119 replies to this topic

[jk333]

Well, that is very promising because his "stuff" made Bowden's look electric by the end of the 2009 season. Good to hear it was better for much of 2009 and he looks to have worn down. Will be interesting to see if he really performs better this year. The success of another Japanese pitcher could motivate Dicek. Or it could aggravate him, hard to say.

I wonder if there is any thought to using Tazawa (or even Bowden) in the bullpen for 2010; certainly the Sox have a lot of bullpen pitchers already. It had previously been reported that they were interested in putting SP prospects in the bullpen prior to a full work load as a starting pitcher.

[BucketOBalls]

Tazawa seems like the opposite kind: he has 4 very good pitches, average velocity on the fastball, excellent command, and is efficient with his pitches. I haven't seen him pitch, but he seems to have something close to Saito's repertoire, with excellent breaking stuff for out pitches. Having 4 pitches seems to be wasted on a reliever.

Can Tazawa maintain his velocity through 7 innings? He's not a big man, so limited stamina and velocity loss seem like the only things that could keep him from being a good major-league starter.

Is Tazawa a guy who is really using his velocity to get people out though? His average was about 89 last year. He seems like a guy who depends more on breaking pitches, location and pounding the strike zone to get people out. Do a few MPH either way make all that much of a difference? I would think location and consistent execution would be bigger factors for him. I'm no sure he can really throw it past many hitters(Tek aside). I was more encoured by the fact that he worked on the split/slider.

Edited by BucketOBalls, 01 March 2010 - 11:31 AM.

[GoWhalers]

Is Tazawa a guy who is really using his velocity to get people out though? His average was about 89 last year. He seems like a guy who depends more on breaking pitches, location and pounding the strike zone to get people out. Do a few MPH either way make all that much of a difference? I would think location and consistent execution would be bigger factors for him. I'm no sure he can really throw it past many hitters(Tek aside). I was more encoured by the fact that he worked on the split/slider.

If he's getting higher velocity and more separation on his pitches then there's no way it wouldn't help.

[Sprowl]

If he's getting higher velocity and more separation on his pitches then there's no way it wouldn't help.

92 with pinpoint control would allow Tazawa to use more of the strike zone, even going inside on occasion. When he is topping out at 90, he is pretty much restricted to sitting on the outside edge, and sooner or later that limitation will catch up to him. Pinpoint control will only get a pitcher so far: he also needs movement or velocity, and preferably both.

It's interesting to see the slider mentioned, since Tazawa hardly ever threw it in the majors. His out pitch was usually the slow, big-breaking curve, while the splitter was a change-of-pace that he tried (and sometimes failed) to keep out of the strike zone. A five-pitch pitcher with average velocity has much more potential than last summer's Tazawa, whose ceiling looked to be low. A splitter that moves, a slider that bites, and an extra mile per hour on the fastball all add up to encouraging news.

[Eric Yu]

From Pete Abe's Twitter.

http://twitter.com/PeteAbe

Junichi Tazawa in Alabama today to see Dr. Andrews about his right elbow. That can't be good. #RedSox

Yiiiiiiiiikes.

[Yazdog8]

From Pete Abe's Twitter.

http://twitter.com/PeteAbe




Yiiiiiiiiikes.

Better the elbow than the shoulder.

[czar]

“He’s been dealing with some discomfort, some tightness, in the second half of last year,” Farrell explained. “He went through a normal offseason, didn’t have any issues, came into spring training, went through every outlined throwing session that we had and there were varying degrees of tightness or discomfort at different points this spring. And then in games his velocity was not quite where it was in the past and his breaking stuff was not as sharp. And even in his last bullpen he felt there was a little bit of tightness. I wouldn’t say it was further, or getting worse, but precautionary we wanted to send him to see Andrews and get that evaluation.”

The Red Sox hadn’t heard any reports back regarding Tazawa, who was slated to return to the team Monday night.

Rob Bradford (EEI)

[axx]

Sounds like they suspect he needs TJ.

[barbed wire Bob]

It could also be tendonitis or epicondylitis or something else. Whatever it is, they are being prudent and getting it checked out.


Edit: I guess I was being too optimistic: Tazawa could need elbow surgery.

Junichi Tazawa spoke to the media this morning. The young righthander was in Alabama yesterday to have his elbow examined by Dr. James Andrews.

Tazawa said there is a ligament issues and that surgery "will be part of the discussion."

Edited by barbed wire Bob, 30 March 2010 - 10:26 AM.

[SoxScout]

Red Sox manager Terry Francona said Tuesday morning that Junichi Tazawa has "an ulnar collateral sprain" in his right elbow. The 23-year-old pitcher was examined on Monday in Birmingham, Ala., and met with team officials upon his return to City of Palms Park this morning.

"He and the medical staff, they've got to figure out what's the best course of action -- whether it's surgery, whether it's rehab," Francona said. "That's where we're at right now."

"We found this with Daisuke in the past, too: When a Japanese guy says 'tight,' sometimes you have to sift through what 'tight' means," Francona said. "The way he was throwing, even last year when he got called up, we weren't seeing quite what we were seeing in spring training."

One reporter asked if Tommy John surgery was an option.

"You're getting a little ahead of me," Francona said. "Those are things he's got to talk about with Mike (Reinold) and Tom Gill and those guys and figure out what he's comfortable with. Dr. Andrews laid everything out for him. Soon we'll figure out what's going to happen. A lot's getting thrown at him in a hurry."

http://soxblog.projo...e-tazawa-h.html

[jnlevetoncnmt]

Sounds like he had successful surgery on April 8. Today, fangraphs has an article by Patrick Newman discussing whether the Red Sox rushed Tazawa or not. In the article he recounts a city league tournament in Sept of 2008 in which Tazawa apparantly pitched 28.1 innings over nine days. His team, the Shin-Nihon Oil Eneos won the tournament. He started on Sept 1st, 4th, and 8th. He pitched in relief on Sept 6th and 9th. According to the article he threw 158 pitches in the Sept 4th start. (Maybe they should name it the Dusty Baker Intercity Tourney) I did not see anything about this tournament in this thread, though it may have been posted elsewhere.
I knew from the Daisuke threads that Japanese pitchers are acclimated to throwing more pitches, and starting more games etc, but I did not think that a young pitcher in the Industrial leagues was subject to this kind of abuse, and I do think it was abusive. In 2009 he looks wonderful for the first part of the season in AA and AAA, but when he is called up to the show it is a disappointing performance. In 2010 he shows up to spring training noticeably bulked up after running and lifting weights during the offseason. Then the 'elbow sprain' and subsequent TJ.
I don't know that much about Japanese baseball, and I don't know what effect suddenly adding muscle mass has on a young pitcher. The whole thing leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I will now boycott Eneos oil.

[SoxScout]

Red Sox right-hander Junichi Tazawa, who missed all of 2010 after undergoing Tommy John surgery, pitched in a game setting for the first time since undergoing the procedure. In an intrasquad game in Fort Myers, the right-hander threw 27 pitches while facing eight batters, striking out three and not allowing a base runner. His fastball velocity registered as high as 89 mph — still below his low-90s velocity of 2009, but close to his pre-surgery form as he continues to build arm strength in his comeback.

http://fullcount.wee...-the-road-back/

[SoxScout]

Per @salemredsox, Junichi Tazawa to start his rehab assignment with Hi-A Salem on Friday, about 13 months after Tommy John

https://twitter.com/#!/alexspeier/status/70223582210441216

[SoxScout]

The Boston Globe reports Red Sox pitching coach Bob McClure said the team plans to take a look at Junichi Tazawa as a reliever.

Analysis: Tazawa did make three relief appearances for Boston last season, but he mostly has started in the minors. However, he has struggled since returning from Tommy John surgery, which is why the Red Sox want to see if his new career path is as a reliever. If that's the case, then Tazawa's Fantasy value takes a hit for the time being. Continue to ignore him in all formats, including long-term keeper leagues.

http://www.fantasysp...nsitioned-to-rp

[JakeRae]

I don't understand the analysis that claims that "he has struggled since returning form Tommy John surgery". He had K/9 rates above 10 in AA, AAA, and MLB last year, BB/9 of 3 or lower and reasonable hit and HR rates. He struggled for 19.1 innings in Salem immediately upon retaking the mound, but pitched very well for the most part last year. He did have a 6.00 ERA in MLB last year, which is probably where the "analysis" above comes from, but that was over 3 innings and he struck out 4, walked 1, and gave up 3 hits during that time. One of those hits was a HR. That's not struggling, it's a small sample size. To be fair, all of the stats I cited are small sample sizes, but the overall picture is of a pitcher doing well coming off of Tommy John surgery, not that of one struggling.

For next year, exploring Tazawa as a bullpen option makes a ton of sense. I still think he has the stuff to succeed in a MLB rotation, but I have a hard time seeing him ahead of Padilla or Cook on the depth chart at starter and the bullpen currently lacks depth. I hope, if they do move him to the pen, that he gets used in a Aceves like role where he gets to pitch 2-3 innings in some of his outings to stay stretched out and leave open the door of a move back to the rotation if that looks like a good idea.

Edited by JakeRae, 14 February 2012 - 06:18 PM.

[Snodgrass'Muff]

Yeah, Tazawa was actually really good in Portland and Pawtucket and when I got to see him at the Bucket last year, he looked like he had developed past AAA hitters. It's time to see if he sinks or swims in the majors and tossing him in the bullpen makes a lot of sense. Maybe stretch him out a bit in spring training so he can provide long man and spot start innings, but giving him low leverage innings out of the pen seems the most reasonable way to break him in.

He has the stuff to be a successful major league pitcher and he's one of the more intriguing projects the Sox have in the fold for 2012.

[judyb]

I'd really rather they not be turning major league ready SP depth into RP until it's clearly what's most needed, especially optionable SP already on the 40 man.

[Rough Carrigan]

Could this be simply a way to keep his innings down? Among Matsuzaka, Aceves, Bard and Tazawa, they've got 4 different pitchers who might give the team 140 or so good starter innings but are all unlikely to give them 200. It might actually be quite wise to not try and rigidly hold any of these guys to a 200 innings schedule. As long as Valentine's flexible enough to deal with the situation rather than forcing a "the starter must give us 200 innings or drop trying" template on things this could be for the best.

[Carl Everetts Therapist]

I would have loved to see Tazawa compete for the 5th stater spot as I think he is hugely underrated as a future contributor to this team. I think he is a better bet as a starter then all the re-treads.

That being said, if you re-read through this thread scouts were speculating that he may be better suited to a bullpen role. He has two very good pitches and one decent pitch, so relying on the two strongest may actually help him. People seem to forget just how highly touted this guy was in 2009, many scouts said that he would have been at least a 1st round pick if he were a college draftee.

I think he can be a very useful reliever and he'd be perfectly suited to the "Aceves" role. I bet by June he'll be the 7th inning guy. I'd love to see what his numbers look like after 30 to 40 major league appearences.

[BucketOBalls]

I would have loved to see Tazawa compete for the 5th stater spot as I think he is hugely underrated as a future contributor to this team. I think he is a better bet as a starter then all the re-treads.

I agree that I think he has as much chance as a starter as all the other random junk they got. They are probalby thinking of converting him because they can. Moving most of their other 5th starter candidates to the bullpen isn't an option.