The Blue sign a Japanese pitcher, just not the one you're thinking of
Interesting note from the Dodgers PR department today. They've signed 6'2" righthanded pitcher Robert Boothe to a minor league deal. That's not necessarily interesting, but this is: Boothe is out of Asia University in Tokyo, making him the first amateur player the Blue have signed from within Japan. Putting aside the notion that while I'm sure it's an outstanding institution, "Asia University" sounds kind of made up- the sort of place you'd invent in a job interview when you don't want to get specific about where you're lying about having attended on the odd chance the interviewer happens to be an alum, Boothe isn't a kid without talent. At 21 years old, he was sought after by multiple teams in the Japanese Professional Baseball Draft.
Boothe is the son of an American father and Japanese mother- I'm going to assume for some of you that answers one of your questions- and has siblings living on this side of the pond. This, and other bits of information, can be found in the press release below the jump. Incidentally, there will be a press conference at Asia University at 12:30 on December 6th, if you happen to be in the neighborhood.
BK
DODGERS SIGN JAPANESE COLLEGE PITCHER BOOTHE TO MINOR LEAGUE CONTRACT
Right-Hander from Asia University is Team’s First Amateur Signing from Japan
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers announced today that they have signed right-handed pitcher Robert Boothe to a minor league contract.
“We feel Robert has a good chance to become an effective Major League pitcher,” said Dodger General Manager Ned Colletti. “Our scouting department has followed Robert for a couple of years and his signing reaffirms our commitment to reaching out worldwide to find players. It is difficult to sign amateur players out of Japan and we are excited at this signing’s historical significance.”
Boothe, 21, attended Asia University and was sought after by as many as five teams in the recent Japanese Professional Baseball draft. He was a member of the All-Japan College All-Star Team that played in Holland this summer.
The six-foot, two-inch pitcher was born to an American father and a Japanese mother and has siblings that reside in the United States. He was scouted and signed by Japanese Dodger scout Keiichi Kojima.
“Robert is a quality athlete with a nice delivery, good arm action and a sound mix of breaking pitches which gives him a chance to become a future Major Leaguer,” said Assistant General Manager of Scouting, Logan White. “I’m proud of the job Acey Kohrogi and Keiichi Kojima have done in making this a reality.”
The Dodgers have a long history with Asia University. From 1961 to 1964, Akihiro “Ike” Ikuhara was the head coach for Asia University. In 1965, Ikuhara moved to America and started working for the Dodgers. He stayed for 27 years and worked in various roles until his passing in 1992. Ikuhara was posthumously inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002 for his role in U.S.-Japan baseball relations. The Asia University baseball team’s meeting room is named after Ikuhara. Ikuhara’s son-in-law, Kohrogi, is the Dodgers’ Director of Asian Operations and has worked for the team since 1995.
The franchise’s ties to Japan date back to 1956 when the Dodgers made their first of three tours of the country during the postseason. The relationship has continued over the past five decades in Los Angeles, as the team has been widely credited with starting the influx of talent from Japan to the Major Leagues with the historic signing of Hideo Nomo in 1995. In 2007, 16 Japanese players appeared in a Major League game, including All-Star Dodger closer Takashi Saito.
The Dodgers have retained strong ties to the entire continent of Asia, as Dodger outfielder Chin-Feng Chen became the first Taiwan native to play in the Major Leagues in 2002. In 1994, Chan Ho Park became the first Korean to play in the Major Leagues when he took the mound for Los Angeles while the franchise was also the first in baseball to form a relationship with China, a bond which dates back to 1980.
A press conference is scheduled for Thursday, December 6 at Asia University at 12:30 pm in Building Number 1, 2nd Floor, Meeting Room Number 3
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BK
From and earlier post. I think I was not clear about the comment I made about the Dodgers spending money to improve. I know that trades would have to be made in order for the big guns (Santana, Carbrera) to be obtained. My idea was to try and sign F/As and then trade. Not give up all the young talent the Dodgers have. According to the Times today, Ned says all the top level F/As are overpriced,(Jones and Rowand) which is a way of saying "We're not going to pay what the market demands in lenght of contract or money". In other words, Frank is not going to pay what the market demands. He is satisfied to go with basically what he already has. I do not think the Dodgers can win a World Championship with the current roster. Do You?
Posted by: Package | December 04, 2007 at 05:40 AM
So, Logan White is still around?
Posted by: benzojones | December 04, 2007 at 05:57 AM
As with everything Dodgers, "the price was right"!
Posted by: ronterm | December 04, 2007 at 06:38 AM
Benzo:
That's the best news of all. And the fact that the Dodgers aren't trading away their minor league talent is an indication that White is having a real influence on the composition of this team.
Remember how last summer we were all bitching that they should play the kids, don't trade away the talent for a bunch of old losers, and build from within Logan White's farm system? Well, that's exactly what the Dodgers are doing.
So why now are people complaining that we can't go into next season with the team as currently constituted? Why not? By June of 2008, won't we al be complaining that Nomar is taking too much playing time from that stud Andy LaRoche? That Kent is blocking Abreu's progress? That Hu should be the everyday shortstop?
I like the team as it is now. I'd be willing to forgo LaRoche if we could get some top talent in return, but I don't see much available in the free agent or trade markets. If you can get Johan Santana without giving up everyone on the farm, great. And if you can unload Juan Pierre on some unsuspecting team, also great. But all these other deals come with serious downsides.
Let the kids play. They might not win it all this year (then again, how many Colorado Rockies had more than two years of big league experience in 2007), but they will be competitive for many years down the road. And if they're close to contending in 2008, mid-year will be soon enough to pull the trigger on a deal that puts them over the top.
Posted by: SaMo | December 04, 2007 at 09:04 AM
Package-
No, I don't. But I don't quite buy your logic, either. If Andrew Jones comes at too high a price for too many years, than an organization has to think twice about signing him. On the mound, the market for the Kyle Lohse's of the world is what the market is, but that doesn't mean it's a good idea to shop. FA signings don't occur in a vacuum. Bad ones follow a team around, and cause trouble down the road.
Apparently, they seem quite willing to pay the market price for Kuroda, but not some other people. I'd love for them to improve in the outfield, but is it a good idea to sign Jones for 6/90? I wouldn't do it. Even if they could then trade another player to fill another hole (and, unless that player is Pierre, they might not improve much anyway...). That's an albatross contract waiting to happen. FA signings only help when the players you bring in are better than the ones they displace. And assuming for a minute that nobody else will take PIerre in a trade (I've heard some rumors that there's interest, but I'll believe it when I see it), and that the Dodgers aren't going to turn him into bench guy at 9 mil per/second season of a long term deal- that's just not how the world works- is either Rowand or Jones so good that you'd say "Do whatever it takes!"? I don't think so.
I'm more interested to see what they can do around the margins. The big names, big splash deals, whether FA or trade, are going to be tough. But they can add depth, find more arms, look for smaller deals that could pay off larger down the road. Not everything needs to be a headline grabber. But more than anything, they need to avoid the urge to "do something!" just to do it.
I'm still not sure why the rep for not spending money with the McCourts. Not spending wisely, I get. Not spending at all? Last season they poured cash into two high profile, expensive FAs. They spent to bring back Nomar. I believe they would have made a sincere run at A-Rod, had that train actually left the station. I can't think of players they wanted but passed on (at least making a run at) b/c they cost a lot in the McCourt era.
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | December 04, 2007 at 09:10 AM
I was about to note the same thing BK.
While McCourt will probably never be confused with an owner named Steinbrenner, you can't say that he won't spend money. I think Ned is the one who is pulling himself back after the embarassing signings last year of Pierre and Schmidt. All you have to do is remember someone named Kevin "New Sheriff" Malone to realize what can happen when a GM is given an open checkbook and freedom to spend. At least Ned has realized that he was too quick on the trigger last year and will be saddled with some bad contracts for years to come. This year he is looking at an Andrew Jones and saying, yes, he could fill a void, but, he also has the potential to be a bust and I'm not going to saddle the team for 5 years with a mistake like I did (as most agree) with Pierre. Does that mean he doesn't sign anybody? No, I think he would sign Jones IF he would come for a short-term deal. Will Jones get 5 years somewhere else? He might and Package would say that was the market--well the "market" is whatever someone was smart/stupid enough to give. I guess the "market" for Juan Pierre was 5 years and 45 million--Frank McCourt spent that money because Ned said to. But, was that smart? I think, rightfully so, that Ned is going to err on the side of caution this year knowing that the kids proved him wrong last year in showing that they could compete and he didn't have to rush into short-sided, long-term deals with marginal players.
Like I said, McCourt may never spend 250 million on payroll--nor should he have to any time soon. But one thing about Frank McCourt that I've noticed, is he has an ego and likes to "hob nob" with the elites. Perrenial (sp?) losers do not garner much attention. Frank wants to make money, but he also wants to win and gloat about it. He'll spend the money if he's told to spend it by his baseball people if it means winning will come with it. But, too many Pierre, Gonzo, and Schmidt contracts will mean that he'll be seeking that advice from someone other than Ned Colletti, so Ned is being extra careful--not neccessarily a bad thing.
Posted by: dodgerskip | December 04, 2007 at 10:19 AM
I have to laugh -- so many people down on Jones because of his "low" numbers last year, never mind the fact that he hit six more homers and had more RBI's than anyone on the entire Dodgers team (not to mention Colletti can't get along with Boras so forget the Dodgers ever being in the running for any legitimate star power so long as either is involved). So many people down on "Piggy" Cabrera, despite being, quite literally, twice as good a hitter as anyone on the Dodgers roster, and a 4-time allstar at 24. Cabrera is someone a future contending team can be built around in this post-steroid era (where it takes physical size to hit 'em out, e.g., Prince Fielder, Papi, Manny, Vlad). No one on the Dodgers has his hitting ability - not even Matt Kemp who has good natural power but remains unbalanced on offspeed and breaking pitches (maybe he improves but "Piggy" is already a 300+ 35+ HR guy at this point and nearly as young). As for Kuroda, the Dodgers offer $22 mil to Seattle's $44 million -- not much of an effort there. So it's more fist shaking at the sky with a fourth place roster in the NL West.
Posted by: LossLeader | December 04, 2007 at 10:25 AM
ESPN is saying the Dodgers and Orioles are close to a deal that would send us Eric Bedard for.......Matt Kemp & Jonathon Broxton. Ahhhhhhhhh. If I'm Baltimore I would sign before Ned comes to his senses..if the rumor is true. May as well throw in LaRoche and Kershaw and get Tejada while we're at it. Don't do it Ned, just pay Kuroda and keep Kemp & Broxton--please, please, please. If, that deal is done, we'll probably have to sign a FA outfielder, because I don't think Ned will want to start the year with Ethier, Pierre, Repko and Young as his outfielders. Not that some combo of these guys couldn't be productive, but the Dodgers biggest offensive need is power and none of these guys are "sure things" for power--Kemp is the closest thing we have. Also, if we lose Broxton, do we bring Gange back?? I just don't like it--don't do it Ned--please, please, please no.
Posted by: dodgerskip | December 04, 2007 at 12:31 PM
LossLeader -
I felt the same way about the Kuroda situation and the Dodgers' offer of 3yrs/$20MM-ish compared to the Mariners 3yrs/$44MM offer.
It's since been corrected to say, "The Mariners, Dodgers and Diamondbacks all have submitted three-year proposals in the $30 million range and, as of Tuesday morning, the Mariners and Dodgers appeared to have the best shot of adding Kuroda to their starting rotation next season -- and beyond."
The guy is looking for 4 years anyway...
Posted by: Brian | December 04, 2007 at 12:56 PM
dodgerskip
I agree that I would not have signed Pierre but I think that Ned got what he paid for. If you look at Juan's numbers, they are right on track to the way he had been performing. That was the market price. Yes, Ned made a mistake in my opinion but he got what he paid for.
So if I understand correctly, you and BK want to nibble around the edges and hope for a miracle? Maybe, but I don't think it will get done.
BK
I think that the Dodgers have to do something besides getting 2nd tier players and hope they have remarkable years. One thing is for sure, if the Dodgers don't win, you can't blame Torre. I guess I am not satisfied to wait year after year and hope for a winner.
Posted by: Package | December 04, 2007 at 01:15 PM
Although, I've read several reports that the Mariners have offered a 4yr/$45MM deal....so, really, I can't say the Dodgers do or do not have a real shot at Kuroda....it's not as if any of the numbers WE hear about are confirmed...it's always from a "source close to the team" or "insiders say..."
Posted by: Brian | December 04, 2007 at 01:21 PM
Package
Don't get me wrong, I would love to see a Cabrera in a Dodgers uni. But, I, along with BK (correct me if I'm wrong BK) don't see how it helps us to trade 3 or 4 starters for 1 starter. All it does is create more holes. At the same time, I wouldn't mind to see us sign a free agent like A. Jones, but not if it means living with regret for the next 5 years like the Pierre deal. Pierre is not a bad player, he has strengths and weaknesses, but what sense did it make to sign Juan Pierre for 5 years at 9 mil per, when we could have signed Kenny Lofton to put up the same numbers and play better defense for 1 year at 5 mil. It was not smart. Ned is paid to be smart and that's what we want to see out of him. I want to win this year as much as the next guy, however, every time we talk to a team about a big name, they ask for 3 or 4 guys who are going to start for us this year, they aren't prospects per se anymore. In that, Ned is in a difficult place--make a splash for a big name with a lot of talent but create several other holes that he may not be able to fill, or stand pat and be critized for not making a move. I think we have a good enough roster as is (plus the addition of a pitcher or two through free agency) that we could go to spring training and see how things shape up. We may make a move then. Or we could start the season and get a month or two into it and see how things shape up and then decide to make a move or not. After the end of May, if Loney and Kemp are both hitting over .300 and have 10 or 12 homers already to go along with Martin, Kent, Ethier and Nomar/LaRoche, then we'll probably be saying "I'm glad we didn't trade these guys." But if we traded for Cabrera now and after May he is hitting .300 with 12 homers, but the 3 or 4 guys we traded for him were tearing it up for Florida, we'd be saying Ned made a dumb move. Sure the Angels look like they are setting the world on fire right now and running circles around us, but it remains to be seen at the moment who has had the better off-season. The old cliches fit right here..."only time will tell" and "the race does not always go to the swiftest." We have to be smart and not just make a move because it looks good.
It actually should be good news for us that almost every team in the league is trying to get their hands on Kemp, Billingsley, Loney, Kershaw, Broxton, LaRoche etc...They seem to feel that these guys are studs that can help them win now--maybe we should start listening to what everyone else is saying and realize that maybe they can help us win now too. This roster needs tweaking not demolition.
Posted by: dodgerskip | December 04, 2007 at 02:38 PM
Well Gammons is saying the Tigers got Cabrera and Willis for 6 players--not Major League starters that they wanted from us but all PROSPECTS from the minors--with the exception of a back up catcher. Wow. It would have been like us getting those 2 for LaRoche, Hu, Meloan, Kershaw, Dewitt, and a no name--I would have made that trade. Granted, the two main prospects Florida got are highly regarded like Kershaw is, but they were still PROSPECTS who hadn't done it in the bigs yet. The guys they wanted from us had played parts of 2 years in the bigs and have shown that they are legit. The Tigers have kept all their starting players and added two All-Stars. That is smart--even if the prospects turn out to be great players, the Tigers haven't really hurt themselves long term at all because both players they got are young and they've kept their current team intact--my hats off to them. We just didn't have the bodies in AA and AAA that were as highly thought of to make this deal. All our top players are in the bigs.
Posted by: dodgerskip | December 04, 2007 at 03:41 PM
Does anybody remember Kaz Ishii? No, I didn't think so. Why did they not make an offer to Randy Wolf? Next seasons Greg Maddux.
Posted by: ronterm | December 04, 2007 at 05:50 PM
Dodgerskip
I have never called for the trading of Kemp, Loney, Martin, Billz. I know they are everyday players. I would not trade any of them for Miggy! I was talking about F/As. I also did not say that Pierre was a good move. I said that the Dodgers got what they paid for. This was a Ned move! My whole point is that if the Dodgers don't get deeper with proven players they will not win a championship. Right now the roster is worse than it was last year.
Package
Posted by: Package | December 04, 2007 at 05:55 PM