Jump to content

Getting to know Kodai Senga

Just Regular

By Just Regular
in Orioles Talk

 Share

Recommended Posts

  • Popular Post
Just Regular Hangout Grand Counsel

Just Regular

Posted
  • Popular Post
Posted (edited)

His walk year with his team just ended the other day...it was new to me in this story he'd been requesting a posting for years but the Club exercised all its years before free agency.    No posting fee or draft pick penalties for the MLB signing Club to be.

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2022/10/bc053c8a0b8c-baseball-hawks-ace-senga-to-test-mlb-free-agent-market.html

Koji Uehara threw about 1600 innings of 3.00 ERA ball before coming over; Senga is around 1350 innings of 2.40 ball.

Senga 1.30.1993 will turn 30 just before camps open, about the same as Blake Snell and Jorge Lopez.    He attained 180-ish innings twice as career highs, but most years just under 150.    Ohtani 7.5.1994 has been at 130 and 166 the last two years.

A highlight of I believe the famous forkball from the 2017 WBC:

 

Edited by Just Regular
  • Upvote 4
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Can_of_corn Hangout Grand Counsel

Can_of_corn

Posted
Posted
1 minute ago, btdart20 said:

No to a Lyles deal?  Or no to the 2 yr/$28 deal?  Or no you just don’t want Senga?

I don't think a Lyles deal gets it done.

I think that if he wants to come stateside he's going to have multiple suitors.  The main reason the O's got Koji was they were willing to let him start when most teams reportedly were interested in him out of the pen.  (Which of course is where he ended up)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Just Regular Hangout Grand Counsel

Just Regular

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Roster Resource has the skeleton of the 2023 Free Agent Tracker published.

https://www.fangraphs.com/roster-resource/free-agent-tracker?&pos=sp

Syndergaard 8.29.1992 five months older is the only Age 30 SP listed who was worth more than one Win this past season.    He was okay today finishing the Braves and the part of his age-29 season after his 30th birthday.

  • Upvote 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Jim'sKid26 Major Leaguer Rising Star

Jim'sKid26

Posted
Posted

Why would he choose to come to Baltimore? In essence, why would an elite Japanese pitcher choose to come to Baltimore?

1) A chance to win. This is likely.

2) A contract that ensures his financial security. This remains to be seen. 

3) A team experience that allows him to feel comfortable culturally. Baltimore has a checkered past in this regard.

4) A chance to pitch in a manner consistent with his previous success. In other words, he stays as a starting pitcher. He slots as a 2-3 on the current roster.

If the O's can provide him with all of those aspects, he and his agents will consider their offer. Otherwise, he plays for another team.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Can_of_corn Hangout Grand Counsel

Can_of_corn

Posted
Posted (edited)

Even the chance to win would take some convincing.

Yes things are clearly trending up but if a team like the Dodgers come calling it's a bit harder to spin Baltimore as your chance to win destination.

Not sure how much weight the farm system has with international free agents.

Edited by Can_of_corn
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Pickles Hangout Grand Counsel

Pickles

Posted
Posted

I think most Asian players are going to prefer to sign on the West Coast all things considered equal.  There are always, of course, exceptions.

Good thread.  I didn't realize he was a FA this year, and only vaguely remember his name.

I won't say anything particularly wise, but we have seen: Japanese pitchers can be effective in the Majors.

I should expect the Os have scouted him and have a number for him.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Frobby Hangout Grand Counsel

Frobby

Posted
Posted

Here’s an old scouting report from Fangraphs (2017 I think);

“Senga has incredible arm strength and exploding fastball movement. He also throws enough strikes to start and has four pitches, but neither breaking ball (a low-90s cutter and a low-80s slider) has bat-missing action. His splitter does, though, and the fallback option for Senga is high-leverage relief in which he leans on his fastball and splitter. But Senga's ability to sustain big velo under a starter's workload will probably convince some teams that he can start in the big leagues, and those are the ones likely to offer him the most money.”

https://www.fangraphs.com/prospects/the-board/international-players/summary?sort=-1,1&type=0

Here’s a comment from Jeff Passan, who has Senga in the same FA tier as Rodon:

“Koudai Senga, RHSP: Teams have long awaited the day Senga comes to MLB, and with his free agency finally a reality, if he chooses to do so, he'll be one of the most popular players this winter. His stuff is unimpeachable: a fastball that hit 101.9 mph earlier this year and a split-fingered fastball that moves as if possessed. At 6-1, 200 pounds, Senga isn't necessarily imposing, but his numbers this season -- 124 innings, 89 hits, 40 walks, 137 strikeouts, seven home runs allowed, 2.03 ERA -- certainly qualify.”

https://www.espn.com/mlb/insider/insider/story/_/id/34585322/jeff-passan-early-2022-23-mlb-free-agency-tiers

Sounds to me like a guy who’s going to get $20-25 mm/yr for 4-5 years.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Jim'sKid26 Major Leaguer Rising Star

Jim'sKid26

Posted
Posted

So the breaking ball is not a strength. Do the O's have the wherewithal to fix his cutter or slider so that he has an effective third pitch? Seems like a thing that the pitching gurus have done before. 101 mph with and effective splitter and third pitch to keep guys off the FB could be worth a 4/$80M investment. I'm not sure he's worth that contract with just 2 MLB caliber pitches, however.

The other issue is workload. 124 innings is not a ton and he is not build like a prototypical starter. 

  • Upvote 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
 Share
Go to topic listing


  • Posts

    • Tony-OH
      Will the Orioles make the playoffs?

      By Tony-OH · Posted

      I didn't watch a pitch Sunday after that Saturday debacle. I had a charity ride to attend anyways, but I was not wasting a Sunday on this 2024 squad.  I'll probably watch some of the Yankees game, but my heart is out of this squad. I still want them to win, but they have given me no reason since May to think this team has any special abilities.  Injuries hurt them for sure, but they just don't have that "it" factor. They have the choke factor down pat though. I can deal with a bad team. Hell, I ran this place through the darkest, leanest years.  But what I can't deal with is an anti-clutch team. This is a team that can look victory in the face and find a way to lose. This is team with no ability to finish off a comeback.  Hell, even in their walk offs it's after their relievers choked away a lead.  The lack of hitting is boring. The lack of situational hitting is boring. The strikeout/homerun all or nothing approach is boring. The fact that they no longer steal bases or put pressure on the defense unless you count Masolino getting guys thrown out by 10 feet, is boring. The fact that both of their super prospects not came up did poorly, but literally crapped the bed and hit like pitchers is boring.  The fact that both of their number one overall selections have been either bad or awful is boring.  The fact that the "TOR" they picked up this offseason took a month and half "off" is boring. The fact that the Orioles still have Jimenez and Rivera on this team is boring.  It's just a boring team.  I'm just not interested in this 2024 squad and have zero faith in them that they can do anything in the playoffs. Even against the Royals (who will run all over the Orioles if they play them) or Twins, I don't give them much of a chance.  I'll never root against an Orioles team, and I hope that some miracle happens and they suddenly become a better team. But I will continue to say that this has been one of the most frustrating Orioles Playoff teams of all time. 
    • Can_of_corn
      Jayden Daniels 55 air yards pass

      By Can_of_corn · Posted

      Now that Snyder has gone I can passively hope they do well. They should have kept the old name (Washington Football Team).
    • OriolesMagic83
      Jayden Daniels 55 air yards pass

      By OriolesMagic83 · Posted

      Daniels just completed a pass for 55 yards thru the air.  The guy has a heck of an arm.  Commanders look like a good team again and are dominating an 0-2 Bengals team that is desperate for a win.  21-10 in 2nd quarter.  
    • survivedc
      Brandon Hyde 2024

      By survivedc · Posted

      Westburg is the guy I'd want to run a bit more, he seems a bit more like a heady type player so I could see his instincts growing there, and he had decent numbers in the minors. He's had an interesting year in the SB department, stole 4/5 in the month of April, then 1/3 in May and 1/1 in June, but hasn't had a straight steal since June 3rd. Wonder if moving up in the lineup killed his run game?
    • OriolesMagic83
      Winter 2024 40-Man Additions

      By OriolesMagic83 · Posted

      Or a guy that can just come up and give innings when the bullpen is shot after a doubleheader or even give a spot start and then be sent back down.  Is Pham a likely future ML starter, no, but he might bail the O's out of a pitching bind multiple times next year.  
    • slakattack
      Will the Orioles make the playoffs?

      By slakattack · Posted

      Saturday's game was epically bad and not the type of loss a team on the upswing into the playoffs would suffer and one that I certainly hate to witness. I couldn't watch most of the game Sunday, but I wouldn't DVR it and then peek at the score either, I don't think that I would ever watch if I knew the outcome of a game in advance. The surprise elation (Gunnar's bases loaded double) and the agony of the non-send and inability to hit a sac fly is what keeps me coming back, old fool that I am.
    • bpilktree67
      Orioles attendance 2024

      By bpilktree67 · Posted

      Predicting what the attendance will do next year is like predicting Hurrican season in January.  There are so many outside factors that it is just a guess.  How will they finish the year, how much will the spend in the offseason, how many corporations want to get ticket plans,   how is the economy in 6 months, how do they play next season what teams we play and when, will teams like Red Sox, Yankees and big draws play well.   I also think one of the biggest factors is what corporations want to sponsor give aways and what time of promotions will they run.  If you look at attendance some of the largest attendance games minus the Phillies, Yankees games are for the best giveaway souvenirs.  

  • Popular Contributors

×
×
  • Create New...