Shogo

[cumberlandreds]

Orestes Destrade endorses this post

One of the first Cubans who defected,IIRC was player named Garbey. It was thought he was going to be a star but flamed out pretty quickly. Like Big Klu said not everyone who comes from Japan or Cuba will be a superstar. I will say I was surprised last year when I first heard that Shogo was 31. I thought then that was a real risk to sign a Japanese player that old. I'm afraid its proven correct although we will never know if he would have succeeded here at 25.

[Big Klu]

One of the first Cubans who defected,IIRC was player named Garbey. It was thought he was going to be a star but flamed out pretty quickly. Like Big Klu said not everyone who comes from Japan or Cuba will be a superstar. I will say I was surprised last year when I first heard that Shogo was 31. I thought then that was a real risk to sign a Japanese player that old. I'm afraid its proven correct although we will never know if he would have succeeded here at 25.

Barbaro Garbey. I forgot about him! OF/3B for the Tigers. I think he was a bench player on Sparky's 1984 World Champion club in Detroit.

[REDREAD]

Yeah Shogo is not very good, it’s a bummer. Reds took their chances on a Japanese player and it has not worked out.

Still not sure why you guys have to be such jerks about it.

Not trying to be a jerk about it. We still have people insisting that all Shogo needs is more playing time.
We still have people saying it wasn't a colossal mess up. Have people blaming Covid and a host of other excuses.
The debate still seems to be open. What I said was not intended to be a "I told you so".
Just saying, Shogo was one of the top 3 worst FA signings of all time (for the Reds). Arguably top 2 (Milton is the other one)

Farmer gets quite a bit of criticism on this board, and he's at least 400% more valuable than Shogo.

[westofyou]

One of the first Cubans who defected,IIRC was player named Garbey. It was thought he was going to be a star but flamed out pretty quickly. Like Big Klu said not everyone who comes from Japan or Cuba will be a superstar. I will say I was surprised last year when I first heard that Shogo was 31. I thought then that was a real risk to sign a Japanese player that old. I'm afraid its proven correct although we will never know if he would have succeeded here at 25.

Barbaro Garbey

[Big Klu]

Not trying to be a jerk about it. We still have people insisting that all Shogo needs is more playing time.
We still have people saying it wasn't a colossal mess up. Have people blaming Covid and a host of other excuses.
The debate still seems to be open. What I said was not intended to be a "I told you so".
Just saying, Shogo was one of the top 3 worst FA signings of all time (for the Reds). Arguably top 2 (Milton is the other one)

Farmer gets quite a bit of criticism on this board, and he's at least 400% more valuable than Shogo.

Farmer's only sin is that he is a versatile utility player who has been forced to play much more than he should have to. He is best suited as a backup at all four infield positions, catcher, and maybe LF -- getting 1 or 2 starts a week and 3 or 4 PH appearances/double switches, for a total of 7 to 10 plate appearances a week.

[elrojo]

When he was signed, Shgo seemed to have potential. So I can't claim to a "I-told-you-so." Nevertheless, Shogo has not shown any
ability to hit MLB pitching consistently--or at all. Nice try, but Shogo must go after his contract expires next year or even sooner, if possible.

[Strikes Out Looking]

When he was signed, Shgo seemed to have potential. So I can't claim to a "I-told-you-so." Nevertheless, Shogo has not shown any
ability to hit MLB pitching consistently--or at all. Nice try, but Shogo must go after his contract expires next year or even sooner, if possible.

Don't you have to have the opportunity to hit MLB pitching before you can show no ability to hit it consistently?

[GAC]

Don't you have to have the opportunity to hit MLB pitching before you can show no ability to hit it consistently?

True, due to injury. Plus he has a manager who is utilizing analytics to decide who does/doesn't play day-to-day, so it may be harder to build consistency, get into any kind of rhythm. But right now we don't have any solid alternatives for CF other then Shogo (who can flash the glove there). Not comfortable at all with Aquino out there. Naquin is a utility player.

So give him the ABs to possibly get him going and show people the contract wasn't a bust. Because he is running out of opportunity with next year the last year of the contract.

[Assembly Hall]

Don't you have to have the opportunity to hit MLB pitching before you can show no ability to hit it consistently?

He can get that opportunity somewhere else.

[Indymoon]

True, due to injury. Plus he has a manager who is utilizing analytics to decide who does/doesn't play day-to-day, so it may be harder to build consistency, get into any kind of rhythm. But right now we don't have any solid alternatives for CF other then Shogo (who can flash the glove there). Not comfortable at all with Aquino out there. Naquin is a utility player.

So give him the ABs to possibly get him going and show people the contract wasn't a bust. Because he is running out of opportunity with next year the last year of the contract.

As Brantley said on the broadcast last night, Shogo should be trying anything and everything to get on base - bunts, slap hits, etc. His pop-ups to the OF aren't going to reach the wall so it's past time for a new approach.

[madeirawood]

As Brantley said on the broadcast last night, Shogo should be trying anything and everything to get on base - bunts, slap hits, etc. His pop-ups to the OF aren't going to reach the wall so it's past time for a new approach.

Akiyama's approach to hitting is amongst the worst i have ever seen. I can't imagine how he hit so many homers in Japan. To hit a baseball (like golf) you have to "stay behind the ball". Shogo has already finished his stride long before the ball gets near the plate. It explains his complete lack of power. He's a slap hitter, and a bad one at that. I've enjoyed watching him make those great catches in center field. But center fielders, just like right fielders, have to have great arms. Shogo has a weak arm. I think this was a bad case of Reds scouting. Looks like they signed him based on his stats from the back of a Japanese baseball card. At least that scout got a piece of gum.

[Stray]

He's somewhere between the hitter we thought we were getting and the hitter that he currently is. I do think he'd get on base at a decent clip over an extended period, but losing conviction in that belief. Seems like a quality dude too. Has a bunch of speed and plays great D, so he's still an asset to this team if used correctly.

Also, am I imagining him hitting a HR off the batters eye at GABP in an exhibition game? Like an actual bomb? Could have been someone else, but when I think of his lack of power I always remember that.

[JarrodOnVinyl]

Yes, he hit one dead center in one of the exhibition games versus Detroit

[mth123]

My problem with Shogo is that guys from Japan are no different than guys from AA or AAA. You can scout them and look at their stats, but in the end, they are making a jump to a higher level and the failure rate is high. I just don't think a team with a 30+ year history of crying poor should make a 3 year $21 Million guarantee to such a question mark. If they can get one for a one time bonus from their international money, I'm fine with it. If the budget will be increased to compensate if the player ends up becoming an upside down deal (as in Shogo's case), I'm fine with it, but if the mode of operation is live with your mistake because there isn't money for a plan B, I'd just prefer they skip it.

[Larry Schuler]

I don't hate Shogo but it's sad that he can hit a hard double once in a game or get one RBI and that becomes an offensive highlight for his 1.5 years on the team.