If anyone who even casually follows the game of baseball was asked to name the most controversial manager of the past decade, there is little doubt that the first name out of their mouth would be current Miami Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen.

In his new book, Ozzie’s School of Management: Lessons from the Dugout, the Clubhouse, and the Doghouse, author Rick Morrissey provides a unique look into a character who seems to always be in the spotlight.  To many, Guillen may seem to be just a crazy man out to get some attention, and perhaps steal it from his team, but Morrissey finds out there is a method to most of the manager’s madness.

The author had an up close view of Guillen during his years with the White Sox as Morrissey was covering the team for the Chicago Sun Times. This gives him unique perspective on Guillen’s career from the time he was hired in 2003 through the team’s World Series win in 2005 and to his departure from Chicago after the 2011 season.

Guillen is a great example of someone whose unique and strange style is envied and considered to be the reason his team is winning when they are doing well and also the reason they are losing when they aren’t doing well.

Morrissey tells the story of a man who put players in a game on a gut feeling that it would make a difference where sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn’t. Guillen is clearly not the typical manager as can be evidenced by the fact that he once took a pitcher out of a game simply because he told one of his sons that he would be able to see him on TV that day, and he knew a trip to the mound would secure that promise.

The author outlines the Ten Commandments of Ozzie as:

1. All Men are Created Equal, In Theory
2. Protect Your Employees from the Barbarians
3. Promote Serenity in the Workplace
4. Get Rid of the Clutter in Their Heads
5. Be Nurturing, No Matter How Much it Hurts
6. Find a Mentor
7. Don’t Confuse Team and Family
8. Play the Odds
9. Manage Up
10. It’s Better to Be the Matador Than the Bull (Usually)

Morrissey points a picture of a man who probably had the most trouble adhering to commandment number seven. Guillen is presented as an extremely loyal man whose loyalties often both help and hurt him. This is evidenced in a number of cases in the book, usually winding up to help the team in the long run, when the manager had stuck with a player out of loyalty for what they had done for him in the past.  This also helped him with his relationships with players as well, and will have something to show for it for some time to come. Guillen is clearly painted throughout the book as someone who outsiders either love or hate, but most on the inside who have dealt with him professionally love him.  If there is a player or coach who has worked with Guillen who has ended up not liking him, it is probably because that person did something Guillen completely did not respect.

A few of the topics covered in the book include:

• The true story behind Guillen’s feud with White Sox General Manager Kenny Williams.
• The close relationshio he has with his three sons, and the controversial tweets from his son Oney.
• His not so found views of sabermetrics, meetings and any type of scouting report.
• The idea that Guillen’s outspokenness hurts the chances of others who come from a Latino background in their hopes of landing a Big League managerial job.

The book came out nationwide on May 22 in hardcover. Although the book clearly does not cover much of the manager’s time with the Marlins, it does give the reader a good understanding of where that team may be headed.

Overall rating: 2.75/5

Related articles

• Ozzie Guillen, “The Franchise” (baseballreflections.com)

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I still can’t believe it. Premeditated, unwarranted, just disgusting. For those of you who haven’t heard, Cole Hamels recently launched a harpoon from the pitcher’s mound at rookie sensation Bryce Harper, piercing the slugger’s right shoulder and placing him on the DL indefinitely. The wound will likely keep Harper out for the rest of the season and sources are saying his future in baseball may be in jeopardy.

In light of the incident, Hamels has been reviled by both local and national media for such a reckless act of cowardice, and rightfully so – there is no place for such violence in Major League Baseb…

Wait, what? You’re saying Hamels just hit Harper with a pitch? Well still, it was probably gruesome. You heard what he said, there was clear intent – where’d he hit him, in the head? See, that’s what I thou- wait, in the back??? Hm - but I mean, it knocked him out of the game, right? I’m sure he was real banged up, no way he stayed in the game and felt healthy enough to steal home just minutes later, that obviously goes without saying.

Having worn out my use of the sarcasm font, I’ll cut to the chase: the entire Hamels-Hits-Harper situation has been blown way out of proportion. It’s baseball – pitchers occasionally throw at batters, it’s part of the game. Hamels, for whatever reason, wanted to knock the 19-year old off his high horse. Perhaps he was annoyed with the praise and attention the young player has attracted since his call-up, or maybe he took offense to Harper’s blowing a celebratory kiss at an opposing pitcher after a home run last summer - whatever it was, he decided to send a message, and that message was delivered right between the 3 and the 4 on Harper’s back, right where any coach tells his pitcher to hit a guy. No intent to injure, nothing scary – simply put, and I quote Hamels: “Welcome to the Big Leagues.”

And that’s where the problem started. There was no issue when Hamels hit Harper – sure you could claim it was intentional, but that was mere speculation. The situation escalated only when Hamels admitted to doing it intentionally. And why was he asked the question in the first place? Because it was Bryce Harper.

Had the target of his intentional bean-ball been anyone else, Hamels never faces that question in the first place, and thus, never admits his intent. But since the HBP victim just happened to be the rising face of America’s Pastime, a reporter ask Cole’s intent, and Hamels, perhaps himself caught up in the Harper media storm, is feeling big and decides to admit what we all already knew. “Welcome to the Big Leagues.”

He broke the code of the unspoken truth. “That one got away from me.” “You never want to put a runner like that on base.” “I just missed my spot inside.” These would have all sufficed as acceptable generic answers from the school of Belichick. Hey Bill, are you going light in practice this week since your opponent is 0-15? — “They’re a really good football team. We’re preparing like we would any other week knowing this is going to be a tough game.” It’s that easy. No more questions. But no – Cole came clean, and the baseball world is downright indignant, painting Hamels as a villain and tying the league’s hands when it came to suspension.

And it all could have been avoided. What Cole did on the baseball field is nothing out of the ordinary, but it was his handling of the situation that sent writers everywhere into a state of fabricated shock. Whether or not his motive is valid is a separate argument, but when it comes to plunking guys, the lefty’s execution was exemplary. Now if only his post-game interview discretion were as sharp, he wouldn’t be missing his next start.

As for Harper, the bar has officially been set for media coverage of his many “firsts,” and all this for a measly hit-by-pitch. I assume the attention his first home run garners will be enough to lure a jealous Brett Favre out of retirement.

SMALLS TALK Series
Foul Ball Etiquette
The One Ear Flap Helmet
O’s lose to college team – big deal?
Terry Francona on Baseball Tonight
The Curtain Call
Coolest park to hit a home run?
Top 5 Questions Heading into the 2012 Season
Would you want Manny on your team?
College Baseball’s Opening Day
On-Field Composure
When did “Can I have your autograph” turn into “Give me a ball”?
Baseball Needs a 24/7 Show
Top 10 Things to Do in the Dugout During a Day Off
The Spit Hit
Being Friends with Pitchers
The Yankee Core
Opening Day
You Play Right Field?
It’s Not Always Sunny in Arizona
Tee Work
Helmet for Pitchers?
Approaching Spring Training
Top 5 Things I Won’t Miss About My Local Gym
Getting New Equipment
Last Day at Work
My Bat of Choice
The Superstitions and Quirks of a Ballplayer
The Art of the Autograph
Greensboro’s ‘Bat Dogs’
Tim Kurkjian is a Man Among Boys
Baseball Movie All-Star Game: Starting Lineups
Walk-Out Music
Pre-Draft Medical Questionnaires
The Ryan Howard Namesake
The Magic of the Rally
Jeter and A-Rod, How Times Have Changed
Summer Leagues – Cape Still Cream of the Crop?
SportsCenter Commercials are Better Than Most Shows
Schilling’s Bloody Sock
Red Sox Nation Goes Crazy, JD Drew Can’t Be Bothered
Minor League Hats are the Way to Go
Who Has the Best Uniforms in College Baseball?

Daniel Bahhhd throws wicked hahhhd.. deep into games!(Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

Lets forget about the disastrous start by the Boston Red Sox for a moment, shall we? .. Well, never mind, but lets try for the sake of making a sound baseball decision for just this article. Lets face it, Sweet Caroline isn’t going to get the Red Sox out of this slide to start the 2012 season, and neither is Mark Melancon who I wrote about in my last piece where I predicted that his epic disaster of an introduction to the American League East isn’t a fluke. What I would like to discuss today was an interesting, and often talked about dilemma in Boston regarding their young right handed pitcher, Daniel Bard. Should he be a starter? Should he be in their bullpen? Should Alfredo Aceves be their closer? Should Aceves be in the rotation? Not sure yourself? Well, I think Bard should be in the rotation over Aceves and I don’t think it’s really all that close.

Often times reading local columnists and listening to local sports talk radio media people makes my eyes and/or ears want to bleed. Bottom line is that most people just simply do not understand the game from a front office perspective. Why? Because they look at players as people, playing on a team, trying to win a championship as hard as they can. Unfortunately, that’s your first mistake. To a GM (in my opinion),  you’re successful if you run your organization as closely to your stock portfolio on Wall Street. “What do you mean, Bill? These are real people!” Agreed, but looking at individual instances in a small world perspective will deplete your teams resources and not allow the franchise and more importantly, ownership to profit over a long-term. If you’re a GM your only job isn’t to just field a team, you do have to answer to ownership and work with them on a business model. I know, shockingly so, people actually profit from this game other than the players on the field. Look no further than Boston if you want the true sense of “head in the sand” defined for you.

With that said, the players also have an obligation to maximize their potential earnings over their career. They will meet with their agent and discuss a strategy. They will work with the team to express their desire to follow this plan. Sometimes it doesn’t work out and the player will leave for free agency at the first opportunity. Look no further than Jonathan Papelbon. What I’m trying to elude at is that both the front office and the player are trying to maximize value just as any business partnership would. What does this have to do with Daniel Bard? We’re just tipping the iceberg!

I remember scouting Bard at UNC when he was part of the two-headed monster alongside Andrew Miller. You had two absolutely dominant pitchers flashing plus stuff and velocity deep into games. Of course, Miller received most of the attention because he was left-handed and was taken in the first round, 6th overall by Detroit. However even back in 2006 there were a lot of scouts saying that Bard had the better MLB future due to his cleaner mechanics and bigger frame. Miller had the put away slider already in college, where as Bard was more of a ‘project’. Although Miller was certainly impressive at UNC, if it were me picking back then I would have taken Bard if I had to choose between the two, regardless of current results. The amazing thing to consider is that Miller was taken ahead of guys like Clayton Kershaw, Drew Stubbs, Tim Lincecum, Kyle Drabek and Ian Kennedy. All things considered, if you had tossed up all the first round picks in 2006 in a hat and played a modified version of credit card roulette you would have been more likely to nab an ace than Detroit was with Miller.

Then there are the powerhouse Red Sox lying in wait with their compensatory pick they received by letting Johnny Damon sign with the Yankees. Of course this is while the MLB draft was essentially rigged still, and players and their agents could essentially bully small to mid-market teams into not taking them for fear they wouldn’t sign. So here comes Daniel Bard falling into the Red Sox lap at pick #28, an absolute steal for a guy who I saw tossing 98-MPH almost 140 pitches deep in the 9th inning at UNC.

Back then Bard’s slider wasn’t what it is now. Now his slider is a true put-away pitch that has separation in velocity from his fastball and enough tilt to get both right and left hand batters out. His change is a work in progress, as it is for most starters who throw in the mid 90′s. However he’s been working on creating more separation between it and his fastball, which has let him develop the pitch into an average or slightly below average offering. He’ll need to develop the pitch a bit further in order to balance out his splits vs. lefty’s, but he’s showing the ability to do so on the fly. Bard’s mechanics have always been smooth and he’s a sure bet to stay healthy. The only question I have is not his control, but his command within the strike zone. Unfortunately for Bard he pitches in the AL East, where there are no room for mistakes. He is working on this, and as we saw with his start in Toronto last week, he has the ability to put away opposing hitters by blowing it by guys when he’s behind in the count, something Aceves, and a lot of less talented pitchers are unable to do.

Point being, Bard is best off personally in the rotation for his future career, but more importantly for the Red Sox both now and in the future. Alfredo Aceves has a career xFIP of 5.58 as a starter, 4.32 as a reliever. That’s a massive difference for a guy who’s done developing. Aceves is what he is and he can be effective if used properly where he’s not exposed to a lineup more than one run through. In Bard, the Red Sox have a potential ace. He has all the parts that both scouts and GM’s look for in a dominant starter and he should be treated as such. If you want a very comparable situation look south to Tampa and how the Rays treated Matt Moore. Moore wasn’t always the prospect he is now, but they saw just what I do in Bard and stuck with him through his struggles even though they already have a ton of pitching because it was the smart baseball decision. Just as any executive on Wall Street would do, you look to maximize your potential earnings on an investment, and having Bard in the rotation does exactly that. You want guys like him with his stuff and attributes pitching as much as possible because that creates more value and ROI. The Red Sox and their fans should realize this and enjoy watching Bard pitch for them as long as they can.

I can’t believe I am saying this, but have patience Red Sox fans! Let Bard develop into a top flight starter. Your bullpen won’t be as good, but your team will be in the present and future. You won’t regret it.

Logo taken from Google Images

CHICAGO, IL - JUNE 12: Phillip Humber #41 of the Chicago White Sox pitches against the Oakland Athletics on June 12, 2011 at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

Phillip Humber threw a perfect game yesterday for the Chicago White Sox, adding his name to the list of former Mets pitchers who have thrown no-hitters. While a couple pitchers had accomplished the feat prior to joining the Mets, most have done it after they have left the team. Humber is the second former Met to ever throw a perfect game, accomplished only by David Cone with the New York Yankees.

Mike Scott was traded in 1982 by the Mets for OF Danny Heep. While Heep was a member of the 1986 World Series Champion team, Scott became a nemasis, nearly ending the Mets NL Pennant dream. He also clinched the NL West title for the Astros by throwing a no-hitter, becoming another former Mets pitcher to throw one. Hideo Nomo threw one when he pitched for the Dodgers in 1996, pitched for the Mets, then threw a second one pitching for the Boston Red Sox.

Of course, the Mets have acquired their share of pitchers who had no hitters on their resume. The Mets acquired Cy Young winner Bret Saberhagen from the Royals in 1992, a year after he threw a no-hitter for the Kansas City Royals. They traded for LHP Al Leiter from the Marlins before the 1998 season, after he threw a no-hitter for the Marlins in 1996. Hall of Famer Warren Spahn, who joined the Mets pitching staff in 1965 while doubling as pitching coach, threw two no-hitters for the Braves in 1960 and 1961.

The earliest no-hitter thrown by a pitcher that would later pitch for the Mets was Don Cardwell, who as a Cubs pitcher no-hit the Cardinals on May 15, 1960. Cardwell joined the Mets in 1967. Dean Chance pitched a no-hitter for the Twins in 1967 before pitching three games for the Mets in 1970. Dock Ellis threw a no-hitter for the Pirates in 1970 (reportedly while tripping on acid) and pitched for the Mets in 1979. John Candelaria, who pitched in a handful of September games for the Mets in 1987, threw a no-hitter pitching for the Pirates in 1976.

CHICAGO, IL - JUNE 07: Phillip Humber #41 Chicago White Sox tips his cap after leaving the game in the seventh inning against the Seattle Mariners on June 7, 2011 at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago, Illinois. The Sox defeated the Mariners 5-1. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

Kenny Rogers is the only pitcher to throw a perfect game before pitching for the Mets. This happened in 1994 pitching for the Texas Rangers. He would pitch for the Mets in 1999. Scott Erickson, who briefly pitched for the Mets in 2004, threw a no-hitter for the Minnesota Twins in 1994 as well.

In the history of the franchise, there are four relief pitchers who have been part of no-hitters. Alejandro Pena pitched the final inning of a combined no hitter started by Kent Merker (7 innings) and Mark Wohlers (1 IP) in 1991, not too long after being traded from the Mets. LHP Ricardo Rincon, who would see some action in 2008 with the Mets, was part of a 10 inning no hitter for the Pirates, relieving Francisco Cordova and pitching an inning of hitless ball. Two pitchers who are now members of New York Mets alumni, Octavio Dotel and Billy Wagner, were part of that crazy no-hitter the Houston Astrosthrew against the Yankees in 2003. They each pitched an inning, combining with Roy Oswalt (1 IP), Peter Munro (2 2/3), Kirk Saarloos (1 1/3) and Brad Lidge (2) to keep the Yankees hitless.

The only other pitcher who was part of the Mets roster to pitch a no-hitter is Jim Bibby, who was a September call-up in 1971. He never got into a game, but was on the roster and in uniform for the team. He would pitch his no-hitter in 1973, while pitching for the Texas Rangers.

All this history about no-hitters and the Mets, you would think one would have been wearing a Mets uniform when they did it. Of course not, and it will be 50 years or more before it ever happens, if it ever does at all.

The Factor12 Rating (F12) is an analytic measurement utilizing league average performance to compare the value of all MLB pitchers on 60ft6in.com.

(1) Justin Verlander continued his dominating start to the 2012 season by pitching a complete game win against the Kansas City Royals.  The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner hurled 9IP / 7H / 2ER / 2BB / 9K.  Verlander currently holds the number one position on the F12 Rating list with a 34.148 or .349 percent above league average.

(2) Kyle Lohse is the most surprising entry to the Factor12 Top in 2012.  The St. Louis Cardinals’ right-hander has pitched superb baseball over his first three starts of the season.  Lohse has thrown 20.33 IP/ 10H/ 2ER/ 2BB/ 11K while sporting a 0.89 ERA.

(3) Matt Cain has been utterly dominant over his last two starts.  The right-hander has thrown 18 IP/ 3H/ 0ER/ 1BB/ 15K.  If not for a sub par outing in his first start against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Cain would be the current Factor12 leader.

(4) Aroldis Chapman was the reigning F12 leader after Week 1.  The left-hander continues to dominate the opposition by posting 8IP/ 3H/ 0ER/ 0BB/ 15K.  However, pitchers completing less than the average yearly innings (i.e. 9.12 in 2012) will have their F12 Rating weighed by the percentage of innings completed in relation to league average.

(5) Felix Hernandez rounds out the top five after posting an amazing performance against the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday night.  The right-hander tossed 8IP/ 5H/ 0ER/ 1BB/ 12K throwing 126 pitches.  “The King” appears to be rounding into mid-season form.

***The Factor12 Top 12 in 2012 through games on April 20th:

Nothing says Big Leagues like a one ear flap helmet. It’s unmistakable. Turn on the TV and see one of these babies, you know you’re watching the world’s very best. Its unusual lop-sided style is revered by all who play the game, not so much for its looks but its exclusivity. It’s the helmet that my generation saw on the heads of our favorite players growing up, and it’s the helmet that every young ballplayer dreams of some day wearing.

If I were to make it to the Big Leagues tomorrow, priority number one would be getting myself a one ear flap helmet - I firmly believe that’s the first step to being taken seriously as a Major League hitter. When a guy steps to the plate wearing a normal double ear flap helmet, what half the crowd sees is an at-bat long window to run to the bathroom or grab a hot dog. Nothing is expected from Mr. Double Ear Flap - he doesn’t wear a Big League helmet, why should fans give him Big League attention?

It’s Little League stuff. I compare the Big Leaguer who wears a double ear flap to the college player who still wears his hat underneath his helmet. It doesn’t mean they’re not a good player, but until they look the part, they’ll never be fully treated as one. It sounds ridiculously superficial – mainly because it is – but it’s true. The one ear-flap helmet is a privilege, something that represents more than just head protection. It’s the helmet reserved for the best. Not in the Majors? Sorry, nothing we can do – Big Leaguers only. It’s an honor. Ahh, what it must feel like to track a fastball while the wind tickles my liberated left ear.

But still, some Major Leaguers refuse to conform to the Big League style, and for the life of me I can’t understand why. Not to knock the likes of Shane Victorino and Orlando Hudson – two of the most notable offenders – but they’ve seen themselves in these things, right? I know they’re both switch-hitters and you could make an argument for not wanting to carry two helmets around, but you’re telling me that’s worth a lifetime of looking like an emergency call-up? In today’s world of assistants and clubhouse attendants, I find it hard to believe using two separate helmets is all that cumbersome. Maybe Shane and O-Dawg just don’t have the resources that are available to other switch hitters who are able to carry two helmets, such as Mark Teixeira, Chipper Jones, Carlos Beltran, Lance Berkman, Ben Zobrist, Jimmy Rollins, Victor Martinez… ok, that can’t be it.

I suppose they just like it? Who knows?

What I do know is that when I see former teammates finally make their Big League debut, it doesn’t quite hit me until I see them wearing that iconic helmet. Once I’ve witnessed them hitting with a naked ear, that’s when it starts to sink in. They made it.

Earl Battey, whose innovation started the one ear flap movement

Shout out to Earl Battey, whose innovation started the one ear flap movement and kept future generations from sporting Oleruds.

Related Article

MiLB LIFE: New Helmets Issued, Players Respond “Are you joking?”

SMALLS TALK Series
O’s lose to college team – big deal?
Terry Francona on Baseball Tonight
The Curtain Call
Coolest park to hit a home run?
Top 5 Questions Heading into the 2012 Season
Would you want Manny on your team?
College Baseball’s Opening Day
On-Field Composure
When did “Can I have your autograph” turn into “Give me a ball”?
Baseball Needs a 24/7 Show
Top 10 Things to Do in the Dugout During a Day Off
The Spit Hit
Being Friends with Pitchers
The Yankee Core
Opening Day
You Play Right Field?
It’s Not Always Sunny in Arizona
Tee Work
Helmet for Pitchers?
Approaching Spring Training
Top 5 Things I Won’t Miss About My Local Gym
Getting New Equipment
Last Day at Work
My Bat of Choice
The Superstitions and Quirks of a Ballplayer
The Art of the Autograph
Greensboro’s ‘Bat Dogs’
Tim Kurkjian is a Man Among Boys
Baseball Movie All-Star Game: Starting Lineups
Walk-Out Music
Pre-Draft Medical Questionnaires
The Ryan Howard Namesake
The Magic of the Rally
Jeter and A-Rod, How Times Have Changed
Summer Leagues – Cape Still Cream of the Crop?
SportsCenter Commercials are Better Than Most Shows
Schilling’s Bloody Sock
Red Sox Nation Goes Crazy, JD Drew Can’t Be Bothered
Minor League Hats are the Way to Go
Who Has the Best Uniforms in College Baseball?

Logo taken (& cropped) from Google Images

Takahiro Sato

I recently had the honor of interviewing Takahiro Sato, a former college baseball player in Japan and has coached baseball and taught mental skills in U.S. as well as in Japan. He thought that Sport psychology was such an intriguing area where athletes can learn how to prepare for competition and how to handle pressure or stress, so he studied it & received his Ph.D. in sport psychology at the University of Tennessee in May of 2011. His goal is to help baseball players learn the mental game so that they can reach their potential.

What follows is the five questions I was able to ask Dr. Sato along with his thoughtfully in-depth answers…

1. What is the main difference in how the game of baseball is played in Japan (NPB) as opposed to how it is played in the US?

This is the most difficult question for me to answer. I would say that it depends on the manager or teams because each manager will manage a team differently depending on what style of baseball he embraces or what kind of players he has on his team…. I know that you’re probably not happy with that answer. To be honest with you, I have mixed thoughts. In general, I think that it is said that NPB is more likely to embrace “small ball” whereas MLB plays power baseball. It may be true. Japanese baseball players usually specialize in only baseball from childhood, and high school baseball is very intense especially if you choose a school with a strong baseball program (You may have heard about “Koshien”). They are very well trained with a wide variety of baseball techniques such as bunt, base-running, or tricky tactics. Thus, it is understandable that these players are still dedicated to the baseball skills they learned when they become professional players or managers.

However, we should keep in mind that any team, whether they are in MLB or NPB, have kind of a similar structure of their lineups, such as they have a few power hitters, some high average hitters, leg hitters (Speedster?), or defensive players on a team. My point is that since the structure of the lineup is similar, the game of baseball wouldn’t be so different.

I also want to point out that there have recently been some managers in MLB who had played/managed in NPB such as Charlie Manuel, Bobby Valentine, Ken Macha, Jim Tracy, and Troy Hoffman. Do you think that they managed their teams or played in MLB and NPB so differently? I think that many American players who play in NPB point out the difference of training methods, especially length of practice. They may also have pointed out the difference of baseball itself, but I think these are subtle things. I may need to research their comments about NPB more.

By the way, to my knowledge, it is said that the person who started (or made popular) small ball in NPB were the Tokyo Giants in the 1960′s. The Tokyo Giants went to Vero Beach to join the Dodgers’ spring training and were enthusiastic about learning the systematic style of baseball the Dodgers were known for, namely what is known as small ball today, such as bunting or the hit and run. Then, small ball was successfully “imported” to NPB by the Tokyo Giants which people called the “Dodgers Way” at that time. In fact, it is said the manager read the book “The Dodger way to play baseball” as a textbook (http://www.amazon.com/Dodger-Way-Play-Baseball/dp/B001AVALB6). The Tokyo Giants seemed to have successfully mastered “the Dodger Way and won the Japan Series for nine consecutive years between 1965 and 1973 & that is one of the monumental records in NPB history. However, whether or not the Tokyo Giants actually played only small ball is controversial because of the fact that the Giants had several talented hitters including two legendary power hitters, Sadaharu Oh and Shigeo Nagashima, during those outstanding nine seasons.

It is still difficult for me to reach a conclusion. Small ball looks prevalent in NPB more than MLB but it was originally introduced by a MLB team. Interestingly enough, some of the successful MLB managers that I listed earlier have actually played/managed in NPB before. It seems that they can blend the best multiple factors and optimize team chemistry to become successful. In that sense, it is hard to point out difference in the game of baseball in MLB and NPB. Sorry my answer is not very clear but hope I gave you at least some discussion questions.

2. Why do you think pitchers, especially starting pitchers, have difficulty with long-term success coming to play in the US from the NPB? Is it the length of the season, different style of play, the size difference of the ballparks (if any) or just a difference in the quality of the competition (or a mixture of it all)?

First of all, I want to make sure what the definition of long-term success is. It seems to me that being successful for a long period of time is not easy for everyone. Thus, I don’t know if only Japanese pitchers have struggled to succeed for several seasons. Second, if it is true that Japanese pitchers have difficulty with long-term success, one thing I want to point out is the age when they come to MLB. I think some pitchers started their careers in MLB when they were already in their early or mid 30′s (e.g., starters: Kenshin Kawakami, Koji Uehara; Relievers: Kaz Sasaki, Shingo Takatsu). I think that made it harder for their long-term success.

Also, one of the biggest differences a starting pitcher between MLB and NPB is the rotation cycle. They usually have to pitch every 5 games in MLB whereas they used to pitch once a week in NPB. Therefore, they have to make good  physical and mental adjustments to pitch in a shorter rotation cycle. For instance, Japanese pitchers usually throw in the bullpen between outings in NPB whereas I don’t think they do so much of that in MLB. I have heard that some Japanese pitchers got nervous with “a lack” of practice. As another possibility, if Japanese pitchers pitch as many between outings in MLB as they used to in NPB, they would be exhausted. I read an article that Kuroda adjusted his style that started keeping him in physically good condition between his outings instead of pitching as much as he used to in NPB. Looking at his success in past years, he seems to have found how to survive in MLB. However, as long as I read media reports, Daisuke still stuck with what he used to do in NPB. I’m looking forward to seeing how Darvish can handle this difference.

3. Do you think Japanese position players have a better chance of long-term success playing in the US as opposed to pitchers? Why?

In my opinion, Japanese position players have more disadvantages for success in MLB than pitchers. First, the difference of physical strength (e.g. power) is huge. I know that hitting is not necessarily all about weightlifting type of power. However, the difference of power between American players (or Caribbean players) and Japanese are huge…(I can personally realize how different Americans are inherently from Japanese in terms of physical power).

Also, it is said that what Japanese position players have struggled with in MLB is the moving fast ball (e.g., cutter, two-seam fastball). I think that we haven’t seen moving fast balls until recently. For instance, when I played college baseball in 1993-1996 (I played for a big time school, and we played against some MLB players such as Hiroki Kuroda, Kenshin Kawakami, or Tadahito Iguchi, back then), I don’t think I saw these pitches in games. You might remember that Hideki Matsui was nicknamed the “Ground Ball King (or something like that”) in his first season on the Yankees. That may be a good example how Japanese players have struggled with these types of fastballs.

4. What is the biggest adjustment/obstacle for Japanese players coming to play in the US from the NPB? How can this be improved upon?

I guess that one of the biggest challenges for Japanese players would be the demanding travel schedule. I don’t know if Japanese players can imagine how tough it is to fly from the East Coast to the West Coast, cross four different time zones, considering the fact that the land of Japan is as big as the state of California. Some Japanese players may be intolerant of food. A lack of language skills may cause them not only to feel isolated from their team but also to have critical problems such as misunderstandings or a lack of communication with coaches and other teammates. These things might be a tiny stress at first, but would become more serious trouble just like a snowball effect.

As a possible solution, Japanese players may need an interpreter who is (1) knowledgeable about baseball and, ideally, an expert about training (e.g., strengthening and conditioning) or athletic training, (2) personable to smooth relationship between these Japanese players and coaches and/or other teammates, and (3) resourceful or astute to help players relieve the stress Japanese players face on and off the field. However, to be honest with you, I think Japanese players should learn English better. Looking at Shigetoshi Hasegawa, having enough language skills would reduce stress and make him easier to get along with his coaches and other teammates.

As long as I learn about Japanese players in MLB, those who are oversensitive tend to struggle more with MLB. On the other hand, those who have been successful usually don’t care about subtle difference (e.g., size or quality of baseball, mound, and so on) between MLB and NPB.

Also players’ perception might make them different. For example, there might be a difference between those who had “dreamed of” playing in the MLB and those who see MLB as just another place to pitch. The former might be overwhelmed by pressure whereas the latter can just focus on what they need to do.

5. What do you think about US players (especially former MLB players) playing in the NPB?

Looking back to the NPB history, I think that US players need to adjust more to the cultural things in general than baseball itself. It might include human relationships, food, weather (humidity back in 1990 until dome stadium became more common), language, and so on. When I remember successful American players in NPB, I don’t know if there is consistency in terms of skill levels. Some players who had been highly reputed couldn’t do well maybe because of a lack of ability to adjust to Japanese life or age issues, whereas other players did better than expected. Here are some successful American players in NPB that I randomly came up with: Randy Bass, Warren Cromartie, Bob Horner, Ken Macha, Charlie Manuel, Robert Rose, Tuffy Rhodes, Greg “Boomer” Wells, Bobby Marcano, Orestes Destrade, Leron Lee, Leon Lee, Roberto Petagine…. I know I missed many players, though… Also here are those who didn’t do so well as expected: Bill Madlock, Jr., “Pete” Incaviglia, Kevin Mitchell, Dan Miceli, Mike Greenwell. Interestingly, some players hadn’t done well in MLB but did well in NPB, and then returned to US such as Cecil Fielder. Alfonso Soriano wasn’t so impressive in NPB, but has done well in MLB.

***The Factor12 Top 12 in 2012 through games on April 12th:

The Factor12 Rating (F12) is an analytic measurement utilizing league average performance to compare the value of all MLB pitchers on 60ft6in.com.

F12 consists of the following twelve statistics incorporating every aspect of pitching.

Innings Pitched (IP); Strikeouts Minus Walks (SO-BB); Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP); Earned Run Average (ERA); Walks plus Hits per Innings Pitched (WHIP); Home Runs per 9 innings (HR/9); Walks per 9 innings (BB/9); Strikeouts per 9 innings (SO/9); Opponents Batting Average (OBA); Opponents On-Base Average (OOBA); Opponents Slugging Average (OSLG); Modified Base-Out Percentage (MBOP) has been adjusted to include wild pitches and balks.

The traditional strikeout statistic places too much value on a pitcher’s ability to retire a hitter via strikes.  In fact, strikeouts minus walks differential illustrates a clearer image of a pitcher’s true dominance over hitters and mastery of the strike zone.  In 1974, Nolan Ryan recorded a whopping 367 strikeouts while issuing a staggering 202 walks producing a 165 SO-BB differential.  Last season, Clayton Kershaw amassed 248 strikeouts and allowed only 54 walks equaling a 194 SO-BB differential.  On first glance, Ryan appears to be more dominant.  However, Kershaw was far superior in controlling the strike zone.

F12 produces a numeric total value using the percentage difference equation for the ten pre-defined ratio categories.  Each pitcher is ranked according to league average performance using 2.000 as the baseline.  Categories have a maximum value of 4.000 and a minimum of 0.001.

Percentage difference equals the absolute value of the change in value, divided by the average of the 2 numbers, all multiplied by 100.  To illustrate, the average MLB pitcher compiled a 3.94 ERA in 2011.  Clayton Kershaw finished his Cy Young campaign with a 2.28 ERA: =((3.94-2.28)/((2.28+3.94)/2))*100.  The Factor12 Method adds: /100+2 to utilize an easy number less than, greater than, or equal to 2.000.  As a result, Kershaw received a 2.536 F12 value for ERA last season.

The Innings Pitched (IP) and Strikeout Minus Walks (SO-BB) categories utilize a percentage change formula, which does not contain a fixed range.  Percentage change represents the relative change between the old value and the new one.  For example, the average MLB pitcher totaled 65.75 innings pitched in 2011.  Clayton Kershaw compiled 233.33 innings pitched: =((233.33-65.75)/65.75)*100.  The Factor12 Method adds: /100+2 and Kershaw earned a 4.549 value for IP last season.

A pitcher’s F12 is the sum of the percentage difference/change value of the twelve statistical categories.  The league average performance is 24.000 and a minimum of 0.001.  Pitchers recording zero innings pitched will receive a 0.000 F12 Rating.  Elite pitchers will accumulate a 30.000+ seasonal rating.

Pitchers completing less than the average yearly innings (i.e. 65.75 in 2011) will have their F12 Rating weighed by the percentage of innings completed in relation to the league average (i.e. Sergio Romo 48 IP/65.75).  This adjustment enables starting pitchers and relievers to be compared together based on different workloads for the season.

Factor12 rates yearly performance, with the potential for future projections.  Daily updates will be available during the 2012 season to quantify every pitcher in Major League Baseball using F12 on 60ft6in.com.

Josh Robbins is a Video-Journalist and Baseball Historian living in Gilbert, Arizona.  In 2010, he earned a Master’s Degree in Sport Management from CSU-Long Beach.  From June 16 to July 11, 2008, he watched a game in all 30 MLB stadiums in a world record 26 days by car.  Please email Josh at robbinsjosh@hotmail.com or visit 60ft6in.com for more information about the Factor12 Rating.

What does the Factor12 Rating Really Mean?

As previously defined, the Factor12 Rating (F12) is an analytic measurement utilizing league average performance to compare the value of all MLB pitchers on 60ft6in.com.

In basic terms, F12 is a rating that utilizes all aspects of pitching.  It produces a number on a scale of 0.000-infinity (theoretically), where the average pitcher’s value is 24.000.

Justin Verlander opened the season at Comerica Park and dominated the Boston Red Sox hitters for eight innings.  8IP/ 2H/ 0R/ 1BB/ 7K or F12 Rating: 38.907

Through April 7th: 137 pitchers appeared in a MLB game while compiling 351.67 innings pitched.  As a result, the average pitcher has thrown 2.57 IP in 2012 (351.67/137)

Yet, what does the 38.907 really mean?

The IP and SO-BB categories do not use a fixed range (0.001-4.000).

So, it is possible to accumulate more than 4 points.

The ten ratio statistics do use a fixed range (0.001-4.000).

**The F12 Rating is simply the twelve stats added together.

**The F12 AVG is (F12 Rating minus 24.000).

**F12 can be viewed as the percentage difference for each pitcher above or below actual MLB league average performance (F12%>AVG).

Look for the first week F12 Rating stats later today!