Comments on: Masa Kobayashi & The Okajima Generation http://www.npbtracker.com/2008/07/masa-kobayashi-the-okajima-generation/ Baseball in Japan & Around the World Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:22:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Patrick http://www.npbtracker.com/2008/07/masa-kobayashi-the-okajima-generation/comment-page-1/#comment-77 Patrick Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:42:00 +0000 http://www.npbtracker.com/?p=33#comment-77 Yeah, he definitely had some wilderness years. I didn't actually see the playoffs in '05, but I saw the Japan Series where he was unneeded with the exception of game 4. My experience seeing him in Japan is from when I was living there between 2000-2003. Back then, he was one of the few bright spots on a weak Lotte team and had a streak of 33 consecutive converted save opportunities at one point.　Looking at his numbers, he was really one on top of his game in '02. Your views are certainly more recent than mine :) Yabuta has apparently struggled with his control at both the Major and AAA levels. I haven't seen him this year though. http://omaha.royals.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Yasuhiko%20Yabuta&pos=P&sid=t541&t=p_pbp&pid=493161 Yeah, he definitely had some wilderness years. I didn’t actually see the playoffs in ‘05, but I saw the Japan Series where he was unneeded with the exception of game 4.

My experience seeing him in Japan is from when I was living there between 2000-2003. Back then, he was one of the few bright spots on a weak Lotte team and had a streak of 33 consecutive converted save opportunities at one point.　Looking at his numbers, he was really one on top of his game in ‘02. Your views are certainly more recent than mine :)

Yabuta has apparently struggled with his control at both the Major and AAA levels. I haven’t seen him this year though.
http://omaha.royals.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Yasuhiko%20Yabuta&pos=P&sid=t541&t=p_pbp&pid=493161

]]> By: Deanna http://www.npbtracker.com/2008/07/masa-kobayashi-the-okajima-generation/comment-page-1/#comment-76 Deanna Fri, 18 Jul 2008 09:39:54 +0000 http://www.npbtracker.com/?p=33#comment-76 That's really odd. You must have been watching a completely different MasaKoba than I was in Japan, because I always thought he was kind of a mental case on the verge of a meltdown, and never quite understood how he was so successful as a closer. In 2005, the Chiba Lotte Marines won the Japan Series *DESPITE* him, not WITH him. If he hadn't had a meltdown in the third game of the PL Playoffs Second Stage and blown a 4-1 lead in the 9th inning, the Marines would have literally swept the entire postseason. He almost blew the 4th game of the Japan Series too (they didn't need him in the first three games due to gigantic blowouts), but then Imae completely saved him by making an amazing double play off an attempted sac bunt. In general, I always thought Yabuta was the best pitcher out of YFK and it makes me sad that he's struggling in the MLB. I'd be happier if he was back here, because man, the Marines sure need a bullpen. On the other hand, I will at least agree about Hideki Okajima. I only wish he'd been around with the Fighters longer. I still say that the best thing Kazunari Sanematsu ever did for the team was getting traded for a year of Okajima. I bet Kosuke's pretty glad they're not in the same league :) That’s really odd. You must have been watching a completely different MasaKoba than I was in Japan, because I always thought he was kind of a mental case on the verge of a meltdown, and never quite understood how he was so successful as a closer. In 2005, the Chiba Lotte Marines won the Japan Series *DESPITE* him, not WITH him. If he hadn’t had a meltdown in the third game of the PL Playoffs Second Stage and blown a 4-1 lead in the 9th inning, the Marines would have literally swept the entire postseason. He almost blew the 4th game of the Japan Series too (they didn’t need him in the first three games due to gigantic blowouts), but then Imae completely saved him by making an amazing double play off an attempted sac bunt.

In general, I always thought Yabuta was the best pitcher out of YFK and it makes me sad that he’s struggling in the MLB. I’d be happier if he was back here, because man, the Marines sure need a bullpen.

On the other hand, I will at least agree about Hideki Okajima. I only wish he’d been around with the Fighters longer. I still say that the best thing Kazunari Sanematsu ever did for the team was getting traded for a year of Okajima. I bet Kosuke’s pretty glad they’re not in the same league :)

]]> By: Patrick http://www.npbtracker.com/2008/07/masa-kobayashi-the-okajima-generation/comment-page-1/#comment-60 Patrick Wed, 16 Jul 2008 00:48:06 +0000 http://www.npbtracker.com/?p=33#comment-60 Interesting comment about the amateur players. I remember that some MLB teams attempted to sign Hayato Terahara and Yu Darvish out of high school, and way back when the Dodgers tried to sign Shigeo Nagashima. The Dodgers signed a Japanese amateur, Robert Boothe, out of Asia University last off season: http://www.japanesebaseball.com/forum/thread.jsp?forum=33&thread=46804. Boothe is in rookie ball now. If Saito's intent is to go to MLB, going to college would slow things down as he'll have to be posted or wait for free agency, unless he takes the plunge and signs as an amateur. It'll be interesting to see what he does. Interesting comment about the amateur players. I remember that some MLB teams attempted to sign Hayato Terahara and Yu Darvish out of high school, and way back when the Dodgers tried to sign Shigeo Nagashima.

The Dodgers signed a Japanese amateur, Robert Boothe, out of Asia University last off season: http://www.japanesebaseball.com/forum/thread.jsp?forum=33&thread=46804. Boothe is in rookie ball now.

If Saito’s intent is to go to MLB, going to college would slow things down as he’ll have to be posted or wait for free agency, unless he takes the plunge and signs as an amateur. It’ll be interesting to see what he does.

]]> By: Kamina Ayato http://www.npbtracker.com/2008/07/masa-kobayashi-the-okajima-generation/comment-page-1/#comment-59 Kamina Ayato Tue, 15 Jul 2008 20:23:17 +0000 http://www.npbtracker.com/?p=33#comment-59 I think for the most part, it's still a bit of an unknown when players come from Japan to MLB. There seem to be some general things to note though. 1) You'd better be upper tier if you want to be successful in the majors (see Igawa for an example of a failure) 2) The extended season seems to wear on all players and for the most part they struggle late in the season. I think the intersting thing to see is if there will be a trend of getting players straight out of high school or from college. The case study may be Saitou Yuuki (i.e. the Hankerchief Prince), who is now going through his 2nd year in college. I've speculated all along that part of the reason in going to college instead of straight to the NPB is that he can get the full benefit of a salary as opposed to having the club take some off the top. Now, I'm sure if MLB teams take players from college/HS, they'll be sent down to the minors. But it'll be interesting to see what happens if Saitou does come over after graduating, and then how he does thereafter. I think for the most part, it’s still a bit of an unknown when players come from Japan to MLB. There seem to be some general things to note though.

1) You’d better be upper tier if you want to be successful in the majors (see Igawa for an example of a failure)

2) The extended season seems to wear on all players and for the most part they struggle late in the season.

I think the intersting thing to see is if there will be a trend of getting players straight out of high school or from college. The case study may be Saitou Yuuki (i.e. the Hankerchief Prince), who is now going through his 2nd year in college. I’ve speculated all along that part of the reason in going to college instead of straight to the NPB is that he can get the full benefit of a salary as opposed to having the club take some off the top.

Now, I’m sure if MLB teams take players from college/HS, they’ll be sent down to the minors. But it’ll be interesting to see what happens if Saitou does come over after graduating, and then how he does thereafter.

]]> By: BobHamelin http://www.npbtracker.com/2008/07/masa-kobayashi-the-okajima-generation/comment-page-1/#comment-56 BobHamelin Mon, 14 Jul 2008 19:48:53 +0000 http://www.npbtracker.com/?p=33#comment-56 The Royals had so much hope for Yabuta, but sadly he faltered, and with Fukumori being in the minors as well, it's going to scare a lot of teams off, when you look at the over-all pitching imports capped off with Kei Igawa and Hideki Irabu's failures in NY. Does it scare teams if Yu Darvish becomes available? One thing that is certain, Japanese hitters certainly are more productive in the long haul as Fukudome and Iwamura have been wonderful additions, and of course Ichiro is the staple. I think owners will look to the bats now more than pitching. Also, definately check out our site, which you can access by clicking my name. It's a type of MySpace for sports fans. The Royals had so much hope for Yabuta, but sadly he faltered, and with Fukumori being in the minors as well, it’s going to scare a lot of teams off, when you look at the over-all pitching imports capped off with Kei Igawa and Hideki Irabu’s failures in NY.

Does it scare teams if Yu Darvish becomes available?

One thing that is certain, Japanese hitters certainly are more productive in the long haul as Fukudome and Iwamura have been wonderful additions, and of course Ichiro is the staple.

I think owners will look to the bats now more than pitching.

Also, definately check out our site, which you can access by clicking my name. It’s a type of MySpace for sports fans.

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