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5/13/08
Yu Darvish - Nippon Ham FIGHTERS
Meet the Next Japanese Pitcher Your Team Will Overpay For
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And by your team, I mean, the New York Yankees.

Jim Caple from ESPN Magazine introduces us to a 21-year-old pitcher from Japan that figures to the next Daisuke Matsuzaka or perhaps even better. Darvish is a 6'5 ace for the Nippon Ham FIGHTERS and quickly becoming one of the stars of Japanese league.

(By the way, Caple also tells us that the Ham FIGHTERS mascot is naturally a bear with a mohawk, because why wouldn't it be.)

Since Hank Steinbrenner won't want to let the Boston Red Sox one up them any longer with Dice-K, you can assume he'll spend whatever money is needed, maybe $75 million ... just to negotiate.

As you can see by this video and the easily understood descriptions, the kid can deal.

Former manager Trey Hillman thinks he could be special:
"How good do I think he can be? I think he can be the best in the world. He's not there yet ... but I think he can potentially pass a guy like Matsuzaka."
Also noteworthy, is that Darvish has already posed nude for a women's lifestyle magazine. That makes his chances of becoming a Yankee even higher. You're telling me A-Rod and Jeter won't be trying to get this man into their clubhouse?

It's unlikely Darvish comes over any time soon, but another name to track in the growing trend of the best Japanese talent joining the majors.

Do you think it's worth the investment to bring these talents over?

Dice-K 2.0 [ESPNtheMag]
9 comments
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419 days ago
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Here we go again...Hank and their "Braintrust" have already offered him $100 million, English Lessons and a ten year supply of Gas!
 
11/30/99
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(Edited 05/13/08 5:50PM by derms33)

not comparable to the 25 mill and rowboat they offered the 39 year old El Duque

 
419 days ago
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Well, the ladies won't know if it's a good investment until they see those pictures.
 
419 days ago
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It's just the Japanese version of Jarred Weaver, who after signing will be the Japanese version of Jeff Weaver.

 

Mmmmmm Nippon Ham Fighters aaauuuuurrrggggggggg...

 
419 days ago
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In all of the Japanese rant that they were spewing out (i.e. I can't understand), why were the phrases "diving catch" and "nice catch" said in English?

 

I'm not afraid to go off topic.

 

 

"How good do I think he can be? I think he can be the best in the world. He's not there yet ... but I think he can potentially pass a guy like Matsuzaka."

Is he insinuating that Dice-K is the best in the world?

 
418 days ago
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I don't care who you are I wouldn't pay 75 million to talk to anybody I don't care how talented everybody thought he was I would rather spend the money on proven pitcher who has Major League Experience or draft a great pitcher and develop him. Paying 75 million just to talk to him who has never played in the MLB is ridiculous.
 
282 days ago
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Darvish is half-Persian, which might explain his tall stature.

Also, the name of the sponsoring company is "Nippon Ham" and the team is "the Fighters".   They aren't the "Ham Fighters"  This is one of the biggest misconceptions of those that don't follow Japan League baseball.
 
282 days ago
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tpowell25 wrote:

In all of the Japanese rant that they were spewing out (i.e. I can't understand), why were the phrases "diving catch" and "nice catch" said in English?

 

I'm not afraid to go off topic.

 

 

"How good do I think he can be? I think he can be the best in the world. He's not there yet ... but I think he can potentially pass a guy like Matsuzaka."

Is he insinuating that Dice-K is the best in the world?

Because they are loanwords.  You know...kind of like "sayonara" is used in everyday English speech sometimes?
 
 
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