benhogan said:What about signing Koji to a 4 yr deal, say 4 for $20MM?
I know he just had a historically great season, and signing him now would be a classic 'buy high' situation, but he has just put together 4 straight outstanding seasons from the pen. He has a similar physique to Mariano and I could see Koji doing this till he was 42. Koji's 4 collective seasons as a reliever of WAR are 8.4 (2010 representing his worst season - 1.2 WAR)
I'd like to see how he fares in the post season first, but this should be on Ben's 'to-do list' this off-season
benhogan said:What about signing Koji to a 4 yr deal, say 4 for $20MM?
I know he just had a historically great season, and signing him now would be a classic 'buy high' situation, but he has just put together 4 straight outstanding seasons from the pen. He has a similar physique to Mariano and I could see Koji doing this till he was 42. Koji's 4 collective seasons as a reliever of WAR are 8.4 (2010 representing his worst season - 1.2 WAR)
I'd like to see how he fares in the post season first, but this should be on Ben's 'to-do list' this off-season
Prior to seeing the last 2 posts I edited down to 3 years, but you are most likely correct, see how next year plays out.Puffy said:
Wouldn't it seem to be in everyone's best interest to see what he does for the Sox next year?
Puffy said:
Wouldn't it seem to be in everyone's best interest to see what he does for the Sox next year?
Now, I don't want to say what Koji has done is a mirage, but beyond Mariano Rivera there are no certainties among relief pitchers. Fangraphs tends to harp on this subject, and what it comes down to is that just about everyone who comes out of the bullpen for a living is a risk you should avoid giving lots of money too, especially if you don't have to (and the Red Sox have Koji for another year at a very reasonable $5M already).MentalDisabldLst said:Well I'll be the one to say it - I'd be happy to give someone like him 4 years. No signs of wear and tear, he hasn't been in the league that long, no injury history in NPB, and nothing but consistent amazing K and BB rates out of the guy. This year is an aberration but even an average year from Koji is surely worth 4/$24 or so. Or 3/$21, frankly. Elite relief help is often a mirage, have to take the few certainties you can get in that business and run like hell.
MentalDisabldLst said:Well I'll be the one to say it - I'd be happy to give someone like him 4 years. No signs of wear and tear, he hasn't been in the league that long, no injury history in NPB, and nothing but consistent amazing K and BB rates out of the guy. This year is an aberration but even an average year from Koji is surely worth 4/$24 or so. Or 3/$21, frankly. Elite relief help is often a mirage, have to take the few certainties you can get in that business and run like hell.
His age is a risk. I wouldn't like to see the Sox bid against themselves and land on 4x$5m, but if the market drove them there, that's probably something they could swallow if Koji starts winding down after year 2. Assuming they don't re-sign Ells, they'll have some significant flexibility in the next 3-4 years as some of the kids take over. Obviously $5m is a chunk, but to take a chance on a couple more seasons like this one, it's probably not a bad risk.williams_482 said:Now, I don't want to say what Koji has done is a mirage, but beyond Mariano Rivera there are no certainties among relief pitchers. Fangraphs tends to harp on this subject, and what it comes down to is that just about everyone who comes out of the bullpen for a living is a risk you should avoid giving lots of money too, especially if you don't have to (and the Red Sox have Koji for another year at a very reasonable $5M already).
Balls don't even show up in the legend...just on the Rays' batters' chins.Sprowl said:The spectral signature of Unhittium:
Accoridng to BRef, I don't believe anyone has:CoRP said:Has a playoff reliever ever gotten the 3 straight Ks on nine pitches in a save situation because he was only one pitch away from doing it last night and Myers just barely fouled off his 9th pitch.
Danny Jackson did it once in the 1985 World Series:BrunanskysSlide said:I looked again, and in fact, not one single pitcher has struck out three in one inning with 9 pitches at any time in the post-season. These are the only pitchers who have 2 K's with 9 pitches in one inning: Some are listed above as well:
Brad Lidge
Terry Matthews
Rob Dibble
Ken Dayley
Mike Marhsall
Clay Carroll
Interesting to note that Pedro's Immaculate Inning came against three guys (Ichiro, McLemore, Sierra) with over 7,700 professional hits* between them.Lose Remerswaal said:So Clay did it last year. Last HoF pitcher to do it was Sutter in 1977. Of the 32 pitchers to do it since then, I think only Randy Johnson, Pedro (in 2002), and Felix Hernandez are going to the HoF, unless Clay proves to be more durable than I fear.
Trotsky said:I misseed the game last night (oh what a bummer...) but I'm curious about Lobatan's HR shot off Koji. Replays looks like it was a shitty hitter not even guessing right, but just getting ridiculously lucky, no? The pitch seemed pretty damned good (not great) to me. I'm assuming he's still available to close the series out tonight.
While all three relievers admitted to nerves before taking the mound, Uehara was the most candid about his jitters. When asked if he gets nervous, he said, “Of course, I almost throw up. Every day.”
joe dokes said:
http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2013/10/15/red-sox-bullpen-comes-through-win-over-detroit-tigers/zERinZZyRAsnOiqQHcQtKP/story.html
I have no idea what to make of this.
VMart seemed to do the best against him. One foul, then reaching for a low and away pitch for a hit. Avila clearly didn't want to swing against him or Breslow, the latter walking him on five pitches without him swinging the bat. Ue got hit to go fishing for strike three, though.Sprowl said:Six fastballs, ten splitters, four outs, one save. Avila took seven pitches to strike out, only one of them a fastball. The pitches were too close to the zone to leave, too far away to hit: Uehara was living on, below or beyond the outside corner, and try as they might, the Tigers could not make him throw strikes.
Before one big game, Auerbach asked him if he had thrown up. Russell said no, so Red said "go throw up".Red(s)HawksFan said:
Bill Russell supposedly threw up from nerves before nearly every big game he played. Didn't slow him down much. I wouldn't make anything of it at all. I admire Koji's candor about it, actually.
Glenn Hall .. The Hall of Fame goalie from the Black Hawks used to have the same problem. I think he'd even throw up between periods.Al Zarilla said:Before one big game, Auerbach asked him if he had thrown up. Russell said no, so Red said "go throw up".
BCsMightyJoeYoung said:Glenn Hall .. The Hall of Fame goalie from the Black Hawks used to have the same problem. I think he'd even throw up between periods.
http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2013/10/17/red-sox-beat-tigers-take-lead-alcs/PMA1cfTqZ036yY7uSeKxtJ/story.htmlUehara slumped in a clubhouse chair after the game, having completed his usual postgame workout. At 38, he has become an indispensible member of a team that is shocking baseball after finishing in last place a season ago.
It was in Detroit in late June when the Red Sox decided to make Uehara the closer after Andrew Bailey blew a save. He has been almost flawless since, particularly in the playoffs.
“I’m tired,” Uehara said in English. “Need to sleep.”
Al Zarilla said:One reporter (was it?) was kidding around with Koji about how many outs he felt comfortable coming in to get in a closing situation. He dodged around a bit and then said, or put up 4 or 5 fingers, saying that would be his max. Anybody else see that? Let's say I'm 70 - 30 that it was 5 outs. Definitely not 6 though. If so, that was his own maximum save situation last night.
SouthernBoSox said:He's worn out. But it's clearly more mental than anything. He's never had to so anything like this before. And honestly he's being asked to set up and close it out. It's pretty incredible.
I'm not to worried about the workload. Even though he's pitched a lot, he's still been efficient and limited the pitch count. He threw 26 pitches last night. Lets not act like that's a monster number.
MyDaughterLovesTomGordon said:Koji's definitely getting MVP consideration at this point if the Sox pull it out. His only real rivals are probably Napoli, with his two epic bombs, and obviously Lackey if it goes seven and he wins another.
m0ckduck said:
I agree he should, but closers don't seem to get much consideration for postseason MVP awards unless they're Mariano Rivera. After Foulke got shafted for the 2004 WS MVP, no oversight would surprise me along these lines...