According to CBS Sportsline the Sox signed Japan's all time saves leader, to be a closer.

http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/story/7024838

 

Shingo Takatsu, Japan's career saves leader, has agreed to a deal with the Chicago White Sox, the Associated Press learned Wednesday.

 

THE BIG SOXFEST DEAL HAS BEEN STRUCK!!!!!

I wonder if this means Koch is on the way out...

How be damn, sounds like a good move to me. I don't know a thing about this guy, but if the Sox offered him the closer position he must have somewhat decent stuff or at least I'd hope so.

 

Now we have him, Koch, Marte, Politte, Santiago, Wunsch...not too shabby.

This is very interesting news. It could be good for JR because it brings Japanese media attention.

 

What they do now with Koch, there must be another deal worked out.

Rotoworld thinks that we may pay some team a little bit of money to take on Koch, and I tend to agree. Why have a $6 million setup man if you only have a $60 million payroll?

 

Good move though.

Anybody got any other info on him? Lefty or Righty? What pitches does he have? etc.

 

I do like the nickname "Mr. Zero" though

The deal is 1 year $1 million. There's a team option for 2005.

 

I'd expect there to be some incentives thrown in too.

I wonder if this means Koch is on the way out...

I take the "I wonder" out of that. Koch will be dealt for any 2 bit prospects we can find now.

http://www.baywell.ne.jp/users/drlatham/ba...pen/takatsu.htm

He hasn't given up a run in the Japanese Series. He is at his best when the pressure is on. Me Likey.

 

CL-Takatsu

LS-Marte

RS-Koch

MR-Wunsch

MR-Politte

LR-Santiago

LR-Wright

 

Guys we have a pretty good pen and if Person steps up, this actually could be an exciting year.

I'd bet the Sox hold onto Koch unless they can unload him and someone is willing to eat his contract.

 

This move really strengthens the pen if he turns out to be a good reliever. And if Koch picks things back up, mixed with Marte, Politte, Wunsch, Santiago, etc this pen may turn from a weakness into a strength.

Is there a big demographic of Japanese people in Chicago?

 

I know it's not as big as the one is Seattle, and that this signing won't have an Ichiro kind of impact, or even a Matsui one, but I wonder if this will bring some more media attention.

This looks to be a good, cheap pickup. Even with this guy added tho, I wouldn't deal Koch like some of you are suggesting. Give Koch a chance until June. Use him in another alomar/everett like trade if he doesn't go back to pre-Sox form by them.

 

:fthecubs

Anybody got any other info on him? Lefty or Righty? What pitches does he have? etc.

 

I do like the nickname "Mr. Zero" though

Can you imagine how well that nickname will play the first time he blows a save???

 

I can just hear some of those leather lunged fans now!!

Is there a big demographic of Japanese people in Chicago?

 

I know it's not as big as the one is Seattle, and that this signing won't have an Ichiro kind of impact, or even a Matsui one, but I wonder if this will bring some more media attention.

I went to a Seattle game a couple years ago. I will never make that mistake again. Damn Ichiro fans. I just can't picture people screaming, "SHINGO!!!!!!!!!!!!" like they would "ICHHHHIRROOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Then again, you never know. Hopefully they don't do that cuz that would suck big time.

 

In seriousness it sounds like a good move. Even if he sucks because nobody else would offer him the closer role but us it's a good publicity move to say that they did something of note. I'm hoping nobody wanted to take the chance to offer him the closer role. If the Sox were the only ones to do that either they saw something or that the Sox just wanted him that badly, desperate for a move.

1 Mill a year, eh? Saves leader you say?

 

Us he also a record=holder for blown saves?

1 Mill a year, eh? Saves leader you say?

 

Us he also a record=holder for blown saves?

No, you see, if you want a lot of BLOWN saves, it costs you $6 million!

 

Reference: Billy Koch.

If this is true, UNBELIEVABLE i thought we had like one scout in Asia.

http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/story/7024838

 

What in the flying f***.

From Rotoworld:

 

The White Sox will soon sign Japanese reliever Shingo Takatsu to a one-year, $1 million contract with an option for 2005.

It appears that the Sox offered Takatsu, Japan's all-time saves leader, their closer's role in order to get the deal done. Some other teams were interested in him as a setup man. If the job really belongs to Takatsu, the White Sox may pay some team (Pittsburgh? Montreal?) to take the final year of Billy Koch's deal.

If this is true, UNBELIEVABLE i thought we had like one scout in Asia.

Let's get a French scout, we can sign Alizee

And I now just notice the other thread. lewl

SHINGO SON!!!!!

 

 

Here's some information I've compiled form different websites:

 

-At one time, as recent as 12/3/03, the Yankees were interested in Shingo. Along with several other clubs including the San Diego Padres.

 

-Delivers sidearm, is a right-hander.

 

-Career stats: http://www.japanesebaseball.com/players/pl...D=310&Year=1997.

From looking at his stats that show till 1997, he logged as many as 80 innings, which is a good sign for durability. I wonder if he is overhand or submarine style or just has a funky motion like Hasagama and the now departed Sasaki.