Junichi Tazawa

[BoSox21]

The 22-year old Japanese import has been pitching very well in Portland all season long:

 

61.1 IP, 2.79 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 57 K/17 BB

 

Could be in line for a promotion to Pawtucket at some point this year. Here's a fantastic Globe article on him:

 

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2009/06/impressions_of.html

[jacksonianmarch]

he should be in Pawtucket, no doubt

[Spudboy]

Probably will spend most of the year in Portland then see some time in Pawtucket. The kid's got talent.

[castigs850]

whats the rush

[Dojji]

whats the rush

 

I agree. As it stands right now Tazawa is behind Buchholz, Smoltz and Bowden, and for a spot in the rotation may be behind Masterson as well. There's really no need to be aggressive with his promotions.

[WhiskeyBreath]

“He’s not a nibble guy,”

 

Thank god. I don't mind seeing him pitch in AA for a while..

[TheKilo]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/13/sports/baseball/13futures.html?_r=1

[Dojji]

At this point, if they wanted to promote Tazawa to AAA and let him pitch there two months I don't think anyone would say it was inappropriate. He's pretty much got AA handled and never really struggled that much with it. Based on what we've seen from him he could probably be at least a league average MLB starter right now. I'd get him to AAA and place him behind Bowden as part of the callup rotation so he's in circulation next year when Penny and Smoltz move on..

[TheKilo]

I'd cut Zink and promote Tazawa.

[Dojji]

I'm cool with that. Or Gonzalez.

[Dipre]

Wow.

 

The amount of pitching talent this team has accumulated is mind-blowing.

 

If Tazawa gets promoted, our AAA rotation is easily better than the Nats' or the Pirates'.

[Looch Ness Monster]

I agree. As it stands right now Tazawa is behind Buchholz' date=' Smoltz and Bowden, and for a spot in the rotation may be behind Masterson as well. [b']There's really no need to be aggressive with his promotions.[/b]

 

There is when a pitcher absolutely dominates the AA level. He's 3rd in the Eastern League in strikeouts. He walks a decent amount of hitters but he's still at a 2:1 K:BB ratio with an ERA around 2.50.

 

I think if you give him the rest of the season at AAA and part of next year you give him a chance to be a part of the rotation for the 2nd half of '10 and then become a full-time starter in '11.

[Dojji]

I wrote that more than a month ago, and JUST NOW posted an opinion that jives with yours.

 

Tazawa's BB/9 is 2.5 BTW, that's actually very good.

[Looch Ness Monster]

I wrote that more than a month ago, and JUST NOW posted an opinion that jives with yours.

 

Tazawa's BB/9 is 2.5 BTW, that's actually very good.

 

Oh okay, I didn't even read the date. Good looks man. :thumbsup: I think at the time a promotion would have been inappropriate but you have to give it a hard look now.

[Looch Ness Monster]

Woah..Tazawa actually got promoted to AAA Pawtucket tonight. Good to hear and I'm looking forward to seeing his next start.

 

http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/blog/blogs/clearing-the-bases/tazawa-promoted-to-triple-a

 

Next start should be Tuesday @ Buffalo.

[BoSox21]

what's the roster move? or did he take Buchholz's spot?

[Looch Ness Monster]

what's the roster move? or did he take Buchholz's spot?

 

Fernando Cabrera to the temporarily inactive list I think.

 

7/24/2009

Released Paul McAnulty, activated Randor Bierd, placed Fernando Cabrera on the TIA

 

7/26/2009

Promoted Junichi Tazawa to Pawtucket; activated Adam Mills from Lowell paper move

[Dojji]

Woah..Tazawa actually got promoted to AAA Pawtucket tonight. Good to hear and I'm looking forward to seeing his next start.

 

http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/blog/blogs/clearing-the-bases/tazawa-promoted-to-triple-a

 

Next start should be Tuesday @ Buffalo.

 

Holy crap, you're kidding!

 

I've been in crazy synch with the FO this month. It was about time though. congratulations to Tazawa.

 

So we can expect him to be there as injury insurance for pretty much all of next year I guess. Cool with that.

[TheKilo]

Why they aren't calling to interview you Dojji, I have no idea.

[Dojji]

Of course you do.

[Looch Ness Monster]

He's making his first start tonight against Nelson Figueroa, who is putting up pretty good numbers at AAA with a 2.42 ERA. Should be a good test.

[Dojji]

A better test is if he can win in front of the fail salad we have in AAA.

[BoSox21]

I wonder what Tazawa thinks of the Sox throwing program

[Dojji]

Considering he was never an NPB pitcher I imagine he has little problem with it.

[BoSox21]

NPB?

[Spudboy]

NPB?

 

Nippon Professional Baseball?

[Dojji]

Yep, the Japanese major leagues are called NPB.

[Looch Ness Monster]

Tazawa tonight in his first AAA start 6 IP, 3 hits, 1 ER, 3 K, 0 BB

[Dojji]

Impressive.

[Looch Ness Monster]

I also liked the 0 BB stat. I didn't watch the game but he must not have been too nervous, like you would expect out of a young pitcher. I really like Tazawa's chances to be a solid middle of the rotation guy next year. Seems to be quite the opposite of Dice-K. A big strikeout guy but not the big walk guy.