Tag Archives: Hideki Okajima

December 2, 2010 · 7:14 AM

What Could Be

The Bruins win another Tim Thomas shutout this time against the Flyers (still doesn’t make up for last year) and the Celtics beat the Trailblazers (their 5th straight) but there are the Red Sox trying to make headlines. It’s Pats vs. Jets on sports radio, Bruins and Celtics on the TV, so in an attempt to not be forgotten the Red Sox leak that they’re talking to free agents.

I find it comical that the Sox have people like Gordon Edes at ESPN.com so in their hip pocket that they can steal headlines from the three teams currently playing in the first week in December. So what are the rumors? Let’s have at it.

We’ll start with who’s probably not coming back.

Hideki Okajima:

Well last summer was pretty awful. It was clear that he didn’t have “it” anymore. He’s 35 on Christmas and was basically a mop up guy for the second half of the season. The team didn’t tender him a contract and will likely let him walk. Thanks for 2007 and have a nice career elsewhere.

The maybe coming back.

Jason Varitek:

He’s 38 and wasn’t offered salary arbitration. The thing is as a backup this past season he had a career resurgence. Sort of. For the first month of the season he batted over .300 and looked like he found the fountain of youth. Injury derailed that consistent play as he missed July and August. He finished the season at .232 following an 0 for September. I think he’d still be a good backup and mentor for Saltalamacchia. The Dodgers are showing interest so he may be gone too.

Then there’s the two guys that were stealing headlines yesterday as potential free agent signings.

Carl Crawford:

Word started to come out yesterday that the Sox brass was in Texas negotiating with Crawford and John Henry actually made the trip in an attempt to woo the free agent left fielder. The last couple times Henry made the trip? A failed attempt to negotiate an A-Rod trade and a failed attempt to sign Mark Teixeira.

He’ll likely command a similar deal that Matt Holliday got last year (7 year $120 million) or even more. The idea of him playing in left with a healthy Ellsbury in center would make most balls hit into the gap catchable. What would the team do with Mark Cameron? Rumor is that his career is over and will likely not return from injury.

Jayson Werth:

For all that Crawford could prevent balls in the gap in left center, I don’t foresee the same with Werth in left. Not saying he’s terrible but he’s more of a bat than a fielder. So if you want thump in the middle of your lineup you probably want Werth over Crawford.

Like I’ve said all along this off season, until they actually sign someone, I’m not getting excited. Sure it’s good to debate and talk with friends about (potential lineups, trades, rotations) until it’s reality it is just fodder.

Baseball’s winter meetings start Monday and typically big free agents get signed before Christmas so for our Sox loyalists, this could be a very interesting month. Could be.

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July 26, 2010 · 5:47 AM

Time To Dump Okajima

Four blown saves on the season, a WHIP near two, and an ERA approaching six. In his last three appearances he’s given up eight hits, two runs (both earned), walked a batter, has a WHIP of three, and an ERA at an even six.

Ladies and gentleman, Hideki Okajima.

After completely imploding yesterday on the mound, not throwing to Beltre for the sure out, then giving up another two runs, he refused to speak to the media after the game. How many times have we seen Papelbon own up to his mistakes? Hell, Darnel McDonald who ruined Lester’s perfect game Saturday night was front and center with the media after the game.

Meanwhile this coward Okajima just hides in his locker and tells one of the Sox PR folks to tell the media he’s not talking. Way to own up to your mistake you gutless puke.

The Sox are desperate for help in the pen. Personally I think they’d be better off letting Okajima go and bring back Michael Bowden. At least Bowden gives them a puncher’s chance. Theo best be burning up the phones for relief help. When that help arrives, you release Okajima. Thanks for the memories, here’s your bus ticket.

Okajima has been bad, not just yesterday either. Okajima has opponents batting .351 against him this season. Unacceptable.

So as they say in your native land, sayonara.

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April 7, 2010 · 5:46 AM

Run Prevention My Ass

Marco Scutaro's throw to the first row of fans cost his team the game

Sure Okajima was the one who walked in the go ahead run but you have to think that if Scutaro’s throw was on target we wouldn’t be talking about a Sox loss. Touted as a run prevention team that would have great pitching and fielding, their strength was their undoing last night.

Let me clear the air too. I understand it’s the second game of the season and I’m not ready to jump ship or anything but I have to ask the question; how long will Francona ride Ortiz this season? Sure he looks jacked and not as fat as last season, but I don’t think this team can afford a gaping hole in the #5 spot. Again it’s only two games, but how long before we’re saying it’s two weeks and then two months that this guy is still out there and not producing. Are we going to wait till July again? I don’t think this team can afford that.

And what’s up with Okajima being brought in the eighth. Bard pitched a great eighth on Sunday night and we all thought he was your set up guy for sure. Then Francona has a brain fart and we’re back in 2007? I’ll save you the suspense, we’re not. Okajima isn’t as good as he was three years ago. Don’t be Grady Little. Bard in the eighth, Papelbon in the ninth. Stick with the formula.

Again, one game doesn’t make a season, but that does leave a bitter taste in your mouth. Unlike the Bruins, Celtics or Patriots though, the Sox have a shot to cleanse that taste immediately. Tonight we get to see Lackey’s debut. I’m kind of excited.

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September 2, 2009 · 5:46 AM

Sox Squeak It Out

So once again last night I tuned in late to the Sox game. But when I tuned in the Sox were up 6-2, so I put on some tunes for my ride home.

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Well, when I got home I tuned in just to see what the final score was. Well, good thing I checked in. When I did it was now 7-4, the bases were loaded and Papelbon was on the hill with two strikes on the hitter. Great, I thought, what did he do to get into this jam.

Nothing.

Not his fault in the least. Nope. This was all Okajima’s fault. Following a clean Billy Wagner inning in the seventh, Tito brought in Okajima to pitch the eighth. Well, Okajima tried everything in his power to surrender the lead. Two walks, two hits, not retiring a single batter he faced. That’s when Papelbon was brought in for a six out save.

Papelbon struck out Upton, was bailed out by an amazing catch by Jacoby for the second out and that’s when I tuned in. Crawford ended up fouling out to end the inning. Sox get out of the jam.

Ellsbury added an insurance run in the ninth with an RBI triple. Then Papelbon did something he’s rarely done this year. Worked a clean ninth to close out the game.

You never want to see your closer have to pitch a six out save, but it’s September and they’re trying to win a post season spot. Three and a half games up heading into tonight’s game with Beckett on the hill. I like the Sox chances tonight. We’ll see.

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April 8, 2009 · 6:19 AM

Baseball’s Back

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Being stuck at work on Opening Day sucks. I know I wasn’t the only one either. There was a time at previous jobs that you would schedule your break for late in the afternoon so you could go into the employee lounge and catch a decent chunk of the game. Well, at the new job, there’s no TV, so that wasn’t an option. I don’t miss enough games to opt for the MLB TV computer thing so I’m left clicking refresh on Boston.com and ESPN.com.

Well, the game flew by. By the time I got in the car it was already the bottom of the fourth and the Sox were up 4-1 thanks to Little Dusty’s home run and some timely hits from Mike Lowell and Jason Bay. When I got home, Beckett was cruising. Ending the day striking out 10 in seven innings. He looked really good spotting his fastball like throwing darts.

Oh, and in the bottom of the sixth Jason Varitek hit a home run. Yeah, that Jason Varitek. Oh, and he did it from the left side of the plate for all of those saying he should only bat righty. In fact everyone in the lineup had a hit except Ellsbury. You can’t steal first. His at bats look the same, every time. Watch the first pitch, foul off the second, and dribble out or weak pop/line out. Isn’t the point of the lead-off hitter to work the count, not go down on three pitches? Just saying.

Okajima was the only other negative for the Sox hitting a man and walking another. I’m sure you could put in on Masterson who actually gave up the hit that allowed them to score, but had Okie never put them on base, they wouldn’t have been there to score.

Paps then came on in the ninth and continued what Beckett had started throwing some serious gas. After a pop out he struck out the final two batters for his first save of the season. You just know the game is over when he takes the hill in the ninth. Red Sox win 5-3 and start the season on a very good note.

Look for Rocco to get a start tonight for the Sox. Let’s keep the home cooking going. Baseball’s back and more importantly, the Sox are back.

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