POTD Kenta Maeda's Delivery
Scouting On Site
Super-NPB-Poster Taro sees Tanaka as an impact starter in the majors, "but on the Kuroda, Iwakuma level" rather than on the Yu Darvish level. Taro recommends Kenta Maeda as a more cost-efficient choice, capable of pitching at 90% the success level for 30% of the price.
IceBreakerX, who also lives in Japan, says not so fast on Maeda. He's quite short, as was Ian Snell for instance, and much more of a roll of the dice. Though a worthy roll.
Dr D's quick takes?
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Check out this super-slo-mo of Maeda-san's delivery. The first pitch is normal speed, but the second one is at 1:10 tempo.
Point A: Maeda has a Lincecum-class leap towards the plate -- a truly preposterous crotch split that leaves him landing as far forward as, say, Doug Fister.
A small RHP's main disadvantage is that his fastball is "short" -- that is, the arm action, body action, spin on the ball, etc., triggers the batter's brain to time the pitch as (say) 94 MPH. But because it is thrown from 1-2 feet farther away, it creates a type of "hanging fastball" effect as it "slows down" on its way to the plate. Erasmo Ramirez has to battle this problem.
Tim Lincecum did not battle this problem. His fastball, already fast, was also "sneaky fast" because it traveled such a short distance.
Maeda's landing spot is a very important secret weapon, and it translates beautifully to the majors. In fact Dr. D would opine that the effect is amplified in the majors, because Japanese hitters are not greedy and do not overswing.
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Point B: Maeda achieves this squat leap, without the squat. Watch the video again, and watch the plant knee bend. Not.
Lincecum needed a gigantic squat thrust in order to jump like he did, and this affected his command. Somehow, Maeda-san has the strength-weight ratio to "jump up and dunk the basketball," as it were, without even flexing his knees before the jump.
In case we're talking too fast ;- ) this means that Maeda's command of the ball benefits. Dart champions don't squat before they throw.
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Point C: Maeda's motion, otherwise, is the picture of grace and effortless acceleration.
Just for example, notice the perfect angle of his torso on deceleration, and watch his plant (right) foot snowflake onto the ground at the finish.
To Maeda-san's sports motion, we can confidently say "HUH?!" I don't believe there is another pitcher in the world who combines these three aspects the way Maeda does. (Other than half the pitchers in the Central League, probably.)
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Point D: we haven't discussed the repertoire, but it synch's neatly with the "Lincecum Squared" sports motion. Another time...
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Point E: Would somebody explain to Dr. D, in one-syllable words, why these Japanese dudes all look so PRETTY?? ... they're a little smaller, true...
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Dr's R/X
The concern about Maeda's size is logical. SSI would maintain that there are factors that trump, and they could put the Mariners into a position to outsmart their rivals. If I'm a major league GM, I'm looking at Maeda-san as the kind of "stealth target" that I'm willing to bet my career on. If I lose that bet, no regrets. My best analysis, my best effort to find a spot ahead of the industry's curve, that is called "Kenta Maeda."
This is a pitcher that I'll bet on, period.
What if the M's get Tanaka first? Get Maeda also. Then, even if Taijuan, K-Pax and others are brilliant, you've got mind-boggling trade potential. People will give you anything for Steven Strasburg.
And, getting Tanaka, that ain't bloody likely. Sign me up for Kenta Maeda. Signal Rakuten that you'll bid more rather than less.
Cheers,
Dr D