Saturday, August 08, 2009
What does Junichi Tazawa throw?
Posted by Mike FastDue to the length of the extra-inning affair between the Yankees and Red Sox, we got a preview of Junichi Tazawa's stuff.
Here's his scouting report from SoxProspects.com:
Tazawa makes use of an 88-92 mph fastball that works inward on righties. It flattens out at higher velocities. Presently it's about average, but it has some plus potential. His secondary stuff is very advanced for his age, and he relies on it heavily. He mixes in an excellent low-80s backdoor slider, a nice low-70s curve (his out pitch), and occasionally makes use of an above average forkball (basically a split-fingered change-up).
Tonight (or should I say this morning?) he threw a four-seam fastball and two-seam fastball, both around 91-93 mph. His breaking pitches were an 81-83 mph slider and a 77-78 mph curveball. There was no sign tonight (in two innings) of a change-up, splitter, or forkball.
So it looks like this scouting report from Casey Greer at Bleacher Report might be more accurate or up-to-date than the more oft-quoted report from SoxProspects.
Tazawa features a low-mid-90s fastball, which tails in on right-handed hitters. His curve, which generally sits between 75-78 mph, is an effective offspeed pitch with sharp, late break. His slider, or possibly a shuuto, which he throws the least of all of the pitches breaks mostly down, and sits in the low-mid-80s.
The pitch that A-Rod hit for a home run was a curveball.
Mike Fast is a Royals fan who enjoys investigating baseball questions using data of many sorts. He is a member of Complete Game Consulting. He welcomes comments via e-mail.
Somehow tis reads like a slight, even an insult, to Tazawa. Is that intended? Or is it some dumb idea of hu-mor, that a pitcher’s best out pitch was hit by A-Rod for a home run?
Really, I don’t get the point of this post at this time, save to be Mr. Fast to show himself an asshole.
I’ll be glad to be proven wrong.