Pirates to be "big players" for Wei-Yin Chen

According to this guy the Bucs have "the most interest" of any MLB team. His bio states he's a Yankees scout on the Pacific Rim, so he presumably is plugged into these things.

6 months ago Raybin 35 comments 2 recs |

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“Wei Yin Chen leaning towards a decision soon on whether to make the move to the MLB. #Pirates looking like favorites. Prefers to start”

Patthatt, your thoughts?

Jose Tabata is the truth

The following is a list of everything Darren McFadden is bad at: 1) Giving birth. End of list.

by Raybin on Dec 8, 2011 4:31 PM EST reply actions

I've said in the past week:

I thought Chen was very promising as a 20 y/o when he made his debut in 2005, but then he essentially missed the next 2 seasons with an arm injury. (IIRC, he actually was dropped to their developmental roster at one point, which is not for players on the organizational 70-man list.)

If I were in the Bucco FO, I would do my due diligence on his medical history. NPB seems to have a knack for getting max use out of a guy’s arm before he heads to MLB.

I saw a figure of $20 million spread out over 4 years for Chen on one link posted here by brakeman. This scares me in terms of total dollars and the length of contract. If, as has been reported, Chen had some leg issues that cut into velocity last year and he should be healthy and throwing better next year, I’d like the Bucs to take a shot at him.

He’s a quality pitcher. Whether his success in NPB translates to MLB remains to be seen.

I’d still rather see Wada in a Bucco uniform. Chen throws harder than Wada, but I like Wada’s stuff and arm slot more to give big-leaguers trouble making contact, and I could really see Wada doing well for a couple years as a long reliever/spot starter, at a minimum.

But then again, the highlight of my 2011 baseball season was meeting Dave Littlefield at WV Power Park, so I probably don’t know jackshit after that contact.

パトリック

by patthatt on Dec 8, 2011 6:07 PM EST up reply actions

DL

came to Power Park.. and I missed him?

Da'Sean Butler - A Mountaineer Legend

by McCutchenIsTheTruth on Dec 8, 2011 7:18 PM EST up reply actions

You were probably paying too much attention to the players who could actually play.

Occupy MLB! Down with Seligula!

by WTM on Dec 8, 2011 7:23 PM EST up reply actions

Hopefully

Da'Sean Butler - A Mountaineer Legend

by McCutchenIsTheTruth on Dec 8, 2011 7:38 PM EST up reply actions

He was behind HP, up and to the right from Toast Man.

He sat down right across the aisle from me. After calming down, I introduced myself and asked him a bit about the Cubs, since this was right before the deadline. (I also thanked him for drafting Cutch and Walker.)

Is he still with the Cubs? Or did Epstein send him packing?

パトリック

by patthatt on Dec 8, 2011 8:06 PM EST up reply actions

When I’ve been to Power Park that’s where I’ve seen the scouts too, right in front of that little press box and one section to the right of The Toast Man(Toast! Toast! Toast!), but I never got to see DL. Once when Brad Lincoln was on the DL there was a guy with a gun who looked a lot like BL and also looked to be about the right age but I thought it surely couldn’t be him. I also thought he was the youngest scout I’ve ever seen.

by Kev S on Dec 8, 2011 11:08 PM EST up reply actions

Did you think sock him a good one and say..

….“THAT’S FOR PASSING ON MATT WIETERS”

Jose Tabata is the truth

The following is a list of everything Darren McFadden is bad at: 1) Giving birth. End of list.

by Raybin on Dec 9, 2011 9:12 AM EST up reply actions

Think?

No idea how that got typed. THEN

Jose Tabata is the truth

The following is a list of everything Darren McFadden is bad at: 1) Giving birth. End of list.

by Raybin on Dec 9, 2011 9:12 AM EST up reply actions

Thanks!

If his health (and thus his 90-93 velocity) check out, I’d sign him up.

It seems like Wada is the safer signing, but that’s Chen could have a much bigger impact if the gamble works.

Jose Tabata is the truth

The following is a list of everything Darren McFadden is bad at: 1) Giving birth. End of list.

by Raybin on Dec 9, 2011 9:15 AM EST up reply actions

I hope they weren’t just checking this guy out as a backup plan for Bedard. They still need another starter and I’d far rather try something out of the ordinary than drag in Francis or somebody else to mark time with.

Occupy MLB! Down with Seligula!

by WTM on Dec 9, 2011 10:11 AM EST up reply actions

I agree

If they aren’t going pony up for, say, Edwin Jackson (not sure they even should if they want to) or re-sign Maholm, this would be the best move. Francis, Cook, and others in that category would be pure placeholders; would rather give Lincoln, Locke or Owens the chance to win the job out of ST otherwise.

Jose Tabata is the truth

The following is a list of everything Darren McFadden is bad at: 1) Giving birth. End of list.

by Raybin on Dec 9, 2011 10:31 AM EST up reply actions

And if we sign Chen

It makes it easier to move a Lincoln, Locke, or Owens as part of a package for a 1B, say a Ike Davis………just throwing names out there Idk if has been mentioned before ;)

by BigB2323 on Dec 9, 2011 10:37 AM EST up reply actions

sign both of them!

by Brian Cartwright on Dec 10, 2011 2:26 AM EST up reply actions

@colin_dunlap

If the #Pirates get Wei-Yen Chen, I am getting a “Wei Are Family” shirt made.

Asked about Chen in the Rumor thread. Didn’t really look to hard to find stuff, but his Wikipedia page is here.

by pskell02 on Dec 8, 2011 4:41 PM EST reply actions

If this were to happen

it would be a big deal, especially when combined with the signing of Bedard.

Viva Clemente!

by Roberto on Dec 8, 2011 5:17 PM EST reply actions

Huge

A Bedard-Morton-Chen-Karstens-JMac rotation could do big things…..if healthy.

It’s a gamble, but I’d rather roll the dice on that rotation that could excel then go into the season with one we know beyond doubt will suck.

Jose Tabata is the truth

The following is a list of everything Darren McFadden is bad at: 1) Giving birth. End of list.

by Raybin on Dec 9, 2011 9:16 AM EST up reply actions

we're still punting

on third down

by white angus on Dec 8, 2011 5:35 PM EST reply actions

just like in the CFL ;-)

by Thunder on Dec 8, 2011 6:19 PM EST up reply actions

not another canadian reference

ruh rohhhhh

by white angus on Dec 8, 2011 6:27 PM EST up reply actions

Here is a link to Chen's stats:

http://bis.npb.or.jp/eng/players/21625119.html

And here is Bullington’s for his impressive 2011 campaign:

http://bis.npb.or.jp/eng/players/83185133.html

パトリック

by patthatt on Dec 8, 2011 8:09 PM EST reply actions

Wiki Scouting Report

Chen is a 182 cm (6 ft 0 in), 80 kg (180 lb) left-handed pitcher. With a high three-quarters delivery Chen pitches a fastball that usually sits around 90-92 mph (tops out at 96 mph). The best breaking ball of his package is a mid-80s slider. Chen commands his fastball well against batters, but his slider isn’t that effective with common quality and control. Chen can be considered as a two-pitch starter in NPB although he also has a forkball in development. Chen lost some fastball velocity during the 2011 season (sitting 87-91 mph) with a leg injury, and it made him not as dominant as before. His hitting and bunt skill are both below average for a pitcher, but he is a capable fielder.

by BigB2323 on Dec 9, 2011 10:29 AM EST reply actions

Hurdle just vetoed this acquisition

Not actually affiliated with whygavs.

by WHYG Zane Smith on Dec 9, 2011 11:31 AM EST up reply actions

since when does bunting and skill have anything to do with hurdle bunting?

by white angus on Dec 9, 2011 12:11 PM EST up reply actions

The Pirates had one of the lower success rates in MLB on sac bunt attempts in 2011, so there’s obviously no connection.

Occupy MLB! Down with Seligula!

by WTM on Dec 9, 2011 12:17 PM EST up reply actions

hmmm

he had best have 3 pitches if he plans to start in the ML. 2 pitches will land him in the ’pen.

by insane_sanity on Dec 9, 2011 12:36 PM EST up reply actions

charlie morton called...

says “nuh uhhhhhh”

by white angus on Dec 9, 2011 12:43 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Rec'd

Jose Tabata is the truth

The following is a list of everything Darren McFadden is bad at: 1) Giving birth. End of list.

by Raybin on Dec 9, 2011 2:20 PM EST up reply actions

I was hoping someone would say that

Charlie Morton used to be a FB/CV/SL/CH guy.

Interestingly, most all of the guys that start but only throw 2 pitches are your sinker/slider guys or a knuckleballer (who typically mix in a FB and CV).

Charlie, on the other hand, is NOT a 2-pitch guy — I would argue he can mix 4 pitches in total (and effectively, at that!): predominantly the sinker he’s worked on, along with a curveball (not your typical sinker/slider combo), and then can ALSO throw a 4-seam fastball and change-up to play with hitters even more.

All this said, above the only things I’ve heard attributed to Chen are a FB and SL — that screams “BULLPEN” to me, unless they are simply omitting a CH…or if the forkball is past the “development” stage and can be mixed in effectively.

by insane_sanity on Dec 9, 2011 2:40 PM EST up reply actions

I really like his delivery, video from 2009

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FqQXZCGC8c

by BigB2323 on Dec 9, 2011 10:33 AM EST reply actions

Nice

He’s hitting 150 KM pretty consistently there (93 mph) too

Jose Tabata is the truth

The following is a list of everything Darren McFadden is bad at: 1) Giving birth. End of list.

by Raybin on Dec 9, 2011 2:21 PM EST up reply actions

That vid from '09 is key to what we are talking about:

Can he get his FB back to a consistent low 90s?

In ’09 he had 146 K in 164 IP.

In ’11 he had 94 K in 164 IP.

It would be interesting to know what the medicals say about his “leg injury” and if that’s really what affected his velocity this year.

パトリック

by patthatt on Dec 9, 2011 3:13 PM EST up reply actions

"With a high three-quarters delivery Chen pitches a fastball that usually sits around 90-92 mph (tops out at 96 mph)."

I think the 96 mph reference is probably B.S. I don’t even remember seeing him hit the equivalent of 92 many times, and I was there most of the time in Japan when he racked up better K/9 IP than he did the past year. (Maybe there was a game where they had the gun on Aroldis Chapman setting to give him an extra few mph.)

The vids I watched of him in ’11 showed him continually working with a FB in the 89-91 range. The big question, therefore, is did a “leg injury” cost him velocity for the whole season? Or is there a larger medical issue coming on that we should be concerned about?

I like the guy. I think he has some talent. We need another SP. If the Pirates deem him fit and fiddle, then I hope we get him. We’ve got to try something else. Going into next season and relying on the cast of characters we currently have is still a bit scary.

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by patthatt on Dec 9, 2011 10:51 AM EST reply actions

just as much bullshit as Justin Wilson hitting 99mph last year

by white angus on Dec 9, 2011 10:56 AM EST up reply actions

patthatt

What do you make of the two-pitch problem? Is his forkball good enough that he can stick as a starter? Or does he have other secondaries? I’m less worried about his velocity than about the lack of a decent changeup.

by epoc on Dec 9, 2011 7:08 PM EST up reply actions