Scouts On 'er: Global Talent Market 2010

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

So, we've talked draft... but howzabout some international FA-types?

F'r instance... 97 mph on the gun, with movement? 8,000 people watching a college game, along with 14 scouts from NPB and MLB, including Metsfolk? Hirokazu Sawamura, ladies and gents.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

28-year old star Cuban lanzador Yuniesky Maya's had been previously cleared to work, has now been cleared to play for any team in the U.S., as per ESPNDeportes' Enrique Rojas. He mentions Boston, Cleveland, Toronto, Philly, the MFYs and your New York Mets as possible destinations.

Maya throws a fastball (89-92), curve, changeup and slider (and, according to other articles, a sinker as well), and can supposedly command all; 13-4 last year in the Cuban National Series, with a 2.22 ERA, 7 CG (!), 119 K, 40 BB, and 113 hits allowed in 145 innings (1.09 WHIP). Overall, he's 48-29 over six seasons in Cuba*, with a career 2.51 ERA... and was lights-out at the WBC in both 2006 and 2009.

Versus Japan in 2009... andagain.

As per O's preseason statements regarding the budget, there's money available for in-season pitching additions, right?

*Roughly equivalent to AAA.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Once again shaking their Caracas, the Mets sign OF Vicente Lupo (righthanded hitter, "plus power... will need to advance as a hitter, but excellent upside," 25th on the BA international prospect list-- with "at least 60 power on the 20-80 scale") and IF Leon Jackson Canelon (who is a ballplaying human of some kind).

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

We better be signing Rougned Odor.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I won't have to adopt him. I've had Rougned Odor most of my adult life.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

The Mets hold on the Maya... and let him go to the Nats. He's starting today for 'em.

But they're supposedly "seriously" interested in Nippon Ham Fighter Yu Darvish. As is anyone with baseball-watchin' eyes and a possible $70 million in posting fees.

Lest we forget: he's 24, and he's

.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Yu Darvish wrote: ???????????????? ????Twitter?????????????????? ??????????????????????? ???�

http://ameblo.jp/darvish-yu-blog/entry-10681654380.html

So cross him off your list.

A lot has been mentions about the Majors. I received a lot of comments, both on Twitter and on my blog. I don't know if this will match everyone's guess. Next season... I will be wearing a Nippon Ham Fighters uniform.

[Willets Point]

There are few things that compare with fighting ham.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Hey, he can wear anything he likes under the pinstripes, so long as he's pitching effectively.

I'm more of a Ham Lover, personally.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Well, this timing is close to optimal, isn't it?

Japanese right-hander Yu Darvish intends to play in North America in 2012, tweets Newsday's David Lennon. Amidst speculation that Darvish might pursue a transfer to the majors next season, he chose to stay in Japan, a move Lennon says was prompted by a divorce. Lennon mentions the Mets as a possible suitor, but New York is just one of the teams who would be interested in Darvish, who would be just 25 years old on Opening Day 2012. The Mets, Braves, Rangers, Rays and Yankees have all been connected to Darvish, in addition to the Nationals, Orioles and Red Sox. Darvish has a career 2.12 ERA, a 3.28 K/BB ratio, and 974 strikeouts in 1036.1 innings for the Nippon Ham Fighters. He's best known to North American fans from his terrific performance at the 2009 World Baseball Classic that helped lead Japan to the title.

[Vic Sage]

anybody who fights ham can fight for me.

i hope he has a Luis Tiant-style delivery, so we can call him the "whirling darvish"

[Guest Edgy DC]

Actually, that would be my concern.

It seems that a lot of talented players come over from Nippon with a defecit of economy in their motions --- hitting and pitching --- that can really catch up with them in MLB. Too many things to potentially go wrong when things do go wrong.

I'm hoping younger players won't have fallen into that but I don't know. Is there a premium in Japan on pimping out a signature motion? I fear there is and it tends to hurt them over here.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

He's pretty efficient, considering how much height he's playin' wit.

But yeah... his pitches

, man. "Twirling Darvish," maybe? (Or not. God, that's awful.)

[Frayed Knot]

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Well, this timing is close to optimal, isn't it?

Next year certainly better timing for us than this year.

[batmagadanleadoff]

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: He's pretty efficient, considering how much height he's playin' wit. But yeah... his pitches move, man. "Twirling Darvish," maybe? (Or not. God, that's awful.)

Reminds me of David Cone.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Japanese star Nishioka to be posted this week By Doug Miller / MLB.com | 11/09/10 12:34 AM ET Japanese batting champion Tsuyoshi Nishioka will be posted for Major League teams this week, ESPN.com reported on Monday. The website cited "a source close to the situation" in writing that the bidding for the 26-year-old switch-hitting middle infielder, who led the Pacific League with a .346 batting average for the Chiba Lotte Marines this season, is about to commence. Niskioka, who has played shortstop and second base for the 2010 Japan Series-winning Marines, also scored 121 runs, stole 22 bases and had 206 hits as Chiba Lotte's leadoff man in 2010. It was the highest hits total by a player in the Pacific League since Ichiro Suzuki in 1994. Tsuyoshi Nishioka played for Japan in the 2006 World Baseball Classic and the '08 Olympics in Beijing. (AP) Tsuyoshi Nishioka played for Japan in the 2006 World Baseball Classic and the '08 Olympics in Beijing. (AP)"He is a good player, he is a talented kid," ESPN analyst and former Chiba Lotte manager Bobby Valentine told ESPN.com. "If he had been a college kid four or five years ago, he would have been a first-round pick. He runs faster than a lot of people. He can get a hit. He can steal a base. He can bunt. He is still developing physically and mentally. And this year, he stayed healthy all year. He has style issues, positive and negative: He likes to be noticed. How he develops will depend on what team signs him." Nishioka played second base in the World Baseball Classic in 2006, as well as the Beijing Olympics in 2008. Doug Miller is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Intriguing...

Think the Mets will be in on it? (Probably not, I'd guess.)

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

"If he had been a college kid four or five years ago, he would have been a first-round pick

translation: he's about as good as a college player now.

He runs faster than a lot of people.

Non-athletes, the elderly, girls for example

He can get a hit. He can steal a base. He can bunt.

All in all, a good month for him.

He is still developing physically and mentally.

He's weak and retarded.

And this year, he stayed healthy all year

He's clumsy.

He has style issues, positive and negative: He likes to be noticed.

He's flaming.

How he develops will depend on what team signs him."

Don't let it be yours.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Think the Mets will be in on it? (Probably not, I'd guess.)

Probably so, I'd guess.

They've historically been in on posting bids, but come up short, and that's fine.

Personally, I dislike the system, but explicitly sitting out only helps control costs for your opponents.

[metirish]

Bobby V

"If he had been a college kid four or five years ago, he would have been a first-round pick. He runs faster than a lot of people. He can get a hit. He can steal a base. He can bunt. He is still developing physically and mentally. And this year, he stayed healthy all year. He has style issues, positive and negative: He likes to be noticed. How he develops will depend on what team signs him.

Plenty of positive and negative in there

[seawolf17]

Right, but if he comes here, then he'll be playing for Bobby Valentine again. That's a win-win, baby.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

So... Bobby V's has added "Big Bowl of Thinly-Veiled Criticism" to its fall menu?

He was the guy's manager for a few years. Unless he's actively trying to depress the kid's value for some odd reason, all this seems more than a bit damning-- he's calling the guy a project in so many words.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Nishioka scouting report from Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker/Fangraphs.

In short, great defensive range with an iffy SS arm in the field, good speed and good contact (with a slight platoon split favoring his right side) but no MLB home-run threat at the plate. Also... there have been nagging injuries to wrist, neck, and knee.

The conclusion?

P-New wrote: If the Marines do post him, he�ll have the benefit of being a part of a rather weak class of middle infield free agents. At 26 he has some upside left, but overall I see him as a Ryan Theriot/Chone Figgins type.

But with Milton Bradley's DL history?

[Guest Edgy DC]

In short, great defensive range with an iffy SS arm in the field, good speed and good contact (with a slight platoon split favoring his right side) but no MLB home-run threat at the plate. Also... there have been nagging injuries to wrist, neck, and knee.

Reads to me like Matsui. Anyhow...

Twins win bidding for Japan's Nishioka Minnesota has 30 days to work out deal with batting champion By Rhett Bollinger / MLB.com | 11/26/10 12:08 PM EST The Twins won the bidding for Japanese infielder Tsuyoshi Nishioka on Friday. The Twins have 30 days to work out a deal with the 26-year-old shortstop, who hit .346 last season with the Chiba Lotte Marines to win the Nippon Professional Baseball batting crown. FoxSports.com reported the winning bid was $5.3 million. If the two sides cannot work out a deal in 30 days, the posting fee will be refunded. A switch-hitter who can also play second base, Nishioka helped the Marines to the Japan Series title last season and led Japanese baseball in games (144), runs (121), hits (206) and total bases (287). Looking at the top free agentsAn eight-year veteran, Nishioka is a career .293 hitter with a .364 on-base percentage and .426 slugging percentage. He also has averaged 28 steals per season over the past seven years. Nishioka helped lead Japan to victory in the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006 and played for Japan in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Rhett Bollinger is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.