His stats don’t really stand out to me versus that level of competition. I’m more than likely WRONG as I rarely follow baseball outside the laughingstock that’s become UH but this just seems like a reach as I’ve read they plan for him to be a front line starter? @Pollardsvision -set my straight.
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Apparently in the last couple of years he changed his mechanics, walks way less guys and is pretty filthy.
I need to look
Into him more before I say more one way or the other….
My main concern is how small he is….pretty frail.
Be interesting to see if we go with a six man rotation to keep these guys fresh.
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It seems like Crane opened up the checkbook for marketing reasons, given his new partnership with Daikin.
Hopefully the baseball side of things works out.
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I watched his games the last night for an hour. He’s intense and extremely competitive. Kind of the exception for a Japanese player. Sneaky quick fastball. And he knows all sides of the plate. Talks to the catcher a lot. His sinker disappears into the cosmos.
Knucklehead has the best breakdown so far…
I think he’ll be the team leader and not speak a word of English.
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That forkball is wicked……and the “slider” works like a screwball almost.
He can turn it up to 98-99 when needed.
Clean mechanics.
I like what I see.
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Weird semi-sidearm motion.
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Like DK’s Laredo pitch
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I went back and listened to that kid’s assessment. This guy Imai really likes a challenge. Doesn’t want to play on a team with other JP players, wants to be challenged with new culture, likes to throw high fastballs, likes power vs power confrontations, and wants to pitch to Ohtani most of all.
That’s the kind of “give a sh%#” attitude the Astros have been missing in the Tucker years.
I could just see this guy cussing Tucker out in Japanese for loafing on a ball in the corner. Lol
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FWIW
“Christian Walker and Bryan Abreu to New York”
I do not like idea.
That said.
This guy is not a hack like Locked on B12 guy.
Solid Mets and some NE teams info.
The editor here.
Imai is at the Texans game. The introduced him on the big screen in the first quarter.
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I don’t have time to listen to the guy….what did he claim the Astros would get back?
If some GM gave Tucker a 10 year 430M contract they will lose their job a few years into it.
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even at his best he is not worth 43M per.
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over ten years I would bet my house he does not play more than 60% of the games……and that doesn’t even take into account his skills diminishing with age.
Soto Is younger and put up better numbers than Tucker and his contract is going to be an Albatross sooner than later.
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From what I’ve read, his deal only guarantees the Astros one year - Imai can opt out at any time after that.
So a good year means the Astros will probably lose him, and a bad year means more contract Hell.
Disagree here.
The kid really likes Houston….i don’t think he jumps ship even with a fantastic year.
It’s not as though he will have been doing it 4-6 years and then hitting free agency.
I think that keeps the crazy money away.
And it sounds like there is hope between Crane and Boras moving forward.
LMJ comes off the books as well.
I hope for a great year and then the Astros renegotiating a deal that gives him a nice bump commensurate with how good his year is.
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We’ll see. I tend to not put much stock in a new guy “liking Houston” enough to tell Boras to pass on big money elsewhere. There aren’t many Altuves out there. If staying here was that big of a deal, the contract wouldn’t have an opt out after 2026.
F#%
If you can opt out after one year why even call it a contract. That’s like Audi saying we’ll cover you bumper-to-bumper for 100,000 miles but we have the option to opt out and turn it over to American Home shield at 15k
It’s still like 18M to not opt out each year….like I said, even if he blows up the first half……the Astros will have the rest of the season to work on extension.
Sadly not Imai.
I meant
Murakami’s deal.
'Stros 2026 getting rolling.
Memorial HS then AM.
https://www.mlb.com/news/astros-discuss-revamped-pitching-staff-2026
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Caden Powell could be something……he has a plus hit tool with some decent pop.
Dude hit over .400 with 30 HR’s in Juco.
He was going to start at SS for Okie St. , I believe before the Astros drafted and signed him.
The last part of this past season was when he finally started showing what he was capable of….definitely one to watch.
He reminds me of a young Cal Ripken….body type, hit and power combo….really hope he can tap into it.
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