Sunday Notes: Shintaro Fujinami Feels That Kazuma Okamoto May Thrive in MLB

Shintaro Fujinami has understanding of how NPB compares to MLB. Prior 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. Along the way in which he confronted lots of Japan’s high hitters, with Central League stalwarts equivalent to Munetaka Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto among the many standouts. The latter was the primary identify Fujinami talked about after I requested which of his former position-player opponents would greatest carry out stateside.

“I think that Okamoto, the third baseman for the Tokyo Yomiuri Giants, would be pretty good here,” replied Fujinama, who went 7-8 with a 7.18 ERA over 79 aid innings in his first MLB season. “He’s a power hitter in Japan, although a power hitter there isn’t the same as here. Power hitters in Japan won’t hit 40 home runs over here like Shohei Ohtani does. But he would do well.”

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 at the very least 30 instances in every of the final six seasons, a span that features a .274 batting common and 108 strikeouts yearly. Despite the not-low Okay totals, Fujinami believes that Okamoto possesses the bat-to-ball expertise to deal with MLB pitching. Moreover, he doesn’t really feel that top heaters would bedevil the Yomiuri slugger.

“He has good contact-ability, and he’s also good at hitting fastballs,” Fujinami advised me throughout our September dialog. “The fastball velocity here is higher than it is in Japan, but I feel that Okamoto could make an adjustment to that if he came here. I think that Okamoto can hit a fastball at the top of the zone better than Murakami. If I had to pick one to bring here to the states, I would pick Okamoto.”

Fujinami mentioned that he doesn’t know if Okamoto hopes to sooner or later 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 a couple of years away from a doable transfer to MLB — or Yoshinobu Yamamoto — a 25-year previous righty anticipated to come back over this offseason — does he really feel might be greatest suited to MLB?

“Both would do well here,” Fujinami mentioned after pondering the query for a number of seconds. “But if I had to pick one, it would probably be Sasaki.”

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RANDOM HITTER-PITCHER MATCHUPS

Dusty Baker went 9 for 15 towards Dock Ellis.

Dusty Cooke went 9 for 27 towards Red Ruffing.

Dusty Rhodes went 12 for 28 towards Art Fowler.

Dusty Coleman went 3 for six towards Gerrit Cole.

Dustin Pedroia went 22 for 45 towards Scott Kazmir.

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Craig Breslow being employed as the brand new Chief Baseball Officer of the Boston Red Sox delivered to thoughts a chunk that ran right here at FanGraphs six years in the past. The first sentence of the October 2, 2017 article, which comprised quotes on the topic from a cross-section of gamers, coaches, managers, and normal managers — 17 folks in all — was “Are today’s analytically-inclined players the next generation 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 Young (Texas Rangers), and now Breslow, have assumed distinguished entrance workplace positions. Other analytically-savvy former gamers have assumed government roles as effectively. One of them, Burke Badenhop, is a particular assistant for the National League champion Arizona Diamondbacks. Another, Brandon McCarthy, has been a particular assistant for the American League champion Rangers.

On a associated notice, 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 towards Don Larsen.

Creepy Crespi went 12 for 34 towards Carl Hubbell.

Richie Hebner went 11 for 17 towards Tom Hume.

Casper Wells went 5 for 12 towards C.J. Wilson.

Mickey Mantle went 3 for 16 towards Dick “The Monster” Radatz.

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A quiz:

The first regular-season house run by a chosen 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 beneath.

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NEWS NOTES

The Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) introduced the creation of the Sarah Langs Women in Baseball Analytics Scholarship. Awarded yearly to 2 recipients, the scholarship will present significant skilled growth and networking alternatives for female-identifying college students or younger professionals pursuing a profession in baseball analytics and knowledge science.

Tom Walker, a right-handed pitcher who was credited with 18 wins and 11 saves whereas enjoying 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 Worth Spurs within the Double-A Dixie Association. 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 enjoying 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 Hall-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 had 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 Meetings, might be one among 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 record. That mentioned, the entire finalists are deserving, It is a improbable group.

Meanwhile, is there a extra polarizing baseball broadcaster than John Smoltz? Criticism comes with the territory, particularly once you’re speaking to a big viewers, however primarily based on (seemingly-always-angry) social media, a not-insignificant variety of followers are… effectively, fairly indignant on the pitcher-turned-analyst. The largest criticism is that Smoltz refuses to let a sport breathe, as an alternative filling each doable second along with his observations and opinions (that a number of the opinions delve into you-kids-get-off-my garden territory doesn’t precisely assist, however that could be a topic for an additional day).

Personally, I want broadcast analysts, and broadcasters as a complete, who permit 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 had been the highest picks on this 12 months’s NPB draft, which was held earlier this week. More information on the alternatives — NPB’s draft format differs markedly from MLB’s — will be discovered right here.

Naoyuki Uwasawa introduced that he’s hoping to come back to MLB subsequent 12 months through 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 obtained 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 Series.

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 High School, has slashed .199/.297/.301 in 508 plate appearances over components of 4 seasons with the Nationals.

Greg Bird might be enjoying 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 High School, 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 changing into the Rangers, the Washington Senators chosen Pete Broberg with the highest choose of the secondary section of the 1971 draft out of Dartmouth University. 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 notice 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 League. Signed by San Diego in December 2021 out of Mazatlan, Mexico, the 21-year-old outfielder drew 66 free passes and fanned 45 instances.

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 Surprise Saguaros. Selected within the thirtieth spherical of the 2021 draft out of Pierce College 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 High-A.

Jordan Carr has allowed 11 hits and three runs in 15 innings for the Arizona Fall League’s Glendale Desert Dogs. 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 High-A Cedar Rapids and Double-A Wichita.

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Longtime sports 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 Till I Make the Show: Baseball within the Minor Leagues (1974).

This previous summer time, whereas shopping 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. Moreover, his critiques of the cities and their then-ballpark amenities had been as wide-ranging because the geography. Some had been scathing, whereas others had 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. Along 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 had been a part of what stood out to the esteemed creator.

“[Appleton] has enough going to keep to keep you interested, but without too much to drive you crazy,” Ryan wrote. “There must be half a million bars, with my particular favorite name being Shine’s Super Bar. People in Appleton like to have a good time, and nothing gives them more pleasure than being able to drink beer.”

The extent to which that may have modified over the previous 5 many years is one thing we’d want to question our associates in Northeast Wisconsin about. Suds apart, the Fox Cities-area staff was often called the Appleton Foxes previous to changing 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 University’s alumni publication.

The Orioles can have each a brand new pitching coach and a brand new assistant pitching coach subsequent 12 months. Jon Meoli addressed the state of affairs at The Baltimore Banner.

At Yonhap News Agency, 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 rather 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 Game 1 was the franchise’s fourth loss in eight World Series 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 Series plate appearances. The New York Giants outfielder homered twice within the 1923 Fall Classic, legging out an inside-the-parker off Bullet Joe Bush in Game 1, then going deep towards Sad Sam Jones to supply Game 3’s solely run. Babe Ruth left the yard 3 times for the New York Yankee, who received in six video games to seize the primary of their 27 World Series titles.

Elam Vangilder grew to become the primary pitcher to report double-digit win totals as a reliever in a single season when he did so with the St. Louis Browns in 1925. The right-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 completely different gamers recorded at the very least one hit in Game 2 of the 1960 World Series between the New York Yankees and the Pittsburgh Pirates. Eleven gamers had at the very least two. There had 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 right this moment’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 right this moment’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.

Players born on right this moment’s date embrace 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 Red Causey in a 15-0 loss to the New York Giants on April 30, 1918 on the Baker Bowl.

Also born on right this moment’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 Hall of Famer Frank “Home 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.