Japanese Players

[texascub]

He played 15 games in CF last year but I think Iwamura's bat would play much better at 3B or 2B in MLB.

 

True, but ARam is locked up through '08 though Walker is gone after this year. Getting Iwamura would block Lewis and Fontentot but I'd be ok with that if he produces like he is right now.

[1908]

Is he going to stay at catcher?

He's an excellent defensive receiver. I think he loses a lot of his value if you play him somewhere else. I doubt he'd sign with a team that didn't intend on keeping him behind the plate either.

 

The idea of a foreign catcher will scare away a lot of teams I think.

He is a clubhouse leader and is considered one of the smartest catchers currently in Japan. While some may be concerned about language problems with big leaguers as a backstop, he has caught both Latin American and American pitchers during his time with the Hawks and Dale believes that the language problem will be easily surmounted.

I think that about sums it up.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Is he going to stay at catcher?

He's an excellent defensive receiver. I think he loses a lot of his value if you play him somewhere else. I doubt he'd sign with a team that didn't intend on keeping him behind the plate either.

 

The idea of a foreign catcher will scare away a lot of teams I think.

He is a clubhouse leader and is considered one of the smartest catchers currently in Japan. While some may be concerned about language problems with big leaguers as a backstop, he has caught both Latin American and American pitchers during his time with the Hawks and Dale believes that the language problem will be easily surmounted.

I think that about sums it up.

 

Yeah, I wasn't trying to imply that it would be a huge deal in actuality, but that the unknown of that in addition to being a foreign player, which is a bit of a gamble, will scare away a lot of lesser-minded GMs.

[1908]

Getting Iwamura would block Lewis and Fontentot but I'd be ok with that if he produces like he is right now.

His production -- his power in particular -- would likely drop off. I do think he could produce .800+ OPS seasons in MLB, although his strikeouts are a concern.

[1908]

Yeah, I wasn't trying to imply that it would be a huge deal in actuality, but that the unknown of that in addition to being a foreign player, which is a bit of a gamble, will scare away a lot of lesser-minded GMs.

A lot depends on his price tag, I think.