Blog Kiosk: 12/18/2015 - Dodger Links - Quality Assurance and Iwakuma Deal is Dead

Awesome!  The graphic above via SportsNet LA on twitter.

Below are more links to check out:

• Come on now!  Yesterday came word that Hisashi Iwakuma had failed his physical, and the contract many had thought would bolster the pitching staff was now in jeopardy.  Some reports said the deal was over; while others said that the team and Iwakuma were still in discussions.  Apparently, the former were correct.  Via a tweet directly from the Mariners, they have resigned Iwakuma for the 2016 season, and they initially announced it during their holiday party last night.

Jerry Dipoto delivers a special gift to the front office at the #Mariners holiday party: Kuma is back. pic.twitter.com/8Bo8Y93ub2

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) December 18, 2015

• Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "So, Dave Roberts, what’s a quality assurance coach?" 

“Juan had been in the system working with the infield, and he had the rapport with a lot of Latin players,” Roberts said, “and I think his ability to teach was attractive to me. So I think for me, as the puzzle kind of played itself out, and (as) I looked at a staff that doesn’t have anyone who speaks Spanish, it only made sense to have Juan on board, help (third-base coach) Chris Woodward out with the infield defense, (and) sit in the suite and watch from above during the game to help us with things like that.”

So while Castro will be in uniform before the games and on the field or in the clubhouse or dugout, by the time the first pitch is thrown he will often be upstairs, supervising the scene like an NFL defensive coordinator.

“Whether he’s watching the game in the clubhouse on the screen, or up top and seeing the whole big picture,” Roberts said, “right after the game we can talk about things from his perspective. But he’s on the Major League staff. He’s going to be hitting ground balls, work with infielders and helping with positioning and doing all that stuff as well.”

• Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "Frankie Montas: Future starter or fireman?"

“Our scouts feel like his fastball-slider combo is one of the best in the minor leagues, and we feel like he’s got a great chance to develop as a really good Major League starting pitcher,” Dodger president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said Wednesday.

“As we go through it and get a chance to be around him on a daily basis, it’ll be interesting to get a better feel for where he is with the changeup and his ability to manipulate the slider. But (we) feel like he’s got a really good chance to be a really good Major League starting pitcher, and if not, we feel like he can be an impact bullpen arm.”

• Good bye old friend.  Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Justin Ruggiano signs 1-year deal with Rangers."
• Via Richard Justice at MLB.com, "Dodgers' best rotation options may be in farm system."

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Welcome to the Blue, Hisashi Iwakuma! UPDATE: Deal is Dead!

Considering the recent brouhaha surrounding the supposed trade between the Reds and Dodgers I figured it was best to error on the side of caution before posting this up.  After all, it's not so relevant to me that I be first out of the gate.  I just want to celebrate a players entrance into the Dodger family, and share a couple of fantasy Baseball cards I made in celebration.

As you know by now, the Dodgers have signed right-handed starting pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma; as first reported by Jim Bowden on twitter.  Although yet to be officially confirmed by the team, it appears all but certain to be true. Heck, Mark Saxon noted on twitter today that the Dodgers will hold a press conference announcing the signing tomorrow.  BTW, it has been reported to be a three year deal, via Jon Heyman on twitter:

Iwakuma agreement is $45M, 3 yrs with dodgers

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) December 7, 2015

That comes out to $15 Million a season - a reasonable amount given his age, recent injury history and his skills on the mound.  Iwakuma is 34 years old, suffered a right lateral strain last year that knocked him out for nearly a couple of months and for his career is 47-25 with a 3.17 ERA, 3.62 FIP and 7.7 strike outs per nine innings.  Last season he threw a no-hitter against the Baltimore Orioles in August (the second Japanese ballplayer to ever do so).

Iwakuma is a command pitcher who throws a fastball in the low-90's, a split-finger fastball (in high 80's), slider, shuuto and curveball.  He induces plenty of ground balls, so the Dodgers revamped defense should help him a lot.

On a more personal note, Iwakuma is a very spiritual man, via Steve Dilbeck at the LA Times:

Iwakuma is a member of Soka Gakkai International, something of a new-age Buddhism religion centered in Japan. After arthroscopic elbow surgery in 2007, Iwakuma said he was being tentative in his comeback before he was inspired by works from Soka Gakkai's leader, Daisaku Ikeda.

He told Soka Gakkai's monthly newsletter: "Sensing my anxiety, Sensei [Ikeda] looked at me and said: 'Cast away your worries! Become strong!' His guidance was strict yet warm. In his words I sensed with my entire being the trust and high expectations he placed in me.

"That day happened to be my birthday. I took it as Sensei's lifelong gift to me."

In celebration of Iwakuma's signing I made the above two fantasy cards of him.  On the left, the photograph by Mike Ehrmann/Getty and I used the 1961 Topps Baseball card design.  On the right, the photograph is by AP/Ted Warren and I used the 1968 Topps Baseball card design. 

Below are his career statistics as a player, via Baseball-Reference:


UDPATE:  As you surely know, this deal is deal.  According to various reports, Iwakuma failed his physical with the Dodgers.  He also, within 24 hours of those initial reports, signed a one-year contract (with options for the following two seasons) to stay in Seattle.

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