So Far So Good

by Jaime R on Feb 28, 2007 1:13 PM EST in New York Yankees News

The other white meat, Kei Igawa, the Yankees picked up after losing the Dice-K sweepstakes got off to a surprisingly good start. Igawa pitched two easy innings allowing only a bunt hit during his first intersquad outing.

You listen for what the hitters are saying when they walk by you, and what they were saying was, 'Ooooh, he's sneaky,'" pitching coach Ron Guidry said. "It's not that he's overpowering. He doesn't throw hard. But because of his mechanics, the ball is going to get to you a little sooner than you think. That's sneaky."

I believe the success of this rotation rests on the shoulders of Carl 'Mr. Glass' Pavano. With a glut of wiley soft throwing starters and Philip Hughes not due up in the Bigs until later this summer, the Yankees need that arm with pop that was lost with Randy Johnson. Igawa's craftiness would fit nicely following a healthy Pavano in the rotation. I'm hoping we hear nothing but good news out of the kid for the rest of spring training. Who knows? Maybe, just maybe, this season's most successful Japanese pitcher snagged during the offseason might not be playing in Boston.

Tweet Comment 22 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Igawa

Igawa looks like the real deal! You guys have quite a prospect on your hands.

http://www.americanlegends.blogspot.com

www.americanlegends.blogspot.com

by JMEnglish on Feb 28, 2007 2:31 PM EST reply actions

I don't think anyone on this blog

doubts he is a prospect. People don't like that we paid him (or for him w/ the posting fee) like a major leaguer.

Losers always whine about their best. Winners go home and f*** the prom queen.

by Edwantsacracker on Feb 28, 2007 3:03 PM EST up reply actions

Holding out judgment

I have been the biggest Bruce Chen II detractor, but even I would have been a fool to expect anything different yesterday. Pitchers are always ahead of hitters and he threw 19 pitches to rookies. I will hold out judgment on this guy.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Feb 28, 2007 3:00 PM EST reply actions

Agreed

I'm always suspicious when someone is termed "sneaky fast."

River Ave. Blues
Yankees and their minor leagues. My last blogging stop, I promise.

by PinstripePowerhouse on Feb 28, 2007 3:15 PM EST up reply actions

That is baseball speak

for "didn't suck as much as you would have expected."

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Feb 28, 2007 3:32 PM EST up reply actions

"Hold out judgement" ?

You're holding out judgement on Igawa?

Now THAT is funny.

by matthaggs on Feb 28, 2007 3:43 PM EST up reply actions

You know what I mean

I have made a steadfast prediction of his suckitude, but I was merely referring to the highly unlikely but I suppose slightly possible chance that he could be good. I will admit it if I am wrong about him, but I was merely stating that retiring a few minor leaguers on 20 pitches is not going to sway me.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Feb 28, 2007 3:56 PM EST up reply actions

Good, Sucky or Randy

Lot's of doubt about Igawa and I share some of it.

What is the threshold for Igawa being considered a good or sucky signing? I say if he approximates 70% of what Randy did in 06 then he'll be a good pikc up. Though 70% of 06 Randy may not be considered good by others.

This means if Igawa has 160+ ip, 13 w's, and an era south of 6 I'll say he was good in an average sort of way.

In comparison with last year though the Yankees didn't have good starting pitching after Wang and Moose so Igawa doesn't have big shoes to fill, unless you're literally looking at Randy's shoes.

by collink on Feb 28, 2007 4:54 PM EST reply actions

An ERA

south of 6 is good in an average sort of way? We obviously have different views. You don't pay 46 mill for a 5.59ERA.

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Feb 28, 2007 5:25 PM EST up reply actions

Yup

He has to be pretty damn good to justify spending 9m/year for five long years. As I fully expect him to be relegated to either a younger version of Mike Myers or so bad that they have to eat a huge portion of the contract and trade him for pennies on the dollar, I am by no means optimistic.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Feb 28, 2007 6:02 PM EST up reply actions

What was Randy paid?

I used the era under 6, because that could be considered roughly 30% worse than Randy's in 06, not because I think that's an era to be aiming for.

I'm saying if Igawa's overall production is close to 70% of Randy's 06 production it's going to be hard to argue that this was a sucky move.

And it's wrong to say Igawa is being paid 9 mil. He's not. With Igawa there's a significant difference between what he cost the Yankees and his salary. This matters because, a 4.5 mil salary is easier to trade than a 9 mil. A player's trade value counts towards his overall value to his team.

by collink on Feb 28, 2007 7:01 PM EST up reply actions

The Yankees

paid 46 million for him to pitch for them.

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Feb 28, 2007 8:07 PM EST up reply actions

yes

so does that number alone mean this deal sucks?

And it's not wrong to point out that all of that money is not salary. Only 4.5 mil counts as salary next year.

I was asking what does this guy have to do for the deal to be considered good.

If you think the deal the Yankees had with Randy in 06 was good then I don't understand how Igawa could be considered sucky unless he pitches significantly worse than Randy.

by collink on Feb 28, 2007 8:35 PM EST up reply actions

I can see

the point you are trying to make, but I look at the overall investment. The Yankee paid out 46 million for 5 years, about 9 million a year (regardless of how much is in the posting fee and how much his salary is). For 9 mill, I would except a 4.50 era, 13 wins.

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Feb 28, 2007 9:46 PM EST up reply actions

Lofty expectations

ERA around 6!? With that level of tough scrutiny, I guess the war in Iraq is also going "good in an average sort of way" right?

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Feb 28, 2007 6:04 PM EST up reply actions

the word good

The word "good" does not have fixed definition when applied to fans talking about baseball.

Players that you consider bad, sucky or worthy of death are actually liked and considered to be good by other fans.

Also a good season for a player like Andy Phillips is not a good season for Jeter.

Surely you won't be holding Mussina and Igawa to the same standards. What might be a bad season for Mussina could be a good season for Igawa.

There must be some level that Igawa can reach that would make you think he was a good pitcher or a good signing.

Yes I have a low threshold for considering the Igawa signing to be good. In the Yankees realm this was not a large risky investment.

by collink on Feb 28, 2007 8:49 PM EST up reply actions

"He's sneaky"

Much like Shingo Takatsu was "sneaky." "Sneaky" means he's got a funky delivery that's hard to pick up, but once someone figures the delivery out, the ball is in the stands.

Not that I don't mind having a lefty version of Chad Bradford (who's better than Myers), but that's not what the Yanks paid for.

by Willton on Feb 28, 2007 9:40 PM EST reply actions