January 22, 200422 yr Why didn't zero get the big contracts like Ichiro, Sasaki, Ishii, and Matsui? Just curious.
January 22, 200422 yr The reports said of the four offers received, the White Sox was the best. I don't really know how that happened. Is it because of his age? Possible injury issues?
January 22, 200422 yr The reports said of the four offers received, the White Sox was the best. I don't really know how that happened. Is it because of his age? Possible injury issues? I thought I read that the Yankees offered him a lot more money, but wanted him as a set up man. The Sox were the only team to talk about him as a closer. It sounded like he wanted a chance to make an impact on a team. Plus his wife spent a few years in Chicago in school, and Chicago supposedly has a lot of culture to offer to Japanese people.
January 22, 200422 yr Would have been interesting to see where BA put him in their top 10 prospects list had he signed earlier. I know in the past they've ranked Matsui and other Japanese players in their lists. But since the list has probably already been finalized because the BA Prospect Handbook has most likely already gone to press, we may never know. Perhaps they will include him on the online version, but he'll be left out of the Handbook.
January 22, 200422 yr I think it has to deal with the fact that he's 35. I know the Padres supposedly offered him more money as well.
January 22, 200422 yr Author Kaz Sasaki was 32 when he came to the Majors and won the Rookie of the Year in 2000. Honestly I know nothing about Mr. Zero, but the contract he got makes me wonder how much of an impact he can really make.
January 22, 200422 yr Zero's Stats in Japan I was looking around for articles about Takatsu and found this site in English, havent really had time to look around that much but it does have all of his stats from Japan, and I think you can look back and see Sasaki's, or Ishii's to compare. Interestingly, Zero does not strike alot of people out, but of the batters faced, only 25% get hits, must be a lot of ground balls or fly balls. SB
January 22, 200422 yr Age has something to do with it, as well as the idea of his role on the club.... Some of it may have to do with the idea that he was a true free agent and the clubs did not have to deal with his Japanese club, that process may jack prices up It's a one year deal with a club option for next year, no numbers on the option though
January 23, 200422 yr hes getting paid $750,000 this year and the 2005 club option will be for 2.5 million with a $25,000 buyout according to the official press release.
January 23, 200422 yr k/bb ratio is terrible, very poor bb/ip ratio = poor control = koch career whip is 1.7, gives up quite a few hr's for the low amount of innings pitched, which is another thing, can't go 2 innings or even 1 1/3, looks like 1 is all you get out of him. i hate to be pessemistic, but those stats aren't too impressive. especially since hitters probably have better plate discipline here.
January 23, 200422 yr k/bb ratio is terrible, very poor bb/ip ratio = poor control = koch career whip is 1.7, gives up quite a few hr's for the low amount of innings pitched, which is another thing, can't go 2 innings or even 1 1/3, looks like 1 is all you get out of him. i hate to be pessemistic, but those stats aren't too impressive. especially since hitters probably have better plate discipline here. Welcome to Soxtalk!
January 23, 200422 yr k/bb ratio is terrible, very poor bb/ip ratio = poor control = koch career whip is 1.7, gives up quite a few hr's for the low amount of innings pitched, which is another thing, can't go 2 innings or even 1 1/3, looks like 1 is all you get out of him. i hate to be pessemistic, but those stats aren't too impressive. especially since hitters probably have better plate discipline here. With a name like full collapse, how can you be optimistic?
January 23, 200422 yr With a name like full collapse, how can you be optimistic? i'm trying to be optimistic. the twins lost a lot of bullpen depth, and their starting pitching is only ok. they sunk way to much cash into shannon stewart and traded away aj. the royals aren't going to have a season like last year. they pretty much fell apart the second half. their starting pitching is sketchy at best, the bullpen is ok, but they really like grimsley and he isn't that good and they don't have a closer. the sox on the other hand i think will do better than last year. our offense is fine and we have the best pitching in the division. if we can only beat the tigers this year we should win the division. i did find a good thing to say about 0 though... he only blew 2 saves, so although his numbers don't look that impressive and suggest he won't do all that well... he got the job done. thats about as good as i can do though
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