Koji Almost Out Of Texas

[Brendan25]

DKnobler @DKnobler
As @joestiglich wrote, Rangers are indeed getting closer on deal to send Uehara to A's

To Oakland.

[oriole]

Oakland sure can make some head scratching moves sometimes. Uehara is great and all but they're still going to be fighting the Mariners for last place with or without an expensive old reliever and an overpaid CF and a huge question mark of a Cuban OF'er.

I'm kind of glad we didn't get Koji back...I've got a feeling we squeezed his best year out of him and from this point he'll do what most asian pitchers do after a handful of seasons. Get worse.

[atomic]

Has there been a single rumor that has been correct this offseason? I think this means he is being traded to the pirates.

[NewMarketSean]

Oakland sure can make some head scratching moves sometimes. Uehara is great and all but they're still going to be fighting the Mariners for last place with or without an expensive old reliever and an overpaid CF and a huge question mark of a Cuban OF'er.

I'm kind of glad we didn't get Koji back...I've got a feeling we squeezed his best year out of him and from this point he'll do what most asian pitchers do after a handful of seasons. Get worse.

Look at us. We traded for a mediocre reliever in Lindstrom who isn't cheap, too.

Regardless of how bad you are, you still need pitchers to get outs.

I loved Koji while he was here, but I do think he's finished. Glad he's not coming back here.

[Art Wing]

Look at us. We traded for a mediocre reliever in Lindstrom who isn't cheap, too.

Regardless of how bad you are, you still need pitchers to get outs.

I loved Koji while he was here, but I do think he's finished. Glad he's not coming back here.

Why do you think he's finished? His poor stretch in Texas was very short and very SSS.

[NewMarketSean]

Why do you think he's finished? His poor stretch in Texas was very short and very SSS.

He's bound to get hurt at some point and his 2011 season was probably the peak of his career. He might be useful to a contending team but not the Orioles.

[Gurgi]

Koji should like Oakland. Larger Asian community and big stadium. And it isnt humid in the summer.

[LookitsPuck]

He's bound to get hurt at some point and his 2011 season was probably the peak of his career. He might be useful to a contending team but not the Orioles.

Koji, finished? No.

2010 - 0.955 WHIP, 2.86 ERA, 11.3 SO/9 in 44 IP
2011 - 0.702 WHIP, 1.72 ERA, 11.9 SO/9 [Orioles] in 47 IP
2011 - 0.778 WHIP, 4.00 ERA, 11.5 SO/9 [Rangers] in 18 IP

[Frobby]

Koji should like Oakland. Larger Asian community and big stadium. And it isnt humid in the summer.

He'll think he died and went to heaven. Projected home ERA: 0.00.

[TonySoprano]

To Oakland.

The Frobby jinx at work.

[McNulty]

He won't have any issues with the heat there either.

[CompuCoach]

I'm kind of glad we didn't get Koji back...I've got a feeling we squeezed his best year out of him and from this point he'll do what most asian pitchers do after a handful of seasons. Get worse.

I think it's more about the age of a pitcher than where they're from. It just so happens that, because most players from Japan aren't granted the right to International Free Agency until a little later in their careers they qualify for MLB either in their late 20's or early 30's, and have already reached their physical peak or are on the downswing. Making it about being Asian is... kinda... well... You know.

Anyway, I don't think he's done. He had a high ERA in a small sample size in Texas, but the rest of his numbers still look pretty darn good there. He doesn't rely on power so I think he can still be effective as he ages.

I honestly wish the Orioles were in a position where reacquiring him would make sense, because I really like the guy as a pitcher, and he really did heighten our presence in Japan. I went to Osaka last year, and his face was all over the vending machines there as a poster boy for Kirin (I think). People there know about the Orioles because of Uehara being on our team. I've had conversations with baseball fans there, and they would even tell me how beautiful OPACY is from seeing it via a game televised there.

[nate22]

https://twitter.com/#!/susanslusser/...28885044662272

I'm hearing a Uehara deal is unlikely today; another team is believed to still be talking to #Rangers. But maybe this weekend. #Athletics

[scOtt]

https://twitter.com/#!/susanslusser/...28885044662272

I'm hearing a Uehara deal is unlikely today; another team is believed to still be talking to #Rangers. But maybe this weekend. #Athletics

[byrdz]

Koji should like Oakland. Larger Asian community and big stadium. And it isnt humid in the summer.

And large park.