Add new comment

Whats that supposed to mean?
Maybe I should just explain myself better. I think communication important, but not the main issue. You have interpreters and otherwise its just doing your homework, building a gameplan, and calling location and pitch.
I think Johjima's main problems with Seattle in the past as far as game-calling are concerned are:
1) Bad command by Seattle's pitchers and Johjima being unable to adjust his game to that style of pitching (aiming more in the middle and/or emphasizing MORE of a change speed game for example to call an "effectively-wild" game). Joh's style of calling a game is just simply a much better fit for pitchers with good command and/or trick offspeed pitches that don't usually hang (forks,splits,change) since he emphasizes location and tricking the batter with pitch choice.
2) Hostility from the M's pitchers to Johjima's style of game calling. Perhaps the miscommunication is causing this hostility? My view is that its more of a combination of being reluctant with him culturally and stylistically (different way of calling a game).
3) Dr. Naka's theory that when a pitcher shakes off Joh it becomes a "tell" that the next pitch is a fastball. Shows a lack of trust in Joh as a game-caller which isn't shown by team Japan. Perhaps this is also a cultural thing since its usually the responsibility of the PITCHER to call the game in the US, whereas in Japan a great catcher will lead the pitcher.
I think things are getting better though. The pitchers started throwing better to Joh in the 2nd half of last season and hes been around for a while now that the hostility is probably dying off a little. Maybe hes starting to tailor his game to fit the the M's staff. Joh's nemesis, Washburn, even pitched best with Joh behind the plate last year.