Tazawa

[BSN07]

According to an AP/ESPN report, the 12 Nippon Professional Baseball teams adhered to Junichi Tazawa's request not to draft him. Tazawa, a 22 year-old righty, has reportedly been scouted by the Red Sox, Mets, Braves, Dodgers, Tigers, Pirates, Cubs, and Mariners.

Anyone know anything about this kid?

[BSN07]

Japanese amateur pitcher Junichi Tazawa is shaking things up - last week he asked the 12 Nippon Professional Baseball teams not to draft him. He wants to join an MLB team instead. His decision, coupled with interest from multiple MLB teams, is putting a major strain on MLB-NPB relations.

 

Peter Abraham of The Journal News had an informative article on the Tazawa situation yesterday. He says Tazawa's decision is testing an informal agreement that MLB will not sign Japanese prospects. Abraham says the Red Sox, Mets, Braves, and Dodgers have scouted Tazawa. The Tigers, Pirates, Cubs, and Mariners may also be in the mix. The Red Sox are said to be in the lead. There's no posting free for an unsigned player, though Tazawa may want a big league deal.

 

The Yankees will pass - GM Brian Cashman told Abraham he will honor the gentleman's agreement between the two leagues. When the Yanks sent Gene Michael to Japan last week, it was apparently to scout Yu Darvish. Darvish's availability this winter will hinge on the whims of the Nippon Ham Fighters. No one knows whether the Fighters will cash the 22 year-old in now for a possible $60-80MM posting fee.

 

If he's good you have to make an attempt at him. You pass someone else won't. Samurai have honor, Baseball GM better make the moves to better there club. Or play with his honor at home after he's fired LOL

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

I think I was drunk when I made this post

[Dojji]

I think the possibility of posting Yu Darvish is MUCH more interesting. JMHO.

[BSN07]

I think the possibility of posting Yu Darvish is MUCH more interesting. JMHO.

 

What's the book on him?

 

If the Yankees want him they'll get him. I don't think they take the chance of being out bid again. No more revenue sharing for them. This might be the oppurtunity to spend some of that extra cash IMO ....

[Cocos Disciples]

Darvish is supposed to be sick, but didn't he say he was staying in Japan?

[example1]

I thought he did, but the attraction of MLB must be pretty big for a kid with his stuff.

 

I've watched some of Darvish's videos and have been pretty impressed but it is hard to tell with these things.

 

Yu Darvish is a pretty cool name though.

[example1]

Supposedly this is him:

(Tazawa)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxRKY_Xg5tQ

[RedSoxRooter]

It is almost time to get DiceK a new buddy.

[Gom]

If he's good you have to make an attempt at him. You pass someone else won't. Samurai have honor' date=' Baseball GM better make the moves to better there club. Or play with his honor at home after he's fired LOL[/quote']

I actually hope he honors his word. Japanese have a strong sense of honor, and if broken, it will have repurcussions beyond this player. Do not be surprised if, when a team posts a player, and the signing team that breaks the agreement finds out that their bid was beaten at the last minute by another team.

 

Best to do things honorably. I actually commend Cashman on this point. For once.

[Cocos Disciples]

That Tazawa story is interesting. I still see a MLB team going for him anyways.

[Cityofchampions33]

Darvish impresses me a lot. Great running fastball that has a late break to it. His slider is also late breaking with a nice tight 1-7 break, seems like it's deadly low and away.

[jacksonianmarch]

I saw a few clips of him. Mostly sitting 89-93. I dont know where the 97 is coming from

[Dojji]

Supposedly this is him:

(Tazawa)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxRKY_Xg5tQ

 

Not bad. should be born in mind that the players he's facing are basically indy ballers. I like his curve.. Good use of the whole strike zone with the FB too, that FB doesn't look particularly nasty but he seems to mix it in OK. I'm not sold that he could do this to major league hitters though. Not sure he has the FB to be more than an average MLB pitcher.

[Drew It Again]

No thank you.

[Dojji]

I'd go for it if you could pick him up for less than say $2M/year. If you can get him cheap and then it's pretty low-risk and it would add to our depth. If you have to spend more than that then you run into a situation where you're forced to consider putting him on the roster even if he doesn't earn it.

 

Perhaps you can wow him with a large signing bonus and then keep the contract small. That would have the benefit of keeping flexibility while also making him a more interesting trading piece if things fall that way.

 

I definitely start him in the minors though. This is a guy who based on the videoclip seems to live on his offspeed stuff, and that's affected by the difference in American and Japanese baseballs. Get him used to the American baseball down in AA and see what comes of him. He likely makes the majors in the second year under that scenario without the hellacious learning curve that a lot of Japanese FA's have to undergo to make it in the States.

[BoSox21]

we're 2 for 2 on Made in Japan guys. if the FO goes for it, good move. if not, good call

[TheKilo]

Boston Front-Runners for Tazawa

 

Boston reportedly is the front runner to sign right-hander Junichi Tazawa, 22, from Japan. Tazawa, one of Japan's top amateur pitchers, told the Japanese pro teams not to draft him because he wants to play in the big leagues.

[Believe in Boston 7]

God help us.

[BSN07]

Does anyone have a scouting report on this kids stuff? Being 22, there is time to develop him. Not sure what kinda contract they would have to offer. But I guess it's worth a shot.

[TheKilo]

Does anyone have a scouting report on this kids stuff? Being 22' date=' there is time to develop him. Not sure what kinda contract they would have to offer. But I guess it's worth a shot.[/quote']

 

Tazawa’s fastball has been clocked in the mid 90s and he also throws a forkball and slider. He recorded four wins in five games as he led the Nippon Oil to their first title in 13 years at the national corporate baseball tournament that ended Tuesday.

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=txtazawatomajors&prov=st&type=lgns

 

The Sox have been the most aggressive team with regard to Tazawa, who is also being courted by the Atlanta Braves, Florida Marlins and Chicago Cubs, among others. Tazawa throws a mid-90s fastball, a 12-6 overhand curveball and a split-finger fastball as part of his repertoire.

 

http://news.bostonherald.com/sports/columnists/view/2008_11_04_Sources:_Club_in_front_on_Junichi_Tazawa/srvc=home&position=also

[TheKilo]

My guess is they'd view him almost as a college draft pick. He'd probably start in Portland, IMO.

[BSN07]

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=txtazawatomajors&prov=st&type=lgns

 

 

 

http://news.bostonherald.com/sports/columnists/view/2008_11_04_Sources:_Club_in_front_on_Junichi_Tazawa/srvc=home&position=also

 

Thanks for the background Kilo:thumbsup:

 

 

Sounds like is is worth a shot.

 

The Yankees aren't looking into him? I find that odd...

[Dipre]

Thanks for the background Kilo:thumbsup:

 

 

Sounds like is is worth a shot.

 

The Yankees aren't looking into him? I find that odd...

 

I don't, since they're too busy trying to acquire the Sabathias, Peavys and Burnetts of the world......

[26 to 6]

Thanks for the background Kilo:thumbsup:

 

 

Sounds like is is worth a shot.

 

The Yankees aren't looking into him? I find that odd...

Who knows if the Yankees are looking into him or not. They could be just kepping it quiet for all we know. I do know Stick Michael went over to Japan on a scouting trip earlier this season, so maybe he took a look at him. We'll see though.

[Dojji]

My guess is they'd view him almost as a college draft pick. He'd probably start in Portland' date=' IMO.[/quote']

 

Salem I think.

[BSN07]

Who knows if the Yankees are looking into him or not. They could be just kepping it quiet for all we know. I do know Stick Michael went over to Japan on a scouting trip earlier this season' date=' so maybe he took a look at him. We'll see though.[/quote']

 

This is true. I read the Yanks where scouting Yu Darvish. But they could have very well have scouted this kid as well.

[TheKilo]

Braves could lead the pack:

 

http://www.ajc.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/ajc/braves/entries/2008/11/04/braves_serious.html?cxntfid=blogs_braves

 

I’m told the Braves have already offered a major league contract to Junichi Tazawa, the Japanese right-hander who’s drawn serious interest from Boston, Seattle and possibly the Cubs and Marlins.

 

Frank Wren just confirmed the multi-year offer was made to Tazawa. Braves expect him to make a decision in a couple of weeks.

[soxfan17881]

Supposedly this is him:

(Tazawa)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxRKY_Xg5tQ

 

Based on that vid, I'm seeing low 90's as his fastest, but that breaking ball is wicked.

[msubulldogs21]

We got him. 3 year $3 million contract.