With the conclusion of the Arizona Fall League season resulting in
another title for the Phoenix Devil Dogs today, let's do another round of winter league updates:
Arizona Fall League- Chris Getz: .278/.360/.316 (79 AB), 3 2B, 8 RBI, 10 BB, 5 K, 2/4 SB
- Ryan Sweeney: .286/.347/.345 (84 AB), 2 2B, 1 HR, 13 RBI, 9 BB, 18 K, 5/6 SB
- Donny Lucy: 8-for-40, 1 2B, 3 RBI, 2 BB, 16 K, 1/1 SB
- Jack Egbert: 19.1 IP, 14 H, 7 ER, 11 BB, 17 K
- Adam Russell: 16 IP, 16 H, 5 ER, 8 BB, 16 K
- Dewon Day: 13 IP, 9 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 17 K
- Fernando Hernandez Jr.: 12.2 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 4 BB, 11 K
Mexican League- Jason Bourgeois: .304/.377/.413 (113 AB), 10 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 17 RBI, 14 BB, 20 K, 13/14 SB
- Heath Phillips: 4.91 ERA, 25.2 IP, 30 H, 11 BB, 25 K
Dominican League- Oneli Perez: 8.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 8 K
Venezuelan League- Carlos Vasquez: 7 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 7 BB, 1 K
Hawaiian League- Kanekoa Texeira: 8.2 IP, 12 H, 8 ER, 3 BB, 4 K
Bourgeois had
six RBI in the fifth inning of today's game alone.
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Carol Slezak offers some insight into what
Chicago baseball fans might be able to expect from Kosuke Fukudome. The only problem is that the Cubs appear to be the only interested party.
Perhaps what's most amusing is Orestes Destrade's attempt to compare Fukudome to a couple MLB players:
''He's a little like Hideki Matsui, a left-handed [hitting] guy with pop,'' Destrade said. ''He could hit 20 home runs and get some timely RBI. He also reminds me of [Tampa Bay Rays] third baseman Akinori Iwamura, because he's a very engaging player who is exciting and fun to watch.''
He reminds Destrade of another player, as well: Jacques Jones, the former Cubs outfielder. While he struggled during his two years in Chicago, he had a few excellent seasons with the Minnesota Twins before joining the Cubs.
''Fukudome is very comparable to a Jones, who was an All-Star for a while and had good pop and speed, and was good in the outfield,'' Destrade said.
This is a bizarre connection, because the only similarity between Jones and Matsui is that neither of them will ever win a Gold Glove. Otherwise:
- Jones has never been an All-Star, and I don't think he's ever been close.
- Matsui can hit both lefties and righties; Jones is neutered by southpaws.
- Fukudome's arm is considered top-notch; Jones and Matsui, not so much.
- Jones is soft-spoken and has confidence issues.
- Jones has never cracked an OBP above .350; we've gone over Matsui and Fukudome's.
And Destrade gets paid to analyze baseball to a national audience. This is another example of why I find it increasinly difficult to make it through an entire showing of
Baseball Tonight.
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Before we leave Japan, it appears that
one relief candidate might be off the market:
The Royals, for a second straight year, are looking to Japan to
solve their need for a setup reliever and appear close to a multi-year
agreement with veteran right-hander Yasuhiko Yabuta. [...]
Yabuta pitched primarily as a starter until 2004 but has become one
of Japan’s top setup relievers over the last four years by compiling a
2.80 ERA in 222 appearances. He also has 86 holds over the last three
seasons.
The White Sox previously expressed interest in Yabuta,
who created a stir in the World Baseball Classic before the 2006 season
by striking out Alex Rodriguez, Derrek Lee and Johnny Damon in a 1
1/3-inning outing.
Yabuta relies primarily on a changeup and
could serve as the primary setup reliever to closer Joakim Soria,
although he seems a more-likely fit in the sixth or seventh innings.
Hopefully the Sox still have a few more irons in the fire, because the American side of the free agent reliever pool doesn't look all that enticing.