Kawakami arrives at Braves camp — and why is he here? (updated)
Kenshin Kawakami was back at Camp Braves Wednesday -- for some inexplicable reason.
(UPDATED: 11:40 a.m. with comments from general manager Frank Wren.)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — More than two weeks after pitchers and catchers reported to spring training, Kenshin Kawakami – along with a translator and about 10 trailing members of the Japanese media — finally made it into Braves camp Wednesday.
Question: Why?
Given Kawakami’s extended absence and the fact he’s coming back to a team that clearly doesn’t want him, he deserves some credit for spinning this one-liner: “It feels like I was in elementary school, I was sick the whole time and then I came back.”
But he shouldn’t be here. That’s less a knock on Kawakami than it is the Braves. They created an unnecessary distraction by bringing the pitcher to their camp after taking him off their 40-man roster in November and spending the entire offseason trying to trade him.
The belief is that Braves general manager Frank Wren was hoping Kawakami would either sign back with a Japanese team (which didn’t interest the pitcher) or he could entice another team into picking up a significant chunk (maybe half) of the remaining $6.67 million on his contract. Neither has occurred. That means Wren now has to wait for Kawakami to get in shape, pitch some games and impress other teams, assuming other teams have a need created by injuries or other pitchers fizzling.
In the meantime, the Braves have a relatively high-profile player in camp who logically will not be on the team this season. Is this really worth it?
When asked about the situation, Kawakami, always pleasant and polite, responded through a translator: “There’s not much I can do about that. It’s about this year. Honestly, I did have some doubts [I would be back].”
Does he feel it’s only a matter of time before he’s traded?
“With other teams, that’s not even in my mind right now. Since I’m here with the team I have to try to prove myself. … It [the future] is something I am a little worried about. But I just need to pitch my best.”
Wren said he’s not concerned about any distraction issues because Kawakami doesn’t draw attention to himself. He likened the situation to last year, when the team attempted to trade Derek Lowe. “If there’s any disruption, it’s between K.K. and the club, not K.K. and his teammates, just like there was no problem between Derek Lowe and his teammates last year [after the team attempted to deal Lowe.”
As for Kawakami’s future, he acknowledged that the Braves have pitching depth and, “It may mean we trade him, but we haven’t found the right match yet.”
Kawakami signed a three-year, $23 million contract in 2009. He has a record of 8-22 and a 4.32 ERA to show for it. He lost his first nine decisions last season before beating the Detroit Tigers (one earned run in seven innings) but was sent to the bullpen, then to Gwinnett. Nobody expected he would be back with the Braves this season.
Kawakami admitted family members, most notably his mother, tried to talk him out of coming back. But he said his friends told him to return “and prove what you’re able to be.”
When asked if he felt this was an “unfair” situation, he responded: “I just didn’t have it last year. I don’t think it’s unfair at all. I feel it’s a new year and I don’t want to look back at last year. Just in general I wasn’t able to give quality starts and quality pitching for my team.”
When Kawakami walked into the dugout, he was given an ovation from his teammates. When someone yelled speech, he responded, “No speech.” In the clubhouse, he was greeted by Lowe, who later joked: “We had to send Brett Favre to go get him.”
Kawakami isn’t on the Favre level of distractions. But it could’ve been avoided.
By Jeff Schultz
♦
Last few posts from Braves’ camp
– Braves need McLouth or Schafer to end looniness in center
– ESPN’s Buster Olney: Braves may beat out Phillies in East
– Braves’ Lee Elia knows hitting (and what not to say anymore)
– Chipper Jones gets hit in return and takes a swing at critics
♦
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145 comments Add your comment
Iceman
March 2nd, 2011
2:20 pm
Get him the hell away from there!
Matt
March 2nd, 2011
2:24 pm
The difference between Lowe and KK is that Lowe has a WS ring and a WS MVP. They overpaid for Lowe as well but he’s at least proven he can be really good at the ML level. He is popular over there because not many Japanese players come to MLB. Bruce Chen is a celebrity and he’s not worth a crap!!!’
You obviously didn’t see many of KK’s games last year and the grapefruits he was throwing up there. Mike Minor is a LH rookie, not even close to comparable.
Matt
March 2nd, 2011
2:29 pm
Hanshin tigers- so is Ryan Rowland Smith; what’s your point??
Stanley Crowe
March 2nd, 2011
2:30 pm
I think that “south georgia braves” has it right — KK is in the same boat as McLouth. Neither is making excuses — they’re behaving admirably and profesionally — and (I believe) both can be effective this year. If KK is effective and stays, all the better for the Braves. If he’s effective, gets traded, and continues to prosper, good for him. Let’s hope he’s not the guy who ends up kicking our ass in Game 7 of the World Series!
Too tough
March 2nd, 2011
2:36 pm
I agree, KK had absolutely NO run support last year! He a a few really bad games, but in fairness, he lost some close games, no runs suport, Maybe now that Bobby Cox is not mgr. Freddie G. will know WHEN to pull his pitcher, and when to to pull a batter that has struck out 87 times in a row, and pinch hit……Go Braves…and just what if KK, has a decent season, Ya know, Maddux got in the no run support funk a time or two….yall remember!?
Dr. Warren
March 2nd, 2011
2:48 pm
Sort of reminds me of when Larry David returned to a Saturday Night Live writing job the day after he quite and acted like nothing had happened.
David Reed
March 2nd, 2011
2:49 pm
I think that the Braves starting rotation will look like this: 1st Derek Lowe, 2nd Jair Jurrjens, 3rd Tommy Hanson, 4th Tim Hudson, 5th Mike Minor. Also, I believe that the Braves will probably trade KK, maybe Nate M. as well before this years trade deadline.
Mitchell
March 2nd, 2011
2:50 pm
He beat Roy Halladay.
That’s all I have to say. There are worse pitchers in the game than he.
Probably not the best signing Frank Wren will ever make but if we look back at some of the pitchers both in the starting rotation and bullpen over the last five years, he’s Greg Maddux compared to some of them.
Mark Redman, Chuck James, Anthony Larew, JoJo Reyes, Jeff Bennett, Lance Cormier, Chris Reitsma… I mean, are you kidding me?
He got no run support. I appreciate what he contributed, or attempted to contribute.
If the 2009 Braves had made the playoffs they would have eaten up the Dodgers and Cardinals. They would have wanted no part of us and I would have been very confident with him in the bullpen if it had come to fruition. But obviously it didn’t.
Thanks Bobby.
I like our rotation this year but Jurrjens, Vazquez and Tommy Hanson especially in the second half of ‘09 with Kawakami playing the role of the dragon slayer, which is only fitting given his Japanese heritage because as we all know, Japan has a serious dragon problem…
That was a very underrated staff right there.
Anyway, so long KK.
Matt
March 2nd, 2011
2:51 pm
Now we are comparing Maddux to KK?!?!?!? Please. Smoltz would’ve won a CY young that year the bullpen blew like 7 of his wins. Hanson might’ve won 20 games last year if he had some run support. Gimmie a freaking break people. KK is garbage.
Mitchell
March 2nd, 2011
2:51 pm
Dr. Warren
March 2nd, 2011
2:48 pm
Sort of reminds me of when Larry David returned to a Saturday Night Live writing job the day after he quite and acted like nothing had happened.
Good call.
Coach13
March 2nd, 2011
2:53 pm
David, no way Hudson is our 4th starter. Hudson, Hanson, JJ, Lowe would get my vote but who knows.
Matt
March 2nd, 2011
2:54 pm
Finding players worse than you doesn’t make you better. It only proves there are less deserving people than you.
Braves' Prado sees success lead to problems in Venezuela | Jeff Schultz
March 2nd, 2011
3:00 pm
[...] – Kawakami arrives at Braves camp — and why is he here? [...]
Mitchell
March 2nd, 2011
3:06 pm
Where did I compare Greg Maddux to Kawakami?
I likened KK’s ability to Maddux relative to some of the truly awful pitchers that have put on a Braves uniform over the last five years.
I’m not saying KK isn’t garbage. I’m just saying, get a little perspective.
It was basically an experiment by Wren. Be the first guy to sign a Japanese born player, try to add a little diversity. But it’s not like he didn’t have his reasons to believe the guy could contribute.
I definitely lost it with KK last year but if I’m not mistaken he had the overall lowest run support of any pitcher in the majors. I mean, did he really deserve to go 1-10?
Bobby certainly didn’t do him any favors by letting it get to that point, often putting out weak line-ups for him.
To reiterate, only one pitcher on this team has beaten Roy Halladay… like ever as far as I can remember.
His name? KK. Just trying to give credit where credit is due.
Not to mention outdueling his countryman Dice-K in Boston and the similarly over-hyped Johan Santana.
Twice if I’m not mistaken.
But to recap, I’m pretty sure I didn’t say his ability or achievements are comparable to Greg Maddux.
So chill baby.
4williec
March 2nd, 2011
3:16 pm
Oh yeah…right…”KK is garbage”….and Obama is a great president. Just damn….
Actually Watched The Games
March 2nd, 2011
3:22 pm
He lost his first 9 decisions, but virtually all of those were due to K.K. getting absolutely no run support, or relievers blowing it. Dude pitched great the first half of last year. Easily could have been 8-1, or 7-2 through those first 9 games. Definitely deserves a shot to make the team again. Wouldn’t be surprised if he makes it.
Darryl Blackberry
March 2nd, 2011
3:24 pm
It’s obviously not a distraction for the team, who have their own business to conduct. Give the guy a chance to pitch in this environment; if he does well, he can more easily be traded. If not, he’ll languish in the minors until he finally swallows his pride and decides to return to Japan. Win-win.
Justafan
March 2nd, 2011
3:32 pm
KK has every right to be in camp…If he pitches great then put him back on rooster are trade him. If Wren don’t want him then cut him are trade him………KK has been a man about the mess never blaming Braves. He deserves some respect. Glad the players welcomed him back.That shows class!!!!!
O-me
March 2nd, 2011
3:34 pm
Agree, I watched games also and he never got run support. Get him some runs, Please.
AB
March 2nd, 2011
4:16 pm
It’s only going to be a distraction if you guys ( the media) write about it all the time and constantly bring it up. It really is not that big of a story and most people don’t really care about it, so just let what happens happen and move on
ahahhahha
March 2nd, 2011
4:20 pm
Atlanta…Imagine if we could buy alcohol on Sunday
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TOM_UuQzc0
Buckeye Brave
March 2nd, 2011
4:25 pm
Why is Kawakami in camp? Are you serious with that question? Do you even follow baseball? How can the Braves move him if they don’t let other teams see him face MLB competition? If Kawakami does not pitch the Braves eat the rest of his contract. Is that too complicated for you to understand?
Trey
March 2nd, 2011
4:40 pm
“Kawakami had no run support”
That’s bull. I have seen games where the Braves scored four or five runs and Kawakami let the lead go. He is worthless. Great attitude, but worthless as pitcher. You have to be expected to win games every now and then with very little run support.
stinkie
March 2nd, 2011
4:42 pm
where was jeff schittzing in 2008 when Thomasina Glavine was posting a 5.50+ era in 63 innings for 8 MILLION Dollas. Had the BRAVES shown a little more patience with kk, they might have gotten a bit more for their money over the last two years. as it is, he still manned up more than Glavine. JS is trying to turkey shoot in an uncomely manner…
O-me
March 2nd, 2011
4:44 pm
Trey, also games where he had lead when removed and they lost…..
bvillebaron
March 2nd, 2011
4:44 pm
Buckeye Brave:
I couldn’t have said it any better myself. I assume that the questions posed in the last sentence of your post was intended to be rhetorical.
Trey
March 2nd, 2011
4:46 pm
O-me, that does tend to happen.
bravesfan123
March 2nd, 2011
4:47 pm
Jeff Schultz,
Every time I read an article written by you, I regret it. You continuously bash players and stir up unnecessary problems. “Why is he here?” Umm maybe, just maybe, it’s because he’s on the Braves? I could be wrong though, I should research this. Hey, you should try researching too so you can present us with some content that you didn’t pull out of your butt!
stinkie
March 2nd, 2011
4:53 pm
obviously jeff will remove my comment so as not to have to reply to it as has one of his compatriots. but think about it, mightn’t kk have eaten a few more inning over the last two years and conserved the bullpen some intansesamel amount.
high heat
March 2nd, 2011
4:53 pm
Schultz,
Your job is the only one in jeopardy
Sincerely,
Everyone in Atlanta
tomahawknation
March 2nd, 2011
4:57 pm
http://www.tomahawk-nation.com/showthread.php?38-What-Will-Happen-to-Kenshin-Kawakami&p=143#post143
Trey
March 2nd, 2011
5:00 pm
So, why do those who continue to bash Schultz even read his article? Is it really necessary to read an article if you dislike the writer, just so you can bash him?
stinkie
March 2nd, 2011
5:02 pm
Trey, Its the subject
Idaho Brave
March 2nd, 2011
5:03 pm
I appreciate KK’s attitude and professionalism. For his sake, I hope he is in shape and able to compete. While I agree with others that he has had some bad luck, there is a reason (other than just his salary for this year) that other teams have not traded for him. The scouts are seeing something. But, again, I love his humble team first attitude.
stinkie
March 2nd, 2011
5:04 pm
Not the commenter
Trey
March 2nd, 2011
5:05 pm
stinkie, but if you don’t like Schultz then just don’t read the article. I really see no reason to read something if it will anger me.
thunderbull56
March 2nd, 2011
5:34 pm
Ah say, Ah say son,he ain’t no chicken hawk,but he deserves a better fate than the Atlanta Braves Baseball Team has dealt him.’Ell,so does Hanson and JJ for that matter.All pitch and no hit.Pray that FG has a better feel for the lineup and we inherit some semblenace of a clutch hitter in all our proverbial/potential/soon to be breakout batting order.
Reality Bites
March 2nd, 2011
5:37 pm
Sushi and set-up man…..get him into shape….go go go!
Can never have too many late inning relievers.
stinkie
March 2nd, 2011
6:12 pm
Trey, been a braves fan a long time. longer than shcultsziey hav been wronging about them.
stinkie
March 2nd, 2011
6:13 pm
Schultzieie is not bad huumaan. Just reaaly dumm.
DC Braves Fan
March 2nd, 2011
10:04 pm
The guy has been perfectly alright on average over the last 2 years. If you could guarantee Mike Minor or Beachy would give you a 3.86 ERA in 156 innings and a no-kidding stare down / shut down win against Roy freaking Halladay this year as KK did in 09 you would take it every day of the week and twice on Sunday.
Not sure I think KK should have been 8 – 1 or 7 – 2 last year–as some have suggested–if he had gotten run support, but he wasnt your typical 0-9 pitcher, either. The guy just lost all of his confidence and all of his pitches were straight and slow. If Bobby Cox gives up on you, then you just dont have it.
Anyway, new year. Give him a shot. The money is spent. Worst thing is that he cant find it and he gets $6.67 million to watch baseball for a year. Best thing, he finds that 09 form and is a solid back end of the rotation starter.
Most likely is that he shows enough to get traded to an AL team (or the Cardinals) willing to give up a utility infielder or low minor leaguer and pick up $1 – 2 million in salary. That would be a victory for the Braves and give the Liberty Media CEO a chance to reinvest that money into his new yacht. So, win-win, I guess.
Gil In Mechanicsville
March 2nd, 2011
11:48 pm
If I were getting paid $6.8 million to do anything, worrying about what someone else thought about me would be the last thing on my mind. I have seen KK pitch twice live, once great, the other awful. The difference was the tempo. If you see him walk around the mound and wait for the grass to grow between pitches, then the pain will be excruciating. If he gets the ball, looks in for the sign and throws, it will be a gem… So, why doesn’t someone else see this?
Scrub MLB pitcher has earned $2.8 mil per win | Ben Maller
March 3rd, 2011
9:16 am
[...] has earned for $2,875,000 for each win he’s picked up since signing with Atlanta. The ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION reports that Kawakami has been horrible since signing a 3-year, $23 million contract in 2009. [...]
TOMA HAWK
March 3rd, 2011
8:37 pm
Trey,
We read the articles because we enjoy information about the Braves. I’m not saying that ALL of Schultz’s articles are garbage. Just 95% of them are. I’m waiting for Derek Lowe’s bashing article or is he too much of an ace to get picked on? Lowe has been paid 15 mil/yr to post a 4.00+ ERA with the Braves and Kawakami gets ripped to shreds for posting a 4.32 ERA for half the price. I find it truly amazing seeing how many times they bring up Kawakami’s W-L record to indicate how “bad” he was. And what do they do? Let Kawakami ride the pine for the rest of 2010 and follow up with announcing Lowe as the 2011 opening day starter. Makes sense right?
Coach (2011 and Fredi G. a GO!)
March 3rd, 2011
11:19 pm
Jeff Schultz
Kawakami arrives at Braves camp — and why is he here?
Because Frank Wren can’t find another GM as dumb as he is too pick up Kawakami’s 6.7 million dollar tab.