SoftBank Inches Toward McPherson
This is getting obvious — SoftBank has now come out and said publicly that they’re looking to add a foreign bat, and targetting third baseman who have recently been dropped from MLB 40-man rosters. Starting third baseman Nobuhiro Matsuda suffered an injury on opening day, increasing the urgency to add a bat. You all know who my choice would be. The other guy I could see getting a shot is Mike Hessman.
07/04/2009 at 9:40 am Permalink
Patrick:
Look at the players who have gone to Japan with huge K/BB ratios like McPherson and show me what they have done. The Japanese pitchers will carve up McPherson, he will hit under .220 and the only thing that will keep him from striking out 100+ times will be because he won’t get the plate appearances.
07/04/2009 at 10:47 am Permalink
I don’t think there’s any doubt he’d strike out 100+ (probably more) times in Japan, but if he can hit 35 home runs with a .350 opb it would balance that out.
I don’t have minor league stats for Tyrone Woods but he struck out 130+ times every year in Japan but was still a productive hitter there. George Arias is another example.
07/04/2009 at 1:54 pm Permalink
Hessman would be a great choice, as would McPherson, but if neither will come, Texas just dropped Travis Metcalf, who although not being a huge slugger, can hit homers and fields really well.
08/04/2009 at 2:46 pm Permalink
Well so much for that, Metcalf is now a Royal.
13/04/2009 at 8:01 am Permalink
McPherson signed a minor league deal with the SF Giants
http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.aspx?sport=MLB&id=3892