Video on Koji Uehara-1/2 pitches are hangers!

by Matt Rox on Jan 7, 2009 12:11 PM EST Comment 3 comments

I think that its great to see the the O's go after a Japanese pitcher, but perhaps they should have gone after Kenshin Kawakami.

According to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TausE4nhypk, half of Koji's pitches are right over the plate. I did some community service one year for a Giants scouting program, and this guy doesn't fit the "movement" catagory. He's controlled, yes, but the pitches are right down broadway.

He'll have to make major adjustments to keep his ERA under 5.00 at the MLB level.

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From what I've read, Kenshin Kawakami's stuff is very unimpressive

The immoderate moderator

by NYRoyal on Jan 7, 2009 12:29 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Who's to say they're not still going after Kawakami?

The pure fact of the matter is that they need guys to eat innings for the next two seasons while their pitching prospect pipeline rounds into MLB-ready shape. Face it, they’re not going to win in 2009 in that division, and taking an incentive-laden gamble on Uehara for two years is not going to cripple the organization financially. Even if he doesn’t pan out as a starter, he should be useful in the bullpen (and potentially as RP trade bait to other clubs).

Although the Braves are considered the current front-runners, if the Orioles could get Kawakami for a similar type of deal, that would be fine too, as they can generate some fan interest (and maybe some Japanese marketing/endorsement revenue) while the team is getting battered around the AL East and waiting for Tillman/Matusz/Arrieta/etc to finish off their time in the high minors..

by jibs on Jan 7, 2009 1:07 PM EST reply actions 0 recs