https://www.si.com/fannation/mlb/fastball/news/mlb-got-munetaka-murakami-s-market-completely-wrong-pat3

"Munetaka Murakami is the first player since at least 1900 with five or more home runs and 20+ walks in his first 22 career games," Langs wrote on X. "He’s just the ninth player in that span with 20+ walks in his first 22 [games] and one of two in the last 70 years (1995 Quilvio Veras)."

There's a name from the past lol.

Murakami looks like one of the better sluggers in all of baseball. He has a .918 OPS and .376 on-base percentage, despite a .209 batting average. That's pretty wild. It shows that he sees the zone well and and while he is prone to whiff, when he connects, it goes a long way. Plus, he's not swinging out of the strike zone.

Edited Tuesday at 08:43 PM3 days by caulfield12

3 hours ago, chitownsportsfan said:

He has one of the prettiest swings and we all saw it right away in spring training. When he misses it's usually because he was fooled, not because he had a bad swing path.

Would one describe it as a "clean-ass swing?"

1 hour ago, JoeC said:

Would one describe it as a "clean-ass swing?"

Mune has perfectly clean cuts when he goes about his business.

4 minutes ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

Mune has perfectly clean cuts when he goes about his business.

4 minutes ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

Mune has perfectly clean cuts when he goes about his business.

Great, bidet jokes are quickly replacing McGuire ones again.

Hi???

7 hours ago, fathom said:

I will be very surprised if they trade him during this season

I will stop being a fan. Then eventually another player will be on the trading block when they have a good season. That's how you suck at baseball.

26 minutes ago, kitekrazy1 said:

I will stop being a fan. Then eventually another player will be on the trading block when they have a good season. That's how you suck at baseball.

That's the M.O. until Ishbia takes over.

A look at how the big 3 Japanese rookies are settling into their teams. Mostly about Imai's struggles and how it might impact Houston's future reputation in the region, but some relevant Chicago notes too:

[...]In Chicago, Munetaka Murakami is homering at a rate no Japanese-born player ever has to begin an MLB career. As Murakami rounds the bases, his third-base coach celebrates by sheathing an imaginary samurai sword. The White Sox have fallen for Murakami, and he loves them back.

Then there is the case of Houston Astros pitcher Tatsuya Imai.

Like Okamoto and Murakami, Imai signed with a major-league club this winter after establishing himself in Japan’s top league, Nippon Professional Baseball. Unlike them, he’s not having a great time. [...]

With the explosion in interest has come an increase in the parties involved in the transition — Japanese management companies, agents, trainers, sponsors, clubs in two continents, and MLB owners pressuring their operations departments to add a Pacific Rim star — all of which can further confuse an already complicated career move for a player.

Over the years, some MLB clubs have learned a lot about attempting to ease the transition, with teams like the Dodgers, Mariners, Cubs, Yankees and Red Sox becoming known and trusted as destinations. [...]

“If you haven’t had a good experience with a Japanese player already, you’re way behind,” said an MLB agent, who was granted anonymity in exchange for their candor. “If you’ve had a bad experience with a Japanese player — that could be just as simple as the player didn’t play well, and you traded him or released him; or the player was with your team and spoke badly about you to other players — word of mouth is everything in Japan.”

[...]

Installing bidets was a gesture that served to show Murakami the White Sox would go the extra mile to make him comfortable. From the outset, they told Murakami and his representatives they wanted honest feedback.

“We’re not going to have this perfect out of the gate,” Getz said. “But there is an intention and willingness to continue to improve what needs to be improved.”

The club’s attention to detail has already paid dividend, as his 12 homers are tied for the MLB lead. It could prove even more valuable in future free-agent pursuits if the White Sox burnish a reputation among Japanese players as a good landing spot. “When you’re in this world,” the agent said, “Japan is a small town. People know what goes on.” [...]

Agent Alan Nero, who leads Octagon’s baseball division, said most Asian players transition remarkably well to major-league life, and the process has grown more streamlined as more players make the move. Agencies shoulder a large share of the responsibility for making a recent arrival comfortable. They might host dinners with teammates or ask other clients to help the new guy integrate into the clubhouse social scene.

Nero offered Chicago Cubs starter Shota Imanaga as an example. Imanaga has an interpreter, a Japanese teammate (Seiya Suzuki) and several Japanese speakers nearby at Octagon’s Chicago office.

@Look at Ray Ray Run if somebody offers the Sox a minor league haul for Mune you're really going to be disappointed if they make the trade?

Edited Wednesday at 02:45 AM2 days by ron883

1 hour ago, kitekrazy1 said:

I will stop being a fan. Then eventually another player will be on the trading block when they have a good season. That's how you suck at baseball.

Can somebody explain to me who are all these players we've developed and then traded right away because we didn't want to pay them? I honestly can't think of any. Like I truly feel people made up some BS and then kept repeating it like it's real.

Edited Wednesday at 03:16 AM2 days by WestEddy

44 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

Can somebody explain to me who are all these players we've developed and then traded right away because we didn't want to pay them? I honestly can't think of any. Like I truly feel people made up some BS and then kept repeating it like it's real.

True, but I'm hoping they explore a trade. With how Mune is performing and his popularity from Japan, he could carry some real value. Trade him for an absolute haul of minor leaguers that line up with our timeline.

4 minutes ago, ron883 said:

True, but I'm hoping they explore a trade. With how Mune is performing and his popularity from Japan, he could carry some real value. Trade him for an absolute haul of minor leaguers that line up with our timeline.

I think his real value is dumping money in the White Sox' coffers and solidifying the Sox' relationship with Japanese players. His presence on this team and Colson's development put us a lot closer to competing than we were last April.

2 hours ago, WestEddy said:

Can somebody explain to me who are all these players we've developed and then traded right away because we didn't want to pay them? I honestly can't think of any. Like I truly feel people made up some BS and then kept repeating it like it's real.

You must be thinking this is a Dodgers forum.

1 hour ago, ron883 said:

True, but I'm hoping they explore a trade. With how Mune is performing and his popularity from Japan, he could carry some real value. Trade him for an absolute haul of minor leaguers that line up with our timeline.

typical symptoms of a fan of a habitual losing organization

see WestEddy's reply

you are suffering from trade frenzy and those who do can never complete the trade for what

8 hours ago, WestEddy said:

Can somebody explain to me who are all these players we've developed and then traded right away because we didn't want to pay them? I honestly can't think of any. Like I truly feel people made up some BS and then kept repeating it like it's real.

Is this a serious question?

The Sox have about 97 starting pitchers dominating or having pitched well for other teams.

8 hours ago, ron883 said:

@Look at Ray Ray Run if somebody offers the Sox a minor league haul for Mune you're really going to be disappointed if they make the trade?

Would be horrible. Being a fan, for me, is about seeing special talent and rooting for players for extended periods of time.

Im still out there watching rodon, Crochet, and Cease pitch because I was fans of there's and loved watching them.

Trading away all your entertainment for "future" entertainment usually results in no entertainment.

7 hours ago, kitekrazy1 said:

You must be thinking this is a Dodgers forum.

No, I'm in a White Sox forum. People barrel in and scream that "JR's too cheap, and they're going to trade away all the good players. Wash and repeat!!!" What good position players have we developed and then traded away outside of an obvious rebuild? Let me know when you think of one.

56 minutes ago, Look at Ray Ray Run said:

Is this a serious question?

The Sox have about 97 starting pitchers dominating or having pitched well for other teams.

Let me rephrase that. Outside of an obvious rebuild, what players have the White Sox developed and traded? It's beyond stupid to pretend that the Sox are going to build a competitive team, then start trading away the stars because "tee-hee, moar prospects".

Just now, WestEddy said:

Let me rephrase that. Outside of an obvious rebuild, what players have the White Sox developed and traded? It's beyond stupid to pretend that the Sox are going to build a competitive team, then start trading away the stars because "tee-hee, moar prospects".

"Outside of the players they traded away, who have they traded away?"

Pal, Getz is breaking your brain.

Edited Wednesday at 12:44 PM2 days by Look at Ray Ray Run

5 minutes ago, Look at Ray Ray Run said:

"Outside of the players they traded away, who have they traded away?"

Pal, your brain is breaking.

You're being obtuse. You know my point is stellar, so you have to deflect. Try again. Or better yet, learn from my wisdom and become smarter.

23 minutes ago, Look at Ray Ray Run said:

"Outside of the players they traded away, who have they traded away?"

Pal, Getz is breaking your brain.

But other than that Mrs Lincoln, how was the play?

33 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

You're being obtuse. You know my point is stellar, so you have to deflect. Try again. Or better yet, learn from my wisdom and become smarter.

You're gaslighting everyone. It's wild.

This could very reasonably be the White Sox starting rotation today if they actually signed their stars and didn't trade them like you're claiming:

Chris Sale, Dylan Cease, Garrett Crochet, Carlos Rodon, Noah Schultz... (Schultz harder to guarantee given draft position may have been different, but assuming they were the main team in on him).

That's the best rotation in MLB. That may be a 100 million dollar rotation, but a reasonable team would still have 100 million for a roster.

Edited Wednesday at 01:33 PM2 days by Look at Ray Ray Run

6 minutes ago, Look at Ray Ray Run said:

You're gaslighting everyone. It's wild.

This could very reasonably be the White Sox starting rotation today if they actually signed their stars and didn't trade them like you're claiming:

Chris Sale, Dylan Cease, Garrett Crochet, Carlos Rodon, Noah Schultz... (Schultz less hard to guarantee given draft position may have been different, but assuming they were the main team in on him).

That's the best rotation in MLB. That may be a 100 million dollar rotation, but a reasonable team would still have 100 million for a roster.

Chris Sale $27m

Dylan Cease $21m

Garrett Crochet $25m

Carlos Rodon $28m

Noah Schultz ~800k

1 hour ago, WestEddy said:

Let me rephrase that. Outside of an obvious rebuild, what players have the White Sox developed and traded? It's beyond stupid to pretend that the Sox are going to build a competitive team, then start trading away the stars because "tee-hee, moar prospects".

Wait, let me see if I got this straight.

You asked, word for word "who are all these players we've developed and then traded right away because we didn't want to pay them?"

As @Look at Ray Ray Run pointed out, the list is full of talented players that were traded in their prime because the Sox didn't want to pay them. If they traded them because they were in a rebuild...who's choice was that? Was the rebuild forced upon them? It was 100% the choice of the White Sox organization not to extend them. There is no "pass" given because the organization decided to do ANOTHER gut job.

But then, you turn around and say "It's beyond stupid to pretend that the Sox are going to build a competitive team, then start trading away the stars because "tee-hee, moar prospects"

Why is that beyond stupid? What history do you have that the Sox will keep good players around for a long term competitive window? By your logic, that means you assume the Sox will be keeping Murakami long term, outside of his two year contract? (with the assumption he continues to play at this level and is a 'star' level player under your definition)

One could always use the continuous rebuild excuse for a team owned by Jerry, because when players near free agency and their price tag is going to be outside of Jerry’s comfort zone, the directive is to trade them for prospects.

1 minute ago, Tony said:

Wait, let me see if I got this straight.

You asked, word for word "who are all these players we've developed and then traded right away because we didn't want to pay them?"

As @Look at Ray Ray Run pointed out, the list is full of talented players that were traded in their prime because the Sox didn't want to pay them. If they traded them because they were in a rebuild...who's choice was that? Was the rebuild forced upon them? It was 100% the choice of the White Sox organization not to extend them. There is no "pass" given because the organization decided to do ANOTHER gut job.

But then, you turn around and say "It's beyond stupid to pretend that the Sox are going to build a competitive team, then start trading away the stars because "tee-hee, moar prospects"

Why is that beyond stupid? What history do you have that the Sox will keep good players around for a long term competitive window? By your logic, that means you assume the Sox will be keeping Murakami long term, outside of his two year contract? (with the assumption he continues to play at this level and is a 'star' level player under your definition)

And to tack on to this, the one expensive player the Sox didn't try to trade early in this rebuild was Luis Robert, and the reason given? Not enough prospects, aka "value". Moar prospects indeed.