MLB Trade Rumors is reporting the Cleveland Indians have become the first major league team to dip into the Japanese market, inking Kobayash Masahide to a 2-year deal, with an option for 2010.
Ironically we’ve been putting the finishing touches on an East Windup Breakdown of Kobayashi, which we’ll post in the next day or two.
This is the first Japanese signing by the Indians, but not the team’s first move into Asia. After creating his position in 2005, Director of Pacific Rim Scouting Jason Lee scouted and signed top Taiwanese pitching prospect Tseng Sung-Wei last offseason. Lee also signed East Windup favorite Jung Sung-ki of Korea when he worked for the Braves organization.
Kobayashi has spent the last nine seasons with the Chiba Lotte Marines of the Japanese Pacific League. He’s saved at least 20 games in each of the last seven seasons, totalling 227 saves and a 2.79 ERA for his career.
“I don’t throw the gyroball,” Kobayashi told reporters at Tuesday’s press conference, through interpreter Kenta Yagi.
Only two Japanese pitchers, other than Kobayashi, have had 200 or more saves in their careers — Sasaki Kazuhiro and Takatsu Shingo, both of whom already pitched in America. Kobayashi was also a member of the Japanese Olympic team in 2005 and the Lotte team that won the Japan Series that same year.
The move adds depth to one of baseball’s better bullpens, which posted the fourth best relief ERA in the American League last year, the league’s saves leader in Joe Borowski, and two solid setup men in Rafael Betancourt and Rafael Perez.
7 responses so far ↓
1 IronChef // Nov 21, 2007 at 12:55 pm
I read thsi on BBTF today:
“He’s not the first Japanese on the Indians. He’s not even the first Japanese on the Indians to be associated with Wiener-eating”
2 Jason Jones // Nov 21, 2007 at 1:44 pm
Jason Lee does not hold a director position with the Indians he is a scout in Taiwan, but hey why start reporting facts now.
3 A.S. // Nov 21, 2007 at 2:47 pm
Well, this team press release as used on MLB.com says he was hired as Pacific Rim Scout and that it was a newly created position. I suppose that might mean he is the Captain, Top Dog, or Dear Leader of Pacific Rim Scouting for the Indians, and not the Director, but I don’t think it makes him some guy scouting in Taiwan as you suggest.
http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20050126&content_id=934795&vkey=pr_cle&fext=.jsp&c_id=cle
If you have some further knowledge you’d like to contribute feel free to do so. I’ll gladly change it. But my gut is telling me to stick with the Cleveland Indians press release for the time being.
4 jackson // Nov 21, 2007 at 8:06 pm
that has to be the b-tchiest post i’ve read since we started this blog. I’ve met Jason Lee, and frankly, I doubt he’d be offended if you called him the director of scouting as opposed to just a scout. but jason, if you’re reading, let us know what your official title is…
5 Jason Jones // Nov 22, 2007 at 6:40 am
As the press release stated he is a pacific rim scout. Directors manage, run and set protocols for departments there is a big difference.
6 A.S. // Nov 22, 2007 at 9:57 am
It does not say he is a pacific rim scout. It says he is THE pacific rim scout.
Look, you obviously have some kind of personal problem with me calling Mr. Lee a Director of Scouting. Why don’t you take it up with him instead of coming on this blog and accusing us of not reporting facts? Or, conversely, you could show me an incorrectly reported fact, Mr. Slander.
Surely that’s more serious than me calling Mr. Lee a director when he is in fact the Pacific Rim Scout of the Indians.
7 jackson // Nov 22, 2007 at 12:12 pm
Ok, OK. The article doesn’t explicitly state that he’s the director. We regret the error.
i can’t believe we’re talking about this.
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