Yankees Sign Masahiro Tanaka

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Might make it less likely the Cubs go after him if they're pinching pennies.

 

Baseball America[/url]"]Contrary to what some teams have believed, MLB confirmed that the posting system is still in existence, but declined to comment on any potential discussions to modify the agreement.

 

According to sources, one of the changes could include a system in which the posting fee would be capped, which in theory would give more money to the player rather than the Japanese team and allow MLB to count more money against the luxury tax. In turn, multiple teams could then be allowed to win the posting rights and compete for the player, but that system could also drive up costs for owners. Nobody seems certain what the future of the system will bring.

 

“We’re just operating under the idea that everything’s going to be the same way it was last year,” said one international director. “That’s the same as everyone else I talked to.”

 

On Tanaka:

 

At 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, Tanaka throws a low-90s fastball that can touch 96 mph. Even though Tanaka can reach the mid-90s, his fastball is the pitch that gives some scouts pause because it comes in on a flat plane, making it more hittable than the velocity might suggest. Tanaka has two secondary pitches that have earned grades of 60 or better on the 20-80 scouting scale, including a 70 splitter with late downward action to keep hitters off his fastball. His low- to mid-80s slider is another plus weapon, while he’ll mix in a curveball as well.

 

Kenta Maeda might also get posted:

 

Some scouts also think there’s a chance that Japanese righthander Kenta Maeda could make his way to a major league team this offseason, but most sources put the chances of that happening below 50 percent. The 25-year-old Maeda is a 6-foot, 160-pound control pitcher who several scouts project as a back-end starter in the big leagues. He’s been effective this season for Hiroshima with a 2.26 ERA, 114 strikeouts and 27 walks over 123 2/3 innings, but he’s also missed time this year with tightness in his throwing arm and to his right abdominal/rib cage area. He could benefit from waiting a year and not leaving NPB in the same offseason as Tanaka.

[davell]

At least it'd be less up-front money, so that could give us a better chance, I guess.

[Guest]

Tanaka's most recent start: http://www.baseballamerica.com/majors/masahiro-tanaka-game-report/

 

Tanaka’s fastball ranged from 91-95 in the first inning, mostly toward the upper end of that range. After relying on his four-steam fastball the first, Tanaka mixed in a two-seamer the rest of the way, cruising at 88-93 mph.

 

When Tanaka got into a jam in the sixth inning with runners on second and third and two outs, he showed he still had his top-end velocity available. Kazuya Fukuura, a lefthanded hitter, swung through a 95-mph fastball up and in, then laid off another 95-mph fastball in the same spot to even the count 1-1. Tanaka finished Fukuura by getting him to swing through the next two pitches—an 89-mph splitter that started at the belt on the inside corner before falling off the table, followed by a 97-mph fastball on his 108th pitch of the game.

 

Tanaka has arguably the best splitter in the world, which is partly because so few pitchers in MLB throw the pitch. Of his eight strikeouts, six of them came on the splitter, with five of Tanaka’s victims swinging over the pitch, which generally registered around 86-89 mph.

 

Scouts who have followed Tanaka note that he sinks on the backside of his delivery, which causes his fastball to come in on a flatter plane and makes it a more hittable pitch than the pure velocity would suggest. But Tanaka’s splitter is difficult for hitters to distinguish from his fastball, with hard, late tumble that makes it a true putaway pitch. It comes out of his hand looking like a juicy fastball at thigh level, then drops hard out of the bottom of the strike zone. Some of the splitters he threw against the Marines were pitches even the best major league hitters would have been lucky just to foul off, so it’s easy to see why some scouts call it a 70 pitch on the 20-80 scale.

 

Tanaka threw an 82-85 mph slider, which scouts say can be a plus pitch, although his splitter was his go-to out pitch against the Marines. He also mixed in a few 72-76 mph curveballs, mostly early in the count trying to throw it in the zone to give batters a different look.

 

While Tanaka worked seven scoreless innings, he did have to escape from danger on a few occasions. When Tanaka got into trouble, it was mostly because he left his slider up in the zone or had trouble locating his fastball. Even on the inning-ending strikeout in the sixth inning, Tanaka’s first two 95-mph fastballs went high and inside with the catcher set up down and away.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

http://i.imgur.com/2lodoJI.jpg?1

[Hairyducked Idiot]

http://i.imgur.com/2lodoJI.jpg?1

 

Yeah right, like Theo has $600 in his budget right now.

[treebird]

http://i.imgur.com/2lodoJI.jpg?1

 

Yeah right, like Theo has $600 in his budget right now.

 

ricketts didn't want this no-food thing to happen again so he lifted the last 300 bucks out of petty cash and bought a crate of easy mac. which was a great plan until he found out the utility company actually can shut off your water if you stop paying the bill, so now he is stuck eating uncooked macaroni with a side of cheese dust at every meal.

[imb]

http://i.imgur.com/2lodoJI.jpg?1

 

Yeah right, like Theo has $600 in his budget right now.

 

ricketts didn't want this no-food thing to happen again so he lifted the last 300 bucks out of petty cash and bought a crate of easy mac. which was a great plan until he found out the utility company actually can shut off your water if you stop paying the bill, so now he is stuck eating uncooked macaroni with a side of cheese dust at every meal.

 

http://m3.licdn.com/mpr/pub/image-_pVCb8CXwiYufVqbRvPwSdNjGax1rJyUf8H7DE8BG7EV0DaU_pV7F0LXGsCopafiPZZ8/levin-t-black.jpg

 

"Just add water!"

[bukie]

Video highlights of Tanaka: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVUrIeSuCrM#t=53

 

That is some splitter around the :20 mark.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

I'm too distracted by some weird cover of a Spice Girls song.

[Guest]

Jonah Kerri on Tanaka: http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-triangle/post/_/id/72725/japans-next-big-thing

 

Really makes you wish the Cubs would sign him.

[Clem Fandango]

I'm too distracted by some weird cover of a Spice Girls song.

 

That's Zebrahead. I really liked them when I was 13. Also the reason they're likely being used for background music is because they are pretty famous in Japan for whatever reason.

[Guest]

i'm all in on tanaka.

[Cubswin11]

Jonah Kerri on Tanaka: http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-triangle/post/_/id/72725/japans-next-big-thing

 

Really makes you wish the Cubs would sign him.

Agreed a younger version of Kuroda would be a good thing (and that seems to be a safe comp/floor).

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

[expletive], I want him. Now I'm going to be horribly disappointing if they don't.

[Gilby]

I just can't imagine Ricketts forking over the necessary up front money to allow Theo to talk to Tanaka. I'm not letting myself get my hopes up on this one. If we're going spend a lot on one player, Choo or Ellsbury seem much more likely.

[SouthSideRyan]

I just can't imagine Ricketts forking over the necessary up front money to allow Theo to talk to Tanaka. I'm not letting myself get my hopes up on this one. If we're going spend a lot on one player, Choo or Ellsbury seem much more likely.

 

I'm not letting my hopes get up on Choo or Ellsbury either

 

SAD FACE

[WrigleyField 22]

I just can't imagine Ricketts forking over the necessary up front money to allow Theo to talk to Tanaka. I'm not letting myself get my hopes up on this one. If we're going spend a lot on one player, Choo or Ellsbury seem much more likely.

 

I'm not letting my hopes get up on Choo or Ellsbury either

 

SAD FACE

I'm getting my hopes up and Choo AND Ellsbury. Double Down.

[SouthSideRyan]

I just can't imagine Ricketts forking over the necessary up front money to allow Theo to talk to Tanaka. I'm not letting myself get my hopes up on this one. If we're going spend a lot on one player, Choo or Ellsbury seem much more likely.

 

I'm not letting my hopes get up on Choo or Ellsbury either

 

SAD FACE

I'm getting my hopes up and Choo AND Ellsbury. Double Down.

 

Double down on the heroin to forehead dosage for the Nate McLouth and Josh Johnson signings.

[davell]

I think they WILL get one of Choo or Ellsbury. But unless we get lucky and the new posting system goes in place(which lowers amount going to team) I'm not getting my hopes high on Tanaka.

[sneakypower]

Josh Johnson signing

yes, please

[Cubswin11]

Josh Johnson signing

yes, please

Seconded

[Sammy Sofa]

I feel like this is like Homer saying "maybe THIS time..." before the 15th puppy leaps through the air and eats the chip from his hand yet again.

[jersey cubs fan]

[Sammy Sofa]

THANK YOU.

[TruffleShuffle]

i predict the dodgers will sign him. gotta fill out that second starting rotation in case the first one gets hurt!