kazo fukumori (japanese RP)

by knockoutking24 on Dec 12, 2007 7:15 AM CST Comment 14 comments

from newberg report:
Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports that Texas is on the verge of signing Japanese reliever Kazuo Fukumori to "at least a two-year deal." The righthander went 4-2, 4.75 with 17 saves for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles in 2007, a season in which he was beset by elbow issues that ultimately resulted in surgery to remove bone chips.

In the three years Fukumori has pitched for the Golden Eagles, he's logged
124 strikeouts in 157 innings. In 2005, he went 4-3, 3.57 with 11 saves, and in 2006 he went 0-3, 2.17 with 21 saves. I've seen indications on the Web that he's 31 and others suggesting he's 33.

Dr. Lewis Yocum cleared Fukumori's elbow in October. He's reportedly a guy who works in the 88-91 range and features a splitter. He's not likely a closer candidate but instead someone who could figure in as a seventh- or eight-inning guy. Just last week the Yankees reportedly entered the eight- or 10-team mix to sign Fukumori.

honestly id be much happier w/ him than latroy hawkins. if we sign hawkins for 2 years JD needs to be fired.

that said, id rather have given gagne 2 years here than any other RP on the market.

wonder if we were just not ready/willing to give him the closers job again (WHY not?) - ive read that he will be "in the mix" for the closers position (espn fantasy) and others said hes the closer (rotoworld)

but any thoughts on this guy?

will look up some video or whatever else i can gather later today...think either aki or the new pacific rim guy had anything to do with this move? wonder how much the deal is for...

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scouting report:

http://eastwindupchronicle.com/?p=612

Sounds like another buy low candidate as a result of an injury. He put up great numbers for much of his career, and as recently as 2006 he had a 2.17 ERA with about a K/IP. Last year he was bothered by bone chips in his elbow, but he had surgury and was cleared in October.

A two year deal seems ideal, because even if his success is only the result of being relatively unknown, it usually takes the league between 1-2 years to adjust.

Could this be the precursor for a trade that will send some of our bullpen depth to another team for an OF?

by clark on Dec 12, 2007 7:33 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

scouting report (for those who are lazy)

Fukumori Kazuo drew a few raised eyebrows when he announced he would challenge the major leagues and opt for free agency following the 2007 season. The past year was a frustrating one for Fukumori, as he suffered a season ending right (throwing) elbow in late July. The injury had troubled him for much of the year, making it difficult to put much stock in his 2007 numbers.

Problem is, this has been a pattern throughout Fukumori's career. He's always been a sought after talent, but has now undergone two major elbow injuries that both required surgery. Still, when he's managed to stay healthy he's been solid, often verging on excellence, which is why he's now able to draw interest from major league clubs. He throws a good variety of pitches, including a shuuto (like a reverse slider), a slider and a knuckle curve, that he has decent control with. Most appealing is his fastball, which despite topping out in the low 90s, has a lot of movement and often tails in toward right-handed batters (as he illustrates in the video above).

by knockoutking24 on Dec 12, 2007 8:47 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I think the real thing behind this is...

that it tells future Asian imports that the Rangers are a viable option. This is the team, after all, that has had Chan Ho Park, Aki Otsuka and Fukumori.

Maybe a move like this will give us an advantage when the next Fukudome or Matsuzaka comes over.

I'd love for part of the "new look" to be a return to the red uniforms of the 1990s. - Ian Kinsler

by ortonius on Dec 12, 2007 8:30 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Don't forget Irabu!

by tklawless on Dec 12, 2007 9:42 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh no

I forgot about him. What a piece of crap he was.

by Coolbean04 on Dec 12, 2007 10:00 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

irabu

-"fat puss-y toad" - george steinbrenner

-His high salary at the time and lack of performance led many Yankees fans to nickname him Hideki "I rob you", a play on his last name Irabu.

read somewhere he runs a successful sushi resteraunt in LA

by knockoutking24 on Dec 12, 2007 10:04 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Jorge Julio

is another intriguing arm left on the market, if I recall. He is not getting the hype of the Gagnes and Dotels of the world, but he has put together two solid years in a row. If the Rangers are not able to sign any marquee players this offseason (and let's face it, such players are rarely sure things), they might as well sign some more low risk/potentially high reward guys and hope they have solid years. BY Kim is another dynamic arm who has failed to see results of late, but a move back to the bullpen could help out.

by clark on Dec 12, 2007 9:01 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

julio

i could handle.

but for the love of god, not BK Kim lol
http://www.baseball-reference.com/k/kimby01.shtml

by knockoutking24 on Dec 12, 2007 9:15 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I can't see Kim

getting any more than a minor league deal with an NRI.

by clark on Dec 12, 2007 9:29 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Kim

I'd be delighted if the Rangers got him into camp on a minor league / NRI.

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Dec 12, 2007 9:58 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Didn't the Rangers

Didn't they just bring in a guy who had a background in Asian baseball? Perhaps his experience had something to with this signing.

by texnykazrus on Dec 12, 2007 1:56 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

2 yr / $3m

Says this: http://www.nikkansports.com/baseball/mlb/p-bb-tp2-20071212-294482.html

Per mlbtraderumors.

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Dec 12, 2007 2:05 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

3 million over two years

There is almost no risk there at all. I like the deal.

Fire Ron Washington

by pblack on Dec 12, 2007 2:20 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

That's all?

this has to be a good move then. The Rangers don't really need any more arms in the pen imo. However this allows them to deal from a stregnth for a OFer (hopefully). That has to be a option now. Doesn't it?

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Dec 12, 2007 5:12 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs