Fishing for Carp
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No, not this kind. This kind.
That would be free agent pitcher Hiroki Kuroda, late of the Japanese League's Hiroshima Carp. The Dodgers met last week with the 32 year old righty, sending an envoy led by Director of Asian Operations Acey Kohrogi, scout Keiichi Kojima, and perhaps L.A.'s ace in the hole, Kuroda's buddy Takashi Saito (I knew that guy would finally come in handy...). Kuroda is expected to hook- I'm not giving up the angling references that easily- a deal in the neighborhood of 3 years/$30 mil, give or take, and the Dodgers aren't the only team interested. The Mariners have reportedly made an offer, as have the Diamondbacks and the suddenly free wheelin' Royals. I'm sure there will be more, as teams start dry-heaving at the prospect of backing up the Brinks truck to sign Kyle Lohse.
Kuroda doesn't throw a Dice-K style gyroball, but does have a "shuuto," which while apparently a very common pitch among Japanese hurlers sounds awfully cool and exotic to someone with my apparently narrow world view. He also has a low-to-mid 90's fastball and an effective forkball/splitter type deal, all part of the repertoire Kuroda has used to become one of the more effective pitchers in Japanese baseball.
BK
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Hook'em Ned. And while you are at it, get Russell Martin some Japanese language classes, quick!
Posted by: richard | November 28, 2007 at 08:36 AM
Now this is the kind of deal I like. It's relatively low risk (Kuroda doesn't cost as much, and at this point, there's some kind of risk with paying any pitcher; see Jason Schmidt). Who knows, we might end up with the next Nomo for a few years.
Posted by: cjms | November 28, 2007 at 09:25 AM
The best news from this deal is that Sammy is helping to recruit which means that he is probably coming back for another year!
Posted by: Lex | November 28, 2007 at 09:41 AM
The 'shuuto' is kind of like a screwball.
When thrown properly, it has movement like a sharp slider, except it breaks away from the pitcher's body, instead of across it.
The best way to describe it might be a cross between a good sinking 2-seamer and a screwball.
I imagine that if any teams do have an 'inside track' on signing Kuroda, it would be a close race between the Mariners and Dodgers, but the Royals with Trey Hillman at the helm seem to be making a strong push for any Japanese player this winter.
Posted by: Makoto Ueno | November 28, 2007 at 10:31 AM
I hope they can land him, because just having a guy with a "shuuto" opens up all kinds of fun headline possibilities.
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | November 28, 2007 at 10:43 AM
I like this possible signing, because you aren't subtracting anything by adding this guy. He fills out the back end of the Dodgers rotation, as I was referring to in the last post. He can't be any worse than Tomko/Hendrickson...
Headline for Ned Colletti on getting this deal done: "Shuuto or Get Off the Pot"
Posted by: Higgins | November 28, 2007 at 11:09 AM
I agree with everyone else so far--get him. Put him in the 4 spot behind Lowe, Penny, and Bills and then let Loaiza, Schmidt battle for the 5th spot (not really a battle if Schmidt is healthy). If someone goes down, we have Loaiza, Houlton, Hendrickson, & Stults you can plug in. Knowing that you can't have too many arms, I wouldn't mind seeing Wolf re-signed (if we could get him for another 1 year deal--which I doubt) on top of all this. Except for Hideki Irabu, seems that all the Japanese imports can hold their own in the U.S. and this would seem to be a low risk--and wouldn't cost us half the team as Santana would. This would essentially complete the staff and leave all our chips in place to either keep or move in an offensive upgrade. Seems like a no-brainer.
Posted by: dodgerskip | November 28, 2007 at 11:38 AM
About the "Shuuto"-- I believe in the movie "Mr. Baseball" with Tom Selleck, the "shuuto" is jokingly referred to as the "great equalizer" after Selleck starts flailing away at it.
Posted by: dodgerskip | November 28, 2007 at 11:42 AM
Cheers to "Shuuto" coming to LA. If Ned does not land this guy, maybe he should "Shuut"o himself and get out of L.A.................
Posted by: JC Blue | November 28, 2007 at 02:02 PM
Your all full of shuuto.
Shuuto yo mouth!
at least he's a pitcher... who knew, Ned was on the right track all along. Guess we'll all have to shuuto up.
Posted by: benzojones | November 28, 2007 at 07:36 PM
Dodgers an afterthought according to this msnbc sportswriter.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21998479/
Posted by: dcerros | November 28, 2007 at 08:39 PM
From the MSNBC article:
"Meanwhile, just down the pike, the Angels signed center fielder Torii Hunter to a five-year deal worth $90 million"
Just down the 'pike'? This guy must be an East Coast (my guess is either Massachusetts or NY/NJ area) writer who's writing about LA baseball only because he recognized the name Joe Torre in relation to the Dodgers. One of many who feel like they need to sound off on a topic they know nothing about.
There must not be a lot of action going on in New York or Boston.
Posted by: Makoto Ueno | November 28, 2007 at 11:53 PM
Mak-
It really is apples and oranges, in a lot of ways, comparing LAA and LAD this offseason. Totally different structures to the roster, totally different stages in the development of their respective prospects.
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | November 29, 2007 at 12:12 AM
According to that guy it all goes back to not resigning Beltre. That set "the tone." What an idiot.
Posted by: nathan118 | November 29, 2007 at 07:22 AM
Also on MNBC site there is an article by Bert Blyeleven,,,,he says how now with Torre Dodgers will go after A Rod...Just goes to show how the 'experts' really know their stuff. One of the New York papers yesterday is still peddling the 'rumour' that the Dodgers are going to beat out the Yankees in trading for Santana. All these things should be read with a grain of salt.
Posted by: DODGER 1955 | November 29, 2007 at 09:39 AM
Anyone else do a little double take when they saw Delmon Young was traded? Swap a letter or two, and all of a sudden the Dodgers are making moves...
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | November 29, 2007 at 09:48 AM
BK, right on about the Angels/Dodgers. The only things that connects the two teams is location, need for a 3B, and the general notion of good farm systems. I guess it's human nature to try and connect the dots, though, even if the resulting picture makes no sense.
The TB/Minnesota trade also made me look twice, but realistically it would have taken a half dozen Delwyns to trade for Garza.
Posted by: Makoto Ueno | November 29, 2007 at 10:52 AM
As for what writers know and don't know, I have occasionally wondered if they are not flying trial balloons for the clubs they write about to gauge fan or media reaction? I read them with interest but half the time wonder what drug they're on?!
Posted by: Dan in Pasadena | November 29, 2007 at 10:52 AM
If the twins can get kershaw and broxton for johan, that would be awful. link below:
http://mlbfleecefactor.com/2007/11/29/santana-update-red-sox-yankees-dodgers/
Posted by: em3 | November 29, 2007 at 11:26 AM
"Twins are asking for a package of three or four players from a pool of six: Chad Billingsley, Clayton Kershaw, Matt Kemp, Andy LaRoche, Jonathan Broxton and Andre Ethier in Johan Santana discussions.” Getting 3 of those players would be a huge fleece for Minnesota. Two of them would be more than adequate.
How about Ethier, LaRoche, and Kershaw for Santana? Now would you do this trade? Still no third baseman, but the best rotation in baseball. And you could sign Rowand to fill Ethier's spot and let Nomar do whatever he does at third base.
Posted by: SaMo | November 29, 2007 at 12:01 PM
KEEP THE TEAM AS IS FOR NEXT YEAR...FURCAL, KENT (if he chooses to come back next year), PENNY, LOWE are all free agents after next season. Let's just see how good our youngsters are. Joe Torre did it when he first signed with the yankees. Remember Jeter, Williams, Posada, Rivera, Pettite, etc?
Posted by: esdubsi | November 29, 2007 at 12:26 PM
It doesn't matter if they take Loiza even up....Does anyone think that McCourt will pay a pitcher 150 million for 6 years?
Posted by: DODGER 1955 | November 29, 2007 at 01:42 PM
As far as the difference in the LAD and LAA, it seems to me the LAA are ready, willing, and able to pull the string on spending, while that doesn't seem to be the case with the Dodgers. At least, not yet, but who knows what's the works! I think the Dodgers reallly should find a way to get the best pitcher in baseball, but not give away the whole future. Is that at all possible?
Posted by: ronterm | November 29, 2007 at 03:54 PM
DODGER 1955
You're right McCourt will not pay 150 million for 6 years for Santana, that's why I don't think that trade will happen. I just don't think ownership has the financial means to pay big bucks for a star player. They're cheap.
Posted by: dcerros | November 29, 2007 at 06:43 PM
Kuroda sounds like another Kaz Ishii; low 90's and a lot of slow stuff that gets hit a long ways. $10 million for a 32 year old journey man? I don't know if he would improve the pitching staff.
Posted by: ozzie | December 01, 2007 at 12:05 AM