DENVER – Remember the name Hitoki Iwase.
Because, in sports, we have learned the copycat gene is incredibly powerful. And the startling, low-priced success of Boston’s Hideki Okajima is already motivating teams to swarm Japan to find their Okajima.
“I absolutely believe teams will aggressively seek bullpen help from Japan – and not just left-handed,” an NL executive said. “(Takashi) Saito with the Dodgers and Okajima have far exceeded expectations, so that will naturally lead to an exploratory run at several others to see if they can be as fortunate as the Dodgers and Red Sox. I know the agents are certainly hoping for that, as well, since we are getting all sorts of information and video clips from them.”
Yomiuri Giants closer Koji Uehara, a control specialist with a fastball/slider/split repertoire, is a free agent and might try to come to the States. But the more intrigu ing candidate – especially after Okajima’s success – is Iwase because Ameri can teams are so hungry to find lefty relief help.
Iwase is the long-time closer for the Chunichi Dragons, and there are rumblings he wants to come here. He had 43 saves this year and 129 over the past three seasons. However, an AL executive who has seen the soon-to-be-33-year-old and has reports from several scouts from his organization said, “I question if he can be a closer here. His out pitch is his slider and he commands it well, but his fastball is just 88 (mph).”
Of course, the expectations were low for Okajima, and that was reflected in his cost, just $2.5 million for two years. But his production has been incredibly high (2.22 ERA, .202 BAA in 66 games). And Okajima has continued to be among the most valuable Red Sox this postseason, accumulating six scoreless outings in the playoffs covering 92/3 innings before surrendering a three-run homer last night in Boston’s 10-5 win over Colorado in World Series Game 3.
“I am thrilled about his success and, yes, a little surprised,” Trey Hillman, who managed Okajima for the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters last year, said in an e-mail response. “His numbers are a lot better than his career numbers from here. He’s using his changeup more and it’s been a great pitch for him. He used the curveball more over here. Great guy and a wonderful pro and worker, so I am happy for his success.”
Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell is credited with refining Okajima’s changeup from a non-entity to a weapon that transformed the lefty from projections (10th man on a staff) to among the majors’ best set-up men.
“The stuff is not overpowering and a head jerk of that magnitude typically hinders a pitcher’s command,” an NL executive said. “He appears to be the exception to the rule as people that see him everyday rave about his ability to command all his pitches. Watching this guy on video (from Japan), he appeared to have major league middleman stuff, but that changeup has become devastating.”
An AL executive said that without the change Okajima “would be an effective middle guy, like the Red Sox and everyone else thought he would be.” A second AL executive concurred, saying, “I’d be lying to say I am not surprised by his success. I have a difficult time believing there is a baseball mind out there who expected this. One of our scouts saw him last year and thought he was major-league caliber, however, more a 10th- or 11th-man type. He is paid like a 10th or 11th man, and there were not many teams competing for his services.”
But Okajima’s success should create greater competition in Japan, especially for lefties. However, Hillman said, “it is the same over here, everyone is always looking for the quality lefty.” Hillman, recently named the Royals’ manager, is currently trying to defend his Japan Series title against Iwase’s Dragons. He said his club reached this level “without a consistent lefty in the pen.”
However, true to his contrarian nature, Chiba Lotte manager Bobby Valentine said in an e-mail, “I am not surprised (by Okajima’s) success.” In addition, Valentine indicated there are plenty of southpaws who can help American clubs, saying, “I was the guy who said in 1996 that the Japanese lefty pitchers could all pitch in the majors. I brought over a guy (to the Mets, Takashi Kashiwada in 1997), who could not even make a team (in Japan). Okajima has three pitches he can throw for a strike at any time. In Game 2, he is 2-1 on (Kaz) Matsui and throws a breaking ball for a strike. The American pitchers have a 2-1 count on a lefty hitter and throw a breaking ball for a ball. This is a BIG difference. I do not think American scouts understand what they are seeing when they look at a Japanese pitcher.”
Because of Okajima, in particular, however, the American scouts are going to look harder than ever before.