Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Pro Quality. Fan Perspective.
Login-facebook
Around SBN: Dallas Cowboys: Unknown Quantities

Bye, Kenji

Larry LaRue breaks the news that the best catcher in franchise history is opting out of his contract and going back to Japan. Sounds like the real deal, too - Zduriencik is holding a press conference in a couple of hours to discuss it.

Thanks for the years of service, Kenji. I'll miss the silly red glove and the powerpitch swing. Good luck in Japan.

Can't talk too much about the impact of all this now but this isn't a big surprise. Dave's been talking about the possibility of Johjima heading home for the past couple of months. This should free up some significant money for next year, but it comes at the cost of more Rob Johnson.

Matthew's Update: According to Shannon Drayer, no other confirmation yet, there is no buyout. The Mariners owe him no money.

Graham's Update: Section changed to great news. Party time!

Comment 211 comments  |  0 recs  | 

Do you like this story?

Comments

Display:

Enjoy Rob Johnson.

angels fan in seattle

by Eyebrows on Oct 19, 2009 10:00 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions  

I will. Rob Johnson/Adam Moore is/are only gonna get better.

If the pitchers favor Johnson over Joh thats all I need to know. Who knows the language barrier might have been worse than we thought.

by David89 on Oct 19, 2009 12:27 PM PDT up reply actions  

Adam Moore, yes.

But I don’t see Rob Johnson, even fully healthy, being as good as Kenji was when Joh was at his worst. And what good does it do for the pitchers to favor Johnson when he has trouble performing probably the most important aspect of being a catcher, which is, of course, catching the ball? Not that I put much behind a pitcher favoring a catcher anyway.

Say it with me: Washington Capitals. Capitals.
Preserved In All His Greatness - R.I.P. The Reignman 1989 to 1997

by JLProck on Oct 19, 2009 12:31 PM PDT up reply actions  

There are 200 posts in this thread (201 now!)

How does this not have an equivalent number of recs?

by James F'n X on Oct 19, 2009 6:55 PM PDT up reply actions  

The Latin stereotype might have been too much

The whole “he’s good with pitchers” line every time anyone associated with the team talks about Johnson is killing me. They trust him? He has a dominant personality they automatically follow? They like his pitch sequencing better? WHAT DOES IT MEAN!

by Kermit. on Oct 19, 2009 9:10 PM PDT up reply actions  

I hate Rob Johnson even more now that you made him sound like Crash Davis.

And not because I hated Crash Davis, but because I like Crash and I refuse to have Rob Johnson seem anything like him.

Say it with me: Washington Capitals. Capitals.
Preserved In All His Greatness - R.I.P. The Reignman 1989 to 1997

by JLProck on Oct 20, 2009 8:46 AM PDT up reply actions  

The fuck?

De Gutibus non disputandum est

by Bearskin Rugburn on Oct 19, 2009 10:10 AM PDT up reply actions  

Is there a negative rec button?

I’d like to do that right now.

Say it with me: Washington Capitals. Capitals.
Preserved In All His Greatness - R.I.P. The Reignman 1989 to 1997

by JLProck on Oct 19, 2009 11:43 AM PDT up reply actions  

Flag them.

2009 Safeco Field Record: 6-0 ; Overall Safeco Field Record: 10-4

by Fin on Oct 19, 2009 11:43 AM PDT up reply actions  

Isn't that more for rule infractions?

I just want a way to tell David89 that his opinion sucks donkey balls. Maybe I’ll just say “Hey David89! Your opinion sucks donkey balls!”

Say it with me: Washington Capitals. Capitals.
Preserved In All His Greatness - R.I.P. The Reignman 1989 to 1997

by JLProck on Oct 19, 2009 12:15 PM PDT up reply actions  

I would not be pleased if you did that.

You can certainly express disagreement in a more civil manner than that.

by Matthew on Oct 19, 2009 12:15 PM PDT up reply actions  

While Kenji's contract was horrible, he was the best Major League-ready catcher the team had.

I would still take Kenji at $8 million over any more Rob Johnson. I’m happy that Kenji opted out, though. Hopefully Jack finds someone to unseat Johnson.

Say it with me: Washington Capitals. Capitals.
Preserved In All His Greatness - R.I.P. The Reignman 1989 to 1997

by JLProck on Oct 19, 2009 12:20 PM PDT up reply actions  

I always liked Kenji, and I hate seeing him go because it seems like he was often ufairly treated.

at the same time any any event that puts more money in Zduriencik’s hands is a net positive. So, I;m going to shed one tear for Joh and meanwhile dream of Jack declining Wilson’s option and buying a nice shortstop for us.

De Gutibus non disputandum est

by Bearskin Rugburn on Oct 19, 2009 10:10 AM PDT reply actions  

This sucks.

I’ll miss Kenji. Was he really the best catcher in franchise? I’m questioning your statement, I just have not spent any time going through the numbers.

Also my dog loved him. Occasionally, when he was up to bat she would get right up to the television.

Racer X. You have to love those amarillo hops.

p.s. fuck you angels

by InSpokane on Oct 19, 2009 10:14 AM PDT reply actions  

His first two years

are the best two hitting years from a Mariners catcher ever. Yes, that is as sad as it sounds

Don't believe the lies Bill!!!! look at the sparkly ERA!!! Sparkly, Sparkly!!! - McCovey Chronicles

by Trenchtown on Oct 19, 2009 11:07 AM PDT up reply actions  

You can probably put the money to better use.

Take this as a blessing. There’s gotta be a guy you can pluck off the pile who’ll give you more bang for your buck than Kenji, right?

"I got my pregnant wife (the Yankee fan) with me. Hoping my kid learns to kick her everytime the Mets score." -Schifftis-

by future on Oct 19, 2009 10:18 AM PDT reply actions  

Oh my God Oh my God

On the one hand, AWESOME. On the other hand, awww. I liked Joh, and I always got the feeling he never really “fit”. I hope he finds success, or happiness (either / or) back in Japan.

by royalcurve on Oct 19, 2009 10:18 AM PDT reply actions  

Jeff Clement!!

I was at Shea for the Felix-Slam!
Personal M's record: 5-4.

by EnglishMariner on Oct 19, 2009 10:21 AM PDT via mobile reply actions   5 recs

And rec'd my good man.

I’m glad Joh’s gone…wont even shed croc tears for him. Wish he hadn’t sucked for a year and a half, but thems the breaks.

by Omerta on Oct 19, 2009 10:23 AM PDT up reply actions  

This is a Improvment for the Ms

Fell free to point out anything wrong here but the average market value is about 1win/4Million dollars. Kenji leaving us saves us 8 million and I doubt the difference between 300 Kenji ABs/300 Johnson ABs and just 600 Johnson ABs is to the order of two wins.

Provided that this allows Z to go and make a move elsewhere. Kenji leaving is great for the Ms.

by IceStormV1 on Oct 19, 2009 10:26 AM PDT reply actions  

I think it's possible to be happy that the Ms just got a lot of money back

but also feel bad for Kenji over the way he was treated here the season or so.

by BrianL on Oct 19, 2009 10:28 AM PDT up reply actions  

True, Yes

I just find the excitement of Z and the front office having an extra 8 Million this off season to be bigger then the sadness of the circumstances around Kenji’s departure.

by IceStormV1 on Oct 19, 2009 10:31 AM PDT up reply actions  

Well

The best catcher in Mariners franchise history ranks somewhere in between “the best fiscal responsibility of Mike Tyson’s life” and “the best not-getting-assassinated-ness of James Garfield’s life.”

Don't believe the lies Bill!!!! look at the sparkly ERA!!! Sparkly, Sparkly!!! - McCovey Chronicles

by Trenchtown on Oct 19, 2009 11:16 AM PDT up reply actions  

Nice

Steve Yeager ranks towards the James Garfield end of the continuum

by lemonverbena on Oct 19, 2009 11:31 AM PDT up reply actions  

I don't care what the numbers say...

Scrapiron Stinson will always be the best in my book.

Until Adam Moore’s career takes shape.

SHOW FiFi THE MONEY!!!!

by PositivePaul on Oct 19, 2009 11:38 AM PDT up reply actions  

Come now

Garfield made it thought the Civil War without stopping a bullet.
It’s more a “tallest dwarf” sort of category.

Danny Blanchflower Lives!

by Colm on Oct 19, 2009 12:14 PM PDT up reply actions  

Dan Wilson would also like eleventy bazillion dollars and a sparkly pony

“most fan beloved” doesn’t mean “best”.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Oct 19, 2009 10:42 AM PDT up reply actions  

I'm going to agree.

Kenji may have the better offensive numbers, but Dan was stellar behind the plate. He was able to hide his offensive woes with the lineups we had and was able to focus on his catching.

I know we like objective numbers around here, but I will side with Dan being the better catcher based on his defense and game calling. Kenji had his issues the first season he caught, but he did improve to become the better all-around catcher. However, he didn’t have enough years to take the overall title. Longevity does count.

by Wilder. on Oct 19, 2009 3:07 PM PDT up reply actions  

To be fair we have no way of measuring a catcher's defensive contribution.

Kenji has Dan beat in OPS by about 30 points, but Dan had his .752, .774, and .749 OPS 3-year stretch as well. I’m not sure how we would park adjust for numbers put up way back in the mid-90s…I realize the Kingdome was an easier place to hit in without a doubt, but it’s not like Dan wasn’t decent for a catcher in his prime. Plus, we know that a player can make up more the .010 difference in wOBA Kenji and Dan had in their careers. .314 for Kenji, .304 for Dan.

Honestly, I probably side with Kenji here too. Just playing Devil’s advocate. We have no real way of knowing if Dan’s defense did or did not make up for the offensive gap, but it’s not as much of a long shot as you make it seem.

And once again, for the record, I’d take Kenji too. There are still two not totally invalid sides to this argument.

Yesterday's Pants
A blog-thingy about the Mariners and stuff.

by BrettJMiller on Oct 19, 2009 9:37 PM PDT up reply actions   1 recs

It's a ridiculously long shot

Dan Wilson had a comparable but worse peak if you don’t bother compensating for park, and if you do it’s not close. He then proceeded to really suck for quite a long time.

I have a way of knowing if Dan’s defence made up for the offensive gap because there’s frankly no way in hell that it did if one doesn’t take Johjima as being Victor Martinez behind the plate. You make think there’s an argument here, but that doesn’t stop you being wrong.

by Graham MacAree on Oct 20, 2009 7:53 AM PDT up reply actions  

I love Johjima.

actually, I do.

He came over as a veteran catcher, with metal plates in his catching hand, and a good 20-years of ingrained habits … setting up, to moving around the plate, interacting with pitchers and umpires in a certain way … and he tried to change, he tried to do everything he was asked to do. He worked with Roger Hansen (and every other ex-catcher in the organization), he worked on his English, he wrote voluminous notes about the hitters and pitchers around the league, he apparently reined in his natural aggressiveness behind the plate, and for a while he actually hit, as well ..

At the start of this year he made the mistake of caving to Japanese pressure to play in the WBC, which put him behind with the new staff & pitchers, and then when he was back, Rob had the opportunity to play once a week, and spend the rest of the time talking to every pitcher for hours, making them all feel very special, and when Joh got hurt, and Rob took over, there was the perception in place that Rob had the magic CERA touch.

Wonder what would have happened had he come over as a younger man, had he allowed his emotions to show more in the beginning the way they sometimes did towards the end (reportedly he was a very demonstrative catcher in Japan), had his command of the language been greater from the start ….

by msb on Oct 19, 2009 10:40 AM PDT reply actions   2 recs

Ah, I love Kenji. :(

But hooray! This is pretty awesome for the Mariners. And I’m happy for him that he can go home and still make a living while being more comfortable and close to his family.

by Teej on Oct 19, 2009 10:47 AM PDT reply actions  

I always liked Kenji

And now I know why!

Seriously though, best of luck to him. And we all truly do appreciate his first few seasons. On a sidenote, we really need to find a decent damned catcher one of these days and keep him around for a while. But this is really, really good for the organization.

by cwel87 on Oct 19, 2009 10:50 AM PDT reply actions  

Fair point

Just sucks the M’s have been around for 32 years and haven’t had any sustained success from that position for, well, the entirety of their existence.

by cwel87 on Oct 19, 2009 10:51 AM PDT up reply actions  

Yup.

Contrary to popular belief, Mauers aren’t found every draft.

by msb on Oct 19, 2009 10:52 AM PDT up reply actions  

But we got Steve Baron!

Too close for missles, switching to guns.

by Paseman on Oct 19, 2009 11:03 AM PDT up reply actions  

This is good for the team

That said, I will definitely miss having Kenji around. Like you said, Graham, I will miss the wacky red glove and the power-swing and corresponding bat flip when it connected. Godspeed, Mr. Johjima. I will forever remain curious as to why you bucked convention and drove around in a blacked-out and lifted Hummer H2

I want to poop at your house - Thingray

by tootthekazoo on Oct 19, 2009 11:00 AM PDT reply actions  

Really? He drove a Hummer like that?

Say it with me: Washington Capitals. Capitals.
Preserved In All His Greatness - R.I.P. The Reignman 1989 to 1997

by JLProck on Oct 19, 2009 12:02 PM PDT up reply actions  

I'll choose to view this as neither a net gain nor a net loss

and simply sit back and trust that Z knows what to do. And I like being able to talk about faith in the GM with sincerity.

by Torrid on Oct 19, 2009 11:11 AM PDT reply actions  

:(

Still, the extra money’s nice.

Fuck Anaheim.

by Eyeball Kid on Oct 19, 2009 11:16 AM PDT reply actions  

This is really great news

I liked kenji, but that contract was just stupid. Hooray for good news

I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me.

by wadswerth on Oct 19, 2009 11:18 AM PDT reply actions  

How lucky

Linda's in the cold ground, won't see her anymore
Somewhere out on the highway tonight, the drunken engines roar
It's just one of those things, one of those things
-- Al Stewart, "Accident on 3rd St."
In memory of Nick Adenhart and all victims of drunk driving

by PaulThomas on Oct 19, 2009 11:19 AM PDT reply actions  

This makes me sad

What an honorable thing to do. I’ll always respect you, Mr. Johjima

Determined, Jonesing Commentor | Proud proprietor of Wyomingroutes.org & Washingtonhighways.org

by Corco on Oct 19, 2009 11:28 AM PDT reply actions  

Kenji is sailing back to Japan

And if you receive a 10 million dollar buy-out (pure speculation on the amount,) and you want to buy a guitar shaped motor boat, who is going to stop you?

Don't believe the lies Bill!!!! look at the sparkly ERA!!! Sparkly, Sparkly!!! - McCovey Chronicles

by Trenchtown on Oct 19, 2009 11:36 AM PDT up reply actions  

I don't know but,

Barring any ridiculous circumstances I would approve of this

Don't believe the lies Bill!!!! look at the sparkly ERA!!! Sparkly, Sparkly!!! - McCovey Chronicles

by Trenchtown on Oct 19, 2009 11:34 AM PDT up reply actions  

An odd contract from the get-go

Team gives player contract extension worth >$20M(?) for no apparent reason; player opts-out of additional $16M in income for limited reason.

I’m guessing money is getting moved under the table (or something else of value).

by BFR on Oct 19, 2009 11:57 AM PDT up reply actions  

I hadn't thought about it

but his son is of an age to be starting school, which would mean the family stays back in Japan.

by msb on Oct 19, 2009 11:47 AM PDT reply actions  

Now that you have mentioned it, I'd like to think that this is the reason he's leaving

Instead of him having the realization that he’s playing backup to Rob Johnson.

by IceStormV1 on Oct 19, 2009 11:49 AM PDT up reply actions  

So Kenji basically played at a 2-win pace this year.

Which is not counting his defense, which seemed to be above average. That sounds like a pretty good catcher to me. I hope he’s appreciated more by fans and coaches wherever he ends up.

by Manzanillos Cup on Oct 19, 2009 12:07 PM PDT reply actions  

For all those who think there isn't money changing hands in this deal here:

Come on. Be realistic. Kenji’s definitely getting a little something off-the-books from Yamauichi or persons close to that part of the ownership. I don’t have to have any inside knowledge to know that this is far and away the most likely scenario, and that it’s furthermore consistent with Jack Z. claiming there was no buyout. (If it were to ever come to light it would merely be characterized as something else, a “gift” perhaps.)

Jigsaw falling into place

by esoteric on Oct 19, 2009 12:19 PM PDT reply actions  

It's possible

But he’s also going to get paid a lot to play in Japan and he’ll get to start and be close to his family, so it’s not that unreasonable that that would be enough motivation.

by OlSalty on Oct 19, 2009 12:23 PM PDT up reply actions  

Even so

Would still seem more plausible than not that someone’s agreed to make up the difference.

by BFR on Oct 19, 2009 12:33 PM PDT up reply actions  

While that may be true, the Ms are still gonna come away with extra money

and since our pitching staff and coaching staff have decided that were gonna be riding the ‘Rob Johnson, Professional catcher’ Train next year. We might as well put Joh’s Salary into improving the other holes we have like DH/SS/3B/ect.

by IceStormV1 on Oct 19, 2009 12:27 PM PDT up reply actions  

How do you know?

I don’t have to have any inside knowledge to know that this is far and away the most likely scenario

If you don’t have knowledge, by definition you don’t know.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Oct 19, 2009 12:35 PM PDT up reply actions   3 recs

Pardon my imprecision, but colloquially speaking my point was perfectly clear.

Let’s not be nitpicky here, although yes technically you got me.

Jigsaw falling into place

by esoteric on Oct 19, 2009 2:31 PM PDT up reply actions  

I would disagree that there is enough information available to you to make such a conclusion reasonable.

It is fine to say that you think that it is the most likely scenario, but what pdb pointed out is far from nitpicky.

by Aaron Campeau on Oct 19, 2009 3:04 PM PDT up reply actions  

You admitted you had no basis for knowing what you then said you "definitely" knew

I don’t think that’s being nitpicky. I think it’s pointing out how silly it is to make statements like that. Especially on a site that prides itself on its analytic/evidence-based slant.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Oct 19, 2009 3:20 PM PDT up reply actions  

Awww..

I just hope that Rob’s surgeries make it so he has to be released. I can imagine that he’s really happy about this, that smug grin on his fat face…god I hate him…

A Mariners fan in Seattle

by Coach Owens on Oct 19, 2009 12:30 PM PDT reply actions   1 recs

This is unbelievable.

Finally he has more time to camp out under that bus.

...and now I'm here

by CapSea on Oct 19, 2009 12:39 PM PDT reply actions  

Apparently

last friday they were running articles in Japan about the likelihood of Joh’s return

by msb on Oct 19, 2009 12:47 PM PDT reply actions  

Jamie Burke!

I was at Shea for the Felix-Slam!
Personal M's record: 5-4.

by EnglishMariner on Oct 19, 2009 3:12 PM PDT up reply actions  

We re-signed Guillermo Quiroz.

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/

by JY on Oct 19, 2009 3:22 PM PDT up reply actions  

Wowzers!!

I’m going to miss him.

by ThundaPC on Oct 19, 2009 5:31 PM PDT via mobile reply actions  

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

By reading a game thread of your own volition you agree to accept all liability for any and all damage done to your delicate sensibilities.

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recommended FanPosts

Moar_bacon_small
Everything I Know About Jesus Montero

Recent FanPosts

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >


Sexy People

Wbc_029_small Jeff Sullivan

Small Matthew