Braves sign Kawakami

[DbacksRback]

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090110&content_id=3739179&vkey=hotstove2008&fext=.jsp

Where does he fit in and what can we expect from him this year?

[San D]

Hard to say with Japanese pitchers. He has a bunch of pitches but doesn't throw very hard. He had good stats and ratios in Japan (similar to Kuroda and Igawa).....

Upside: Kuroda
Downside: Igawa

I think he'll be similar to Kuroda and be the Braves #3.

[Niffoc4]

Hard to say with Japanese pitchers. He has a bunch of pitches but doesn't throw very hard. He had good stats and ratios in Japan (similar to Kuroda and Igawa).....

Upside: Kuroda
Downside: Igawa

I think he'll be similar to Kuroda and be the Braves #3.

That sounds about right... hopefully. I like it, and would rather have him for 6 mil or so for the next three years instead of Burnett at the price the Yankees got him. Sometimes missing out on an FA is a good thing Maybe the Braves can be forced to 'settle' for an FA hitter like Dunn or Abreu...

[tavo2311]

If he hits his upside, the Braves rotation is immediately upgraded.

[CadensDad]

Better than paying Burnett a bunch of money. I see him as a number 3/4 start The Braves for some ungodly reason will use Vazquez #2 Lowe#1 Kawakami #3 Jurrijens #4 and then Campillo/Glavine maybe for #5 But I predict Hansen will be up late May to replace Vazquez will will have a 4.7 plus era

[decoy562]

Eh, I'm still pissed the Braves told Smoltz to take a hike

[wkelly91]

Eh, I'm still pissed the Braves told Smoltz to take a hike

The days of Ted Turner's open checkbook are long gone. If anything, Bobby Cox has shown what a great manager he is...practically every year they are competative with a bunch of scrubs.

So long John, thanks for many great years.

[tavo2311]

Better than paying Burnett a bunch of money. I see him as a number 3/4 start The Braves for some ungodly reason will use Vazquez #2 Lowe#1 Kawakami #3 Jurrijens #4 and then Campillo/Glavine maybe for #5 But I predict Hansen will be up late May to replace Vazquez will will have a 4.7 plus era

Where is Vazquez going?

[DbacksRback]

Better than paying Burnett a bunch of money. I see him as a number 3/4 start The Braves for some ungodly reason will use Vazquez #2 Lowe#1 Kawakami #3 Jurrijens #4 and then Campillo/Glavine maybe for #5 But I predict Hansen will be up late May to replace Vazquez will will have a 4.7 plus era

Where is Vazquez going?

He's predicting Vaz will blow and be kicked out of the rotation