In today’s International Herald Tribune, there is an interesting article on Junichi Tazawa, the 22-year-old Japanese fire-baller who pitches for Japan Oil in the Industrial League. He pitches for Japan Oil because out of high school he was un-drafted by all 12 of the Japanese clubs.
According to the article, “Many Japanese baseball officials are outraged that U.S. teams are courting Tazawa, a hard-throwing right-handed pitcher, because they insist it is long-established practice for amateurs like him to be strictly off-limits to major league clubs.”
Yankees GM Brian Cashman agrees, saying, “I'm old school - there has been an understanding; there's been a reason that Japanese amateurs haven't been signed in the past, so we consider him hands-off."
Conversely, the following GM’s had this to say:
Omar Minaya: considering Tazawa available but, "It's a sensitive area. It's fair to say that if we were to go out and get their college players, what would prevent them from coming after our college players?"
Ned Colletti – LA Dodgers: "There's a fine line between falling behind the competition because you're quote being respectful, and competing like others will compete. We have to be wise in our decision-making at the moment of truth."
In a news release from Nippon Professional Baseball, they state, "This was more than just a gentleman's agreement, but rather an implicit understanding that the major leagues would do no such thing. That a handful of clubs from the majors is trying to break this gentlemen's agreement is truly regrettable."
Tazawa stats from this summer: 10-1 record and a 1.02 earned-run average for Japan Oil and striking out 95 batters in 88 innings.
Might the Mets be interested? According to this article, some of the teams interested are: Red Sox, Braves and Seattle Mariners.
According to the article, “Many Japanese baseball officials are outraged that U.S. teams are courting Tazawa, a hard-throwing right-handed pitcher, because they insist it is long-established practice for amateurs like him to be strictly off-limits to major league clubs.”
Yankees GM Brian Cashman agrees, saying, “I'm old school - there has been an understanding; there's been a reason that Japanese amateurs haven't been signed in the past, so we consider him hands-off."
Conversely, the following GM’s had this to say:
Omar Minaya: considering Tazawa available but, "It's a sensitive area. It's fair to say that if we were to go out and get their college players, what would prevent them from coming after our college players?"
Ned Colletti – LA Dodgers: "There's a fine line between falling behind the competition because you're quote being respectful, and competing like others will compete. We have to be wise in our decision-making at the moment of truth."
In a news release from Nippon Professional Baseball, they state, "This was more than just a gentleman's agreement, but rather an implicit understanding that the major leagues would do no such thing. That a handful of clubs from the majors is trying to break this gentlemen's agreement is truly regrettable."
Tazawa stats from this summer: 10-1 record and a 1.02 earned-run average for Japan Oil and striking out 95 batters in 88 innings.
Might the Mets be interested? According to this article, some of the teams interested are: Red Sox, Braves and Seattle Mariners.
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