Hiroki Kuroda perfect game in the 7th

[westofyou]

Is it that, or are Japanese players showing zero interest in the Reds?

Right, the the fact the Reds have no established Japanese players are

A. They are damn expensive
B. They can choose where they go
C. Behinhana and PF Changs is the extent of Asian culture in the Tri Stae.

[redsmetz]

Right, the the fact the Reds have no established Japanese players are

A. They are damn expensive
B. They can choose where they go
C. Behinhana and PF Changs is the extent of Asian culture in the Tri Stae.

I don't disagree with your first two points, but while I've never been to these restaurants, it looks like there are considerably more choices than just the two chains you mention. A quick Google search showed these

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...incinnati+ohio

And that's just Japanese. There are many more independent Thai, Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese restaurants in the Greater Cincinnati area these days.

[Will M]

Japanese players tend to be pretty expensive because the talent pool is much smaller than, say, Latin America; only the very best players come over to the US. While a Fukudome or Matsuzaka would be great to have, they are essentially very expensive free agents to the Reds.

and?

We are paying $$$ to a lot of guys: Jr, Dunn, Arroyo, Harang, Coco.
Why can't we show some interest in some of the Japanese players.
Our bullpen sucked for years yet a LOT of decent Japanese relievers came to the US and didn't cost and arm and a leg.

[westofyou]

I don't disagree with your first two points, but while I've never been to these restaurants, it looks like there are considerably more choices than just the two chains you mention. A quick Google search showed these

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...incinnati+ohio

And that's just Japanese. There are many more independent Thai, Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese restaurants in the Greater Cincinnati area these days.

Having chopsticks and some agadashi tofu does not make a cultural enclave for the Asian player and that is the missing aspect of playing ball in Cincinnati.

If you really compare the big cities and their Asian communities to Cincinnati realistically, then Cincinnati comes up painfully short.

[redsmetz]

Having chopsticks and some agadashi tofu does not make a cultural enclave for the Asian player and that is the missing aspect of playing ball in Cincinnati.

If you really compare the big cities and their Asian communities to Cincinnati realistically, then Cincinnati comes up painfully short.

There's no question that in some ways, we fall short, but we've had this discussion before. Cincinnati has a considerable number of Japanese owned companies in the region. Most prominantly are Toyota's North American HQ in Erlanger (not to mention, the Toyota plant in Georgetown), Kao Brands (Jergens) and Fujitec in Lebanon. You've got the new Honda plant being built in Greensberg, IN too. Some of that restaurants I looked at from that search looked fairly swank; not your run of the mill chop suey joint.

We're not a backwater and I think some of the non-coastal clubs (and the Chicagos and Houston/Dallas teams) that are making some small headway into signing Japanese players. I think we'll get there too, but it will take time (and money). Frankly, I'm anxious to see some of the rewards of having scouting in more places than just Latin America.

[westofyou]

There's no question that in some ways, we fall short, but we've had this discussion before. Cincinnati has a considerable number of Japanese owned companies in the region. Most prominantly are Toyota's North American HQ in Erlanger (not to mention, the Toyota plant in Georgetown), Kao Brands (Jergens) and Fujitec in Lebanon. You've got the new Honda plant being built in Greensberg, IN too. Some of that restaurants I looked at from that search looked fairly swank; not your run of the mill chop suey joint.

We're not a backwater and I think some of the non-coastal clubs (and the Chicagos and Houston/Dallas teams) that are making some small headway into signing Japanese players. I think we'll get there too, but it will take time (and money). Frankly, I'm anxious to see some of the rewards of having scouting in more places than just Latin America.

IMO owning a company and having an actual Asian community is two different things, and Cincinnati does not have one that is big enough to support the needs of the big ticket Asian player. That does not make it "back water" it just a fact and the fact that you use Chop Suey as a description of an Asian restaurant speaks volumes as well about most of the USA's world view of Asian culture.

[nate]

and?

We are paying $$$ to a lot of guys: Jr, Dunn, Arroyo, Harang, Coco.
Why can't we show some interest in some of the Japanese players.
Our bullpen sucked for years yet a LOT of decent Japanese relievers came to the US and didn't cost and arm and a leg.

I don't think the Reds should be wading too deeply in any FA pool. Whether the fish are Japanese, American or 5-tool Eskimos.

Unless it's to get, not try and get, but get Tex.

[redsmetz]

IMO owning a company and having an actual Asian community is two different things, and Cincinnati does not have one that is big enough to support the needs of the big ticket Asian player. That does not make it "back water" it just a fact and the fact that you use Chop Suey as a description of an Asian restaurant speaks volumes as well about most of the USA's world view of Asian culture.

I'm sorry; I was being glib. I know that Chinese cuisine is much more vast than chop suey. I was trying to make a point about your suggesting that simply having chopsticks and tofu doesn't make an Asian cuisine. I missed the mark badly.

I can't find the stats as to the make up of various Midwestern cities and the percentage of Asians in the population, but I did see that we're higher than Columbus' MSA (Metro Stat Area) [1.6% to 1.2%, although Franklin County is greater than 2%). Again, we're not a Chicago or Houston or Dallas or the coastal cities, but I then again, it's not completely necessary that there be an Asian population for a good ballplayer to succeed here.

[Will M]

I don't think the Reds should be wading too deeply in any FA pool. Whether the fish are Japanese, American or 5-tool Eskimos.

Unless it's to get, not try and get, but get Tex.

Teixeira improves the defense, improves the offense, is a switch hitter who hits well against RHP & LHP. I would think that he would like hitting at GABP.
I would love to see the Reds get him. Save all the money wasted on the David Ross & Ryan Freel types and we can afford more All Star players.

If Dunn goes move Votto to LF and play Tex at 1B.
Bruce-Tex-Votto-Phillips makes a nice middle of the order.