T.Iguchi...info?

[nikku88]

I agree that Iguchi should be a good value, but I think his numbers will take a hit.

Hideki in his last season in Japan went
runs -HR-RBI
112 - 50 - 107 .334 .461 .692 1.153

first year in MLB
82 - 16 - 106 .287 .353 .435 .788

That's a big drop in power.
He did become a very good player in his 2nd year, so he needed that time to adjust to MLB pitching.

Kaz in Japan:
104 - 33 - 84 .305 .365 .549

in MLB
65 - 7 - 44 .272 .331 .396

I think lots of Iguchi's power will be gone in his rookie season.

[SHOCKandAWE]

In an auction he will probably be over valued just like most first years phenoms when they come to the MLB

[Amazinz]

There is no way Iguchi steals 50+ bags. He won't even sniff it. Look at Kaz who is also very fast (he stole 50-60 in Japan two seperate years). He needed to be taught how to steal and run the bases properly. Japanese baseball has come a long way but there is still a big gap between it and the MLB. Iguchi has stolen 40+ bases twice and last year he stole 18. This guy is worth a flier as a backup 2B just because of the unknown factor. Heck why not take a shot. But I wouldn't draft him expecting the next Ichiro.

[stumpak]

I would draft him expecting maybe Kaz Matsui circa 2004. He may steal a few more bases because Guillen seems so dead set on running, but he will also be hitting 9th in all likelihood meaning run production numbers will be worse.

[GotowarMissAgnes]

BaseballPrimer's got some pretty good japan to US translations and they see Iguchi as:

Iguchi, Tadahito - 2005 ZiPS Projection
---------------------------------------------------------
AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB BA OBP SLG
---------------------------------------------------------
480 74 135 30 2 12 62 58 90 17 .281 .363 .427


As with other from Japan, there's no way they maintain their power and US ball steals much less, so that drops, too. Expect a 40-50 point batting average drop.

Still, those are pretty good numbers at a pretty thin position.