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Post by geostorm on Dec 6, 2021 18:16:44 GMT -5
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jimoh
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Posts: 3,989
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Post by jimoh on Dec 6, 2021 19:33:42 GMT -5
The one thing I worry about is uncertainty over whether he can handle modern major league heat, especially up and in: "if there’s one hole to his game it’s that he can be vulnerable to velocity on the inner third. Suzuki is at his best when he’s getting his arms extended on pitches well out over the plate, but he tends to foul off or swing under fastballs creeping in on him. It’s tough to say whether this would be exploited more in MLB and impact his success, and it’s even harder to say whether Suzuki will be able to adjust to MLB velocity (pitchers’ fastballs in Japan averaged 90 mph in 2021) until we see him face it" blogs.fangraphs.com/2022-top-50-free-agents/ (Eric L.)
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Post by saltalamacchia4mvp on Dec 6, 2021 19:48:58 GMT -5
For a team up against the CBT threshold, signing international free agents is an inefficiency (since the posting fee isn’t counted against the luxury tax). Interesting, didn't know that.
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Post by baseball3 on Dec 6, 2021 20:12:15 GMT -5
Read somewhere that negotiations might be able to continue for Suzuki during the lockout, since he's not part of the player's union yet.
He just can't sign a major league deal until lockout is over. I'm not sure if this is true or not. Wouldn't surprise me to see Suzuki sign quick after the lockout if this is the case.
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Post by jimed14 on Dec 6, 2021 20:13:44 GMT -5
It seems pretty damn obvious if he's following the Red Sox, Papi and JDM on Instagram and no one else in MLB.
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Post by julyanmorley on Dec 6, 2021 20:22:53 GMT -5
It seems pretty damn obvious if he's following the Red Sox, Papi and JDM on Instagram and no one else in MLB. I don't have an Instagram account, but screenshots on Twitter show him having recently followed lots of current MLB players.
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Post by greenmonster on Dec 6, 2021 20:30:53 GMT -5
It seems pretty damn obvious if he's following the Red Sox, Papi and JDM on Instagram and no one else in MLB. I don't have an Instagram account, but screenshots on Twitter show him having recently followed lots of current MLB players. My son looked last night and he was also following Vlad Jr.
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Post by bellhorndingers21 on Dec 6, 2021 20:45:50 GMT -5
I don't have an Instagram account, but screenshots on Twitter show him having recently followed lots of current MLB players. My son looked last night and he was also following Vlad Jr. Mookie Trea Turner Fernando Tatis Jr Nelson Cruz Alex Bregman JDM Altuve Cano Harper Trout Koji
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Post by jmei on Dec 6, 2021 20:53:24 GMT -5
Does he actually personally use his Instagram? At a glance, and with the caveat that I don't read Japanese, it seems pretty curated to me. I could see some junior person at his agent or PR firm accidentally starting a furor...
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Post by baseball3 on Dec 6, 2021 21:54:55 GMT -5
Yeah don't follow social media stuff. That could mean a million things. Hopefully the thing that sets the Sox apart from the pack is Fenway Park. You'd like to think that would be the separating factor to get Suzuki to Boston.
It almost landed Ha-Seong Kim last year. He mentioned how his RH power was enticing to sign with Boston (because of Fenway). He chose the warm climate instead (don't blame him).
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Post by Underwater Johnson on Dec 7, 2021 0:58:52 GMT -5
My son looked last night and he was also following Vlad Jr. Mookie Trea Turner Fernando Tatis Jr Nelson Cruz Alex Bregman JDM Altuve Cano Harper Trout Koji Koji!
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Post by Underwater Johnson on Dec 7, 2021 1:01:37 GMT -5
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Post by saltalamacchia4mvp on Dec 7, 2021 12:40:58 GMT -5
Does he actually personally use his Instagram? At a glance, and with the caveat that I don't read Japanese, it seems pretty curated to me. I could see some junior person at his agent or PR firm accidentally starting a furor... I work in marketing and manage social media accounts so that is very possible - but if he does have someone managing his account I would like to think they are smart enough not to follow one team. If it was a mistake they probably would have unfollowed or added more major league accounts to make it look less odd. Personally, I think there's something to this, but again it's just fun speculation.
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Post by Underwater Johnson on Dec 8, 2021 1:38:52 GMT -5
A few facts about Seiya Suzuki gleaned from his b-ref page and elsewhere:
For most of Seiya's childhood (ages 4-12), Daisuke Matsuzaka was a huge phenomenon in Japanese baseball. Matsuzaka signed with the Red Sox when Suzuki was 12 and won Game 3 of the World Series shortly after Seiya's 13th birthday. Those are some pretty impressionable years for a baseball-obsessed kid. Shortly after Suzuki debuted with the Carp, just after turning 19, he undoubtedly watched Koji Uehara close out the 2013 World Series following a historic regular-season run. Not saying he's a huge Red Sox fan because of all that but you have to figure that some Japanese guys his age are. Might explain the IG thing.
At 5'11", 182 lbs., Suzuki is about the same size as Kiké. Something to consider during your 30-homer reveries. He has a career .414 OBP in the NPB, to go along with a career .570 SLG. He won the 2018 Fighting Spirit Award as the MVP of the losing side in the Japan Series. He's played almost exclusively in RF during his career although he was tried at 3B and SS early in his career, with not very good results. In the OF he's averaged about 10 assists per 162 games and about 4 errors/162.
The Carp mascot is called Slyly. He's half dragon and half Phillie Phanatic.
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jimoh
Veteran
Posts: 3,989
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Post by jimoh on Dec 8, 2021 9:21:49 GMT -5
A few facts about Seiya Suzuki gleaned from his b-ref page and elsewhere: [...] At 5'11", 182 lbs., Suzuki is about the same size as Kiké. Something to consider during your 30-homer reveries. [..] Suzuki has not been 182 lbs for a while. Numerous sources have him as a muscular 215 or 216. Has been lifting weights more than the average Japanese player: "Seiya Suzuki has sculpted his nearly 6-foot frame into a 215-pound package of solid muscle." www.latimes.com/sports/olympics/story/2021-08-02/japan-sieya-suzuki-united-states-baseball-tokyo-olympics-mlb
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Post by Underwater Johnson on Dec 8, 2021 11:33:12 GMT -5
A few facts about Seiya Suzuki gleaned from his b-ref page and elsewhere: [...] At 5'11", 182 lbs., Suzuki is about the same size as Kiké. Something to consider during your 30-homer reveries. [..] Suzuki has not been 182 lbs for a while. Numerous sources have him as a muscular 215 or 216. Has been lifting weights more than the average Japanese player: "Seiya Suzuki has sculpted his nearly 6-foot frame into a 215-pound package of solid muscle." www.latimes.com/sports/olympics/story/2021-08-02/japan-sieya-suzuki-united-states-baseball-tokyo-olympics-mlbAlright! Then let's keep dreaming!
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Post by jimed14 on Dec 8, 2021 11:48:17 GMT -5
Swing built for Fenway. heh
I must admit, I will be disappointed if the Red Sox do not sign him.
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Post by ematz1423 on Dec 8, 2021 12:05:18 GMT -5
Options for a starting caliber RHH OF are pretty slim pickings if they miss out on Suzuki. Really hope they land him with that being the case as I'm not going to be happy if JBJ is the opening day starter.
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Post by voiceofreason on Dec 8, 2021 12:17:08 GMT -5
If we really want to dream we could channel another Suzuki, Ichiro, now that would be dreaming. He came over at 27 and proceeded to win ROY, MVP and GG in his first season and hit well over 300 for the next ten years.
I think if the Sox want him they will out bid everyone and that is what is going to happen.
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Post by jimed14 on Dec 8, 2021 12:53:57 GMT -5
I mean, wouldn't he really enjoy the Green Monster?
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Post by jimed14 on Dec 8, 2021 13:24:54 GMT -5
If people haven't read this, I just want to mention that it's a great read. If you do read it, there's no way in hell that you won't get much more excited about him. Just from his plate discipline and contact numbers, he has a pretty high floor.
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nomar
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Post by nomar on Dec 8, 2021 13:55:23 GMT -5
If people haven't read this, I just want to mention that it's a great read. If you do read it, there's no way in hell that you won't get much more excited about him. Just from his plate discipline and contact numbers, he has a pretty high floor. This was the article I’ve been looking for. I’m sold, let’s spend some money
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Post by Guidas on Dec 8, 2021 16:31:25 GMT -5
If people haven't read this, I just want to mention that it's a great read. If you do read it, there's no way in hell that you won't get much more excited about him. Just from his plate discipline and contact numbers, he has a pretty high floor. This was the article I’ve been looking for. I’m sold, let’s spend some money Eagerly Seconded!
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Post by wildsox on Dec 8, 2021 16:53:41 GMT -5
Give me Seiyaaaa!
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Post by jimed14 on Dec 8, 2021 16:59:00 GMT -5
Do you pronounce his name SEE YA!? Because I can't wait for HR calls if so.
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