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Post by redsox04071318champs on Dec 17, 2021 9:46:42 GMT -5
It has been said before, by someone who goes by the call sign jerrygarciaparra, the love for Suzuki on this board is due in part to the current state of the team's outfield and the very misplaced notion that our GM is very smart and won't start the season with JBJ as a starting outfielder. The actual risk of this player performing well in the major leagues is not mentioned very often. As has been said before, because the board is freaking out at JBJ being a starting outfielder for the club (an understandable reaction). As has been said before, I would proceed with caution on this player based on the very direct evidence that great players from Japanese leagues are no gaurantee of success in MLB. That isn't a knock on their talent, but just commentary on how good MLB players are. I think even with Suzuki, there's a very good chance that JBJ is basically the starting CF with Kiké playing a lot of 2b. I think that because it's hard to imagine Arroyo being an everyday 2b given all the starts and stops he had and even the doubts about his playing ability. I mean, I love his defense and I was kind of impressed by his hit tool and sneaky pop, but I had concerns about his lack of plate discipline undermining him, so it's not hard to imagine a scenario where Arroyo is injured or ineffective, Hernandez is needed back at 2b and JBJ is starting a lot of games in CF against righthanded pitchers who make up about 80% of the rotations in the American League. Maybe the Sox bring back Iglesias or sign somebody else (if they get Suzuki or Schwarber they're not spending the money to get Story) and he steps into the void if Arroyo struggles or gets injured.
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Post by Chris Hatfield on Dec 17, 2021 10:45:04 GMT -5
There's been 5 high profiled Asian players to come to the MLB that were able to pick the teams they wanted to go. Ichiro. Dice-K. Darvish were all forced to sign with the team that posted the highest amount in the old post system. Ohtani. Kim. Matsui. Matsui was signed when George Steinbrenner was throwing around money like candy back then. Kim and Ohtani picked west coast teams. So the advantage there is definitely real. I might be missing one signing somewhere in my memory, but the point still stands. Add- Yup, I missed 2 signings. Yusei Kikuchi. Ryu. One picked the Mariners. The other picked the Dodgers. West Coast teams. Again. Well, it sort of depends what we're calling "high profile." I'd add Maeda to LAD and Tanaka to NYY as high profile (I'm presuming you just missed the latter). Maeda fits what you're saying. NYY has prestige cache that Boston would have to a somewhat lesser degree. There are plenty of Japanese and Korean players who aren't high profile who've signed with teams not on the west coast as well. Those teams will always have something of an advantage though, for sure. The Cardinals have had pretty good success getting B tier Korean players, for example.
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gerry
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Post by gerry on Dec 17, 2021 12:41:28 GMT -5
Also: The insanely ignorant anti-Asian attitudes and attacks by some American whack jobs is well covered in all Asian media. Asian players will want to go to the safest and most comfortable places for their families.
All West Coast cities have very large Asian communities. LA Chinatown, J-Town, Korea Town, Little Saigon, Philipino District are truly large, affluent, educated, politically and socially involved communities. Same for Seattle, SFO, and to a lesser extent San Diego. In other words, after terribly racist beginnings in the evolution of the American West, Asians have become comfortable, successful, well integrated members and leaders of the larger communities. Their baseball teams reflect this.
I think Boston and New England have also become safe and comfortable destinations for all Asian communities, and the Red Sox are proof of that. And the Spring and Fall (April-October) weather patterns of New England are comfortably similar to those of Japan and Korea, and includes the bonus Fort Meyers in Feb and March. I think the weather may be less a factor than the large, successful West Coast Japanese, Korean and Chinese populations.
That said, Fenway seems made for Seiya Suzuki, with a fan base which has already raised countrymen Oki, Koji, Daisuke and others to places of honor. I am hoping for Suzuki in RF for years to come.
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Post by jimed14 on Dec 17, 2021 14:51:57 GMT -5
It has been said before, by someone who goes by the call sign jerrygarciaparra, the love for Suzuki on this board is due in part to the current state of the team's outfield and the very misplaced notion that our GM is very smart and won't start the season with JBJ as a starting outfielder. The actual risk of this player performing well in the major leagues is not mentioned very often. As has been said before, because the board is freaking out at JBJ being a starting outfielder for the club (an understandable reaction). As has been said before, I would proceed with caution on this player based on the very direct evidence that great players from Japanese leagues are no gaurantee of success in MLB. That isn't a knock on their talent, but just commentary on how good MLB players are. The love I have for Suzuki is based completely on that article posted early in this thread. You should read it, as it completely addresses everything you have said in a convincing way.
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jimoh
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Post by jimoh on Jan 6, 2022 12:26:26 GMT -5
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Post by freddysthefuture2003 on Jan 6, 2022 13:33:47 GMT -5
Damn, I really underestimated the change in pitcher velocity from the KBO to the MLB.
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Post by Coreno on Jan 6, 2022 22:04:23 GMT -5
NPB
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Post by freddysthefuture2003 on Jan 7, 2022 15:29:00 GMT -5
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jan 7, 2022 15:33:17 GMT -5
Anytime Koji is involved, it has to be great news. Can't see the name Koji and not smile. Hopefully Koji put in some great words about playing with the Sox. Hope Boston is where Suzuki is headed. Sounds promising.
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Post by voiceofreason on Jan 8, 2022 5:11:02 GMT -5
I saw the article on Seiya's comment and was going to post it but of course someone here already did so.
Looks like the Sox have their RFer of the future and I am psyched. Getting this guy for no other costs such as a trade with prospects involved seems like a Bloom type move. When you combine this move with all the others that they have made over the past 2 yrs it really is impressive. The team is in great position to contend and the system is loaded. Of course having one terrible season that led to Mayer and Whitlock and others helped a lot but Bloom has made many moves to build it up.
I know this might be premature as Seiya isn't signed yet but I really like what the team looks like going into next season. I have also been a proponent of building a staff of many pseudo starters and that is exactly what they have done. Add 1 or 2 more pitchers to the staff and the Sox will be done and looking really good, now get the CBA figured out plz!!
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Post by greenmonster on Jan 8, 2022 7:46:36 GMT -5
Good things happen when Koji is involved....no better time than Koji-Time
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Post by julyanmorley on Jan 8, 2022 10:15:23 GMT -5
You guys might be reading a little too much into Suzuki's actual quote.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jan 8, 2022 10:29:52 GMT -5
You guys might be reading a little too much into Suzuki's actual quote. You're probably right. It was the use of the word "that" which got my aftention. When Koji said you're signing with Boston, right, the reply was that he "can't quite disclose THAT yet", which I took as a direct response towards him going to Boston, because the response wasn't something along the lines of "I can't disclose whichever place I'm going to" or I haven't made my decision where I'm going." Maybe I am misinterpreting it, but between following the Sox on Twitter, knowing that nobody other than Suzuki fits the bill for the all around RF that Bloom seeks, given that the Renfroe deals weakens the Sox in 22 most likely if there is no accompanying move like Suzuki, and now this story...it leads me to think the Sox are all in here, especially with it most likely the big splash deal is a deal for under 100 million, as opposed to signing a Correa, a Bryant, or even a Story. Doesn't mean he is going to Boston, but I'm feeling more optimistic about it.
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Post by incandenza on Jan 8, 2022 13:14:20 GMT -5
You guys might be reading a little too much into Suzuki's actual quote. You're probably right. It was the use of the word "that" which got my aftention. When Koji said you're signing with Boston, right, the reply was that he "can't disclose THAT right now", which I took as a direct response towards him going to Boston, because the response wasn't something along the lines of "I can't disclose where I'm going" or I haven't made my decision where I'm going." Yes - the meaning of 'that' here is ambiguous between a determiner and a relative pronoun... and is being transcribed in a tweet... and is translated from Japanese. I'm gonna reserve judgment on this one.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jan 8, 2022 13:38:32 GMT -5
You're probably right. It was the use of the word "that" which got my aftention. When Koji said you're signing with Boston, right, the reply was that he "can't disclose THAT right now", which I took as a direct response towards him going to Boston, because the response wasn't something along the lines of "I can't disclose where I'm going" or I haven't made my decision where I'm going." Yes - the meaning of 'that' here is ambiguous between a determiner and a relative pronoun... and is being transcribed in a tweet... and is translated from Japanese. I'm gonna reserve judgment on this one. Agreed. Not ready to put him in the home whites (or reds or yellows as often was the case), but I strangely do feel more encouraged and I can't help but wonder if Koji knows something. Players do talk. For all we know Sawamura could have put in a good word and could be in communication with Suzuki and we do know that Sawamura regards Koji highly (don't we all) and could be in touch with Koji or maybe Koji has a good relationship with Suzuki. Or maybe Koji is just kidding. Who knows? Of course it's all speculatory.
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Post by voiceofreason on Jan 8, 2022 14:37:09 GMT -5
Maybe presumptuous but I am sticking to my guns on this one. As redsox0407 said as far as I'm concerned all the signs point to a Red Sox signing. The need after the Renfroe trade, the thought that Koji had heard about it thru back channels and stated it so matter of factly, Seiya's response, the position the Sox are in all points to the Sox.
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Post by incandenza on Jan 8, 2022 15:24:53 GMT -5
Well here's another quote [or different interpretation of the same exchange?] from their discussion:
Koji: You're going to Boston, right? Seiya: No.... I don't know about Boston.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jan 8, 2022 16:12:29 GMT -5
Well here's another quote from their discussion: Koji: You're going to Boston, right? Seiya: No.... I don't know about Boston.
I liked the first translation better. Lol
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jimoh
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Post by jimoh on Jan 9, 2022 8:03:08 GMT -5
The supposed "translation" that got us all excited was not a translation but an interpretation of what the tweeter thought Suzuki meant when he said "no."
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Post by wcsoxfan on Jan 9, 2022 22:12:43 GMT -5
The supposed "translation" that got us all excited was not a translation but an interpretation of what the tweeter thought Suzuki meant when he said "no." At least it gave a reason to be interested in baseball for a couple of days. But we're going to need a few dozen more vague/creative interpretations/translations to make it through the rest of the lockout.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jan 10, 2022 1:10:37 GMT -5
Well here's another quote from their discussion: Koji: You're going to Boston, right? Seiya: No.... I don't know about Boston.
I liked the first translation better. Lol That initial interpretation was misleading. If he was being non-commital, the interpretation should have been clearly made out as such. It leads me to believe that Suzuki speaks better English than the person interpreting his words. Despite all this I still feel like the Sox have a legit chance to land him....if the lockout doesn't drag on too long, but it just might and he might simply go back to Japan for the season. Then I have no idea what the Sox plan is to improve their offense. I'd guess Soler in LF and Verdugo moves to RF if Suzuki or Schwarber doesn't sign with Boston? I'd think the preference is to keep Verdugo in LF, but that might not be possible if they don't get Verdugo. Have trouble believing the plan was to start Hernandez and JBJ in the outfield together. I doubt JBJ would come close to what Renfroe gave them offensively and I can't imagine that the defensive difference is large enough to wipe out the offensive difference of what Renfroe gave them in 2021. I'd hope that's not the plan.
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Post by voiceofreason on Jan 10, 2022 8:24:36 GMT -5
Need and the financial ability to do it at this point in time leads to the Red Sox. The Yankees have less need and less $$ ability right now due to other priorities and their budget. I also think this aligns with how the FO would like to build a team, the upside vs the floor seems like a good business decision. And it is like adding a seasoned top 5 pick to the system IMO. I could be wrong but the Sox seem to have the ability to offer the best contract.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jan 10, 2022 9:18:49 GMT -5
Need and the financial ability to do it at this point in time leads to the Red Sox. The Yankees have less need and less $$ ability right now due to other priorities and their budget. I also think this aligns with how the FO would like to build a team, the upside vs the floor seems like a good business decision. And it is like adding a seasoned top 5 pick to the system IMO. I could be wrong but the Sox seem to have the ability to offer the best contract. The Rangers are in on everybody. Wouldn't be heard to see Seattle or San Francisco be serious players for him.
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Post by freddysthefuture2003 on Jan 12, 2022 10:10:37 GMT -5
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Post by Chris Hatfield on Jan 12, 2022 13:54:26 GMT -5
I need more Koji in my life.
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