Shintaro Fujinami has a superb understanding of how NPB compares to MLB. Previous to signing with the Oakland Athletics in January (and subsequently being traded to the Baltimore Orioles in July), the 29-year-old right-hander spent 10 seasons with the Hanshin Tigers. Alongside the way in which he confronted lots of Japan’s high hitters, with Central League stalwarts similar to Munetaka Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto among the many standouts. The latter was the primary identify Fujinami talked about once I requested which of his former position-player opponents would finest carry out stateside.
“I feel that Okamoto, the third baseman for the Tokyo Yomiuri Giants, could be fairly good right here,” replied Fujinama, who went 7-8 with a 7.18 ERA over 79 reduction innings in his first MLB season. “He’s an influence hitter in Japan, though an influence hitter there isn’t the identical as right here. Energy hitters in Japan gained’t hit 40 house runs over right here like Shohei Ohtani does. However he would do nicely.”
A 27-year-old right-handed hitter, Okamoto slugged an NPB-best 41 house runs this 12 months whereas slashing .278/.374/.585. He’s gone deep no less than 30 occasions in every of the final six seasons, a span that features a .274 batting common and 108 strikeouts yearly. Regardless of the not-low Okay totals, Fujinami believes that Okamoto possesses the bat-to-ball abilities to deal with MLB pitching. Furthermore, he doesn’t really feel that prime heaters would bedevil the Yomiuri slugger.
“He has good contact-ability, and he’s additionally good at hitting fastballs,” Fujinami informed me throughout our September dialog. “The fastball velocity right here is greater than it’s in Japan, however I really feel that Okamoto might make an adjustment to that if he got here right here. I feel that Okamoto can hit a fastball on the high of the zone higher than Murakami. If I needed to decide one to convey right here to the states, I might decide Okamoto.”
Fujinami mentioned that he doesn’t know if Okamoto hopes to someday take his sport to MLB. He thinks that Murakami, a 23-year-old Yakult Swallows third baseman who has averaged 42 house runs over the past three seasons, does aspire to take action.
Which brings us to NPB’s high pitchers. Which of Roki Sasaki — a 21-year-old right-hander just a few years away from a potential transfer to MLB — or Yoshinobu Yamamoto — a 25-year outdated righty anticipated to return over this offseason — does he really feel might be finest fitted to MLB?
“Each would do nicely right here,” Fujinami mentioned after pondering the query for a number of seconds. “But when I needed to decide one, it will in all probability be Sasaki.”
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RANDOM HITTER-PITCHER MATCHUPS
Dusty Baker went 9 for 15 in opposition to Dock Ellis.
Dusty Cooke went 9 for 27 in opposition to Purple Ruffing.
Dusty Rhodes went 12 for 28 in opposition to Artwork Fowler.
Dusty Coleman went 3 for six in opposition to Gerrit Cole.
Dustin Pedroia went 22 for 45 in opposition to Scott Kazmir.
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Craig Breslow being employed as the brand new Chief Baseball Officer of the Boston Purple Sox delivered to thoughts a chunk that ran right here at FanGraphs six years in the past. The primary sentence of the October 2, 2017 article, which comprised quotes on the topic from a cross-section of gamers, coaches, managers, and common managers — 17 folks in all — was “Are immediately’s analytically-inclined gamers the following era of top-level front-office executives?” From Gerrit Cole to Dave Dombrowski to A.J. Hinch to Bob Melvin, the opinions leaned closely within the route of sure.
Since that point, the likes of Sam Fuld (Philadelphia Phillies), Brandon Gomes (Los Angeles Dodgers), Chris Younger (Texas Rangers), and now Breslow, have assumed outstanding entrance workplace positions. Different analytically-savvy former gamers have assumed government roles as nicely. Certainly one of them, Burke Badenhop, is a particular assistant for the Nationwide League champion Arizona Diamondbacks. One other, Brandon McCarthy, has been a particular assistant for the American League champion Rangers.
On a associated be aware, I first interviewed Breslow for Baseball Prospectus in 2006. The archived dialog will be discovered right here.
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RANDOM HITTER-PITCHER MATCHUPS HALLOWEEN BONUS
Spook Jacobs went 6 for 15 in opposition to Don Larsen.
Creepy Crespi went 12 for 34 in opposition to Carl Hubbell.
Richie Hebner went 11 for 17 in opposition to Tom Hume.
Casper Wells went 5 for 12 in opposition to C.J. Wilson.
Mickey Mantle went 3 for 16 in opposition to Dick “The Monster” Radatz.
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A quiz:
The primary regular-season house run by a delegated hitter was hit on April 6, 1973. Catfish Hunter was on the mound. Who was the DH that took him deep?
The reply will be discovered under.
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NEWS NOTES
The Society for American Baseball Analysis (SABR) introduced the creation of the Sarah Langs Ladies in Baseball Analytics Scholarship. Awarded yearly to 2 recipients, the scholarship will present significant skilled improvement and networking alternatives for female-identifying college students or younger professionals pursuing a profession in baseball analytics and information science.
Tom Walker, a right-handed pitcher who was credited with 18 wins and 11 saves whereas taking part in for 4 groups, primarily the Montreal Expos, from 1972-1977, died earlier this week at age 74. In 1971, he threw a 15-inning no-hitter for the Cal Ripken Sr.-managed Dallas-Fort Price Spurs within the Double-A Dixie Affiliation. His son, Neil Walker, performed for the Pittsburgh Pirates and 4 different golf equipment.
Rob Gardner, a left-handed pitcher who went 14-18 with two saves and a 4.35 ERA whereas taking part in for six groups from 1965-1973, died on October 21 at age 78. The Binghamton native was twice traded by the New York Yankees, as soon as in a deal for Felipe Alou, the opposite time in a deal for Matty Alou.
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The reply to the quiz is Tony Oliva. The Corridor-of-Famer homered off of Hunter within the first inning of an 8-3 Minnesota Twins over the Oakland Athletics at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.
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Ten finalists have been named this week for the 2024 Ford C. Frick Award, which honors excellence in baseball broadcasting. The winner, who might be introduced on December 6 in the course of the Winter Conferences, might be considered one of Joe Buck, Joe Castiglione, Gary Cohen, Jacques Doucet, Tom Hamilton,Ernie Johnson Sr, Ken Korach, Mike Krukow, Duane Kuiper and Dan Shulman.
My private favorites among the many group are Hamilton and Korach, whereas three others additionally rank extremely on my desire checklist. That mentioned, the entire finalists are deserving, It’s a improbable group.
In the meantime, is there a extra polarizing baseball broadcaster than John Smoltz? Criticism comes with the territory, particularly if you’re speaking to a big viewers, however based mostly on (seemingly-always-angry) social media, a not-insignificant variety of followers are… nicely, fairly offended on the pitcher-turned-analyst. The largest criticism is that Smoltz refuses to let a sport breathe, as an alternative filling each potential second together with his observations and opinions (that a few of the opinions delve into you-kids-get-off-my garden territory doesn’t precisely assist, however that could be a topic for one more day).
Personally, I want broadcast analysts, and broadcasters as a complete, who enable the sport to breathe. An unrelenting onslaught of phrases between pitches detracts from the viewing and/or listening expertise.
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FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Ryuki Watarai and Natsuki Takeuchi have been the highest picks on this 12 months’s NPB draft, which was held earlier this week. Extra information on the picks — NPB’s draft format differs markedly from MLB’s — will be discovered right here.
Naoyuki Uwasawa introduced that he’s hoping to return to MLB subsequent 12 months by way of the posting course of. The 29-year-old right-hander went 9-9 with a 2.96 ERA for the Nippon-Ham Fighters this season and is 29-24 with a. 3.04 ERA over the past three.
NPB’s championship sequence received underway this yesterday with the Hanshin Tigers outscoring the Orix Buffaloes 8-0. Shoki Murakami, who went 10-6 with a 1.75 ERA in the course of the common season, allowed two hits over seven scoreless for the successful aspect. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who went 16-6 with a 1.21 ERA, surrendered 10 hits and 7 runs over five-and-two-thirds innings.
The KBO semi-finals get underway tomorrow with the KT Wiz internet hosting the NC Dinos. The winner of the best-of-five sequence will go on to face the LG Twins within the Korean Collection.
Carter Kieboom is 10-for-22 with one house run for the Mexican Pacific Winter League’s Naranjeros de Hermosillo. The 26-year-old infielder, whom Washington
drafted twenty eighth general in 2016 out of Marietta, Georgia’s Walton Excessive College, has slashed .199/.297/.301 in 508 plate appearances over components of 4 seasons with the Nationals.
Greg Chicken might be taking part in for the Australian Baseball League’s Melbourne Ace this winter. The 30-year-old former New York Yankees first baseman was with the unbiased Frontier League’s Capitales de Québec this previous season. The 2023/2024 ABL marketing campaign kicks off on November 16.
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The Texas Rangers drafted David Clyde first-overall in 1973 out of Houston’s Westchester Excessive College, the place the left-hander threw 5 no-hitters and logged 0.18 ERA in his senior season. Three weeks later, Clyde made his MLB debut.
One 12 months earlier than relocating to Texas and turning into the Rangers, the Washington Senators chosen Pete Broberg with the highest decide of the secondary part of the 1971 draft out of Dartmouth College. Two weeks later, Broberg made his MLB debut.
Broberg and Clyde mixed to go 59-104 with a 4.58 ERA over the course of their careers.
One different be aware on Broberg: On April 16, 1972, he grew to become the primary pitcher in Rangers historical past to be credited with a win.
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FARM NOTES
Jay Groome threw 2,661 pitches this season, probably the most within the minors. The 25-year-old left-hander within the San Diego Padres system went 4-10 with an 8.55 ERA for the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas. He logged 137 strikeouts and issued 112 walks in 134-and-two-thirds innings.
Oliver Carrillo slashed .303/.542/.586 with 11 house runs in 225 plate appearances for Padres Gold within the Dominican Summer time League. Signed by San Diego in December 2021 out of Mazatlan, Mexico, the 21-year-old outfielder drew 66 free passes and fanned 45 occasions.
Kyle Manzardo is 18-for-68 with six doubles, one triple, and 5 house runs for the Arizona Fall League’s Peoria Javelinas. Acquired by the Cleveland Guardians from the Tampa Bay Rays on the July commerce deadline in change for Aaron Civale, the 23-year-old first baseman had 17 house runs and an .818 OPS this 12 months in Triple-A.
Anthony Hoopii-Tuionetoa has thrown seven scoreless innings whereas permitting two hits over six appearances for the Arizona Fall League’s Shock Saguaros. Chosen within the thirtieth spherical of the 2021 draft out of Pierce Faculty by the Texas Rangers, the 23-year-old right-hander from Wailuku, Hawaii had a 2.96 ERA in 19 outings throughout rookie-ball, Low-A, and Excessive-A.
Jordan Carr has allowed 11 hits and three runs in 15 innings for the Arizona Fall League’s Glendale Desert Canine. Signed as a non-drafted free agent by the Minnesota Twins in 2021, the 26-year-old southpaw had a 2.15 ERA over 71 innings between Excessive-A Cedar Rapids and Double-A Wichita.
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Longtime sports activities scribe Bob Ryan has authored over a dozen books, the least identified of which is arguably his first. In 1974, six years into his tenure with the Boston Globe — he and Peter Gammons began on the identical day — and earlier than he grew to become best-known for his basketball protection, Ryan penned Wait Until I Make the Present: Baseball within the Minor Leagues (1974).
This previous summer season, whereas looking an East Grand Rapids, Michigan antiquarian bookstore, I occurred throughout, and promptly bought for $15, the heretofore-unknown-to-me gem. Not surprisingly, the anecdotes, observations, and opinions inside are entertaining and informative to the time and place. Make that point and locations. Ryan’s analysis included touring to minor league outposts from Honolulu, Hawaii to Trois-Rivières, Quebec to Kinston, North Carolina and past. Furthermore, his critiques of the cities and their then-ballpark amenities have been as wide-ranging because the geography. Some have been scathing, whereas others have been something however.
Appleton, Wisconsin, which 5 many years later is the house of the Midwest League’s Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, was a Ryan favourite. Together with being extremely complimentary of the bygone ballpark and its possession, he was effusive in his reward of the midsize Midwest city itself (the present inhabitants is roughly 75,000). Imbibing choices have been a part of what stood out to the esteemed writer.
“[Appleton] has sufficient going to maintain to maintain you , however with out an excessive amount of to drive you loopy,” Ryan wrote. “There should be half one million bars, with my explicit favourite identify being Shine’s Tremendous Bar. Folks in Appleton wish to have a superb time, and nothing provides them extra pleasure than with the ability to drink beer.”
The extent to which which may have modified over the previous 5 many years is one thing we’d want to question our buddies in Northeast Wisconsin about. Suds apart, the Fox Cities-area crew was often called the Appleton Foxes previous to turning into the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in 1995.
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LINKS YOU’LL LIKE
Jack Hartman did a brief Q&A with Tampa Bay Rays course of and analytics coach Jonathan Erlichman for Princeton College’s alumni publication.
The Orioles could have each a brand new pitching coach and a brand new assistant pitching coach subsequent 12 months. Jon Meoli addressed the scenario at The Baltimore Banner.
At Yonhap Information Company, Jee-ho Yoo wrote about how KT Wiz left-hander Wes Benjamin, recovered from arm troubles, feels prepared for a KBO postseason run.
Our Esquina’s José de Jesus Ortiz wrote about Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and the Cuban outfielder’s baseball-famous household.
At WOSU Public Media, Dave Barber wrote about the Negro League’s Dayton Marcos, and the way there’s far more to study Black baseball’s legacy.
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RANDOM FACTS AND STATS
Arizona’s 6-5 defeat to Texas in Friday night time’s Sport 1 was the franchise’s fourth loss in eight World Collection video games. All 4 of the losses have been by one run, and three have been extra-inning walk-offs. Two of the walk-offs got here on house runs, whereas one other featured a two-out, game-tying house run within the backside of the ninth.
Phil Maton has made 20 postseason appearances and allowed 11 hits and two runs over 21-and-two-thirds innings. John Rocker made 20 postseason appearances and allowed 10 hits and no runs over 20-and-two-thirds innings.
Lloyd McClendon went 10-for-16 with six walks and a sacrifice fly in 23 profession postseason plate appearances, all with the Pittsburgh Pirates and all within the NLCS. McClendon put up these numbers throughout the 1989, 1991, and 1992 seasons.
Casey Stengel slashed .393/.469/.607 in 33 World Collection plate appearances. The New York Giants outfielder homered twice within the 1923 Fall Traditional, legging out an inside-the-parker off Bullet Joe Bush in Sport 1, then going deep in opposition to Unhappy Sam Jones to supply Sport 3’s solely run. Babe Ruth left the yard thrice for the New York Yankee, who gained in six video games to seize the primary of their 27 World Collection titles.
Elam Vangilder grew to become the primary pitcher to document double-digit win totals as a reliever in a single season when he did so with the St. Louis Browns in 1925. The appropriate-hander went 11-2 with a 3.62 ERA out of the bullpen and 3-6 with a 6.11 ERA as a starter. He additionally swung a productive bat. Vangilder slashed .344/.396/.559 with 10 doubles, two triples, and a pair of house runs in 110 plate appearances.
Nineteen totally different gamers recorded no less than one hit in Sport 2 of the 1960 World Collection between the New York Yankees and the Pittsburgh Pirates. Eleven gamers had no less than two. There have been 32 hits in all, with the Yankees logging 19 of them on their approach to a 16-3 win.
Lefty Grove was named AL MVP on immediately’s date in 1931. The Philadelphia Athletics left-hander went 31-4 with a 2.06 ERA and led the junior circuit in strikeouts for the seventh consecutive season.
The Montreal Expos signed catcher Joe Siddall to a free-agent contract on immediately’s date in 1996. Now a broadcaster for the Toronto Blue Jays, the Windsor, Ontario native hit his solely big-league house as a member of the Detroit Tigers in 1998. Seattle’s Jeff Fassero served up the gopher.
Gamers born on immediately’s date embody Ty Pickup, who performed in a single big-league sport and recorded a success in his lone plate look. An outfielder with the Philadelphia Phillies, Pickup singled off of Purple Causey in a 15-0 loss to the New York Giants on April 30, 2018 on the Baker Bowl.
Additionally born on immediately’s date was Frank Baker, a backup infielder who performed for the New York Yankees in 1970-1971 and the Baltimore Orioles in 1973-1974. The namesake of Corridor of Famer Frank “House Run” Baker left the yard as soon as as a big-leaguer, slugging a grand slam off of Dick Bosman in an 18-4 Orioles win over Cleveland on September 28, 1973.