Status of Akinori Otsuka

[molitor fan]

I was wondering if Otsuka is going to be healthy for the start of the '08 season, and if so, would the Brewers be better off keeping Gwynn as a chip to land Otsuka instead of putting him in the Rolen deal. Remember, Otsuka put up 32 saves in '06 with a 2-ish ERA, and the Rangers have a nice duo in CJ Wilson and Benoit to set-up and close this upcoming year. I have looked at a few sites, and have not been able to gather what the status of Otsuka's health is.

[splitterpfj]

Otsuka tried to resume throwing in October, had pain, and was shut down again. He did start throwing in early November, but that's the last I heard, prior to that, the words "Tommy John" had shown up a time or two.

 

I think the honest answer right now is, they don't know, but at least he's throwing again.

[Invader3K]

I don't understand the obsession with certain players like Otsuka around here. The Brewers apparently almost traded for him at one point, he's been injured for quite a while, and probably having surgery. Oh yeah, let's bring him on board.

[recte44]

It's like we're in the mid 90's again. Big Ben McDonald here to save the day! Come on, guys. This reeks of desperation.

[molitor fan]

Funny stuff guys. First of all thanks split for the kind response. Again, I think it is a good idea to type as if you were having a conversation with someone. I would be very surprised if either invader or recte would be so disrespectful in tone with me if they were having a conversation with me in person. As far as the topic is concerned, if Otsuka was healthy, he would be a very nice cheap closer - simple as that. If he is not healthy - stay away. That was the nature of my question, and the subsequent response by the two forum members was really ill-placed.

[trwi7]

Agreed molitor fan, if Otsuka was healthy he'd be a great addition to the bullpen. Most likely as the closer.

[Invader3K]

I would be very surprised if either invader...would be so disrespectful in tone with me if they were having a conversation with me in person.

I'm sorry, but I wasn't being disrespectful to you personally. However, I probably would have said something very similar to you in person, as I don't think there was anything wrong with it.

 

I just think there are certain players out there that get brought up time and again as potential Brewers acquisitions, when it doesn't really make sense after a while. The repeated discussion of Otsuka kind of reminds me of all the Shoppach/Papelbon talk a couple years ago.

[recte44]

Nor was I bring disrespectful, more quippish. Sorry if it came off the wrong way- I guess this time of year makes me a bit cranky.

[twobrewers]

The repeated discussion of Otsuka kind of reminds me of all the Shoppach/Papelbon talk a couple years ago.

Are you saying Shoppach is available? We should see if we can get him!

[Big Reed]

I really like Shoppach. That's probably in one of my previous posts. I predicted he'd be good and wanted to trade Overbay for him when he was with the Red Sox. and yes I talk like this too. I'm more sarcastic in person. I guess it comes from working for the government too long.

 

Otsuka would be a desparate move. but if the brewers want to win a division, they need to be a little more desparate than what they are showing. Division crowns are built around teams that have closers. Division crowns are not won with Turnbow as your closer.

 

if healthy, texas will demand a lot more for Otsuka than if he's not 100%. The question is do the brewers want to take the risk and acquire a guy like Otsuka if he's not healthy? The Cards resigned Mulder last year knowing he would probably not pitch for them very much this year. In 2006, the Yankees signed Dotel knowing he was injured. Would the brewers be willing to trade for or sign an injured player and then stash him on the Dl until he was healthy? Koskie comes to mind.