Derek Lowe is a brave

AJC: Lowe agrees to $60 million deal with Braves
Free agent Derek Lowe agreed to terms on a four-year, $60 million contract with the Braves, a person familiar with negotiations said. The deal will be finalized after he takes a physical this week.

Chipper said "I'd feel better than I did 48 hours ago. I still think that can be a really good rotation with John Smoltz in it, but no sense crying over spilled milk. What we got is what we got. We’ve just got to go out there and play better. We were without Smoltzy for a long time last year, so we’re used to that at least. We’ve just got to go out and play better."

On Lowe being a groundball pitcher, Kelly Johnson said "I'm lobbying that they keep the grass where it is right now, nice and long and thick."

勇士以四年 $60M 取得 Derek Lowe, 投手的補強算是完成了，Lowe + Vanzque + Jurrjens + 川上憲伸 + (JoJo,Morton,Campillo...) 放在哪裡都是很有競爭力的先發輪值。

這次 Derek Lowe 會來勇士，除了白花花的鈔票，黃金經紀人 $cott Boras 也盡了不少力推銷勇士給 Lowe。Boras 認為勇士整體的狀況，包括最重要的內野防守等，都值得 Lowe 慎重考慮，即使原先 Lowe 和他老婆比較喜歡東北方的大城市。Boras 的舌蜜腹劍大家都見識過，不過 AJB 的 DOB 認為 Boras 的確對勇士的評價很高而且未來充滿希望。
DOB:"But I'm telling you, in conversations with Boras in recent weeks, I really got the impression he believes the Braves are poised for a resurgence over the next several years in large part because of the young players on their current major league roster and the load of prospects bubbling just below the surface, ready to start trickling onto the big-league roster over the next several years."

Frank Wren, I hate you but I won't curse you for these good signing.

建議閱讀: FA market Snapshot: Derek Lowe

Kenshin Kawakami agrees to Braves

MLB: Braves, Kawakami reach agreement

Kenshin Kawakami is scheduled to undergo a physical in Atlanta on Monday. Kawakami, who has spent the past 11 seasons as one of the top pitchers in Japan's Central League.

Kawakami went 9-5 with a 2.30 ERA in 20 appearances (16 starts) and 117 1/3 innings for the Chunichi Dragons this past season. He missed nearly three weeks in September with a strained back.

Armed with an average fastball that sits around 90 mph, a slow curveball and an effective cutter.

川上憲伸這位今年6月滿34歲的日本中日龍隊王牌即將與勇士簽約，NPB 生涯事蹟：1998 新人王、2004 MVP、2004 澤村賞、2004&06 最優秀投手、2004&06 最佳九人、2004&06&07 金手套等。
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Wikipedia 裏對他投球的介紹：
投球スタイル
ファンの間では「ピンチでも物怖じしない気迫の投球が持ち味」と評価が高く、力強いストレート、バットの芯をずらすカットボール、ストレートとあまり球速の変わらないフォーク（スプリット）やシュート、タイミングをはずす100km/h～110km/hのカーブを駆使し、打者を押さえ込むピッチングを身上とする。

持ち球は、ストレート・カットボール・スライダー・カーブ・シュート・フォーク（スプリット）など　入団当初はナックルも投げていた。

我不懂日文，由線上翻譯得來的意思大概是：
投球時具有遇到危機也不膽怯的氣魄，擅以強有力的直球(fastball)、卡特球(Cutter)、噴射球(shoot)、叉指球(splitter)，100km/h ~ 110km/h 的曲球(curveball)，等近身球路來壓制打者。

球種包括：直球、卡特球、滑球(slider)、曲球、噴射球、叉指or指叉(forkball、splitter)等，剛加入球隊時也能投蝴蝶球(Knuckleball)。
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嘰哩呱啦的不知道在講什麼，不過看得出來川上是一位球路多樣、具有高三振能力的優秀投手，至於來到 MLB 會怎樣只有等時間來證明了。

Edit(1/12) 比較三位球員在日本職棒最後三年的成績作為參考
川上憲伸06-08: HR/9=0.92, K/9=8.12, BB/9=1.57, K/BB=5.18
黑田博樹05-07: HR/9=0.76, K/9=6.68, BB/9=1.80, K/BB=4.11
井川慶 _04-06: HR/9=1.07, K/9=8.77, BB/9=2.52, K/BB=3.48

Reference:
Wikipedia-川上憲伸
台灣棒球維基館-球種介紹

Fuck Braves Official all !!

"ESPN and MLB.com reported that Smoltz, a free agent, will get a contract worth $5.5 million guaranteed from the Red Sox, with additional incentives worth up to $5 million." Thursday, January 08, 2009

I am a loyal Braves fan after the game 7, 1991 world series and John Smoltz became my sports idol since then. The very first thing came out of this blog is to tribute this greatest pitcher. Personally, I can sustain Glavine ,Maddux or even Chipper aren't in the Braves. But for Smoltzy, it's totally unacceptable.

Now, the game is over..... sigh.

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John Smoltz
1988-2008 Atlanta Braves
210W 147L 154SV 3395IP 3011SO 3.26ERA
postseason: 15W 4L 4SV 207IP 194SO 2.65ERA
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