bad news for Jojima?

by ufo on Nov 20, 2005 11:23 AM EST

its looking more and more like he won't sign with an MLB team. The best offer he's gotten so far is the Mariners: for 2 years, 8 mil a year... and his team in Japan (Fukuoka Softbank Hawks) just upped their offer a couple days ago to 3 years, 10 mil a year.... the latest news articles say he flew back to Japan this week because of a family illness, and that he'll make a decision by tuesday

http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkxMTImZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTY4MTk 5NTMmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2

does anyone own him? (i got him in 3 of my 4 leagues) .. i find it hard to believe that he's getting so little interest from teams considering the catchers on the market this year. Are the tigers shopping Pudge or something? I also think his agent might be doing a terrible job in rushing this entire process.. he's waited at least 3 years to come here, why don't they wait a few more months to see how things develop? (kinda how Pudge/Boras waited it out 2 years ago)

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Don't worry

Nero/Jojima were reacting to reports that had him signing in Seattle within the week. There's not much leverage to speak of in that situation, so they backed off a bit.

Jojima will most likely play in the majors next year.

by jhelfgott @ Minor League Ball on Nov 20, 2005 11:31 AM EST reply actions

hope so

i hope your right

by ufo on Nov 20, 2005 11:39 AM EST up reply actions

i messed up

i'm hearing conflicting reports on the offers. i think its:

Mariners: 2 years, 6 million a year, with option for a 3rd year
Hawks: 1 year, 10 million

with Clement floating around, i'm a little surprised Seattle is willing to go 3 years

by ufo on Nov 20, 2005 11:34 AM EST reply actions

I would be...

shocked, SHOCKED, if Clement is ever a catcher in the majors. I came away nothing but unimpressed each chance I had to see him.

by templeUsox on Nov 20, 2005 4:23 PM EST up reply actions

Throwing

has been the only area of concern I have heard regarding Clement's defense. Clement's bat will keep him behind the plate until it is obvious that his arm is a liability. If Jason Kendall's arm hasn't moved him from behind the plate Clement should be okay.

by riktermiller on Nov 20, 2005 8:20 PM EST up reply actions

Jojima

I would think teams are concerned about his ability to communicate with pitchers. Catcher is a position unique in baseball for it's demands. I have heard he's been taking English lessons though, so obviously he anticipated the problem. That being said I do think he'll end up signing with a MLB team, and have a nice year for someone.

by eastin on Nov 20, 2005 11:54 AM EST reply actions

Latin America Catchers

Aren't there some catchers from Latin America that initially have language problems as well?

by mckeeno on Nov 20, 2005 12:17 PM EST up reply actions

Re

BUt the Latin catchers spend many years in the minors adapting to American culture, language and baseball. Jojima would be coming straight in

by nms on Nov 20, 2005 1:43 PM EST up reply actions

re

Good point. How about Asian pitchers who came straight into the league like Nomo or Hasegawa? They seemed to have success in spite of the language barrier.

by mckeeno on Nov 20, 2005 1:50 PM EST up reply actions

barrier

But when Nomo came over and knew little english it mainly just affected him. A catcher barely knowing english will affect the entire pitching staff.

"If you don't like Torey Lovullo, then you don't like baseball." Sparky Anderson

by natsfan2005 @ Minor League Ball on Nov 20, 2005 4:12 PM EST up reply actions

Who's the pitching coach in Seattle?

Do you think it would be possible for the pitching coach to call the game, as opposed to Jojima, ala Mazzone? If Jojima is solid around the plate, can throw out runners, and hit, calling the game from the bench might not be terrible.

by gatling on Nov 20, 2005 4:47 PM EST up reply actions

Mazzone

Mazzone has never called a pitch in his life.

by aCone419 on Nov 20, 2005 4:55 PM EST up reply actions

I remember

either hearing or reading this offseason that Mazzone was going to call the games in Baltimore from the bench. Maybe he hasn't in the past, maybe what I read/heard was wrong. If I could remember a link to an article or where for sure I heard it, I'd relay it here. That was the basis for the question.

by gatling on Nov 20, 2005 5:00 PM EST up reply actions

Me too

I remember reading that somewhere as well, but I dismissed it as speculation on the writer's part because it contradicts everything Leo has ever said.

It's possible that he takes up the habit in Baltimore, but that would be a major shift in philosophy.

Nonetheless, the question is a legitimate one because a number of other coaches DO call pitches.

by aCone419 on Nov 20, 2005 5:03 PM EST up reply actions

Please God no Leo!

That would make those four hour Yankee-O's marathons even better!

by MetfanBren on Nov 20, 2005 6:08 PM EST up reply actions

Leo has called games

Leo did a major portion of the game calling with Javy Lopez in Atlanta so Lopez is comfortable with it. There was a good chance they would have done something with Lopez for next year if not for Mazzone. They now feel with Mazzone - Lopez can be serviceable for 100 games and that a solid defensive back-up is all they will need because they have Mazzone.

This is all stuff I have read in multiple places so take it for what it is worth.

by slickwdb on Nov 21, 2005 7:54 AM EST up reply actions

Just not true

Straight for the horse's mouth, this past year:

"We (Cox and Mazzone) have never called a pitch in all the years I've been here, ... The pitchers call the game. The signal from the catcher is just a suggestion."

-Leo Mazzone

I don't how this rumor started, but it is just wrong.

by aCone419 on Nov 21, 2005 11:30 AM EST up reply actions

re: Who's the pitching coach in Seattle?

Recently hired Rafael Chaves, who had been their guy in Tacoma the past two seasons and shot through the system, as far as coaches go.

Bilingual, big on communication, more in line with certain Mazzone philosophies (throw more on off days), but I don't know if he'd call a game from the dugout.

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." -- Samuel Beckett

by JY on Nov 20, 2005 5:20 PM EST up reply actions

Japan

I think he'll end up back in japan, I suspect this is a matter of using the MLB to leverage a higher contract back home in Fukuoka.

by CrimsonLiederhosen on Nov 20, 2005 12:18 PM EST reply actions

he's not using MLB for leverage

if he goes back to Japan, i dont think that would play any part in it... its no secret that he's wanted to play in the majors for years now, i doubt he was making it up all this time... Saduhara Oh is the Hawks manager and has been trying to coax Jojima out of it all year now. ownership too. The Red Sox invited him to camp last year, but he never came because the owner(s) refused... sounds like he really wants to come here.. or wanted to at least

by ufo on Nov 20, 2005 11:56 PM EST up reply actions

lol

There is a few things in this world I can count on. Death, Taxes, and bren being 100% wrong.

by Josh @ Minor League Ball on Nov 21, 2005 1:58 PM EST up reply actions

Looks like the M's will get their man

M's to sign Japanese catcher Johjima. Should be very interesting to see how hje handles a pitching staff and major league hitting.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2002636677_mari21.html

by RandyKutcherHair on Nov 21, 2005 8:10 AM EST reply actions

Posting

I think there is a window timeline that would keep him from being able to "wait it out" until the last minute.

And yes, the Tigers are shopping Pudge.

3Rivers, United League of Moderate Gamers | Writer, Minor Details | Writer, Independent Thinking

by rockies73 on Nov 21, 2005 9:56 AM EST reply actions

nah

Johjima wasn't posted. He's a FA. He's got all the time in the world to make his decision.

by jhelfgott @ Minor League Ball on Nov 21, 2005 3:43 PM EST up reply actions

Done deal

According to The Associated Press, Kenji Jojima will get a three-year, $16.5 million contract from the Mariners.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-mariners-jojima&prov=ap&type=lgns

Does this mean Clement will be moved out from behind the plate?

by RandyKutcherHair on Nov 21, 2005 4:01 PM EST reply actions

Doubt it.

Clement's D is still a few years away, but the only serious concern seems to be his arm, and that could be corrected in terms of accuracy, release point, and getting the most he can out of it. Otherwise, people say he calls a good game and takes a leadership position behind the plate.

If anything, this gives them additional time to be patient and wait for his other skills to come around.

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." -- Samuel Beckett

by JY on Nov 21, 2005 5:21 PM EST up reply actions

hmm

Another overhyped bust

by JFP on Nov 21, 2005 5:18 PM EST reply actions

Based on what?

Most all of the Japanese position players to come over here have lived up to their advance billing. The only real exception to that is Kaz Matsui. Hideki Matsui, Ichiro, Iguchi, etc. haved all been just as good as they were supposed to be.

"Second guessers are guys that could have never gotten it right the first time." - Tommy Lasorda (for guys that have no other defense for their actions.)

by slurve on Nov 21, 2005 7:15 PM EST up reply actions

Whoa

hideki has been good, but he hasn't been the monster he was in Japan. his power took a big hit.
And what's up with Japan using a smaller ball? Is it really the same game if you use a different ball?

by CrimsonLiederhosen on Nov 21, 2005 9:01 PM EST reply actions

nothing can be the same

the water is different over there

by ufo on Nov 22, 2005 3:43 AM EST up reply actions

Matsui

Granted he hasn't been the power monster he was over there, but the drop in power was to be expected.

That said he has been one of the better outfielders in MLB since he came over. Very solid numbers, with some good outfield play. Not many left fielders can move over to center and hold there own. I'm sure you would take Dave Roberts over him but if you ask me Matsui has been better then what I expected. Not the bust some had hoped for. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

by Josh @ Minor League Ball on Nov 22, 2005 1:06 PM EST up reply actions