87 replies to this topic

[JohntheBaptist]

http://sports.espn.g...tory?id=2678439

Hideki Okajima is in serious discussions with the Red Sox about a two-year deal, ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney reports. The 30-year-old left-handed reliever, who was 2-2 with a 2.14 ERA and four saves last season for the Nippon Ham Fighters, is a free agent.

ed: broke off from bullpen thread - nip

Edited by AlNipper49, 30 November 2006 - 02:31 PM.

[Fratboy]

Buried in yet another Matsuzaka article on ESPN is this nugget that the Sox are in "serious negotiations" with reliever Hideki Okajima. He's 30 years old, and a free agent.

Looks like the Sox are hoping to stripmine Japan for all they can.

[86spike]

a lefty who at a minimum becomes a buddy for Matsu to ease the transition?

bring it on.

here's a little article:

japanball.com

and some stats:

Career

last season he put up 63/14 K/BB in 54.2 IPs.

His career K/BB ratio is: 681/295 over 642 IPs

Edited by 86spike, 28 November 2006 - 04:53 PM.

[SoxScout]

Hideki Okajima | 2006 Stats

9.9 BR/9
7.6 H/9
0.8 HR/9
10.4 K/9
2.3 BB/9
4.5 K/BB

2.94 DIPS
2.90 xERA
2.62 ERC

2.14 ERA
1.10 WHIP

54.66 IP

Edited by SoxScout, 28 November 2006 - 04:54 PM.

[Fratboy]

Please? Pretty please?

[SouthernBoSox]

Please? Pretty please?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

My thoughts exactly. He could be a step in the right direction in a bullpen that has ZERO roles right now.

[yecul]

The Sox don't have a lefty and the market for pitching and lefties in general is pretty thin. They invested a lot in Matsuzaka with the side effect of getting a foot in Japan's talent door.

Not having any video to pass judgement, I like his age, K/BB, and solid HR/9 numbers.

Any scouting report/video available? I haven't found much. Contract demands?

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

Those K and K/BB rates are tasty. Keeps the ball in the park even in the smaller Japanese parks to boot.

He looks to be a pretty solid pitcher. Being a buddy for Matsuzaka would be gravy.

[k-factory]

There was an article on espn.com a few weeks back by Jim Allen who writes for a Japanese paper that had this capsule about Okajima:

Okajima revived his status as a useful reliever with the Japan champion Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters this season. Okajima provided clutch pitching against Japan's toughest hitter to secure the Fighters' Japan Series title.

Teams looking for the next Takashi Saito may have their eyes on the veteran lefty. After years of getting into trouble with the command of his forkball, Okajima has developed a devastating overhand curve and could be the bargain of the bunch.

[Rudy Pemberton]

Any explanation as to why his BB and HR rates have jumped around so much? Is he a LOOGY? Any way to get splits? (Thanks k-factory, that helps!)

Edited by Rudy Pemberton, 28 November 2006 - 05:19 PM.

[nazz45]

Any explanation as to why his BB and HR rates have jumped around so much? Is he a LOOGY? Any way to get splits? (Thanks k-factory, that helps!)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Vs. Righties (130 ABs) - .254 BA, 36:6 (K:BB), 5 HRA
Vs. Lefties (70 ABs) - .186 BA 27:8 (K:BB), 0 HRA

Forgot the scouting report from Yahoo! Japan:

It transfers from the giant before the commencing. As a relay the left going to the mound to 55 tournaments of team 3 rank. The big curve of nature the batting average of the left hitter was enclosed to 1 percentage level in the weapon. In team numbers few Japanese one experience person.

link

Found a small scouting report on a blog, but I don't know how reliable the info is, but FWIW, he supposedly throws a fastball that tops out at 91, but sits mostly in the mid-80s, and he also throws a curveball, sinker, and change-up.

Edited by nazz45, 28 November 2006 - 06:29 PM.

[AlNipper49]

splitting off from the bullpen thread

[bosox79]

http://www.japanball...s.phtml?id=8407


basically recapping everything.

[Cumberland Blues]

It transfers from the giant before the commencing. As a relay the left going to the mound to 55 tournaments of team 3 rank. The big curve of nature the batting average of the left hitter was enclosed to 1 percentage level in the weapon. In team numbers few Japanese one experience person.

The scouting reports by DCHONG are always a treat. That said, the K-rate seems at odds with the more readable scouting report above that has him topping out @91 and usually in the high 80's. If that's accurate, either his offspeed stuff is crazy good, or Japanese hitters completely suck at hitting fastballs. Or both I suppose.

[OCD SS]

Perhaps "Hideki Okajima" is Japanese for "Keith Foulke."

[BosoxBob]

Okajima revived his status as a useful reliever with the Japan champion Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters this season. Okajima provided clutch pitching against Japan's toughest hitter to secure the Fighters' Japan Series title.

In doing some quick searching around, I found some reports about the Japan Series which provide more detail on his performance. The player referred to as "Japan's toughest hitter" is Kosuke Fukudome, a lefthanded-hitting outfielder who was a member of Japan's WBC team, and who finished the year with a .438 OBP, .653 SLG, 1.091 OPS. Here's a rundown of Okajima's performance in the series:

Game 1
Okajima enters with one out in the eighth, a runner at second, and a 4-2 deficit. He walks the first batter, has the next batter sacrifice the runners over (?), and gets a fly-out to end the inning.

Game 3
Okajima enters with two outs in the eighth, nobody one, Fukudome at the plate, and a 3-1 lead. He strikes out Fukudome on 3 pitches to end the inning.

Game 4
Okajima enters with nobody out in the seventh, runners at first and second, Fukudome at the plate, and a 3-0 lead. He again strikes out Fukudome on 3 pitches, gets a come-backer for a force-out at first, walks the next batter, then gets a 3-1 ground-out to end the inning. In the eighth, he gets two ground-outs and a strikeout.

Game 5
Okajima enters with one out in the eighth, a runner at first, and a 3-1 lead. He gets the batter to ground to first for a 3-6 force out/tag out DP to end the inning.

Final stats for the series:

IP  H R ER BB K  ERA
3.2 0 0  0  2 3 0.00

All in all, a pretty impressive performance. Get it done, Theo!

[Rough Carrigan]

Perhaps "Hideki Okajima" is Japanese for "Keith Foulke."

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Nope.
Curveballing lefty with a decent but not great fastball out of the pen?

"Hideki Okajima" is Japanese for "Tom Burgmeier".

Edited by Rough Carrigan, 29 November 2006 - 10:45 PM.

[AlNipper49]

Okajima Wiki Page

[Green Monster]

BoSoxBob you ran some projections for Matsuzaka and Igawa, any chance of trying your formula on Hideki Okajima?

Edited by Green Monster, 29 November 2006 - 10:52 PM.

[Tokyo Sox]

Was looking for some video of Okajima, this is what I got so far -- Seibu Lion vs. Nippon umm, Ham Fighter.




I hope this rivalry won't get in the way of DM & Okajima getting along as teammates.

[The Flying Dutchman]

Yeah, finding even a picture of this guy took me forever. I present you: the Oka island of the Nippon Meat Packers, Inc.

[SoxFanPJ]

According to a source, the Sox are expected to announce soon that they have signed the left-handed reliever, who will turn 31 on Christmas.
 
  A Yomiuri Giant for 11 years until he moved to the Nippon Ham Fighters last season, Okajima is primarily a left-handed specialist, although he has been used as a set-up man and could grow into that role for the Sox. He is said to have a devastating curveball but is not a hard thrower.

    Terms and length of the contract are not known, but it is believed the sides were discussing a two-year deal.

http://redsox.boston...&format=&page=1

The player the Sox are closest to signing, sources indicate, is Japanese lefty reliever Hideki Okajima.  Okajima could compete for a set-up role in the bullpen and also serve as a friendly face for Japanese righthander Daisuke Matsuzaka  , whom the Sox continue to pursue.

http://www.projo.com...ox.32453ed.html

Edited by SoxFanPJ, 30 November 2006 - 12:22 AM.

[Tokyo Sox]

Here he is dropping a deuce in the dirt, so to speak, to let in the go-ahead run in the 11th:

[ToeKneeArmAss]

Here he is dropping a deuce in the dirt, so to speak, to let in the go-ahead run in the 11th:

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Dude scored from second on that WP - good wheels, too much foul territory, or both?

[Tokyo Sox]

Dude scored from second on that WP - good wheels, too much foul territory, or both?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Looks like a little of both...just judging from the video & the announcer commentary there's plenty of foul territory. The guy that scored, Hidenori Kuramoto, appears to be an occasional starter/mostly late inning defensive replacement guy, a la compatriot So Taguchi. Most ABs he's ever had was this year, with 288, so it wouldn't surprise me if he was on 2nd as a pinch-runner in that situation, but dunno.

[BosoxBob]

Here's another picture of the guy:



Oh, and direct from the Fighters website is this bit of information - the song that gets played when Okajima comes in the game is Sarah Brightman's "Time To Say Goodbye" (here's a YouTube'd live performance of the song). If we sign this guy, that will have to be the first thing to go...

[templeUsox]

Mac Suzuki

[Max Venerable]

This guy never quite made it...

[Rasputin]

Holy crap!  Did he throw that with a wiffleball??

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If, as seems likely, that was a curve under construction and he has since managed a tad more control of it, I think we might have something here.

And really, people born on Christmas never suck.

[V.I. Tessie]

I'm not sure how I missed this in the bullpen thread, I feel totally ashamed that I did. However, this possible signing has me a little giddy. Dare I say, even a little more giddy than Dice-K?

Is it possible that Okajima is being considered as a closer? A lefty, curveball tossing closer?

[bosox79]

I think Hideki would have more value not being a closer because he is lefty. If hes the only lefty in the bullpen and he is your closer, you cant use him in favor of matchups.

[Hendu Candu]

A loogy perhaps, but I can't imagine they see him as a closer. Japan doesn't see him that way.

This has you more excited than DiceK? You gotta get out more.

[redsox11507]

A loogy perhaps, but I can't  imagine they see him as a closer. Japan doesn't see him that way.

This has you more excited than DiceK? You gotta get out more.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Why use him as a loogy? Seems like a waste to use such a good pitcher for one out and only occasionally. Why not use him as a set up guy or maybe 1-2 inning relief?

[V.I. Tessie]

A loogy perhaps, but I can't  imagine they see him as a closer. Japan doesn't see him that way.

This has you more excited than DiceK? You gotta get out more.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well all that you need to do is look at where I live and you can understand why any little excitement makes me giddy. Heck, I almost hyperventilated when K-Mart opened up here.

Back to Okajima.....I agree with others in that using him as a LOOGY does seem like a waste. My own opinion is a 1-2 inning reliever seems the best fit. I had only posed the question of using him as a closer for discussion purposes.

[Talon]

totally irrelevant but

Sang Hoon Lee was Korean and Mac Suzuki is Japanese-American.

STAYING ON TOPIC

I don't know if this had been mentioned previously but Okajima was a long time teammate of Hideki Matsui...which obviously does not help us as Matsui probably has some knowledge he would dispel to the Yankees RE: how to work the guy.

[absintheofmalaise]

totally irrelevant but

Sang Hoon Lee was Korean and Mac Suzuki is Japanese-American.

STAYING ON TOPIC

I don't know if this had been mentioned previously but Okajima was a long time teammate of Hideki Matsui...which obviously does not help us as Matsui probably has some knowledge he would dispel to the Yankees RE: how to work the guy.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Probably true since I'm sure that Okajima has not changed his approach to batters at all since he and Matsui were teammates.

[Let it Flo]

BOSTON RED SOX AGREE TO TERMS WITH LEFTHANDED PITCHER

HIDEKI OKAJIMA ON MULTI-YEAR CONTRACT;

OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT TO TAKE PLACE AT 5:00 P.M. TODAY AT FENWAY PARK


BOSTON, MA—The Boston Red Sox have agreed to terms with free agent lefthanded pitcher Hideki Okajima on a two-year contract for 2007 and 2008 with an option for the 2009 season.

An official announcement will take place at 5:00 p.m., TODAY, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30 at Fenway Park. Hideki Okajima will be in attendance for the announcement with Red Sox Executive Vice President/General Manager Theo Epstein and Red Sox Vice President/Professional and International Scouting Craig Shipley.

Okajima, 30, has been one of the top setup relievers in Nippon Professional Baseball for the last several years. In 2006, he was 2-2 with a career best 2.14 ERA and four saves in 55 appearances with the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters.

Okajima was traded to the Fighters in March 2006 after 11 seasons with the Yomiuri Giants. He became an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2006 season. The lefthander has a career record of 34-32 with a 3.36 ERA and 41 saves in 439 games with Yomiuri (1995-2005) and Nippon Ham (2006).

[satyadaimoku]

It's good to see that the Red Sox are showing concern for Matsuzaka's transition to the United States. Not that this isn't a good move on its own, but it has to help. Even if Matsuzaka and Okajima don't like each other, at least both players will be able to communicate with one of their teammates.

I wonder if Okajima speaks English (probably not). I also wonder if Tito is prepared for the task of being unable to directly communicate with 20% of his pitching staff.

Edited by satyadaimoku, 30 November 2006 - 12:33 PM.

[Arock78]

BOSTON RED SOX AGREE TO TERMS WITH LEFTHANDED PITCHER

HIDEKI OKAJIMA ON MULTI-YEAR CONTRACT

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Link?

[86spike]

I wonder if Okajima speaks English (probably not). I also wonder if Tito is prepared for the task of being unable to directly communicate with 20% of his pitching staff.

That's what translators are for. I doubt it will be an issue at all as long as they can find a bilingual guy who can be called 'assistant trainer' or something whose real job is to interpret, but needs to be in a 'uniformed staff' role so he can be available during games.

I'm glad they made this deal. It brings some versatility to the pen which now looks like:

[Closer?]
Timlin
Tavarez
Okajima
?
?
?

[WhatColorareyourSox]

Link?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

http://boston.redsox...t=.jsp&c_id=bos

[CaptainLaddie]

That's what translators are for.  I doubt it will be an issue at all as long as they can find a bilingual guy who can be called 'assistant trainer' or something whose real job is to interpret, but needs to be in a 'uniformed staff' role so he can be available during games.

I'm glad they made this deal.  It brings some versatility to the pen which now looks like:

[Closer?]
Timlin
Tavare
Okajima
?
?
?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Can't you assume that one of those spots (at least) will go to Hansen/Delcarmen/Corey? I think that at this point, it's safe to assume that Manny Delcarmen will be in a Red Sox uniform for much of next season...

[mr guido]

Can't you assume that one of those spots (at least) will go to Hansen/Delcarmen/Corey?  I think that at this point, it's safe to assume that Manny Delcarmen will be in a Red Sox uniform for much of next season...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Corey's not on the 40-man at the moment.

Plenty of other pitchers on the http://www.sonsofsam...ok/external.png) center right no-repeat; padding-right: 13px; border-bottom: 1px dotted #3366BB; color: #3366BB; cursor:pointer; text-decoration:none;" class="wiki">40 man roster though:
DiNardo
Delcarmen
Hansen
E Martinez
Pauley
Javier Lopez
Snyder
Breslow
Gabbard
Hansack
Seibel
Kyle Jackson

[86spike]

sure...

I'd say we're looking at:

[Closer]
Timlin
Okajima
Tavarez
MDC
Snyder (longman/swingman)
Hansen/Corey/Breslow

[Crazy Puppy]

Daigo Fujiwara, the founder of JapaneseBallplayers.com, provided the following analysis of Okajima:

    Okajima is a three-time Japan Series winner, twice with the Yomiuri Giants in 2000 and 2002 (he was a teammate of Hideki Matsui, who he would be facing a lot, if signed), and this year (2006) with the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters.

    He has faced tough lefty opponents in critical situations out of the 'pen and proven his ability in Japan. He has a "big" curve, which is tough for lefthanded batters to hit, and he's held lefty hitters to less than a .200 average in '05 and '06.

    Bottom line is, Okajima is a solid situational lefthanded pitcher, and probably will cost much less than three years at $12 million that Orioles paid Jamie Walker. And Okajima is four years younger than Walker.

Boston Globe

[JohntheBaptist]

Any word on what his fastball is like? If it can get up into the low 90s, he sort of reminds me of a circa- late 90s Mike Stanton (stuff wise, maybe not expectation wise) with that curveball and the fact that he'll match up w/ LHH, but could pitch to a RHH. Is that a fair comp?

Edited by JohntheBaptist, 30 November 2006 - 01:03 PM.