Kei Igawa...worthless or just sleeping?

[wigglestrue]

What are the chances that he doesn't totally suck and his good performance in AAA is a sign of things to come? What are the chances that San Diego will try to trade for him again this winter? Would there have been a trade at the waiver deadline if the Padres could have cleared somebody like Meredith?

[VinnyTheMick]

I think the Yankees thought better of trading him at the time. From what I have heard from baseball people he may be destined to be a bullpen guy.


I think the Yankees will continue to work with him or possibly trade him to a west coast team like the Pads or the A's (they've expressed interest in him). If they were interested in trading Street & would bite on a Igawa/Clippard deal, I'd be all over it.

[#1knickfan]

I definately think he's better than he's shown but I also think that he isn't the kind of pitcher who can survive with the Yankees. If the Yankees were willing to pick up a portion of his salary another team could get a cheap bullpen or back of the rotation option and that might be worth a decent prospect.

[sully00]

I just don't know how you can even start to evaluate the guy until he stops walking people. The guy was walking damn near 5 batters per 9 innings, he can't pitch anywhere doing that.

[wigglestrue]

http://minors.baseball-reference.com/pl ... ?pid=34687

77.1 IP, 75 H, 30 ER, 10 HR, 18 BB, 77 K, 3.49 ERA, 1.20 WHIP.

If he's more that kind of pitcher than the one who was awful in the majors, then I think he could be a quality starter in the NL, especially in a place like San Diego. The guy can miss bats. He just has to keep the ball low and stop walking people so much. If the Yankees made that kind of deal, and if Igawa pulled it together for the Padres and went like 15-9 with a 3.70 ERA, the fans in NY would be pissed but he probably never could have made it in the AL East anyway.

[34Celtic]

Until he learns not to miss up in the zone, then he sucks.

[sully00]

http://minors.baseball-reference.com/players.cgi?pid=34687

77.1 IP, 75 H, 30 ER, 10 HR, 18 BB, 77 K, 3.49 ERA, 1.20 WHIP.

If he's more that kind of pitcher than the one who was awful in the majors, then I think he could be a quality starter in the NL, especially in a place like San Diego. The guy can miss bats. He just has to keep the ball low and stop walking people so much. If the Yankees made that kind of deal, and if Igawa pulled it together for the Padres and went like 15-9 with a 3.70 ERA, the fans in NY would be pissed but he probably never could have made it in the AL East anyway.

But dealing him just pisses away the 26 mil they sent to Japan, they guy only has a 4 years and 16 mil left on his contract. They have to work with him to at least get his value to the point that teams are excited to get a guy who can start and is making 4 mil.

I can't get excited about a 27 year olds AAA numbers. I saw enough from the guy that he could be an effective 5th starter long man if he can find the plate.

[cmaff051]

I still have hopes for Igawa next year. Some people have given up on him, I certainly haven't. I think he could be a good 5th starter/swingman for us.

He'll be very important next year. Let's hope he has improved.

[Pharmcat]

if our rotation is Phil, JOba, Andy, Wang, Kennedy

we are gonna need spot starters when the inning limitations come into play, here, Kei and Moose will be critical

[sully00]

I don't think we will see all 3 of the young guys in the rotation to start the season. Really hope your right about Pettite.

No reason not to roll Igawa out there to start the year, he could create a market for himself if nothing else. As my father says, at least he is left handed.

[PR07]

If we could get a solid bullpen arm for him, I'd take it...but I wouldn't trade him for the sake of trading him.

[34Celtic]

Lets just hope he's in Tampa right now working at locating his pitches at hitters knees as opposed to at their belts.

Pitching is about three things, location, location, and location.

Kei Igawa can't do any of those three things.

[Bleeding Green]

I like Kei Igawa and was hoping the Red Sox got him last year.

He's gonna have to improve the command (and he did in the minors), but he could be a serviceable mid-rotation starter. He's always gonna give up a ton of homers.

He always had nice control in Japan.

[34Celtic]

He always had nice control in Japan.

The difference in Japan and the majors is that in Japan you can get away with mistake pitches inside the strike zone, something you can't see in BB numbers. In the majors a change up up in the zone is going to be a HR, in Japan it may be a pop out.

[theknicks414]

Igawa, Clippard, Gardner for Street

[Bleeding Green]

-= original quote snipped =-



The difference in Japan and the majors is that in Japan you can get away with mistake pitches inside the strike zone, something you can't see in BB numbers. In the majors a change up up in the zone is going to be a HR, in Japan it may be a pop out.

Yeah, but you don't just suddenly go from a giving up 2.1 walks per nine to giving up 4.9 just because the league is a little harder.

I think it would be a mistake to give up on the guy after just one poor season. If you thought he was worth it when you got him, 70-ish innings shouldn't change your opinion.

[Pharmcat]

Igawa, Clippard, Gardner for Street