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Red Sox frontrunners for Hirokazu Sawamura
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Post by soxfanatic on Feb 7, 2021 15:53:39 GMT -5
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Post by tyler3 on Feb 7, 2021 16:21:55 GMT -5
Let the hate begin. Your thought Manfred?
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Post by johnsilver52 on Feb 7, 2021 16:49:41 GMT -5
Looks good to me. Google him and an Oct 2020 link from MLBTR on him comes up. Sounds pretty decent to me, or better than couple guys already projected to be in Sox pen.
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manfred
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Post by manfred on Feb 7, 2021 17:05:03 GMT -5
Let the hate begin. Your thought Manfred? Me? Already expressed my love in the other thread. Appreciate the question. |
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Post by tyler3 on Feb 7, 2021 17:21:37 GMT -5
Everyone feeling positive today, dig it
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manfred
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Post by manfred on Feb 7, 2021 17:37:31 GMT -5
I see there is no posting fee in this instance, but hypothetically, how do posting fees count vis-a-vis the tax line? Is it just a separate cost, not included?
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Post by dirtdog on Feb 7, 2021 18:13:24 GMT -5
I think having Cora back helps but right now this looks like a 75 to 80 win team.
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Post by Chris Hatfield on Feb 7, 2021 22:21:31 GMT -5
I see there is no posting fee in this instance, but hypothetically, how do posting fees count vis-a-vis the tax line? Is it just a separate cost, not included? Correct |
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ericmvan
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Post by ericmvan on Feb 8, 2021 9:15:41 GMT -5
Sawamura's an interesting guy, even beyond his sharing a first name with one of the two most underrated current filmmakers. [1]
He was the Yomiuri Giants' closer in 2015-16 at age 27 / 28, with stats good enough to suggest he was somewhat of a star. But since then he's battled inconsistency and seeming injuries. His b-ref page.
His 2017 season consisted of 10 innings for the Giant's AAA equivalent in the Eastern League, which clearly indicates a major injury.
He just wasn't very good in 2018, and also had 3 games in the EL, which may have been a rehab stint.
He seems to have missed about a fifth of the season in 2019. He either started the year in the EL and was good enough to get promoted back to the big club, where he was even better, close to his closer days, or made a nice comeback, then had an injury and a prolonged rehab stint where he struggled for most of it before recovering his form.
Last year he was just awful for 13 G with the Giants, and was terrifyingly off in 7 games / IP in the EL (2 SO, 8 UBB). He seems to have missed about a third of the season, so it's possible that he started the season hurt; news reports are clear that the big-club struggle was the start of his season but that doesn't mean it started opening day.
He was then traded to the Chibba Lotte Marines of the Pacific League. Facing hitters who were unfamiliar with him, he had the best strikeout numbers and BABIP (it seems) of his career, although he remained more wild than in his closer days.
Guys with funky deliveries do fare better when hitters haven't seen them (Okajima's numbers were startling in that regard), so I wonder whether that was behind the Marines numbers. I see him as a really interesting upside guy for the low end of the pen, like Brice, rather than as a guy good enough to make Brice expendable in trade (which was my thought before I looked at his numbers).
I'm therefore skeptical that this is literally an MLB deal, as we've already discussed the roster squeeze. What would make sense is an NRI deal but with guaranteed MLB money rather than a split contract, putting him in the precise same situation as Munoz (including being optionable once selected). If they like what they see, and there's room in the pen because of a pair of injuries (which is likelier than not), he can take Sale's 40-man spot and Valdez's 26-man spot. (I'm projecting that Houck wins a starting role in ST here; if he doesn't, the roster situation is that much easier, of course).
[1] Hirakazu Kore-eda. Debra Granik's the other.
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Post by James Dunne on Feb 8, 2021 9:23:55 GMT -5
Sawamura's an interesting guy, even beyond his sharing a first name with one of the two most underrated current filmmakers. [1]
He was the Yomiuri Giants' closer in 2015-16 at age 27 / 28, with stats good enough to suggest he was somewhat of a star. But since then he's battled inconsistency and seeming injuries. His b-ref page. His 2017 season consisted of 10 innings for the Giant's AAA equivalent in the Eastern League, which clearly indicates a major injury.
He just wasn't very good in 2018, and also had 3 games in the EL, which may have been a rehab stint.
He seems to have missed about a fifth of the season in 2019. He either started the year in the EL and was good enough to get promoted back to the big club, where he was even better, close to his closer days, or made a nice comeback, then had an injury and a prolonged rehab stint where he struggled for most of it before recovering his form. Last year he was just awful for 13 G with the Giants, and was terrifyingly off in 7 games / IP in the EL (2 SO, 8 UBB). He seems to have missed about a third of the season, so it's possible that he started the season hurt; news reports are clear that the big-club struggle was the start of his season but that doesn't mean it started opening day. He was then traded to the Chibba Lotte Marines of the Pacific League. Facing hitters who were unfamiliar with him, he had the best strikeout numbers and BABIP (it seems) of his career, although he remained more wild than in his closer days.
Guys with funky deliveries do fare better when hitters haven't seen them (Okajima's numbers were startling in that regard), so I wonder whether that was behind the Marines numbers. I see him as a really interesting upside guy for the low end of the pen, like Brice, rather than as a guy good enough to make Brice expendable in trade (which was my thought before I looked at his numbers).
I'm therefore skeptical that this is literally an MLB deal, as we've already discussed the roster squeeze. What would make sense is an NRI deal but with guaranteed MLB money rather than a split contract, putting him in the precise same situation as Munoz (including being optionable once selected). If they like what they see, and there's room in the pen because of a pair of injuries (which is likelier than not), he can take Sale's 40-man spot and Valdez's 26-man spot. (I'm projecting that Houck wins a starting role in ST here; if he doesn't, the roster situation is that much easier, of course).
[1] Hirakazu Kore-eda. Debra Granik's the other.
He indeed had a notable shoulder injury in 2017, which was blamed on a mistake by his acupuncturist. His fastball wasn't recovered until 2019, which explains his return to form. It's also important because it was more of a freak injury than a wear and tear thing, which is obviously the fear when you're talking about anything shoulder related. |
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Post by willacky on Feb 8, 2021 12:19:30 GMT -5
At 2:14, he threw 95mph splitter.
"hiyaku goju san" is 153.
And 153km translates to 95mph.
I've heard of 95mph cutter or sinker.
But I've never heard of 95mph splitter.
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Post by Chris Hatfield on Feb 8, 2021 13:54:13 GMT -5
We're hearing 89-93.
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cdj
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Post by cdj on Feb 8, 2021 13:55:07 GMT -5
On the split? Because if it’s the fastball I won’t be surprised either |
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Post by Chris Hatfield on Feb 8, 2021 14:07:52 GMT -5
split
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Post by willacky on Feb 9, 2021 6:09:02 GMT -5
Worth mentioning that at 3:06 he also threw 152km/h(94mph) splitter.
And I'm sure NPB's broadcasts started to use pitchf/x in all the japanese stadiums so I don't think it was just a "hot gun".
So Sawamura's profile is like fastball tops 99, splitter 88-95, occasionally throws slider. He was a former highly regarded starter converted to a reliever because of command problems but the stuff is truly legit as a one inning reliever.
He'd be a low-risk and high-reward bullpen piece I'd imagine.
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Post by soxfanatic on Feb 9, 2021 8:37:26 GMT -5
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Post by unitspin on Feb 9, 2021 9:01:38 GMT -5
He would be a nice lottery ticket for the bullpen. The few videos ive seen on him look impressive.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Feb 9, 2021 9:02:45 GMT -5
Not a premium strike thrower. I guess he'll fit in great with Barnes, Ottavino, and Darwin Hernandez. They aren't premium strike throwers either. lol. These final two or three innings will feature a ton of full counts, strike outs, baserunners via the walk, and will take forever to play. The fielders better drink coffee too stay awake. That said, I'm still pretty excited about a potential Sawamura acquisition. But it does make me appreciate Koji all the more - never had to worry about throwing strikes being an issue and man, was his games ever quick. This doesn't mean that I expect relievers to be Koji circa 2013, but rather my simple appreciation of strike throwing relievers, and the first guy when I think of, when I do that kind of appreciation, is Koji, who is my favorite Red Sox reliever of all-time, ahead of Papelbon and Foulke, two other guys who could throw strikes as well. |
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Post by greenmonster on Feb 9, 2021 10:48:31 GMT -5
Totally agree about Koji! He was as "sure-a-thing" when he entered the game as I can remember. I used to send my Yankee Fan Friend at text that simply said "Koji Time". We both knew that meant the game was over and the Sox won. But it wasn't just the effective efficient closing of games but his personality and passion he played with you couldn't help but love the guy. Watching him high-five the dugout still brings a smile to my face.
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Post by Chris Hatfield on Feb 9, 2021 10:50:26 GMT -5
It's clear Bloom's got a type when he makes these low-cost bullpen signings: Get a guy with stuff and hopefully you can fix him into throwing strikes. Feels like most of the low-cost RP signings fit that description.
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Post by soxfanatic on Feb 9, 2021 11:10:27 GMT -5
It's clear Bloom's got a type when he makes these low-cost bullpen signings: Get a guy with stuff and hopefully you can fix him into throwing strikes. Feels like most of the low-cost RP signings fit that description. I don't really see it tbh: none of Hall, Springs, Valdez, Grotz, Whitlock, Andriese, McCarthy, Gonsalves scream BIG fastball to me. Blair, Ort, Simpson, Adames and Carasiti throw hard, sure. But for every hard thrower there seems to be a pitcher with a different profile. |
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Post by fenwaymabe on Feb 9, 2021 11:25:20 GMT -5
Nice depth move with the upside for more if a deal comes to fruition. Just enough funk in his delivery to give the batters a different look. Firm fastball and a good split. That's usually a good combo that translates over here pretty well from the NPB.
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manfred
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Post by manfred on Feb 9, 2021 11:49:21 GMT -5
Ok, I’ll say it:
Hernandez —> Sawamura —> Barnes—> Ottavino has pretty significant upside. Theoretically you are looking at 95+ (at least until AO), at least one above average secondary pitch (plus in a couple cases), etc.
Now, obviously, there is a scary floor if AO doesn’t bounce back and if they all suffer from their collective propensity to wildness. This could be a real heartburn special. Still, there are four of them... it feels like the upside is a slightly better bet than the down.
At the least, it could be a fun crew to watch.
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Post by Chris Hatfield on Feb 9, 2021 11:58:42 GMT -5
It's clear Bloom's got a type when he makes these low-cost bullpen signings: Get a guy with stuff and hopefully you can fix him into throwing strikes. Feels like most of the low-cost RP signings fit that description. I don't really see it tbh: none of Hall, Springs, Valdez, Grotz, Whitlock, Andriese, McCarthy, Gonsalves scream BIG fastball to me. Blair, Ort, Simpson, Adames and Carasiti throw hard, sure. But for every hard thrower there seems to be a pitcher with a different profile. Well, two points. First, to clarify, I didn't say "hard thrower." I said good stuff and rough control. Two different things. I'd say a guy sitting 92-94 but with a wicked breaking ball who has a hard time throwing strikes would still fit the profile. Second, an interesting thing I noticed with those two groups: the first group were acquired via trade, trade, waivers, MLFA, R5, MLB FA, MLFA, waivers. The second group were MLFA, ML R5, MLFA, MLFA, MLFA. So I think the MLFA group does trend mostly in that direction (and minor league Rule 5 is basically minor league free agency), which is what I was getting at. Going acquisition by acquisition would be potentially fruitful though to see if that bears out. Of course, we're probably talking about an MLB FA here, so maybe not as applicable. So fair point that at least is helpful in that I can clarify. Maybe I'll get time to do that more in-depth look at some point. |
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Post by ematz1423 on Feb 9, 2021 12:05:40 GMT -5
Ok, I’ll say it: Hernandez —> Sawamura —> Barnes—> Ottavino has pretty significant upside. Theoretically you are looking at 95+ (at least until AO), at least one above average secondary pitch (plus in a couple cases), etc. Now, obviously, there is a scary floor if AO doesn’t bounce back and if they all suffer from their collective propensity to wildness. This could be a real heartburn special. Still, there are four of them... it feels like the upside is a slightly better bet than the down. At the least, it could be a fun crew to watch. Regarding Ottavino his season was strong minus one outlier game where he didn't record an out and let up 6 runs. That ballooned his era from about 3 to over 6. |
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