Kei Igawa is the Answer....NOT!

by Chitown Mojo on Nov 13, 2006 5:34 PM CST

This little bit comes from Keith Law's "Top 40 Free agents". Igawa comes only at 31st, behind the likes of Borowski (sigh). I like his "mini-scouting" on the players, especially the pitchers, of the list. Not quite sure he would be the solution, and certainly not as our #3 starter.

Share your thoughts:

"One of the best left-handed starters in Japan, Igawa wasn't expected to come over this winter as a free agent, but his current employer, the Hanshin Tigers, has apparently made an about-face and will post him this week. Igawa is primarily a two-pitch pitcher, with a below-average fastball in the 84-88 mph range with a little run, and a plus 74-79 mph curveball with a late two-plane break. He has a slight stabbing motion at the start of his delivery, but stays on top of the ball well, giving the curve its good depth and creating some downhill plane to his otherwise flat fastball. He also has average command and plus control.

The downside to Igawa is that his fastball may be a little short for MLB hitters, in which case, he'll end up a reliever, and probably a good one with that plus curve as a lefty-killing weapon. (He does throw an occasional changeup, but prefers to use his curve to get righties out as well.) The upside would be if his quick delivery makes the ball hard enough for hitters to pick up that his fastball plays up to average, in which case he could certainly pitch in the back end of an NL rotation. He's also an ideal candidate to learn a splitter, although that's a common pitch in Asia and it would be a surprise if he hadn't already tried one."

I mean, two pitches? And one of them below average?

Shiza Minelli I hope I'm not breaking any laws here...

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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he's interesting...

Another question mark in my opinion. But who knows. Cubs could use a lefty..

Guess he's a poor mans matsuzaka :P

by Patblue on Nov 13, 2006 5:34 PM CST reply actions

He's a poor man's Borowski...

from what I gather

by Chitown Mojo on Nov 13, 2006 6:05 PM CST reply actions

If his fastball..

... really is only 84-88, he'll need two good breaking pitches (splitter, curveball) to make up for that.

He's been a winner in Japan, and will come way cheaper than Matsuzaka. Depending on the price, I'd say he's worth a flyer.

by Al Yellon on Nov 13, 2006 6:18 PM CST reply actions

Law

is wrong on Igawa (as he is on almost everything else).

Igawa hits 88-91 mph on his fastball. He's easily a better prospect than Joe Borowski. The guys I hear him compared to are Doug Davis or Jarrod Washburn.

He is, however, not a sure thing. Many have questioned his makeup and ability to make the transition to MLB.

Better scouting reports are here and here.

by Josh Timmers on Nov 13, 2006 6:47 PM CST up reply actions

Radar gun is so overrated

Just ask Greg Maddux.
To be a successful pitcher, Maddux says you need:

Location
Movement
Velocity

I'm so sick of reading "He hits 98 MPH, he's a #1 starter." You throw 98 down the middle, that ball's going to be 450 feet over the center field fence. You throw the ball 98 MPH in the dirt, you're going to have a 5:1 BB/K ratio*.
It's not all about the speed.

* Unless you play the majority of your games against the Cubs, who are genetically incapable of taking a pitch or drawing a walk.

"Respect the game above all else." - Ryne Sandberg

by Tom @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Nov 13, 2006 7:57 PM CST up reply actions

Yup Al...

out of recycled paper that flyer. A flat 84-88 doesn't get you very far in this league, unless you've got some moyer-like changeup up your sleeve.

by Chitown Mojo on Nov 13, 2006 6:30 PM CST reply actions

Agreed

Sounds like Shinjo Takatsu or Kaz Ishii all over again. In other words, a guy who does nicely for a brief time only to be annihilated by major league hitters once they get a book on him. No thanks. Not unless he can be signed to a one year deal.

by BlueMike on Nov 13, 2006 6:52 PM CST up reply actions

Ted Lilly, Gil Meche

Those are the two starting pitchers I want. Barry Zito and Jason Schmidt aren't coming to Chicago. Lilly and Meche are two guys I like more and more.

by BlueMike on Nov 13, 2006 6:50 PM CST reply actions

Lilly might want to sign with a west coast team...

apparenly his wife is a 3rd year vet student in California and he wants to play close to home. That's Ken Rosenthal's take.....he did say though that Hendry contacted Lilly's agent.

"Al was right about Aramis staying! Good call, Al!"

by PriorandAramisfan23 on Nov 13, 2006 11:12 PM CST up reply actions

You're probably right Josh...

I always get fooled by the "ESPN Expert" in front of these guys' name. With a name like Law how can you go around being wrong about everything... this world we live in.

by Chitown Mojo on Nov 13, 2006 6:56 PM CST reply actions

Chitown...

...how many times have you changed your diary title?

It's like you just went through the same humor class that Borat did.

PINIELLA!

by theprognosticator on Nov 13, 2006 7:58 PM CST reply actions

High Five!

n/t

HENDRY!

by cubbiejulie on Nov 13, 2006 8:05 PM CST up reply actions

Down low!

n/t

PINIELLA!

by theprognosticator on Nov 14, 2006 3:41 AM CST up reply actions

I like!

n/t

MCDONOUGH!

by secdelahc on Nov 14, 2006 8:31 AM CST up reply actions

My wife

She die. High five!

HENDRY!

by cubbiejulie on Nov 14, 2006 8:33 AM CST up reply actions

There ya go...

3 times it's been. Yes I did take Borat's humor class...pause...NOT. Actually I lost my passport along with my american visa, am leaving on Monday to France and have absolutely no clue how I am gonna get back into the country. I couldn't feel any worse so I'm just taking it out on the diary title.

by Chitown Mojo on Nov 13, 2006 8:05 PM CST reply actions

I suspect the diary title to be...

a dirty JEW... (I hope everybody here saw the movie, if not please excuse me. I was merely amusing myself with stupid reference jokes)

by Chitown Mojo on Nov 13, 2006 8:09 PM CST reply actions

Meche or Randy Wolf, Please

Kei Igawa is NOT the Answer!

Kei Igawa is the Answernot

Kei Igawa is the Answer pause not!

Kei Igawa is the Answer.................

...............................

..........................NOT!

PERRY!!!!

by Goat Whisperer on Nov 13, 2006 8:39 PM CST reply actions

why oh why

do people love gil freakin meche??

he has done nothing with his career- if you sign an innings eater 4th starter make sure he can actually eat innings (Meche cannot) and keep a decent whip (cant do that either)

"Its not like we need 10-12 players to contend"

by ksucubbie on Nov 13, 2006 8:45 PM CST up reply actions

I agree.

If you want one of Lou's ex-Seattle pitchers, go trade for Freddy Garcia.

by Al Yellon on Nov 13, 2006 8:54 PM CST up reply actions

Genius Goat...

HILARIOUS.

by Chitown Mojo on Nov 13, 2006 8:57 PM CST up reply actions

Kei Igawa is the Answer....NOT!

lets all remember japanese ball and american ball are too worlds apart (no pun inteneded) but what do we have too lose? we might just might hit the lottery with igawa. dmat might be a bust also. i see it like this what if he gets here and loves the city of chicago, fans, and furthermore our beloved cubbies he just might open a channel for us to get an ichiro type player in the future. besides the bid money doesnt count against payroll and the trib has plenty of money to spare.

by cubsluver22 on Nov 13, 2006 9:23 PM CST reply actions

He'd only need..

to be good one year. After that who cares if he's figured out. Gallagher will certainly be ready for the following season, if not THIS YEAR. Veal isn't far either. I say sign this guy for a one year deal, and see what happens.

by Macy on Nov 13, 2006 10:39 PM CST up reply actions