kapkomet Posted January 25, 2004 Share Posted January 25, 2004 Forgive me if someone already posted this, but this from Ken Rosenthal from the SportingNews.com: "Scouts and executives say the White Sox are kidding themselves if they think RHP Shingo Takatsu, Japan's all-time saves leader, can be their closer. Takatsu, a slender 35-year-old sidearmer, throws 84 to 86 mph and averaged only 5.8 strikeouts per nine innings against Japanese hitters the past two seasons. . . . " Interesting to say the least. Anything I've read KW says he "loves the movement on his pitches". But nowhere did they talk about the speed. If this guy only throws 85 mph to major league hitters, I don't care how much movement your ball has on it if your not a knuckleballer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cerbaho-WG Posted January 25, 2004 Share Posted January 25, 2004 Forgive me if someone already posted this, but this from Ken Rosenthal from the SportingNews.com: "Scouts and executives say the White Sox are kidding themselves if they think RHP Shingo Takatsu, Japan's all-time saves leader, can be their closer. Takatsu, a slender 35-year-old sidearmer, throws 84 to 86 mph and averaged only 5.8 strikeouts per nine innings against Japanese hitters the past two seasons. . . . " Interesting to say the least. Anything I've read KW says he "loves the movement on his pitches". But nowhere did they talk about the speed. If this guy only throws 85 mph to major league hitters, I don't care how much movement your ball has on it if your not a knuckleballer. Jamie Moyer, Greg Maddux..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrandoFan Posted January 26, 2004 Share Posted January 26, 2004 ......Wunsht, Foulke back in 2000, Buerhle, Bradford....the list is long. And Zeroes doesn't throw an "84 mph", but 86-89. But even if he DID only throw in mid-80s.....give me funky delivery, unusual release slots and lots of movement at 86 than Billy Koch arrow fastball at 91. YMMV. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aboz56 Posted January 26, 2004 Share Posted January 26, 2004 Location and mixing your pitches is more important than throwing hard. Danny Wright probably throws the hardest of the players who started for the Sox last year (besides Bartolo) and he was the least effective. If this guy has a deceptive delivery and can hit his spots, he'll be fine. Velocity is probably the most overrated determination of how good a pitcher can be. Buehrle is another great example of a guy who doesn't throw flames, but with his location, mixing speeds and mixing his pitch selections, can be dominant. Don't read much into Rosenthal, he doesn't really know much if you ask me. I used to respect the guy, but 8 times out of 10 he is either wrong or makes bonehead comments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrandoFan Posted January 26, 2004 Share Posted January 26, 2004 Closer-schmoser....all I ask of Zeroes is a sub-3.50 ERA and good inhereted runner numbers, and I am content. Obviously, we weren't getting Mariano Gagne at 1 Mill....Duh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maggsmaggs Posted January 26, 2004 Share Posted January 26, 2004 For pitching you have the select guys who though upper 90's to 100's, they can get away with a stright ball. For the rest of the guys its movement and control that matters. The fact that Shingo throws in a funky motion with lots of movement and good accuracy makes him good. Who cares how fast you throw if you can't throw it for strikes you won't make it. Now we have: CL-Koch (if he gets back to the high 90's) LS-Marte (high 90's and a great slider, which is more like a slurve) RS-Shingo (movement and funky motion) RR-Politte (high 90's and good cahge-up) LR-Wunsch (funky motion with movement) Great pieces for the a great pen, mainly depends on Koch's fastball Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitesoxin' Posted January 26, 2004 Share Posted January 26, 2004 If the Yankees had gotten him instead of us, he probably would have been writing how great and deceptive his motion is and so on. This guy should wait til he has seen him pitch in person to make his opions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loaiza21 Posted January 26, 2004 Share Posted January 26, 2004 I've heard 88-92, I think it was in some post here with his japanese league player profile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maggsmaggs Posted January 26, 2004 Share Posted January 26, 2004 From another perspective, Christian Guzaman is one of the fastest runners in the league, but he constantly gets thown out and doesn't rack up many SB's. This shows speed doesn't matter, if you can pitch you will be fine. Tim Wakefield can't hit 80 on a gun and he is very good because he moves his pitches especially the knuckler. Shingo has the sinker, slider, change and fastball with movement, that's all he needs to be good. **From now on lets call him Shingo and that's it, just Ichiro** Any chance of Sushi at Comiskey? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kapkomet Posted January 26, 2004 Author Share Posted January 26, 2004 I see you all are proving me wrong, hehe. Really, the premise is, of course, we'll just have to wait and see how it all shakes out. Y'all raised good points about others that have proceeded Takatsu in relation to pitch speed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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