This is the first in a new series here at EWC where we ask some of the best individual team writers to contribute something on players that pertaining to this site. For now, these will focus on reviews of the 2007 season with a nod toward 2008. High points, low points, and where each player stands going into next season.
Without anything further we introduce David Chalk. David covers the Tampa Bay (Devil) Rays for Bugs and Cranks. He lives in Tampa, likes pie, and is an erstwhile supporter of Elijah Dukes.
As a huge Devil Rays fan I was on the Akinori Iwamura bandwagon from the beginning. Okay, so I did have a smidgen of doubt at first because I couldn’t think of another Asian infielder besides Kaz Matsui. But throughout spring training I never saw him without is flashy sunglasses, and I had a feeling he was for real, that he was ready to take over the position that had been held by greats like Aubrey Huff, Vinny Castilla, and Wade Boggs.
He got his first hit Opening Day at Yankee Stadium and got off to a blazing hot start, hitting safely in his first nine. It seemed like every come-from-behind win the featured Aki finding a way to get on base and then coming home to score the winning run. Like he did in the home opener against the B-Jays.
Throughout April, the D-Rays press notes were continually showing how well his start compared to the big names from Japan-Hideki Matsui and Ichiro. Unfortunately, Iwamura was injured in late April after helping the Devil Rays beat the Yankees for the second straight time. He was out for almost all of May. Then, shortly after he returned to the field, a foul ball took a freakish hop and caught him in the eye socket, causing him to miss another week.
Other than those two injuries, Iwamura was an every-day fixture at third base, and was practically a nightly feature on Baseball Tonight’s Web Gems.
Our Devil Rays had the lowest payroll in all of baseball–lower than what A-Rod alone got from the Yankees. Shelling out $7.7 million over three years plus the $4.5 posting fee was by far the biggest investment the team made last off-season.
Overall, they have to be pretty satisfied. He showed a good glove at third and batted .285 and scored 82 runs. Where they’re disappointed is the power numbers. Dude was averaging 35 home runs the last three seasons in Japan–he hit just seven?in 123 games in the Majors, good for just 34 RBI.
Perhaps, though, that’s more an indication of the role he was put into by “Coach Joe” Maddon–Iwamura was the D-Rays leadoff hitter in 100 of his 123 games. People were surprised how much his swing looked like Ichiro’s.
Shula’s American Steakhouse High Point: April. I think it was huge that he immediately dispelled any doubts and showed he belonged right away.
Thee Doll House Lounge Low Point: I’m tempted to say he came off as judgemental of teammate Elijah Dukes in a July interview with the St. Petersburg Times, but I guess the low point?ought to?be the low HR and RBI totals. The .184 RISP (16-for-87)?wasn’t great either.?
Prognosis 2008:The plan appears to be moving Aki to second base, primarily to make room for 2008 Rookie of the Year Evan Longoria (insert Desperate Housewives/Tony Parker joke here). Iwamura only played one game at second in 2007, but as good as he was in the field, he should be able to adjust. With a another of seeing AL pitchers, and with the addition of another big bat in an already potent lineup, his offensive numbers should improve as well. With a little luck, he’ll be running wild in the playoffs like Kaz Matsui did this year.
As was mentioned before David Chalk writes about?the Rays for Bugs and Cranks. He also writes about culture and international affairs for ABCD Films and TurkishHour.com.
5 responses so far ↓
1 D.K // Nov 30, 2007 at 10:40 am
“and is an erstwhile supporter of Elijah Dukes”
What the hell does that imply? He supports his impregnating of a 17yearold foster kid? Are we arguing he’s somehow gotten a raw deal in the baseball world?
2 David Chalk // Nov 30, 2007 at 12:18 pm
Part of my Devil Rays coverage on Bugs & Cranks is an ongoing series entitled “The Redemption Of Elijah Dukes” — while I don’t support all of Dukes’s (alleged) actions — I do support the idea that everybody deserves a second chance, and Dukes does seem to be disproportionately demonized.
If you want to check out the most recent installment:
http://www.bugsandcranks.com/tampa-bay-devil-rays/the-redemption-of-elijah-dukes-thanksgiving-miracle/
3 D.K // Nov 30, 2007 at 2:46 pm
Boy…disproportionately demonized? As compared to whom? I’d say the guy has gotten off pretty easily. I think what iwamura said about him was nothing!
Doesn’t some time need to pass in order to deserve a second chance?! At least an f-ing year. The girl probably hasn’t even had the baby.
A few months of (alleged) good behavoir in the Dominican doesn’t mean it’s time to carry the guy on our backs. I’d lay low for a couple months if I’d done what he’s done. But does he really feel sorry? Who the hell knows?!
4 David Chalk // Nov 30, 2007 at 3:00 pm
Who the hell knows indeed. That’s kind of my point. Dukes had been “laying low” since June, and while the stories came out in mid-summer, they all actually happened in March and April. So it is getting pretty close to a year.
The only issue I had with Aki’s comments were that he seemed to be assuming all the allegations were true and not giving his teammate the benefit of the doubt.
5 Linus // Nov 30, 2007 at 9:24 pm
I’m a Devil Rays fan and have been since the team started and I was still living outside of Tampa. I thought Iwamura was a mild disapointment. I also don’t like him batting leadoff. He’s more of a seven or eight guy on this team I think. If I had to grade his 2007 I’d give him a C+.
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