Comments on: Tokyo Pursues Diamondback Jamie D'Antona http://tokyoswallows.com/2008/11/26/tokyo-pursues-diamondback-jamie-dantona/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tokyo-pursues-diamondback-jamie-dantona An in-depth look at the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, Jingu Stadium, the Central League, and Japanese Pro Baseball Tue, 22 May 2012 09:50:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: David Watkins http://tokyoswallows.com/2008/11/26/tokyo-pursues-diamondback-jamie-dantona/comment-page-1/#comment-740 David Watkins Mon, 01 Dec 2008 08:14:31 +0000 http://tokyoyakultswallows.wordpress.com/?p=1646#comment-740 It appears he's now put <a href="http://www.japanball.com/news.phtml?id=13519" rel="nofollow">pen to paper</a>. Good news. It appears he’s now put pen to paper.

Good news.

]]> By: Garrett DeOrio http://tokyoswallows.com/2008/11/26/tokyo-pursues-diamondback-jamie-dantona/comment-page-1/#comment-739 Garrett DeOrio Fri, 28 Nov 2008 12:57:10 +0000 http://tokyoyakultswallows.wordpress.com/?p=1646#comment-739 10? The braggart. I shall barrack him until he gets 11, after which he'll be a hero. 10? The braggart. I shall barrack him until he gets 11, after which he’ll be a hero.

]]> By: flick http://tokyoswallows.com/2008/11/26/tokyo-pursues-diamondback-jamie-dantona/comment-page-1/#comment-738 flick Fri, 28 Nov 2008 12:48:26 +0000 http://tokyoyakultswallows.wordpress.com/?p=1646#comment-738 So apparently the D'Antona signing is a done deal. Our front-office is pretty lame, but I have faith in our international scouting. Greisinger and Lim were great for us, and Guiel was very serviceable his first year. Also, hopefully Lee-Hei Chun will be good for the 10 wins he talked about! So apparently the D’Antona signing is a done deal.
Our front-office is pretty lame, but I have faith in our international scouting. Greisinger and Lim were great for us, and Guiel was very serviceable his first year. Also, hopefully Lee-Hei Chun will be good for the 10 wins he talked about!

]]> By: David Watkins http://tokyoswallows.com/2008/11/26/tokyo-pursues-diamondback-jamie-dantona/comment-page-1/#comment-737 David Watkins Fri, 28 Nov 2008 11:24:41 +0000 http://tokyoyakultswallows.wordpress.com/?p=1646#comment-737 As Chris and flick both say, his age is a very promising factor. He has a chance to play the best years of his career over here and be a real success if he approaches it with the right attitude and application. Let's hope our bumbling front-office can seal the deal. As Chris and flick both say, his age is a very promising factor. He has a chance to play the best years of his career over here and be a real success if he approaches it with the right attitude and application.

Let’s hope our bumbling front-office can seal the deal.

]]> By: Garrett DeOrio http://tokyoswallows.com/2008/11/26/tokyo-pursues-diamondback-jamie-dantona/comment-page-1/#comment-736 Garrett DeOrio Thu, 27 Nov 2008 12:48:11 +0000 http://tokyoyakultswallows.wordpress.com/?p=1646#comment-736 Those last two, I think, are the biggest "if"s. I have great confidence in Hatake and Hiroyasu - they'll do well; Iihara should have been regular for a couple of years now. The OF is good. One question that'll have my mind is how the left side of the IF will come together. Those last two, I think, are the biggest “if”s. I have great confidence in Hatake and Hiroyasu – they’ll do well; Iihara should have been regular for a couple of years now. The OF is good. One question that’ll have my mind is how the left side of the IF will come together.

]]> By: flick http://tokyoswallows.com/2008/11/26/tokyo-pursues-diamondback-jamie-dantona/comment-page-1/#comment-735 flick Thu, 27 Nov 2008 05:43:57 +0000 http://tokyoyakultswallows.wordpress.com/?p=1646#comment-735 Didn't know they let Guiel go (BTW, sorry for messing up his spelling). I guess since Fukuchi turned out to be such a steal for us, we didn't really need him, but I will miss his goofy presence on the field. But yeah, a 26 year old "suketto" is very appealing. The growth of Hatake, Iihara, and Hiroyasu, as players, is something that I am really looking forward to next season. If they play at a higher level than this year, and if this D'Antona guy works out, and if we sign Aikawa, we will have a pretty strong starting line-up. Lots of "if"s though. Didn’t know they let Guiel go (BTW, sorry for messing up his spelling). I guess since Fukuchi turned out to be such a steal for us, we didn’t really need him, but I will miss his goofy presence on the field. But yeah, a 26 year old “suketto” is very appealing.
The growth of Hatake, Iihara, and Hiroyasu, as players, is something that I am really looking forward to next season. If they play at a higher level than this year, and if this D’Antona guy works out, and if we sign Aikawa, we will have a pretty strong starting line-up. Lots of “if”s though.

]]> By: simoncurrie http://tokyoswallows.com/2008/11/26/tokyo-pursues-diamondback-jamie-dantona/comment-page-1/#comment-734 simoncurrie Wed, 26 Nov 2008 20:31:42 +0000 http://tokyoyakultswallows.wordpress.com/?p=1646#comment-734 So, I guess we'll be seeing Hatakeyama at 3rd, assuming he shows more promise next season. He played some 3rd base this past season, but I haven't seen him play there. How's his defence at 3rd? (Not crucial, but it would be nice to have a decent glove at 3rd.) http://www.geocities.co.jp/Athlete-Athene/3320/order/2008swallows.html So, I guess we’ll be seeing Hatakeyama at 3rd, assuming he shows more promise next season. He played some 3rd base this past season, but I haven’t seen him play there. How’s his defence at 3rd? (Not crucial, but it would be nice to have a decent glove at 3rd.)
http://www.geocities.co.jp/Athlete-Athene/3320/order/2008swallows.html

]]> By: Christopher Pellegrini http://tokyoswallows.com/2008/11/26/tokyo-pursues-diamondback-jamie-dantona/comment-page-1/#comment-733 Christopher Pellegrini Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:50:02 +0000 http://tokyoyakultswallows.wordpress.com/?p=1646#comment-733 I like the fact that he's still only 26. That's younger than a lot of the guys that come over from MLB. One thing that makes me a little nervous, however, is that he doesn't draw as many walks as his OPS suggests he should. Not that a strong OPS automatically implies a specified number of walks per 100 at-bats--but power hitters get pitched around more often than, well, most of the guys in our lineup (theoretically leading to lots of free trips to first), but D'Antona's numbers seem to suggest a rather free-swinging demeanor at the plate. Hopefully I'm wrong about this. But then again...looking at it from another angle...Ramirez never walked all that often either. If D'Antona can adjust half as well as Ramirez did (assuming we sign him, of course), then we'll have plenty to be un-depressed about next season. Adding a D'Antona to the lineup that hits .300 (20 hr, 80 rbi) to the lineup probably would have meant playoffs this season (basically the role that Riggs and/or Guiel should have played). Assuming similar or better starting pitching next year, if Hatakeyama, Iihara and Tanaka can develop a smidgen of extra power to go with it, then there's no reason why 2009 can't be a year that ends with a Climax. (<em>sorry, couldn't resist</em>) I like the fact that he’s still only 26. That’s younger than a lot of the guys that come over from MLB.

One thing that makes me a little nervous, however, is that he doesn’t draw as many walks as his OPS suggests he should.

Not that a strong OPS automatically implies a specified number of walks per 100 at-bats–but power hitters get pitched around more often than, well, most of the guys in our lineup (theoretically leading to lots of free trips to first), but D’Antona’s numbers seem to suggest a rather free-swinging demeanor at the plate.

Hopefully I’m wrong about this.

But then again…looking at it from another angle…Ramirez never walked all that often either. If D’Antona can adjust half as well as Ramirez did (assuming we sign him, of course), then we’ll have plenty to be un-depressed about next season.

Adding a D’Antona to the lineup that hits .300 (20 hr, 80 rbi) to the lineup probably would have meant playoffs this season (basically the role that Riggs and/or Guiel should have played).

Assuming similar or better starting pitching next year, if Hatakeyama, Iihara and Tanaka can develop a smidgen of extra power to go with it, then there’s no reason why 2009 can’t be a year that ends with a Climax.

(sorry, couldn’t resist)

]]> By: simoncurrie http://tokyoswallows.com/2008/11/26/tokyo-pursues-diamondback-jamie-dantona/comment-page-1/#comment-732 simoncurrie Wed, 26 Nov 2008 12:02:00 +0000 http://tokyoyakultswallows.wordpress.com/?p=1646#comment-732 I think Guiel I read somewhere that Guiel's not coming back on the part of outfield being full, but a power bat can be used at first, so hopefully D'Antona works out, he seems to had a breakthrough season in AAA this past season. I think Guiel I read somewhere that Guiel’s not coming back on the part of outfield being full, but a power bat can be used at first, so hopefully D’Antona works out, he seems to had a breakthrough season in AAA this past season.

]]> By: Christopher Amano-Langtree http://tokyoswallows.com/2008/11/26/tokyo-pursues-diamondback-jamie-dantona/comment-page-1/#comment-731 Christopher Amano-Langtree Wed, 26 Nov 2008 09:36:46 +0000 http://tokyoyakultswallows.wordpress.com/?p=1646#comment-731 I can't see MLB going for Aikawa (though you never know) so Swallows should be in with a good chance. I can’t see MLB going for Aikawa (though you never know) so Swallows should be in with a good chance.

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