Roger Arrieta
Why should YOU want him to sign with the Dodgers? You may be wondering what’s with all the hype surrounding this guy from Japan who didn’t lose all season. Well, You’re in luck. I’m going to tell you why YOU should hope he’s in Dodger Blue come mid march.
Here are some basics for you to chew on before he decides whom he is going to pitch for on January 24th.
He just turned 25. A case could be made for him to be an ACE on 15 to 19 other MLB teams, he’d be our 4th best pitcher. His Split finger pitch is one of the best in the world. He’s an absolute innings eater, averaging 188 innings per season over the last 7 seasons. He doesn’t lose a lot,..he’s averaged only 5 losses per season over 7 seasons. His nickname is Ma-Kun. His K/9 is 8.47, his BB/9 is a miniscule 1.8..30% of the games he starts, he finishes himself. He wears the #18 which is given to the Ace of the staffs in Japan. If you are still wondering why every one is salivating over this import, think of him as a younger (by a year) and still unproven in the Big Leagues, poor mans Clayton Kershaw. Yes, I said that. The guy is for real and YOU want him in Dodger blue.
One thing in the Dodgers favor, besides the unlimited brinks trucks is Masahiro’s wife is Japanese Pop singer Mai Satoda, who has an affinity for the west coast and wants to live in Los Angeles.
If you are still on the fence, (I can’t possibly understand why you’d be against this) but here are guys who spoke to ESPN that have actually faced him or watched him in person.
Rakuten Eagles pitcher and eight-year major league veteran Brandon Duckworth: “First and foremost, he throws pretty hard. Then, there’s the split-finger, which he throws with the same arm speed so that it comes out just like a fastball. It’s crazy because that thing just falls off the table.”
Craig Brazell the Chiba Lotte first baseman who had cups of coffee with the Mets and Royals: “His split is one of the best I have ever seen. When facing him this year, you just had to hope he made a mistake over the plate, and he did not make many of them.”
Eagles pitcher Jim Heuser: “It’s been a lot of fun watching him kick it in gear, watching him just flip the switch when he needs to. Just from watching him last year, you see how he’s grown. You can tell if he goes to the States, he’s gonna be a good weapon for whatever team.”
