More Info on Fukumori + Baldelli

by R.J. Anderson on Nov 6, 2007 8:53 PM EST

Is there a harder working writer out there at the moment than Tim Dierkes? Seriously the guy is digging deep and it's only the General Manager meetings, wait until the Winter Meetings. Anyhow tonight he brings us a new Rocco suitor and more info on the one known as Fukumori:

From the Nats official site it mentions Jim Bowden likes Rocco Baldelli as a trade possibility. Not too many matches outside of Rauch and Cordero -- can't see the Nationals giving them up.

Kazuo Fukumori - Might have emerged as a top-flight closer on a better team, but best years may have been wasted playing for expansion Rakuten Golden Eagles. Still, saved 21 games and was an All-Star in '06. ERA jumped nearly two runs in 2007, but still saved 17 and maintained a strikeout per inning ratio. Has a formidable slider that tails toward right handed batters. Could emerge as a nice sleeper considering the number of solid closers possibly headed to the U.S. Tampa Bay has been mentioned as being in hot pursuit. [Note: the Red Sox may be in on him as well.]

Hmm...a closer on a bad expansion team, he'll fit right in. A quick search for a new picture resulted in this summary, that includes Ryan Howard jacking a homerun off of Fukumori and him generally getting roughed up in 1.1 innings of work.

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Re: More Info on Fukumori + Baldelli

quick question....

If Fukumori is a right handed pitcher, how does his slider tail into right handed batters? Is that even possible? Isn't that called a screwball? The only two pitches that really tail into a right handed batter are the 2-seamer and screwball. When I first read this article, I assumed that he was a lefty. However, I checked and he definately throws from the right side.

by BossmanJunior333 on Nov 7, 2007 2:02 AM EST reply actions

Re: More Info on Fukumori + Baldelli

I had the exact same reaction to the slider comment.

by nyyfaninlaaland on Nov 9, 2007 2:00 AM EST up reply actions

Re: More Info on Fukumori + Baldelli

Given the Phillies deal, do people think the Rays could have gotten Lidge and should they have done so?

by bobr on Nov 7, 2007 11:04 PM EST reply actions

Yes we could've

Bourn isn't great, nothing special in Geary, and the prospect is barely noteworthy.

I'm not sure what Ed Wade is thinking to be honest, so let's hope we take advantage of him sooner than later.

by R.J. Anderson on Nov 7, 2007 11:05 PM EST up reply actions

Yes

But I tend not to blame the team in situations like this. I am not of the opinion that if another team makes a good move for a player at a position you need, that it's your GM's fault for not one-upping him. Pat Gillick just got there first and consummated the deal quickly, give him credit for that but I don't think that is Friedman's fault. I don't faults GMs on individual non-moves. Now there is obviously blame to be assigned when a pattern of this non-action builds up over several years to the team's loss, but this is barely a drop in the pond on the grand scale.