Tazawa

[riverside sluggers]

Damn good contract. I heard after the 3 years is up, he'll be arb eligible for 3 more years

[jacksonianmarch]

Its difficult to say how hard this kid throws. Some people say he tops out at 97, but it seemed like the more his courting progressed, the lower his fastball was projected at. The most recent one from ESPN said that he topped out in the low 90s and by the end of this yr he was hitting high 80s. Regardless, we'll find out soon enough. I'll tell you this much, I would have loved to have him.

[BSN07]

He's young. His arm needs to be built up to sustain a hard fastball. Dice-K was said to top out around 96-97MPH. He does but he pitches comfortably at the 92-93MPH range.

 

Who knows the kid could have started around the mid 90's, and then his arm could have been tired and he had to pitch with lower velocity.

 

He's a project, but he has a nice upside.

[BSN07]

Its difficult to say how hard this kid throws. Some people say he tops out at 97' date=' but it seemed like the more his courting progressed, the lower his fastball was projected at. The most recent one from ESPN said that he topped out in the low 90s and by the end of this yr he was hitting high 80s. Regardless, we'll find out soon enough. I'll tell you this much, [b']I would have loved to have him[/b].

 

 

 

Cashman is really screwing the pooch on these Japan players. I mean not even an offer from the richest club in the league? And a small 3 year 3M commitment got him.

 

But from what I read he turned down higher offers to go to the Sox. Dice-K's signing is already paying dividends in Japan:D

[Dipre]

Cashman is really screwing the pooch on these Japan players. I mean not even an offer from the richest club in the league? And a small 3 year 3M commitment got him.

 

But from what I read he turned down higher offers to go to the Sox. Dice-K's signing is already paying dividends in Japan:D

 

That $51 million posting fee is starting to pay itself off, isn't it?

 

And after so much criticism, this seems like what FO was planning from the get-go anyways........

[BSN07]

That $51 million posting fee is starting to pay itself off, isn't it?

 

And after so much criticism, this seems like what FO was planning from the get-go anyways........

 

Me and several others tried to point this fact out when the bid was originally made. Alot on here thought it was ludacris to pay 51M to talk to someone. They couldn't see the future what that bid opened the Red Sox up to. That in Dice-K winning a WS in his 1st year, have made the Red Sox more of a desired destination for Japan born players.

 

Even if some of these guys don't pan out, eventually by numbers and odds you should get a few decent players over the long haul.

[BoSox21]

They also didn't factor in the international marketing aspect of having Japan's biggest star joining the Sox as he enters his prime years

[Dipre]

And, of course, in pitching ability alone, in one or 2 years that contract might seem like a bargain given the current price of pitching.

[TheKilo]

ESPN Chat from a week ago:

 

Steve ATL: Hi Jim, If Junichi Tarzawa signs with the Sox, does he make their top ten? If so, where? Thanks

 

SportsNation Jim Callis: Tazawa would make their Top 10, somewhere in the 6-10 range.

[Gom]

Cashman is really screwing the pooch on these Japan players. I mean not even an offer from the richest club in the league? And a small 3 year 3M commitment got him.

 

But from what I read he turned down higher offers to go to the Sox. Dice-K's signing is already paying dividends in Japan:D

Except that for once, I support Cashman's move. This move will end up hurting the Red Sox big-time IMO. The unwritten agreement between the two leagues has been broken by the Red Sox. They had a gentlemen's agreement, for lack of a better word, to not go after each other's country's amateur players.

 

The Japanese culture is very big on honor. Expect some repurcussions from this. Don't be surprised at this if it happens.

[TheKilo]

lolok

 

If a talented Japanese player WHO IS NOT UNDER CONTRACT with another organization wants to try his luck in the US (or vice versa), there's really not a hell of a lot that can be done to stop him.

 

And they waited until his obligation to his Japanese team was over before negotiating with him.

 

What are they going to do, Gom? Blackball the Sox, when the Sox employ arguably the greatest Japanese baseball pitcher ever?

[Dipre]

I don't mean to piss off Gom, and he's gonna let me have it......

 

But i think he's just trying to convince himself this "Gentlemen's agreement" is a reason not to pursue top-tier talent, when in reality, i think Cashman just sorta let it slip by and used said agreement as an excuse for his lack of action.....

 

Tazawa formally requested not to be drafted because he wanted to come to America, so what agreement are you breaking by signing an undrafted player who has obviously chosen on his own to go to the States to play baseball?

[jimsoxer]

Except that for once, I support Cashman's move. This move will end up hurting the Red Sox big-time IMO. The unwritten agreement between the two leagues has been broken by the Red Sox. They had a gentlemen's agreement, for lack of a better word, to not go after each other's country's amateur players.

 

The Japanese culture is very big on honor. Expect some repurcussions from this. Don't be surprised at this if it happens.

 

Neither the US or JAPAN has really put up a big argument during the 10days leading to this. So i don`t think you will see anything happen It was not only thesox but at least 6-7 other teams in the hunt

.

[The Real Boss]

Except that for once, I support Cashman's move. This move will end up hurting the Red Sox big-time IMO. The unwritten agreement between the two leagues has been broken by the Red Sox. They had a gentlemen's agreement, for lack of a better word, to not go after each other's country's amateur players.

 

The Japanese culture is very big on honor. Expect some repurcussions from this. Don't be surprised at this if it happens.

 

You're an idiot.

[The Real Boss]

You're an idiot.

 

I don't mean to piss off Gom, and he's gonna let me have it......

 

But i think he's just trying to convince himself this "Gentlemen's agreement" is a reason not to pursue top-tier talent, when in reality, i think Cashman just sorta let it slip by and used said agreement as an excuse for his lack of action.....

 

Tazawa formally requested not to be drafted because he wanted to come to America, so what agreement are you breaking by signing an undrafted player who has obviously chosen on his own to go to the States to play baseball?

 

Who cares if you piss of Gom? Have you ever even met this person? For all we know, he's most likely involved in heavily trafficking child pornography over the internet.

[Gom]

lolok

 

If a talented Japanese player WHO IS NOT UNDER CONTRACT with another organization wants to try his luck in the US (or vice versa), there's really not a hell of a lot that can be done to stop him.

 

And they waited until his obligation to his Japanese team was over before negotiating with him.

 

What are they going to do, Gom? Blackball the Sox, when the Sox employ arguably the greatest Japanese baseball pitcher ever?

Typical Western attittude. I can't say I completely understand their thinking as I am not an Asian, but I got a glimpse of it when I lived there.

 

What can they do?

 

Many things.

 

Go after the Red Sox amateur picks. Think a player agent wouldn't love to tell Epstein "Well, we have an offer from a Japanese team for your pick...". Steer their players to other teams. Drop hints to other teams who are offering bids in the posting process.

 

I'm not saying this can happen. However, I'd be a little surprised if the Red Sox didn't face future difficulties.

 

Also...Mr. Straw...what does Dice-K have to do with this? Absolutely nothing.

[Cityofchampions33]

Yeah, doesn't sound like this supposed agreement is that big, seeing as it's not just the Sox who persued him, but several teams.

Also Gom, I think this honor thing you're talking about is more of a samurai thing, which you can tell is a thing of the past, then again I'm not Japanese, if someone could post any reactions from japanese newspapers, that would probably settle this once and for all.

[Dipre]

Who cares if you piss of Gom? Have you ever even met this person? For all we know' date=' he's most likely involved in heavily trafficking child pornography over the internet.[/quote']

 

I'm a nice guy, so i don't like to piss people off just to piss them off, so how about that?

[TheKilo]

Typical Western attittude. I can't say I completely understand their thinking as I am not an Asian, but I got a glimpse of it when I lived there.

 

What can they do?

 

Many things.

 

lol @ "Typical Western Attitude"

 

Go after the Red Sox amateur picks. Think a player agent wouldn't love to tell Epstein "Well, we have an offer from a Japanese team for your pick...".

 

Players born in the US would rather play in Japan rather than the MLB?

 

Steer their players to other teams. Drop hints to other teams who are offering bids in the posting process.

 

So teams, when making a business decision, will take less money just to prove a point to Boston?

 

Doesn't make much sense.

 

I'm not saying this can happen. However, I'd be a little surprised if the Red Sox didn't face future difficulties.

 

Also...Mr. Straw...what does Dice-K have to do with this? Absolutely nothing.

 

As far as I can tell DiceK has had nothing but positive things to say about Boston. He's the best pitcher to ever come out of there and arguably the best player to make the jump to the majors.

 

Tazawa has already said the success of Boston was one of the driving factors in him coming here. You don't think others will feel the same way?

[BoSox21]

As far as I can tell DiceK has had nothing but positive things to say about Boston. He's the best pitcher to ever come out of there and arguably the best player to make the jump to the majors.

 

Ichiro

[Cocos Disciples]

Hence the "arguably."

[BoSox21]

is it really that arguable to this point?

[ORS]

I think Dipre hit the nail on the head in assessing what's really going on in Gom's mind. He's justifying the fact that the Yankees sat on the sidelines in this deal - or even worse - he's buying the justification from the Yankee FO (he believes everything he reads!!! LOL!!).

 

As has been pointed out, Tazawa asked not to be drafted in the Japanese amateur draft, and the teams complied with that wish. This isn't a US team swiping up amateur Japanese talent prior to their draft. The guy threatened to pull an Eli Manning, "draft me and I'm not playing for you". They conceded and now he's fair game. As far as future repercussions from Japanese teams, that sure happened after the Kevin Millar fiasco (and it really hurt trading relations between the Sox and Marlins too), which makes it look like that is nothing more than wishful thinking.

[TheKilo]

Totally spaced on Ichiro...still DiceK may have been held in even higher regard in Japan.

[Cocos Disciples]

is it really that arguable to this point?

 

Ichiro isn't nearly what he used to be. He's better than DiceK but you could make an argument. Whatever, semantics.

[BSN07]

BOSTON -- The Boston Red Sox have landed another Japanese pitcher, completing their contract with right-hander Junichi Tazawa.

 

 

The 22-year-old Tazawa spurned professional teams in Japan to pursue a major league career in the United States. Boston planned a Thursday news conference at Fenway Park to announce the deal.

 

Tazawa is expected to begin next season in the minors for the Red Sox, who already have Japanese pitchers Daisuke Matsuzaka and Hideki Okajima. After winning the 2007 World Series, Boston advanced to Game 7 of the AL Championship Series this year before losing to Tampa Bay.

 

Other teams thought to be interested in Tazawa included the Texas Rangers, Seattle Mariners and Atlanta Braves.

[BoSox21]

not that it matters, but the deal is a 3-year, $4 million as opposed to the originally reported 3-years, $3 million

[BSN07]

not that it matters' date=' but the deal is a 3-year, $4 million as opposed to the originally reported 3-years, $3 million[/quote']

 

No more the what a legit 1st round pick might cost. I think Hansen had that kind of deal.

[example1]

Interesting press conference. Theo mentioned that they have been scouting him for over a year and had seen him pitch more than 20 times. Tazawa mentioned that the Sox were the first to scout him. Their scouts had "very strong convictions from the beginning", according to Theo. They must see something that sets him apart from others.

 

This was a delicate process for the Sox I'm sure. I think they had to balance the negative impact it would have on NPB's view of the Sox, with the obvious publicity of getting another Japanese talent to join the Sox because he feels comfortable with the Sox preparation, translators, development program, etc., I think there can be little doubt that the Sox are near the top of MLB teams at being able to scout, recruit and sign talent coming out of Japan. The results may not come for 5-10 years, but one has to imagine that the next time an Ichiro or Dice-K kind of talent comes out the Sox will be one of the major players able to offer a comprehensive package for his services.

 

More video posted on youtube:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQjy4SMbEYg&NR=1

 

His secondary stuff does appear to have good movement and command, which seem to compliment his fastball. Obviously its hard to know how much will translate against better hitters and with the American baseball. AA will be a very good test for him and it should be interesting to see how he does.

[Dojji]

is it really that arguable to this point?

 

Ace pitcher > Speedy contact hitter with no other tools.

 

Ichiro is insanely overrated.