LEGIT BASEBALL INSIDER FEELS GOOD ABOUT HIS PREDICTION FOR ROKI SASAKI

Predicting where Japanese pitching sensation Roki Sasaki will end up in Major League Baseball is like predicting the weather in April: a mix of guesswork, hope, and squinting at some charts. But ESPN’s David Schoenfield has been among the boldest to venture a forecast. Granted, even Schoenfield admits, “It’s just guessing at this point.”

The Yankees and Mets are both leaning hard into their Big Apple charm to woo Sasaki to the East Coast. Meanwhile, West Coast teams seem to have the natural edge, thanks to their geographical closeness to Japan and the allure of fewer time zones to traverse. The Dodgers, Padres, and perhaps even a surprise contender all remain in the mix. Honestly, it’s a bit like trying to guess which of your friends will actually show up to brunch—everyone says they’re interested, but who knows?

"I'll stick to my original prediction here," Schoenfield wrote on Tuesday, doubling down on his Padres pick. "From a career standpoint, it makes sense for him to go to a team in a good park for pitchers, so that could mean any of the West Coast teams (aside from the A's)—who might already have a small geographical advantage anyway. The Dodgers can pitch their winning ways, while the Padres can sell their smaller market and playing alongside Yu Darvish, Sasaki's favorite player as a kid. Of course, don't rule out the Yankees or Mets if the big-market 'issue' isn't really an issue."

In short: The West Coast has mountains and nice weather; the East Coast has... bagels and Broadway.

The Dodgers, as usual, bring their A-game to the table. They’ve built a reputation as the honors students of pitching development, and the addition of Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto to their roster only strengthens their appeal. Who wouldn’t want to join a team where your potential roommates are other Japanese superstars?

But don’t sleep on the Padres. San Diego offers a chill, mid-market vibe that might suit Sasaki just fine. Plus, Yu Darvish—the pitcher Sasaki grew up idolizing—is ready to roll out the welcome mat (and maybe even throw in some surf lessons). Oh, and let’s not forget Hideo Nomo, the original trailblazing Japanese MLB star, who happens to be a special assistant for the Padres. Talk about a recruiting dream team.

Meanwhile, the Yankees and Mets are hovering like big-market hawks, ready to swoop in with their massive checkbooks. If Sasaki doesn’t mind the bright lights and high rents, they could still make a compelling case.

Schoenfield thinks the Padres have the edge, but at the end of the day, it’s anyone’s game. Sasaki’s decision will not only shape his career but also leave one fanbase fist-pumping while the others wonder what might have been. Stay tuned—it’s going to be a wild ride.

THE SLUMP OR THE STREAK?

We are without so much these days. We've lost our daily routines, favorite activities and opportunities to spent time with friends and family. Why? There isn't a concrete answer to throw at that one.

Yes, the novel virus that broke loose from a far away country and spread like wildfire is the culprit. Yes, the fact that it caught the world flatfooted because NOBODY knew how bad it actually was and would be is directly in the crosshairs of the Blame Cannons. But more than that...WHY?

My friends...that is always the question that we collectively ask at times like this. Sadly, we will go without an answer that brings us any reassurance. So what now?

We are standing in the batter's box against a never seen before flamethrower who rifles in heaters that touch triple digits. Do we swing wildly and pray we find the ball? No. No, we don't. We stay to a plan. We go with what has worked. We stare back at that mound without fear and see if this punk blinks first. He's got one pitch...yeah, it's a mutha f*#!*er... but we know what's coming.

I equate just about every event in life to baseball...It helps me process it all. In the box we CAN control more than we think. And sticking to a plan is the foundation for making good things happen. It's the difference in a streak and a slump.

When we try to go to superstitions, changing who we are and what we do...we begin confusing our game and the slump ensues. We become so obsessed with BREAKING OUT OF IT that we slip deeper in.

Focusing on the basic mechanics, breathing, letting the game come to us is the ONLY way out. There isn't a magic stance or angrily pouring over the box score that will bring us a different result at the plate.

We MUST play our game....the way we first learned it. In short...remember the good stuff and dig in. Block out the press, the Bronx cheers, the ump and the scoreboard above the blacked out seats. We are going to break out my friends...WE WILL.

It's a question of when, and that's the hardest thing. When will this big, hard throwing ass clown make a mistake? When will he let that number 1 bleed back over the dish so we can plant that pill like Tino Martinez in 98...soon.


He know he can't fool us. We're going to wait him out. If he tries to get cute and go off speed...we'll spit on that cheese and stand like a statues when Blue barks, "Ball!" Dig in. Know you can hit this one trick pony...we'll end up timing him like Nomo in his second year.

Yeah, that high leg kick was cute...but now we can set our watches to your garbage, meat.

Be with your families, stay on a routine.

There is a lot we can control...bank on it.

--Mike O'Hara
BYB Contributor
Twitter: @mikeyoh21
Website: MikeOHara21.com 

Tell em, Jimmy!

THE BIG JAPANESE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM

I’ll tackle this bad boy!  I’ll say it.  My concern with Masahiro Tanaka goes deeper than his partially torn elbow ligament...that will or won’t need surgery at some point in his career.

No, what troubles me is that I can’t think of one highly touted Japanese hurler that panned out to be the game changer he was rumored to be before making the trip across the Pacific.

I have a buddy who has bought Volkswagen Jetta after Volkswagen Jetta.  Yet every time he gets one he will complain to me that, “As soon as the warranty is up it sounds like I have a tea set under the hood.”  Basically he is saying that the car is a headache in the making after the 5th oil change…and yet he buys them as if he didn’t have any other choice!  Maybe he should go with a BMW or Range Rover…maybe an Acura or Kia…or maybe…BUY AMERICAN!

Nomo, Dice K, Irabu, I’d say Igawa, but…well, you know that story.  They come over, make big money, have one good year and then the Major League hitters time that leg hitch or odd delivery and tee off like John Daly after 4 or 5 Bloody Mary’s. And yet…MLB GM’s still feel the need to pay top dollar for players that just might not be that good.

Look, I really like Tanaka.  He seems like a class act.  He is humble and works hard.  His spilty is NASTY…but puts tremendous strain on the elbow.  What happen when it goes “POP”?  Then he will rely on a hittable fastball and possibly have to learn some different breaking stuff…while collecting crazy money to be a number 4 or 5 starter.

I am not looking to bring doom and gloom to the otherwise happy days in the Yankee Universe.  This is just something I have wanted to get out there for discussion.  Masahiro is good…but he probably won’t be great…and hopefully won’t join the list of Japanese heroes that transform into Major League zeroes.

Food for thought….

** Yeeeah, Chuck!  Tell ‘em what time it is Bhoy! **




 
--Mike O'Hara Senior "Features" Writer
Twitter: @mikeyoh21


 




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"I FEEL LIKE I BOUGHT THE WHOLE ALBUM AFTER HEARING 1 SONG!"

I had a great discussion with one of my writers today.  Let me rephrase... I spoke to pretty much all of my writers today in regards to the Masahiro Tanaka signing all were fun chats, but 1 conversation with Mike O'Hara needed to be published because the conversation was rich with nuggets, humor, concern and joy... all wrapped up into 1.  Truth be told, it's what Yankeeland is feeling right now and so, I wanted to share it.  Don't worry, Mike knows.  Check this out:

Mike O'Hara: "Tanaka was needed, but I hope he is the real deal and not in the Nomo, Irabu, Dice K, Igawa mold... One good year and then everybody times and tees off. 

And why not just call it a 4 year deal? The opt-out is almost always taken. We may have just begun paying for this kid. Fingers crossed. Still need some pen help. Lots of money and lots of questions."

Casey: "That's what my buddy Mike said. He said "I hope he doesn't suck." He needs to be great for 4 years and we need to win so he doesn't want to leave. The Yankees are banking on that.

Mike O'Hara: "Almost a billion and the only guy I am 100% sold on is Brian McCann. He is a bulldog, good defender, leader and the pop will meet the porch.  

The rest are "hope so" guys. Ellsbury has all the tools but aside from 2011, he isn't worth the dollars we're paying. Guess we'll see. Wish we could develop core again. The buying in the 80's didn't work on it's own. The mix that Stick created was the key.  George's dollars Michael's know how."

Casey: "Gotta stay positive now.  The Yankees did what the fans wanted. Now we have to live with it."

Mike O'Hara: "I am very happy that they were aggressive in trying to fix the problems. That is a positive. I just hope they aren't buying carelessly. Should be a fun season all the same."

Casey: "They are buying carelessly, you know that. It's George Part 2."

Mike O'Hara: "Haha. I don't see Hal & Hank as anywhere near George the Great, but I'll say this, they are trying."

Casey: "No. But my point is, they realized they blew it last year and they've now overcompensated. Who knows... Fingers crossed." 

Mike O'Hara: "On Tanaka, I just tweeted my friend "I feel like I bought the whole album after hearing 1 good song... let that record spin and hope it's a classic."

Now... that's honesty and real in the mind of a Yankee fan right now. Mixed emotions.  Look, we signed some great players this off season and yes, the word on the street is Tanaka is "lights out", so the bottom line was we needed to sign him.  I didn't want to go through the Yu Darvish "damn we missed out" crap. We needed to roll the dice on Tanaka, we needed to find out... that's the bottom line.

The Yankees made some very good moves this off season.  They also spent a lot of money.  It was money they had to spend after a disappointing 2013.  2014 is the year ladies and gentlemen. Yankee brass will not be humiliated again.  It was bad enough we didn't make the playoffs in 2013... but when the Red Sox won it all, it was clear, we blew it and they knew that. 

It can't happen again, hence, welcome to the Bronx Masahiro Tanaka.

Thanks for the chat today Mike and thanks for being a great help on Bleeding Yankee Blue... we're happy to have you.

Thank you to all the Bleeding Yankee Blue readers for continued success.  You've made BYB the fastest growing Yankees fan site in the history of Yankees fandom.  Thanks for reading, sharing and enjoying. Follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue (Official) on Facebook, just type it in.