How Many Games Would the Japan Team Win in a Season? (1 Viewer)

[Eephus]

They have excellent team speed, solid defense and some talented pitching but don't have a lot of power.

The 1987 Cardinals won 95 games while only hitting 94 HRs (Jack Clark hit 35 of them), but conventional wisdom is that you have to hit the long ball to score runs in today's big leagues. For what it's worth, the 2008 Giants hit 94 HRs as well but scored 150 less runs than the 87 Cardinals.

Would Major League hitters and scouts catch up to their pitching over the course of a long season?

 

[dparker713]

I voted like they were in a tough division, but if they're in the NL West or something it would be higher.

 

[jfranco77]

What does their pitching depth look like? I know their top starters are really good but would their 4 and 5 be exposed? Their middle relief corps?

 

[shadyridr]

The Japan team is essentially an All Star Japanese team. If they played in the majors theyd be a playoff team. They play the game the right way with solid defense and great pitching.

 

[shadyridr]

What does their pitching depth look like? I know their top starters are really good but would their 4 and 5 be exposed? Their middle relief corps?

If we're talking about the WBC Japanese team which I think the thread was asking about, then we're talking about the top 5 pitchers in Japan and the top bullpen pitchers. The guys they brought in out of the pen last night were filthy.

 

[TLEF316]

if they were really an MLB team, i'm assuming they'd be able to stick Matsui in the middle of their lineup (probably at DH). That would add a little pop.

I wont pretend to know anything about the back of their rotation, but i have to believe they are at least decent. They would definityl be competitve. # of wins would depend on the division

 

[Darth Cheney]

It's an All Star team from a very quality professional league. They'd probably be the most dominant team in MLB.

 

[Oh Yes!]

91-95 in the national league

 

[Limp Ditka]

91-95 in the national league

That's 186 games

 

[dparker713]

Their best offensive player is a singles hitter. Their best pitcher is a 5-6 inning guy. Their only other legit starter is Darvish. Those saying they'd be a dominant team are quite wrong.

 

[guru_007]

Their best offensive player is a singles hitter. Their best pitcher is a 5-6 inning guy. Their only other legit starter is Darvish. Those saying they'd be a dominant team are quite wrong.

o.k.

 

[Oh Yes!]

91-95 in the national league

That's 186 games

easy there roundeye

 

[Eephus]

Their best offensive player is a singles hitter. Their best pitcher is a 5-6 inning guy. Their only other legit starter is Darvish. Those saying they'd be a dominant team are quite wrong.

I think their pitching would be pretty solid, especially if you supplemented the WBC roster with guys in MLB spring training (e.g. Saito, Uehara, Kawakami). They've sure looked deeper and more impressive than any other pitching staff in the WBC including the US.Hitting and specifically power hitting are the area of concern. I think it's still possible to put together a station-to-station offense, particularly if you have good team speed. But the conventional wisdom nowadays is that it's easier to hit a HR than to string together three base hits.

 

[dparker713]

Their best offensive player is a singles hitter. Their best pitcher is a 5-6 inning guy. Their only other legit starter is Darvish. Those saying they'd be a dominant team are quite wrong.

I think their pitching would be pretty solid, especially if you supplemented the WBC roster with guys in MLB spring training (e.g. Saito, Uehara, Kawakami). They've sure looked deeper and more impressive than any other pitching staff in the WBC including the US.Hitting and specifically power hitting are the area of concern. I think it's still possible to put together a station-to-station offense, particularly if you have good team speed. But the conventional wisdom nowadays is that it's easier to hit a HR than to string together three base hits.

This is about team Japan as constituted right now. Not what they could be. If these teams could be completely stacked, it would help out other teams alot more than Japan.And the team as is doesnt have nearly enough starting pitching over the long haul. Plus, this team has been training hard for a couple of months and is truly playing to win. Some of the All-Star teams, the US especially, aren't really playing to win. I mean, Jeter at short instead of Rollins? They're a good team, but saying they're a pythagorian 95 win team is absurd. Predicting any team to win 95+ games is always a no-no, let alone this team. If they're in the AL East they dont even sniff the playoffs.

 

[Eephus]

Their best offensive player is a singles hitter. Their best pitcher is a 5-6 inning guy. Their only other legit starter is Darvish. Those saying they'd be a dominant team are quite wrong.

I think their pitching would be pretty solid, especially if you supplemented the WBC roster with guys in MLB spring training (e.g. Saito, Uehara, Kawakami). They've sure looked deeper and more impressive than any other pitching staff in the WBC including the US.Hitting and specifically power hitting are the area of concern. I think it's still possible to put together a station-to-station offense, particularly if you have good team speed. But the conventional wisdom nowadays is that it's easier to hit a HR than to string together three base hits.

This is about team Japan as constituted right now. Not what they could be. If these teams could be completely stacked, it would help out other teams alot more than Japan.And the team as is doesnt have nearly enough starting pitching over the long haul. Plus, this team has been training hard for a couple of months and is truly playing to win. Some of the All-Star teams, the US especially, aren't really playing to win. I mean, Jeter at short instead of Rollins? They're a good team, but saying they're a pythagorian 95 win team is absurd. Predicting any team to win 95+ games is always a no-no, let alone this team. If they're in the AL East they dont even sniff the playoffs.

Jeez, was your grandfather on Guadalcanal or something?

 

[Limp Ditka]

Their best offensive player is a singles hitter. Their best pitcher is a 5-6 inning guy. Their only other legit starter is Darvish. Those saying they'd be a dominant team are quite wrong.

I think their pitching would be pretty solid, especially if you supplemented the WBC roster with guys in MLB spring training (e.g. Saito, Uehara, Kawakami). They've sure looked deeper and more impressive than any other pitching staff in the WBC including the US.Hitting and specifically power hitting are the area of concern. I think it's still possible to put together a station-to-station offense, particularly if you have good team speed. But the conventional wisdom nowadays is that it's easier to hit a HR than to string together three base hits.

This is about team Japan as constituted right now. Not what they could be. If these teams could be completely stacked, it would help out other teams alot more than Japan.And the team as is doesnt have nearly enough starting pitching over the long haul. Plus, this team has been training hard for a couple of months and is truly playing to win. Some of the All-Star teams, the US especially, aren't really playing to win. I mean, Jeter at short instead of Rollins? They're a good team, but saying they're a pythagorian 95 win team is absurd. Predicting any team to win 95+ games is always a no-no, let alone this team. If they're in the AL East they dont even sniff the playoffs.

Jeez, was your grandfather on Guadalcanal or something?

 

[Giant Wooden Badger]

Their best offensive player is a singles hitter. Their best pitcher is a 5-6 inning guy. Their only other legit starter is Darvish. Those saying they'd be a dominant team are quite wrong.

I agree with this guy.Tuffy Rhodes

 

[dparker713]

Their best offensive player is a singles hitter. Their best pitcher is a 5-6 inning guy. Their only other legit starter is Darvish. Those saying they'd be a dominant team are quite wrong.

I think their pitching would be pretty solid, especially if you supplemented the WBC roster with guys in MLB spring training (e.g. Saito, Uehara, Kawakami). They've sure looked deeper and more impressive than any other pitching staff in the WBC including the US.Hitting and specifically power hitting are the area of concern. I think it's still possible to put together a station-to-station offense, particularly if you have good team speed. But the conventional wisdom nowadays is that it's easier to hit a HR than to string together three base hits.

This is about team Japan as constituted right now. Not what they could be. If these teams could be completely stacked, it would help out other teams alot more than Japan.And the team as is doesnt have nearly enough starting pitching over the long haul. Plus, this team has been training hard for a couple of months and is truly playing to win. Some of the All-Star teams, the US especially, aren't really playing to win. I mean, Jeter at short instead of Rollins? They're a good team, but saying they're a pythagorian 95 win team is absurd. Predicting any team to win 95+ games is always a no-no, let alone this team. If they're in the AL East they dont even sniff the playoffs.

Jeez, was your grandfather on Guadalcanal or something?

Sweet rebuttal. So informative as to why you have a man crush on a 4A team.

 

[Eephus]

Their best offensive player is a singles hitter. Their best pitcher is a 5-6 inning guy. Their only other legit starter is Darvish. Those saying they'd be a dominant team are quite wrong.

I think their pitching would be pretty solid, especially if you supplemented the WBC roster with guys in MLB spring training (e.g. Saito, Uehara, Kawakami). They've sure looked deeper and more impressive than any other pitching staff in the WBC including the US.Hitting and specifically power hitting are the area of concern. I think it's still possible to put together a station-to-station offense, particularly if you have good team speed. But the conventional wisdom nowadays is that it's easier to hit a HR than to string together three base hits.

This is about team Japan as constituted right now. Not what they could be. If these teams could be completely stacked, it would help out other teams alot more than Japan.And the team as is doesnt have nearly enough starting pitching over the long haul. Plus, this team has been training hard for a couple of months and is truly playing to win. Some of the All-Star teams, the US especially, aren't really playing to win. I mean, Jeter at short instead of Rollins? They're a good team, but saying they're a pythagorian 95 win team is absurd. Predicting any team to win 95+ games is always a no-no, let alone this team. If they're in the AL East they dont even sniff the playoffs.

Jeez, was your grandfather on Guadalcanal or something?

Sweet rebuttal. So informative as to why you have a man crush on a 4A team.

I think I voted 81-85 wins. They wouldn't be a juggernaut but they'd be competitive and dangerous in close games.The track record of Japanese pitchers in the majors is pretty good. Matsuzaka, Darvish and Iwakuma could start for any team in baseball. The back end of the rotation and pen would be better than major league average, given the general sorry state of pitching. It comes down to whether you think it's possible to win without the longball. When the balls fall in (or the defense gives you an extra out or two), long-sequence offense can put runs on the board. Teams have been successful using that approach in the past but that approach has fallen out of favor since the steroid era.

 

[Mr. Pickles]

Their best offensive player is a singles hitter. Their best pitcher is a 5-6 inning guy. Their only other legit starter is Darvish. Those saying they'd be a dominant team are quite wrong.

I agree with this guy.Tuffy Rhodes

I can't believe that guy is still mashing. Wow.

 

[s_ezy]

japan's staff coming into tonight had 64 Ks in 69 IP, a 1.03 WHIP, 1.57 ERA, those numbers are crazy

 

[dparker713]

I think I voted 81-85 wins. They wouldn't be a juggernaut but they'd be competitive and dangerous in close games.The track record of Japanese pitchers in the majors is pretty good. Matsuzaka, Darvish and Iwakuma could start for any team in baseball. The back end of the rotation and pen would be better than major league average, given the general sorry state of pitching. It comes down to whether you think it's possible to win without the longball. When the balls fall in (or the defense gives you an extra out or two), long-sequence offense can put runs on the board. Teams have been successful using that approach in the past but that approach has fallen out of favor since the steroid era.

Darvish has 2-3 starter upside, but he's not there yet. Iwakuma doesnt project any better than Darvish. And Dice-K is just not an ace of a staff. He's a 2-3 starter with absurdly low innings. The rest of the staff would be lucky to be 5th starters in the MLB at this point. They'd probably start off well, but soon enough the advanced scouts would pick them apart. They're going to play, what, 8 total games? Against plenty of players that are not ready to play full speed. Yet people expect them to be a playoff team in MLB? And power isnt the same as HRs. Teams can win without many HRs, but not without doubles or HRs.