Sources: O's, Uehara agree on two-year deal

by edsachs1 on Jan 6, 2009 5:16 PM EST Comment 51 comments

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-orioles0106,0,2908949.story

Seems like a solid move to me. He's the first Japanese signing by the O's, which should help in the future. Now players and fans in Japan should become more familiar with the O's. He also makes a decent stop gap in the rotation until some of our prospects are ready. Once they are he could move to the bullpen. I like this move alot. What does everyone else think?

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F-IN' RIGHT!

by Dr Orpheus on Jan 6, 2009 5:23 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Interesting

Wonder what the dollars look like.

by dkdc on Jan 6, 2009 5:29 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

A starter most of his life, he was used as a closer by the Giants in 2007. In 2008, he eventually returned to the rotation, but had an up-and-down season that included a demotion to the minors.

He was 6-5 with one save and a 3.81 ERA in 26 games for the Giants in 2008.

It sounds like he sucks.

by birdman on Jan 6, 2009 5:52 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

In an ideal environment — National League, non-hitters’ park — he could be a midrotation innings-eater because he’ll allow so few baserunners. In the American League, he’d be more of a fourth starter, but would have to have some luck keeping the ball in the park to keep his ERA under 4.00.

Law on Koji.

by birdman on Jan 6, 2009 5:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I would be shocked and ecstatic if his ERA is under 4.00

by Chanumas on Jan 7, 2009 8:39 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'll happily take an ERA under 4.5

by Birdfan01 on Jan 6, 2009 6:09 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Seriously

Anything south of 5.00 is rotation material for us right now.

Duck Around - a progressive blog about the Eastern Shore of Maryland. And getting off my lawn.

by duck on Jan 6, 2009 7:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Interesting indeed

Well, you have to like the Orioles getting there name out there (in Japan). Plus it’s only a 2 year deal. Although if he was struggling not getting demoted in a Japanese rotation, well that doesn’t exactly bode well.

Librarians are hiding something

by dfa on Jan 6, 2009 6:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Daniel Cabrera he ain't

http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/U/koji-uehara.shtml

Career BB/9 of 1.1.

He’s kinda old but as long as it’s not too much $$ I like it.

[Guthrie's] president of my heart. ~PhilR8

by Stacey on Jan 6, 2009 6:21 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Personally...

…I loved her work as the First Communications Officer on the Starship Enterprise, and she indeed broke many boundaries as one of the first African American characters on television. However, her recent forays in Japanese baseball, particularly throwing such limited innings in a relief role have me worried about the potential for starting in the AL.

by Jonny Pops on Jan 6, 2009 6:48 PM EST reply actions 2 recs

Don't forget her involvement in the first inter-racial kiss on television in the US

Even if it was a kiss forced upon her and Kirk by a malevolent telepathic alien

by PhilR8 on Jan 6, 2009 8:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That was bad

But I still can’t stop laughing.

Live long and prosper, O’s fans.

Cry havoc and unleash the Esskay hot dogs of war! - The Wayward Oriole, Opening Day 2008

by Eat More Esskay on Jan 6, 2009 9:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I guess this is an OK move

My best game plan is to sit on the bench and call out specific instructions like 'C'mon Boog,' 'Get ahold of one, Frank,' or 'Let's go, Brooks.' -Earl Weaver

by Baltimo on Jan 6, 2009 7:32 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

That just about matches my excitement

Not to much to get overly excited about being that he’s an older Japanese pitcher, but it’s good move to break the seal.

"Hey Yankees... you can take your apology and your trophy and shove 'em straight up your ass!" --Tanner Boyle

by BirdFanInPhilly on Jan 6, 2009 8:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

But at $10MM, he didn’t come cheap.

My best game plan is to sit on the bench and call out specific instructions like 'C'mon Boog,' 'Get ahold of one, Frank,' or 'Let's go, Brooks.' -Earl Weaver

by Baltimo on Jan 6, 2009 10:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Well, he certainly makes us better.

Now we just need two more starting pitchers.

by math_geek on Jan 6, 2009 8:53 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I like this move

for no other reason than it shows the FO trying something new instead of constantly waiting on the “potential” of guys like Cabrera or the shit parade that preceded him (Ponson, DuBose, Riley) or more organizational-types like Bass, Burres, Waters, etc. It’s only two years and it won’t be huge dollars so the contract’s not an albatross. He’s almost certainly better than everyone in our rotation not named Guthrie. And it’s nice to join the 21st century and sign a player from Asia.

"Might as well just win this game." - Adam Jones, 4/17/2008

Adam Jones is the tits.

by KenDixonFanClub on Jan 6, 2009 8:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

money

2 years for 10 million total, incentives can take it to 16 million.

by cowboy4eva on Jan 6, 2009 9:54 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

That’s got to be a lot of yen.

My best game plan is to sit on the bench and call out specific instructions like 'C'mon Boog,' 'Get ahold of one, Frank,' or 'Let's go, Brooks.' -Earl Weaver

by Baltimo on Jan 6, 2009 10:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Not that you asked

But ten million bucks is about 938 million yen, based off of today’s exchange rate.

I took a semester of Japanese but I no longer remember how to count that high.

Cry havoc and unleash the Esskay hot dogs of war! - The Wayward Oriole, Opening Day 2008

by Eat More Esskay on Jan 6, 2009 10:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

2 years for 10 million

My best game plan is to sit on the bench and call out specific instructions like 'C'mon Boog,' 'Get ahold of one, Frank,' or 'Let's go, Brooks.' -Earl Weaver

by Baltimo on Jan 6, 2009 9:58 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

decade too late

Not a bad pickup. But the O’s should have tapped into Japanese market about 10 years ago.

by 7Swords of Salat on Jan 6, 2009 11:04 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

This much is true

But at least they’re not the last major league team to do it. I believe…wait…the Jays haven’t moved into Japan yet. Also…dammit.

by Dr Orpheus on Jan 6, 2009 11:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

yea, but

at least we made up for it by tapping aruba early…

"I’m sure glad he didn’t try to bunt." - DD on Melmo's game winning double, 6/17

by daveh873 on Jan 7, 2009 1:02 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

On the contrary...

I believe Aruba tapped us.

by Brotz13 on Jan 7, 2009 9:11 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm predicting lots of mediocre.

by O'sFan21 on Jan 7, 2009 12:23 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

good thing they're not paying him much

Bad Left Hook
Camden Chat

"I decided to become a basketball fan this year and it’s not working out so well because the Wizards SUUUCK. So then I shifted to hockey. That’s pretty fun except there are a lot of flashing lights and horns and shit at the game."

by SC on Jan 7, 2009 1:28 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

We could give Liz another shot

"This world extends way beyond this little field of dreams we're dancing in and I want to see that world"

by exitfare on Jan 7, 2009 1:47 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I believe that's the plan all along

With the signing of Uehara, the Os have two pitchers in their rotation. Liz, Olson, Penn, Patton, Albers, Waters, Burres, and Hendrickson can battle it out for the other three; unless another starter is signed, then two spots.

Regardless, Uehara is better than the majority of last years rotation and will allow for some new revenue.

by Dr Orpheus on Jan 7, 2009 2:26 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

for the record, everyone

Uehara has been a reliever for the last two seasons — he did make 12 starts last year, but he threw 90 innings.

Bad Left Hook
Camden Chat

by SC on Jan 7, 2009 2:46 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

shit

WHAT ain't no country I ever heard of. Do they speak english in WHAT?

by sickuvitall on Jan 7, 2009 4:06 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

So he's well-rested!

Duck Around - a progressive blog about the Eastern Shore of Maryland. And getting off my lawn.

by duck on Jan 7, 2009 7:31 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Some info on that...

http://www.npbtracker.com/2008/06/player-profile-koji-uehara/#content

Rotation or Bullpen?

Uehara has been a starter for most of his career, and that’s where he had most of his success. In 2007, he was put into the closer role after returning from an injury, and not moved back into the rotation for the rest of the season. The manager cited his success in bullpen (32 saves, 1.74 ERA, 66/4 K/BB in 62 IP), but some felt that the Giants were spiting him for his intent to move to MLB. He has also been used as a reliever in international competition. The Giants added fireballing closer Marc Kroon this season, and moved Uehara back into the rotation, but he spent time on injured reserve and will rejoin the team as a reliever.

by dkdc on Jan 7, 2009 9:38 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Right

Apparently the bullpen was just a punishment.

My best game plan is to sit on the bench and call out specific instructions like 'C'mon Boog,' 'Get ahold of one, Frank,' or 'Let's go, Brooks.' -Earl Weaver

by Baltimo on Jan 7, 2009 5:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I thought the minors was punishment

"Hey Yankees... you can take your apology and your trophy and shove 'em straight up your ass!" --Tanner Boyle

by BirdFanInPhilly on Jan 7, 2009 5:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i'm pretty stoked...

everything i’ve read previously suggested he should be a solid mid/back end started in mlb. yes, this means a comfortable number 2 for the o’s right now, but unless he’s total bollocks, like, kei igawa bollocks, we should be able to get some quality time out of time before a much of a book on him gets compiled.

…right?

"When people ask me what my motivation is, I have a simple answer: Money."

--Jerry Reed, on acting

by j.q. higgins on Jan 7, 2009 8:52 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

34 yrs old

is pretty old for 10 mil 2yr contract!!!!!!

by hagers on Jan 7, 2009 11:15 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Not when you consider...

…he now needs to pay a translator and adjust to the seafood in Baltimore.

by Jonny Pops on Jan 7, 2009 10:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ain't nothing wrong

with the seafood in B-more, if you know where to go. Now, it isn’t Crisfield, but still…

Duck Around - a progressive blog about the Eastern Shore of Maryland. And getting off my lawn.

by duck on Jan 8, 2009 8:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh...

…I’m not implying there is anything wrong. It’s just a big change from Tokyo.

by Jonny Pops on Jan 8, 2009 10:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That's ture

I’m sure there’s sushi in B-more, but there sure as hell ain’t in Crisfield. We call it bait.

Duck Around - a progressive blog about the Eastern Shore of Maryland. And getting off my lawn.

by duck on Jan 9, 2009 6:54 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Respectable move

Nothing embarrassing anyway, and the contract doesn’t seem too bad. Love the walk rate, if nothing else. Now our rotation is Guthrie/Uehara/Larry/Moe/Curly.

It’s a start, I guess.

by U2boy417 on Jan 7, 2009 11:19 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Wouldn't the rotation be...

Guthrie/Uehara/Kirk/Spock/McCoy ?

Duck Around - a progressive blog about the Eastern Shore of Maryland. And getting off my lawn.

by duck on Jan 8, 2009 8:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Meanwhile....

John Smoltz is supposedly about to sign with PHN. 1 year deal, 5.5M plus incentives that could take him to $10M.

Somehow, I got a feeling that they’ll get a lot more value from their $5-10M than we’ll get from our $10M.

"Hey Yankees... you can take your apology and your trophy and shove 'em straight up your ass!" --Tanner Boyle

by BirdFanInPhilly on Jan 8, 2009 11:43 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Eh, who needs Smoltz?

He’s a homophobe, anyway. Boston takes these gambles on damaged goods for a few million here or there, and few of them turn out great. Remember Wade Miller and Bartolo Colon?

by Brotz13 on Jan 8, 2009 4:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, it is a gamble with him coming off an injury. But that’s why you put a huge incentive on there. And I’d take my chances on John Smoltz over Miller or Colon.

"Hey Yankees... you can take your apology and your trophy and shove 'em straight up your ass!" --Tanner Boyle

by BirdFanInPhilly on Jan 8, 2009 4:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs