While these teams weren't specifically identified, it was revealed that Kawakami has been impressed with the way the Braves have marketed themselves and the city of Atlanta. [...]
Pitching coach Roger McDowell's presence could help lure Kawakami to Atlanta. Kawakami's agent, Dan Evans, and McDowell have been friends for many years.
Braves keeping tabs on Kenshin Kawakami
Those two quotes make me feel happy to be a Braves fan again. As both Seattle, Boston, and New York have shown, it's important to get that first foot in the Japanese market; that usually leads to more rising sun talent coming your way.
10 months ago
gondeee
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The more info that comes out on Kawakami, the more I feel like he’s going to be a Brave. I agree that this makes me happy; it’s the best news we’ve gotten in a while.
Just as you mentioned, a bonus of signing Kenshin will be establishing the team in the Japanese market. I’ve been to a game in Atlanta in which the Braves played the Mariners; there are plenty of Asian-Americans who show up to see Ichiro in Atlanta. It’ll be awesome to give them someone on their hometown team they can identify with and root for.
by Rafael Belliard's SLG % on Jan 7, 2009 6:24 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
yeah, Games with large chiense crowds are always fun. Theyre really loud. Anyone thats been to a Red Sox or Mariners game knows.
by SayHeyWerd on Jan 7, 2009 6:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
You didn’t spell Chinese right. And it’s not capitalzed. And the players you’re talking about are Japanese. Good post otherwise.
by Land-Man on Jan 7, 2009 7:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
+1
I guess I should be one to talk.
There's nights that I can't even walk.
There's days I couldn't give a fuck.
And in between is where I'm stuck.
by Smoltz's Beard on Jan 8, 2009 12:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Kawakami, then Garrett Anderson
Good news indeed if we can sign him.
Then maybe we can concentrate on left field.
Once Garrett Anderson is gone, we’ll be out of affordable options who can hit for average and power, and field the position respectably. I suppose his agents are waiting for Manny to go so they can offer Anderson as a consolation prize, but we need to sign a capable outfielder strong enough to hit in the middle of the order until Jason Heyward arrives.
by JimK on Jan 7, 2009 6:40 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
No offense
but when I think of Garrett Anderson I don’t think of someone who’s “a capable outfielder strong enough to hit in the middle of the order”. I mean if this were true why wouldn’t LAA offer him a contract?
"Debated ya right not one person agreed with me" by ATLsportsfrk on Dec 27, 2008 6:31 PM EST
by scstrato on Jan 7, 2009 6:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
"why wouldn’t LAA offer him a contract?"
Not sure ATL should rely on the wisdom of those who offered bushels of $$ to GMJ and Torii Hunter the past few years.
Formerly Uncle Charlie of Minor League Ball
by Yakker on Jan 7, 2009 8:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Fair enough
That is true, but the point is they chose to sign Juan Rivera over Garrett Anderson and I would argue the reason wasn’t money.
"Debated ya right not one person agreed with me" by ATLsportsfrk on Dec 27, 2008 6:31 PM EST
by scstrato on Jan 7, 2009 8:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
OK
But the Juan Rivera signing was a pretty lousy decision, too, from a value standpoint.
Formerly Uncle Charlie of Minor League Ball
by Yakker on Jan 8, 2009 3:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I have to disagree
Even if Juan barely reaches his Marcels projections he will have earned his contract, at least for 2009, and he’s shown he can produce much more. If he comes close to reproducing his 2006 line it’s arguable that he’ll be underpaid by 2 to 3 million.
"Debated ya right not one person agreed with me" by ATLsportsfrk on Dec 27, 2008 6:31 PM EST
by scstrato on Jan 8, 2009 4:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
What reason do we have to believe Rivera will return to his Marcel projection? I mean, the guy’s slash line for 2H 2008 was 268/299/505. Love the power, but the OBP isn’t exactly world-beating. And he isn’t a picture of health, making a long-term commitment a risky proposition.
Perhaps he gets back to 2006 production, perhaps not. I wouldn’t bet a guaranteed 3 year-deal on it. And I don’t think the return (he’s at best replacement level with the glove, so all his value is tied up in his bat) is worth the risk.
Formerly Uncle Charlie of Minor League Ball
by Yakker on Jan 8, 2009 5:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Can't argue with the risk or injury history
but I will say that the three years when he was given playing time (2004 thru 2006) his three year stat line is:
.298/.351/.484/.836
His current Marcels projection have him at .272/.323/.450/.773 which is lower than the three year line. It’s even lower than his worst year (2005) in which he was valued at 3.9 million. Granted, it’s probably not fair to totally ignore his 2007/2008 line and, like you pointed out, there is always injury risk but you also can argue he was not given a chance to play on a consistent basis in 2008. If he can put up that line over a three year period when he was given a fair shake it is my opinion he can do it again considering he will now be their everyday LF/DH.
"Debated ya right not one person agreed with me" by ATLsportsfrk on Dec 27, 2008 6:31 PM EST
by scstrato on Jan 8, 2009 6:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Whoa
Wait a second…can’t let you get away with some of this…
“It’s even lower than his worst year (2005) in which he was valued at 3.9 million.”
Check the breakdown. He was worth $3.9M in 2005 due mostly to his fielding (an apparent aberration as 2005 was the only significantly positive-value year for him defensively). His bat was essentially worth zero runs in 2005 (although he did have some value versus replacement). So, if the Marcel projection you’re relying on has him even worse offensively, then he’s projected for negative offensive value in 2009.
“it is my opinion he can do it again considering he will now be their everyday LF/DH.”
Well, if he’s going to DH for any significant time, that’s another blow to his positional value versus, since he’s getting docked approx. .5 wins (for half a season at DH), right?
Formerly Uncle Charlie of Minor League Ball
by Yakker on Jan 8, 2009 8:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Well
You “could” have let me get away with it, but since you didn’t …
Unfortunately, for me at least, you are correct, I did not consider his defensive value in 2005 so I’ll admit that wasn’t a good argument. In fairness though, Juan isn’t rated anywhere near as bad defensively in LF as he is in CF and RF and since LF is his projected primary destination for 2009 I say it is possible his defense will have less of an impact on his overall value. Regardless your point is noted. He would have a outperform his projections to have a positive value overall, but I still contend that’s a possibility.
I still hold the position that Juan can outperform his contract but I agree that based on his history there is very little evidence to stand behind my claim. Fair enough?
"Debated ya right not one person agreed with me" by ATLsportsfrk on Dec 27, 2008 6:31 PM EST
by scstrato on Jan 9, 2009 12:29 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
garret anderson? fucking really?
BIG JOE SUCK ONE
by bigjoe on Jan 7, 2009 7:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
FYI, he hasn’t played 100 games in the field since 2005
BIG JOE SUCK ONE
by bigjoe on Jan 7, 2009 7:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
261 games in the LF since 2006
261 games in the LF since 2006 and only two errors.
Career .296./327/.469 hitter which is pretty close to his average for the last two years.
14 of his 15 home runs last year came against lefties, which makes him an interesting potential platoon left fielder with Diaz or Andruw.
by JimK on Jan 7, 2009 9:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
correction: 14 of his 15 home runs last year came against righties
14 of his 15 home runs last year came against righties
by JimK on Jan 7, 2009 9:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
261 out of 486
not exactly a compelling number
we also don’t need another guy who doesn’t know how to walk. hasn’t produced over 20 win shares in 5 years.
BIG JOE SUCK ONE
by bigjoe on Jan 7, 2009 10:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Win shares, eh? I suppose you think we should sign up soon to be available Paul De Podesta or some other geek to run things. Fact is, the Braves aren’t run by the quants, and as long as JS is in charge our team will rely on human scouts and metrics like a player’s character and clubhouse presence. By that measure Garret Anderson would be a welcome addition.
by JimK on Jan 8, 2009 1:09 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Sorry.
These things mean nothing to me.
Here in my mom’s basement, without friends, all I have is numbers…
/s
Or….
Maybe we just think that using all the metrics possible is a good thing. Why would you willfully choose to limit your appraisal of players?
Your statements are ignorant and sadden my heart.
by mburris1 on Jan 8, 2009 1:14 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
geekiness has its limits
You can’t turn over key decisions to the numbers nerds. Theirs should be a minor supporting role. In the lead you need guys who know what it’s like out on the field. A Jim Fregosi knows more about evaluating talent than any spreadsheet of algebraic formulae.
You need to blend statistical measurements with unquantifiable dimensions. I’m in favor of heavily weighting things like pitch counts and OBP (which would lead us to a Swisher instead of an Anderson if we could make the right deal). But Win Shares is bogus stat, because it ignores the human dimension that makes for a winning player, and it doesn’t do much of anything to calculate the damage done by a losing one.
The smarter stat geeks will also acknowledge that convincing data on fielding range is very difficult to assemble. The less astute SABR dilettantes demand we shell out for a Dunn because of his OPS and long at-bats and ignore his atrocious fielding, which anyone can plainly see.
I’m glad the Braves have relied on human scouting and the record (not to mention the Hudson deal) prove theirs is the smarter approach. Where they get in trouble is with short term solutions aimed at filling seats for a season or two at the expense of long term prospect development and fiscal responsibility.
by JimK on Jan 8, 2009 11:03 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
see, this is what you’re missing about dunn.
ALL of the free agent outfielders are fucking dreadful in the field. dunn is the best hitter, so he wins out.
human scouting and the record…isn’t that what brought tom glavine in last year? that worked out real well
BIG JOE SUCK ONE
by bigjoe on Jan 8, 2009 12:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Everything has its limits.
If your argument is “nothings perfect” then, well, congrats, you win. I can’t compete with that.
Why don’t we trade Yunel and sign Eckstein, he’s soooooo gritty, and a winner. Nevermind that he can’t hit, can’t field, and can’t run. He’s a winner…
Winning is about producing. Teams with players who produce better win more. Pretty simple.
Also, I never said you should blatantly ignore the “intangibles,” but the idea that we should sign one guy over another based on the fact that he has “calm eyes” or “a winner’s heart” is laughable at best, and tragically misguided at worst. You know why the Braves won games in the 90s? Because they had players that played better than other players. Was Tom Glavine a great teammate and a “winner?” Sure he was, but it was more than his “bulldogedness” that won those games, it was the fact that he had an amazing statistical run for several years. Same goes with all those guys.
So, don’t pretend that I (or anyone else) hates leadership characteristics; I don’t. I just think that we should evaluate talent in every way possible, and in as much detail as possible. If that means that I care a little more about OPS and BABIP than I do “heart” then so be it.
I just want the Braves to win.
by mburris1 on Jan 8, 2009 12:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Garret Anderson = Good Pick Up
Like 6 years ago.
best defensive shortstop in baseball hahahahahahahahahah (omar visquel)
by mvandonsel on Jan 7, 2009 7:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
haha Garrett Anderson??? We might as well bring Ron Gant back and plug him in left field. Is anyone else here not at all excited about Kawakami? lol
by BravesFan on Jan 7, 2009 9:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
woah, woah, woah…when did Garret Anderson’s name get thrown into the ring? We need to stay the hell away from him.
I guess I should be one to talk.
There's nights that I can't even walk.
There's days I couldn't give a fuck.
And in between is where I'm stuck.
by Smoltz's Beard on Jan 8, 2009 12:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
no we don’t, he plays the game with HEART and has great CHARACTER, and thats how champions are formed!
BIG JOE SUCK ONE
by bigjoe on Jan 8, 2009 12:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
My apologies, you’re right…and he did have 10 RBI in one game a couple years ago, so he’s obviously still in top notch shape.
I guess I should be one to talk.
There's nights that I can't even walk.
There's days I couldn't give a fuck.
And in between is where I'm stuck.
by Smoltz's Beard on Jan 8, 2009 12:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I thought that was Gary Matthews, Jr.
No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.
by royhobbs on Jan 8, 2009 1:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.
by royhobbs on Jan 8, 2009 1:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I guess I should be one to talk.
There's nights that I can't even walk.
There's days I couldn't give a fuck.
And in between is where I'm stuck.
by Smoltz's Beard on Jan 8, 2009 1:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
lol Dikembe Mutombo. He was such an entertaining guy.
No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.
by royhobbs on Jan 8, 2009 1:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
“who wants to sex mutombo?”
BIG JOE SUCK ONE
by bigjoe on Jan 8, 2009 2:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
great news on Kawakami
A few years ago, when I was studying Japanese, a Japanese consular official told me, to my surprise, that the Atlanta area had the largest Japanese population of any U.S. city not on the Pacific Coast. As others have said, once an organization signs a Japanese free agent, it helps in signing future free agents. (Basically, Japanese sports fans know about as much about the Atlanta Braves as Braves fans do about the Yakult Swalllows, but once a prominent Japanese player signs with an American team, the Japanese sports press will start covering the heck out of them.) But the key to getting that first Japanese free agent is making the player feel comfortable, and the key to that is using the local Japanese community to do so. Sounds like Braves management is finally doing that. It restores my confidence in the front office somewaht.
by Tokyokie on Jan 7, 2009 7:17 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Good sign. Hopefully we can sign him
I’ve heard that as well. Japan has a large transplanted population in Atlanta (largest outside of West Coast). I worked for Tiffany & Co. in ATL and they tracked purchases and ATL had 3rd largest sales to Japanese customers outside L.A. and NY. Japan-American Society is also very active and large in ATL. Also I heard interview with Kawakami’s agent(former LA Dodger GM) on Nashville radio and he was very impressed with Frank Wren and the Braves. Called them the most professional and best prepared of all the teams he met with (he met with all groups except one).
by CHill33 on Jan 7, 2009 9:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I hope
That the Braves brass isn’t trying to tell Kawakami that “Buford Highway is just like Canal Street in New York City.” And that once you cross into the city limits past I-285 on the north end the Asian population vanishes like the wind (except Georgia Tech).
But I agree, if the Braves can break through and successfully land an veteran Asian player, it will definitely help in the future for later potentials. I hate to say give Kawakami the royal treatment, but if the team can get him to praise Atlanta, and claim it to be a great place to play, that’s all the word of mouth endorsement needed to make every young Japanese player with MLB aspirations think twice about automatically going to Seattle, LA, New York, or heaven forbid, Boston.
No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.
by royhobbs on Jan 8, 2009 8:37 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
KK
Looking forward to seeing his shuutto all season long.
Formerly Uncle Charlie of Minor League Ball
by Yakker on Jan 7, 2009 8:15 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
we’ll see anther flop he’ll sign somewhere else :(
by Brandonba on Jan 7, 2009 8:53 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
If we sign him?
Will a group of fans dress in white sheets with hoods and sit together in the cheap seats calling themselves KK’s K’s?
-1000 for being a dick.
by Rhyno18 on Jan 7, 2009 8:53 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
So what do we know?
We’ve all heard this would be a decent sign, and that he projects as like a #3 starter. But, what do we know about him? (That’s not sarcastic, I’m actually looking for info.) What do we know about his stuff? His peripherals? What’s he good at?
by RonGantFan on Jan 7, 2009 9:34 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
KK
Can’t find it now, but there’s this guy who does NPB profiles, and his write-up on KK was pretty good. Think the link may be in one of the old diaries.
Bottom line: 36, good control of four pitches, low 90s FB. Decent component stats, “proven winner” if S like that matters to you…you’ll have to read the rest yourself.
Formerly Uncle Charlie of Minor League Ball
by Yakker on Jan 8, 2009 3:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
This team has an entire rotation of #3 starters and almost an entire line-up of #2 hitters.
by Land-Man on Jan 7, 2009 9:39 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
This is the part where I wish I could delete comments.
This has been a horrific escapade in which my typing and internet savvy-ness have suffered, and I apologize to everyone.
That being said:
No. 8 hitters
/fixed.
by mburris1 on Jan 7, 2009 9:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Kawakami’s probably a No. 3 starter, but hey, better a rotation of No. 3s than one of emergency call-up starters.
by Tokyokie on Jan 7, 2009 11:50 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
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