MLB Hall of Famer and MLB on FOX analyst John Smoltz joins the Dan Patrick Show and discusses what has impressed him about Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki as well as when's the earliest he may try to make the move to MLB
Sasaki won’t post until the time requirement is met. Marines will assure his arm will stay healthy and he’ll just keep improving. If he goes to MLB too quickly, I think they’d burn him out.
Sasaki will be playing another 7 years in Japan then. The posting period limit is 9 pro seasons in Japan. He will be 28 years old before stepping onto a major league mound.
I have no doubts about his ability, but my concern is that he is known for his rather shy personality. Even if he goes to MLB in the future, I am a little concerned about that aspect, whether his personality will be able to adapt to the environment.
I agree. It's not an easy decision when you have to leave everything behind to dedicate the next 5-10 years or more at another country; especially knowing the tragedy Sasaki had to go through in his childhood. I think its good for him to stay in Japan, and make these big decisions when he's a older. He still has time, no need to rush
That’s such a prejudice and xenophobic take. Not everyone is boisterous and annoyingly loud like us Americans. Who gives a fuck about his personality? He’s a professional let him do his job. It’s like in Moneyball when they’re talking about getting players and Billy chides them for acting like they’re looking for Fabio and selling jeans. Let the players be who they are and let their results speak for themselves.
Smoltz was wrong. Shohei was signed as an international free agent, it wasn’t the posting system. That is why Ohtani “chose” the Angels rather than being posted and bid by the highest team.
Smoltz was right, you are wrong. He was "posted" in 2017 for a posting fee of $20 million(maximum allowed posting fee). He can "choose" whichever team he wants, and he has a 45-day window to sign with any team that put in a "bid", NBP players are in the posting system until they have played 9 professional seasons in Japan, then they can be considered "International Free Agents. I have lived in Hokkaido, Japan for 18 years, and have seen Ohtani play live numerous times when he was with the Fighters. The posting system is in place to keep top-level Japanese players in Japan. Ohtani wanted to go straight to the majors out of high school, but the Fighters manager at the time, Kuriyama, convinced him to stay in Japan and get better. He also allowed him to hit/pitch. The Pacific League here is like the AL in majors, where there is a DH. Ohtani was basically doing the same thing here as he is doing now with the Angels.
