According to NPB Tracker, the Mets are reportedly interested in Japanese RHP Koji Uehara as a reliever since declaring his intent to play in the United States.
Uehara, who has played for the Yomiuri Giants since 1999, has a career record of 104-57 with a 2.96 ERA.
Here is a video from YouTube of Uehara pitching in the World Baseball Classic:
Andrew Beaton at Hot Foot also points out a few other Japanese players the Mets should look in to.
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Looks like he’s got good stuff, and he is not named “Aaron Heilman.” I am game!
HaHa… I’m game to sign this guy. Lots of Japanese players have come over and had lots of success in the bullpen in recent years.
The only concern I vhave is that in Japan they are taught if they miss to miss up, and unlike over there in the MLB that will end up being a homer. That’s what Kai Igawa of the yanks had extreme trouble with.
Again i’m all for getting him and giving him a shot. With a record like that you can even see if he has starter’s ability.
Curveball stinks….bad. Tell him to never throw that thing again. He also won’t get away with leaving that 2-seamer over the plate here in the States, but it seemed like for the most part he had good command. Above average velocity, great movement on the fastaball, and a wicked changeup that drops off the table and is virtually indistinguishable from the fastball. He’s no Rivera, but he would be an obvious upgrade from what we’ve got now. I say go for him, but don’t expect another Daisuke Matsuzaka.
Scout? You can tell all that from a 5 minute youtube video? If your that good you should work for the mets not blog for them.
Yeah, I also noticed that his fastball was catching too much ofthe plate. That could spell trouble. I do like the movement on his two seamer though. I could not tell if that dropper was his change-up or if it was a sinker.
I think Japanese arms are worth a look see. He is a free agent so I we won’t have to pay a posting few.
I initially heard that the Mets were interested in Kazawa(the 18 yr ameture), but I there interest in him seems to have faded since they are no longer mentioned in being in the running. I no there is a gentlemens’ agreement that forbids MLB teams from signing him, but it seems like some teams are going to ignore it. I wonder if the Wilpons want to be good citizens and abstain.
I wondered the same thing, but judging by how far out in front the hitters are I’d say it’s a changeup.
Houstonpete-I’m no scout but I have been a pitching instructor before…and you’re right, he could’ve either had great stuff or been off that day. We don’t know. I was just going by what I saw in the video.
He does not throw a Curveball, nor does he throw a Change-up, or a 2-seam Fastball.
His arsenal is a Fastball that runs about 91, a Forkball, a Shuuto (Breaking ball that’s common in Japan), and a Cutter.
I am sorry but that fastball moved a good deal. If he does not have a two seamer then his four seamer moves like a two seamer. Perhaps I confused his cutter with a two seamer. But that did not move like a cutter though.
I find it hard to believe he doesn’t have a two seamer in his arsenal.
Oh well.
Who cares what the pitches are called? What we saw on the video (which is very little to go by in the first place) is comparable to pitches thrown in the MLB. The shuuto is just another word for a sinker, which could very well be the sinking pitch he throws. A didn’t see a fork ball in the video, but different pitching styles can produce different results. I also didn’t see a cutter (or at least a very good one). I saw a fastball that is flat and approx. low 90s, and a tailing fastball (more commonly known as a “2-seam” fastball) that tended to run back over the plate.
If you wanna get all offensive about the names of his pitches, you’re wasting your time. I just call em like I see em, and what I saw was “comparable” to the pitches I listed above.
If you don’t know what the pitches actually are, (As evidenced by such inaccurate statements like a Shuuto is another word for a Sinker), Then you have no ability to form any sort of educated opinion on the subject. It’s just the reality of the matter.
I don’t mean to sound like a condescending jerk, but how else is one supposed to correct such blatant gaffs?
News flash, genious! I said “I don’t care what the name of the pitch actually is.”
I was comparing the pitches to the effects you see in the MLB!
And by the way, jerk, it’s spelled gaffe, not gaff.
Spelling error, my bad, that spellcheck didn’t pick up on it because gaff is also a word.
Doesn’t change a damn thing though.
No, it doesn’t. You’re still a jerk for berating anyone on here who has mistaken a highly unknown pitch in the western world of baseball for a pitch (or pitches) with similar movements.
Look, I’m done arguing this nonsense. You’re right, I’m wrong. Happy?
My opinion still stands: Go after him, but don’t expect a superstar.
If that pitch that I thought was a two seamer was a cutter then he had a pretty bad cutter that day. Cutter s tend to have a sharper bite to them. Two seamers tend to wander in or out on a more horizontal plane then cutters do.
His curveball is bad. But it looks like he might have a light breaking slider (4:28) that would work as a change of pace. The key for the guy will be locating his fastball obviously he leaves it to centered for MLB but with a change up like that you would be stupid not to give him a chance. For the right amount of money of course.
God, you guys are awful at this. Please stop.
Again, he does not throw a Curveball, nor does he throw a Change-up, a Slider, or a 2-seam Fastball.
His arsenal is a Fastball that runs about 91, a Forkball, a Shuuto (Breaking ball that’s common in Japan), and a Cutter.
No you are awful. I don’t give a darn what they call the pitches in Japan. Watch the video. He threw two curveballs that I saw and one was almost hit out of the park.
Venom not doubting you just curious what you see at 1:31, 1:37, and 4:28
Just so we can all shut up with this stupid argument-
Here is an official scouting report from NationMaster Encyclopedia:
Uehara has two types of splitters, a cut fastball, a slider and an 88-90 mph fastball with late movement. He posesses good control and has a smooth delivery.
-Shuuto and fork ball are his “splitters”.
-Cut fastball was most likely the flat (lifeless) fastball that he locates rather well.
-Slider was the hanging frisbee we saw, but is commonly mistaken for a curveball (especially since they are all technically curveballs). The sliders in the video were awful.
-Fastball with late movement is also known as a 2-seam fastball. I have yet to see a 4-seam fastball break that way from an overhand RHP.
As I said before, the name of the pitch does not matter. It is the effect on the hitter and control that matter the most.
Again, comparing a Shuuto and a Forkball to a Splitter is simply inaccurate and false.
Each pitch has it’s own individual set of spin on the ball, velocity, how long until the pitch breaks (Late Break vs Early Break), direction of movement, amount of movement, ect.
You cannot take a Shuuto or Forkball and say it’s a Sinker, and then say it’s a Splitter. It’s not either, it’s a Shuuto. It is it’s own pitch and has differences from all of the aformentioned pitches.
Any scouting report that says he throws a Splitter is inaccurately reporting what the pitch actually is.
All hail the almighty god of baseball!
To say that because someone isn’t 100% accurate in his/her familiarity with an Eastern pitch means they can’t form any educated decision on how the pitcher would perform in the MLB is very inaccurate as well.
Since you know sooo much more than all of us and we are obviously of inferior knowledge, why don’t you just go form your own forum and continue to discredit anyone who posts anything?
Perhaps instead, you should be modest enough to realize that you don’t know everything and don’t try and pretend that you do.
You’re the one sitting here and acting like you’re a major league scout off of a Youtube video that only shows a third (If that) of the information necessary, as there is nothing close to a velocity given forcing you to estimate, nor is the video of high enough quality to try and determine how the pitch is spinning.
Hahaha…I quit. You’re right. I said I was a scout and also said I know everything.
I was simply defending my analysis (which I also stated was based on way too little information, and could be false) as an “overview” of his stuff. It’s like getting nailed for calling a curveball a breaking ball, you know it just doesn’t make sense.
Yes, I WRONGLY claimed the pitch was a curveball. It is in fact a shuuto. Yes, I mistakenly claimed it was a sinker, when I actually meant to say it was a pitch that sinks down and in on RHH. Perhaps a poor choice of words, but you’re taking my claim and parsing it way too much, man.
I never said I was a MLB scout, and I never said I know everything….I said I was a pitching instructor that focuses on mechanics and effects of pitches on hitters rather than the names of pitches.
Nice job with the video. Value added
His delivery looks much more “american” than you usually see from japanese pitchers
As long as they don’t have to bid some ridiculous posting fee just to negotiate, a la Matsuzaka, then I think it’s interesting. Probably less competition and a chance to get a good player for a fair price.
33 years old, going to be 34.. NO.. thanks..
?
He’s a straight Free Agent, no posting fee.
I should say though is that Uehera has a long-stated preference to start, and may be reluctant to signing as a Reliever, especially when the Orioles are reportably interested in him as a Starter.
For the sake of the team, I hope he’s straight…
Your $? Who cares how much they post? I could care less how much he costs if he will get 8th inning outs in August and September. Spend as much as needed if he will allow me to go to bed this summer. Tired of pulling my hair our for an hour a night!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fans care because they know we’re not going to have a Yankee-esque payroll, they’re only going to spend so much money this off-season.
err because we know they’re is what it should said.
looks like a lot of straight fastballs to me…and korea is nowhere even in the same galaxy as the mlb…to me another japanese player waiting to fail
Japanese Relievers do well in the U.S. Its the starters you have to be cautious of
He has good looking stuff, but what does the radar say? As long as he comes cheap, he could be a good 7th/8th inning guy.
it all depends on how much hes gunna cost
no thanks, dont want another komiyama.
instead of the japanese greg maddux, the mets got the japanese mike maddux.
instead of the japanese francisco rodriguez, the mets will get the japanese rich rodriguez.
I’ll take him. Give him a spot to earn a spot in spring training. If he doesn’t make it, he goes to triple A like other guys.
Why not try to bring in many guys. Everyone yells about age, but wasn’t the TB bullpen outside Price Pretty old. Wheeler, Percivel, Bradford. Boston’s bullpen outside Papelbon was pretty old.
Middle relievers are hot and cold. For a season you can’t expect to rely heavily on 3 guys for an entire season. It will take about 10-11 for the whole season, maybe more. That’s the problem i keep seeing on these boards, Sign 1,2,3 guys and Blamo the bullpen is fixed all of a sudden. Doesn’t work that easy or every team would have a good bullpen. And as you consistently see year in and year out only a handful of teams have a good bullpen.
i put a link to a report for him up before but my post didnt go thru…if u go to MLBtraderumors, there’s a scouting link there…
i’d def sign this guy, wont cost us anything in terms of draft picks or posting fees…and it’s not like he’s gonna sign for 5 years…2 or 3 years of guaranteed american $$$ will get him here…good fall back option too if guys ilke juan cruz or bob howry and such start to play games with bidding
and yes, japanese releivers tend to do better
I think there’s an agreement to pay the Japanese league.. That said.. If it’s cheap (couple of mill), it would definately be worth it to bring him over and see what he’s got.
this guy blows everything was up in the zone… he looked like another masato yoshi.
i guess you missed the 2nd half of 1999. if i remember correctly, i don’t think he gave up more than 2 runs in any of his last 10 starts.
let’s hope the mets do some research this time before signing a player from japan
he has a live arm thats for sure.
noone konws what he’ll do in the MLB but hey we need pitchers and we could use some help in the pen or a 5th starter.
No.. please.. no!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think it is funny that one video has people declaring that he “looks good” or “he blows.”
This video tells us very little.
I’m wary of getting players from Japan. It is so difficult to really know what you’re getting.
guys, i just saw a poll on ESPN that asked, who will win the NL CY YOUNG.. so far out of 4677 ppl that voted this is the %:
Brad Lidge- 15%
Tim Lincecum- 28%
CC Sabathia- 36%
Johan Santana- 8%!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Brandon Webb- 13%
it goes to show how much of a hatred ppl have for anything new york!! coz only a moron would vote either lidge or webb ahead of superman…
lidge was the best player in baseball this year. no one did their job better.
Funny but I think Lidge should recieve some MVP votes but should not be CY Young.
I don’t know about pitching on a professional level, nor am i a scout obviously, but based on my personal experience pitching, a fastball that has as much movement as his is impressive.
I’m all for exploring every possible option to revamp the teams bullpen and trust that the mets scouts understand more about pitching then i do. Im just happy that they are looking everywhere, and not simply overpaying for overthehill free agents
Omar, for the love of God and baseball stay clear of this
guy. Go get us a proven MLB Pitcher NOT a jap-league
question who to startout with may have problems culturaly
let alone baseball wise. Please stop gambling,hoping and
praying while spending the teams money.
Sure things are expensive, we cannot afford more than one. For a sucessful 2009 there will have to be some gambles that work out
Yeah, but not these kind of gambles.No More
Alous,Duque,Castillo type gambles where we
lock up roster spots and invest millions in guys
who cant be counted on. I’d rather go after a proven
MLBer whos had a bad year or two OR go with young talent like Parnell and Niese.
I agree with your comment, but am prepared to give mgmt some room for creativity in terms of fixing the pen. If they went for a foreign stud (which this guy may or may not be) in addition to a proven pitcher or two that could end up serving us well
Hey as a fellow Met fan I’ll respect your opinion
however,there are a bunch of type B FAs out there
who we might be able to sign to short term contracts
which would only cost us money and who we don’t
have to worry about providing translators and who
we dont have to worry about getting comfitable in
a new country/society. So. before Omar overreaches
and spends too much time trying to be creative,
he should check out the health and interest of guys
we and he knows.
Masato Yoshii.
Shinjo
Kaz.
Nuff said.
Not to mention the “superstars” who were/are ever worse:
Irabu,Nakamura,Fukudome etc.
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