The Blue Jays sign Yusei Kikuchi

[BlueRocky]

Yeah idk his numbers have never been great and were even worse after the foreign substance crackdown. FA usually come with a little sticker shock so I don’t necessarily hate this deal but 3 years for a guy who projects under 2 WAR?

 

This situation kind of reminds me of the Morales signing. A guy they have legit reasons for liking but ultimately overpaid.

 

I mean ehhh, he's fine as a fifth starter. At least this adds indirectly adds depth to the bullpen.

 

Yeah I’m also cautiously optimistic about Kikuchi until proven otherwise. This could be another expensive dice roll, but let’s see what happens.

Rogers seem to have opened the wallet as front office continues to shop in premium meat aisle, so that’s a good sign. And there’s still prospect capital to play with if the Jays really went all-in this year.

[TwistedLogic]

Aaaand this aged exactly like I thought it would. Tragic.

[TwistedLogic]

https://www.bluejaysmessageboard.com/threads/9933-2021-2022-Free-Agency-Thread?p=1566117&viewfull=1#post1566117

 

 

https://www.bluejaysmessageboard.com/threads/9933-2021-2022-Free-Agency-Thread?p=1566140&viewfull=1#post1566140

 

[Stangstag]

Aaaand this aged exactly like I thought it would. Tragic.

 

Why do people here feel the need to dig up old threads just to say TOLD YA SO

 

Its honestly pathetic

[TwistedLogic]

Why do people here feel the need to dig up old threads just to say TOLD YA SO

 

Its honestly pathetic

 

Discussing baseball on a baseball discussion forum. *gasp* the humanity!

 

Don't think I've ever bumped a thread like this before but a move this bad warrants being roasted.

[The Cats Ass]

Discussing baseball on a baseball discussion forum. *gasp* the humanity!

 

Don't think I've ever bumped a thread like this before but a move this bad warrants being roasted.

 

Can’t wait to bump this again when he starts pitching better. He’s got the stuff, which is evident by his K-rate. He just needs to bring his bb-rate back to his career line.

[TwistedLogic]

Can’t wait to bump this again when he starts pitching better. He’s got the stuff, which is evident by his K-rate. He just needs to bring his bb-rate back to his career line.

 

I'd love if Kikuchi one day woke up and wasn't a roaring garbage fire.

 

So I very much look forward to that bump.

[Stangstag]

Discussing baseball on a baseball discussion forum. *gasp* the humanity!

 

Don't think I've ever bumped a thread like this before but a move this bad warrants being roasted.

 

Just talk about it in the general thread/game day thread

[connorp]

Discussing baseball on a baseball discussion forum. *gasp* the humanity!

 

Don't think I've ever bumped a thread like this before but a move this bad warrants being roasted.

 

Yeah I’m with you there’s nothing wrong with a little bump… but it’s a tad premature.. also, I mean this isn’t Berrios expectations. Kooch is supposed to be a solid #5 SP- like 4.30 ERA or something. Not sure what the mean is there. But distinctively better than Roarke say. I think he’ll get there

[John_Havok]

I'd love if Kikuchi one day woke up and wasn't a roaring garbage fire.

 

So I very much look forward to that bump.

 

It might just be wishful thinking but there’s clear times in the games where he’s able to locate the fastball in the zone and easily blows guys away. His slider, when properly working off an effective fastball can be good. His change/splitter is a good pitch too, though he hasn’t really thrown it much lately, and should probably be throwing it more.

 

Todays game, it was clear pretty early his fastball command was bad, the Yankees were sitting slider and because they knew it was coming could easily take or swing away depending how it looked out of his hand. He needs to work that changeup in more and he needs to get that fastball under control. It doesn’t even have to be impeccable command where he dots the corners with it at will, just a solid non-meatball strike kind of command.

 

He’s not that far off from being a 5th starter that throws like a 2-3, but as always its the last incremental adjustment that he and Walker need to figure out to make that happen. There’s not many 5th starters in baseball with his talent and upside. Most of them are already at their ceiling and just eating innings and hoping not to give up 4 runs over 5ish.

 

His talents are plain to see, and with the team winning despite his erratic performances he’s going to be given every opportunity to get it right, especially now with Ryu probably done as a Jay. In any case, he won’t be seen in the playoffs anyways except maybe out of the pen because Manoah, Gausman and Berrios are clearly the top 3 the team will be counting on in any series.

[Spanky99]

Aaaand this aged exactly like I thought it would. Tragic.

 

A little early on spiking the football, no? So gauche, bro.

[Spanky99]

Why do people here feel the need to dig up old threads just to say TOLD YA SO

 

Its honestly pathetic

 

Agreed, we could do this every day with past posts good or bad from basically everyone.

[Spanky99]

It might just be wishful thinking but there’s clear times in the games where he’s able to locate the fastball in the zone and easily blows guys away. His slider, when properly working off an effective fastball can be good. His change/splitter is a good pitch too, though he hasn’t really thrown it much lately, and should probably be throwing it more.

 

Todays game, it was clear pretty early his fastball command was bad, the Yankees were sitting slider and because they knew it was coming could easily take or swing away depending how it looked out of his hand. He needs to work that changeup in more and he needs to get that fastball under control. It doesn’t even have to be impeccable command where he dots the corners with it at will, just a solid non-meatball strike kind of command.

 

He’s not that far off from being a 5th starter that throws like a 2-3, but as always its the last incremental adjustment that he and Walker need to figure out to make that happen. There’s not many 5th starters in baseball with his talent and upside. Most of them are already at their ceiling and just eating innings and hoping not to give up 4 runs over 5ish.

 

His talents are plain to see, and with the team winning despite his erratic performances he’s going to be given every opportunity to get it right, especially now with Ryu probably done as a Jay. In any case, he won’t be seen in the playoffs anyways except maybe out of the pen because Manoah, Gausman and Berrios are clearly the top 3 the team will be counting on in any series.

 

And this hasn't changed since the ink dried, we've seen the good, bad and ugly... need some consistency moving forward as you alluded too. Not worried yet. Good post, mate.

[connorp]

Agreed, we could do this every day with past posts good or bad from basically everyone.

 

Bro, if you can’t have a laugh at yourself sometimes, you’re a d-bag. Nothing wrong with some light ribbing about giving a s***** opinion. In this case here, it’s just a bit too soon

[Spanky99]

Bro, if you can’t have a laugh at yourself sometimes, you’re a d-bag. Nothing wrong with some light ribbing about giving a s***** opinion. In this case here, it’s just a bit too soon

 

STFU... 3 foot, you own a long list of s***-posting. Loaded with laughs.

[max silver]

It might just be wishful thinking but there’s clear times in the games where he’s able to locate the fastball in the zone and easily blows guys away. His slider, when properly working off an effective fastball can be good. His change/splitter is a good pitch too, though he hasn’t really thrown it much lately, and should probably be throwing it more.

 

Todays game, it was clear pretty early his fastball command was bad, the Yankees were sitting slider and because they knew it was coming could easily take or swing away depending how it looked out of his hand. He needs to work that changeup in more and he needs to get that fastball under control. It doesn’t even have to be impeccable command where he dots the corners with it at will, just a solid non-meatball strike kind of command.

 

He’s not that far off from being a 5th starter that throws like a 2-3, but as always its the last incremental adjustment that he and Walker need to figure out to make that happen. There’s not many 5th starters in baseball with his talent and upside. Most of them are already at their ceiling and just eating innings and hoping not to give up 4 runs over 5ish.

 

His talents are plain to see, and with the team winning despite his erratic performances he’s going to be given every opportunity to get it right, especially now with Ryu probably done as a Jay. In any case, he won’t be seen in the playoffs anyways except maybe out of the pen because Manoah, Gausman and Berrios are clearly the top 3 the team will be counting on in any series.

 

Great post man. The front office and coaching staff have repeated as nauseam that Kikuchi is going to be a bit of a long term project to fully unlock. If Kikuchi can start to command his fastball a bit better he has the opportunity to be a very effective starter, and this should allow him to also utilize his splitter more often as this has potential to be a true swing and miss offering. Just last season Matz was sitting at a 4.58 ERA/4.02 FIP on August 1st before going on a very nice run to end the season. I think Kikuchi has more potential than Matz and he's locked up for a few more seasons after 2022. Definitively stating a 3 year deal is a failure based on less than 3 inconsistent months into the first season just seems premature.

[John_Havok]

Great post man. The front office and coaching staff have repeated as nauseam that Kikuchi is going to be a bit of a long term project to fully unlock. If Kikuchi can start to command his fastball a bit better he has the opportunity to be a very effective starter, and this should allow him to also utilize his splitter more often as this has potential to be a true swing and miss offering. Just last season Matz was sitting at a 4.58 ERA/4.02 FIP on August 1st before going on a very nice run to end the season. I think Kikuchi has more potential than Matz and he's locked up for a few more seasons after 2022. Definitively stating a 3 year deal is a failure based on less than 3 inconsistent months into the first season just seems premature.

 

Side note on yesterdays game though, he really did look like a deer in the headlights against the Yankees hitters. His body language, facial expressions and glacial pace between pitches an step-offs was definitely not giving the impression he had any confidence in his own stuff yesterday. Part of the last incremental change is probably between the ears. like Crash Davis says to Nuke when he got called up "You be cocky and arrogant, even when you're getting beat. That's the secret. You gotta play this game with fear and arrogance."

 

All we saw yesterday was fear. Need the arrogance quotient to ramp up a bit and get closer to the "f*** it, im beating you because I'm awesome" attitude of Manoah.

[Laika]

Side note on yesterdays game though, he really did look like a deer in the headlights against the Yankees hitters. His body language, facial expressions and glacial pace between pitches an step-offs was definitely not giving the impression he had any confidence in his own stuff yesterday. Part of the last incremental change is probably between the ears. like Crash Davis says to Nuke when he got called up "You be cocky and arrogant, even when you're getting beat. That's the secret. You gotta play this game with fear and arrogance."

 

All we saw yesterday was fear. Need the arrogance quotient to ramp up a bit and get closer to the "f*** it, im beating you because I'm awesome" attitude of Manoah.

 

He needs to wear tighter pants

 

Then he will be thinking about whether or not everyone can see his dick, and not about how beeeg and strooong Aaron Judge is

[John_Havok]

He needs to wear tighter pants

 

Then he will be thinking about whether or not everyone can see his dick, and not about how beeeg and strooong Aaron Judge is

 

It's weird you mention that about his pants, I actually thought that same thing (just not the dick part) watching him pitch yesterday. Must not be any pants in his size in the locker room.

[max silver]

Side note on yesterdays game though, he really did look like a deer in the headlights against the Yankees hitters. His body language, facial expressions and glacial pace between pitches an step-offs was definitely not giving the impression he had any confidence in his own stuff yesterday. Part of the last incremental change is probably between the ears. like Crash Davis says to Nuke when he got called up "You be cocky and arrogant, even when you're getting beat. That's the secret. You gotta play this game with fear and arrogance."

 

All we saw yesterday was fear. Need the arrogance quotient to ramp up a bit and get closer to the "f*** it, im beating you because I'm awesome" attitude of Manoah.

 

It's odd that Kikuchi is so fearful as prior to yesterday's game he had actually pitched very well against the Yankees this season.

[wilko]

It's weird you mention that about his pants, I actually thought that same thing (just not the dick part) watching him pitch yesterday. Must not be any pants in his size in the locker room.

 

Maybe he's wearing Ryu's pants while he's gone?

[TwistedLogic]

Not sure I saw this coming from Montoyo but I'm glad he called out this bum.

[Dagagad]

Message to the front office.

 

“I came from Tampa. I know what good pitching looks like and this isn’t good pitching. Are we trying to win or not?”

 

Something along those lines.

[Spanky99]

Lulz

[Stangstag]

TL tell us how much you really hate Kikuchi

[gruber92]

Oh wow, Chuckles starting to get a little frustrated with Ross. I'd love to see Chuckles give Ross a spinning backhand to the throat.

[Eat My Shatkins]

Kikuchi is frustrating. I remember reading that his profile read very much like pre CY Robbie Ray and thought man if they can get him fixed how awesome would that be.

 

Then he started slow in April, but appeared to turn the corner in May with an ERA and xFIP in the low 2's. That was exciting thinking our 4th or 5th best starter was capable of pitching like a top of the rotation guy.

 

Then he just f***ing falls apart. Dude needs a psychologist or a sports therapist or something. His problem is the 6 inches between his ears I'm thinking.

[Stangstag]

Oh wow, Chuckles starting to get a little frustrated with Ross. I'd love to see Chuckles give Ross a spinning backhand to the throat.

 

Who gets to deliver the spinning backhand to Charlie though

[Stangstag]

Kikuchi is frustrating. I remember reading that his profile read very much like pre CY Robbie Ray and thought man if they can get him fixed how awesome would that be.

 

Then he started slow in April, but appeared to turn the corner in May with an ERA and xFIP in the low 2's. That was exciting thinking our 4th or 5th best starter was capable of pitching like a top of the rotation guy.

 

Then he just f***ing falls apart. Dude needs a psychologist or a sports therapist or something. His problem is the 6 inches between his ears I'm thinking.

 

Yeah it’s frustrating because you see the talent he has, and he DOES have success in small sample sizes, but he just completely inplodes for weeks on end it seems.

 

I’d still give him a shot in the rotation next year but it might be time to stick him in the bullpen for 2022 and reserve him for mop-up duty until he shows he can throw strikes consistently

[gruber92]

Who gets to deliver the spinning backhand to Charlie though

 

Pete Walker