into the fray. I am wary of Japanese power hitters, but this guy has the total package it seems. High K rate to me means that he'll be slow to adjust, but talent eventually wins out, and he could be a good one.

[BSN07]

I've heard the bidding for him was thought to be under 5 million. It might cost you 5 million a year for him to play but the bid is gonna be lower.

[HeadOfSoxNation]

I'm always EXTREMELY weary to sign Japanese ballplayers to big deals...it's an entirely different game over there. I am, however, far more likely to give big money to a position player than I would be to a guy like Matsuzaka. I just think that the bats over here are sooo much better than they are in Japan and pitchers get a rude awakening when they get here. Akinori seems like he has all the tools, though...so I'd definitely make a bid for him. I think, and I could be way off here, but isn't the ball smaller in Japan than it is here? I think that would drastically effect a pitcher in the negative, but could greatly benefit a hitter once he gets the hang of the American wind-up. I think it could lead to a defensive adjustment period, though, especially for an infielder.

[elsrbueno]

I'll admit I have never seen Iwamura play, but one thing I do know:

 

Except Kaz Matsui, other position players who come from Japan are fundamentally sound, hard-nosed, GOOD ballplayers.

 

Granted, they seem to put lesser numbers than in Japan so I think expectations have to be curbed a little bit.

 

But Ichiro, Matsui, Iguchi, and that guy who plays for St. Louis whose name I can't remember-- are all guys I'd take on by ballclub any day.

 

If Iwamura can play GG defense right away (and I don't know if he can) he can probably be a COMPRABLE player to Lowell and Lowell can be shopped.

 

I'd say make a bid on this guy. WORST case senario is he's your second baseman, but he seems willing to do that and his offense looks sufficient forsecond.

[mar_022]

i like the flexibility this guy would provide, even though we signed alex cora. Having him would allow us to trade lowell for pen help, and if we kept lowell, i could see iwamura being a Bill Hall type, a superutility with power

[elsrbueno]

For your reading pleasure, here's an article attempting to predict Akinori's contribution next season.

 

It's rough at best because there aren't a whole lot of players who switch between leagues and the smallish sample size makes for a complicated process, but it's probably as good a guess as you'll see.

 

http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/projecting-akinori-iwamura/

 

.290/.348/.446 would be an improvement at second over Loretta (.285/.345/.361) and comprable to Lowell (.284/.339/.475)

 

I say he's worth persuing as a second baseman and as a potential backup at third in case the market for Lowell heats up.

[schillingouttheks]

But Ichiro' date=' Matsui, Iguchi, and that guy who plays for St. Louis whose name I can't remember-- are all guys I'd take on by ballclub any day.[/quote']

 

So Taguchi.

 

Yeah, I don't know what happened to Kaz. Where is he now? Did he have some issue with injury or anything...because I don't think I remember a Japanese player receiving so much hype and then falling off the radar so quickly...

[TNS]

For curiosity's sake, does anyone happen to have Tadahito Iguchi's stats from while in Japan? I think he's a better choice to compare numbers to than Matsui (which most articles I've seen try to show the power dropoff from Japan to the US). Iguchi's managed near 20 HR power as a 2B & a smaller player in general (5'9" 185).

[Cocos Disciples]

But Ichiro, Matsui, Iguchi, and that guy who plays for St. Louis whose name I can't remember-- are all guys I'd take on by ballclub any day.

 

 

You'd take Taguchi any day?

.266/2/31

.266/.335/.351

37 years old

[schillingouttheks]

Taguchi starts on occasion. He's a very good bench player.

[mar_022]

So Taguchi.

 

Yeah, I don't know what happened to Kaz. Where is he now? Did he have some issue with injury or anything...because I don't think I remember a Japanese player receiving so much hype and then falling off the radar so quickly...

 

i believe he's currently in the Rockies minor league system...solid career path

[riverside sluggers]

Cleveland was expected to be one of the top bidders for Akinori, not anymore with the acquisition of Barfield.

[HeadOfSoxNation]

i believe he's currently in the Rockies minor league system...solid career path

 

Matsui actually batted in the mid 3's I think in his 30 some-odd game stint with the Rockies. Who knows, maybe he's found a home.

[vet 68]

From every thing I have read on this player heis just now starting to come into his all.I know that he is a little short for a power hitter but you never know. I think that he might use the speed that he has to his advantage.If we get him then give him a chance to win a starting place on the team. If he can't then go from there.

[elsrbueno]

Matsui actually batted in the mid 3's I think in his 30 some-odd game stint with the Rockies. Who knows' date=' maybe he's found a home.[/quote']

 

He had some pretty dramatic home/road splits, and Coors is still a hitters' park even with the humidor.

 

Maybe he just couldn't take NY-- although the latest rumor I heard about Kaz is that he was talking about going back to Japan. The Rockies are interested in bringing him back though.

[yankeessuck013]

I've heard Iwamura has a swing that would translate into more doubles than HR's here in the states. And you have to wonder if he would have the same kind of first year that Matsui had with the Yankees. He wasn't a real HR threat right off the bat. He seemed to take a little while to adjust to the pitching before he really was able to drive the ball consistently.

 

Iwamura is an interesting subject though. With no one on the Sox farm ready to step into third base short of Youk moving over from first base this guy might be well worth the gamble.

[ARod2212]

I'd be wary of a Japanese infielder after watching how Kaz panned out. The guy was supposed to be elite, and quite simply could not play shortstop. Third base is just as difficult, if not more difficult. I'd be cautious, especially with Aramis Ramirez on the market.

[jacksonianmarch]

He compares to a Iguchi more than a matsui. He'll be a guy who should hit in the .280 range with 15-20 bombs.

[schillingouttheks]

Can he get 7 RBIs in 2 innings?

[yankeessuck013]

Any idea who won the bid?

 

He would be of great comfort to Matsuzaka.

[Rdsxmbnt]

we most likely wont know till monday

[yankeessuck013]

Here's some news:

 

Akinori Iwamura, 3B--Yakult Swallows: The Padres, Red Sox and Devil Rays all made bids for his rights. The Guardians and Phillies may also have made bids, though the Phillies had stated earlier this week that would not and the Guardians no longer have a huge need for him. The Swallows have till Thursday afternoon to accept or decline the estimated $5-10M winning bid. He is expected to seek $4-5M a year on a 3 or 4-year deal.

Last updated: 12:34 PM - Nov 11, 06 by MLB4U.com | Source: San Diego Union-Tribune

 

I'm glad to see that the sox made a bid. Now the waiting game begins, and we will hear something by Thursday.

[MC Hammer]

I'm a little more comfortable with a Japanese hitter than I am a pitcher, but I still don't want anything to do with this guy. The risk is too high, and the chances of actually getting the reward as insanely low.

[Beckett95]

I find it interesting that the Sox are going after 3rd baseman like Iwamura and Ramirez.

 

Does this mean that Lowell's on the way out?

[exsubmariner]

I think this would be a mistake. I think most of the Japenese infielders have shown they are not ready for prime time in the bigs.