Jojima expresses gratitude to Mariners, but admits frustration

Thursday 22nd October, 03:25 PM JST

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nigelboy at 10:56 PM JST - 23rd October

He does not study and understand the MLB hitters well and rarely calls the good games for the pitchers.

I'm sort in agreement with mrmiyagi that Johjima studied MLB hitters too much but the main problem that I saw was his lack of communication with the starting pitchers. The popular phrase often used were that Mariners starting pitchers were not "in sync" with Johjima in regards to pitch selection and was the primary reason why Reed Johnson started over him.

WBC was a totally different atmosphere for Johjima in that being the "Senpai", the young Japanese pitchers (Iwakuma, Matsuzaka) almost never shook off Johjima's pitch selection. His game calling especially against the power hitting Cubans was almost perfect. (18 scoreless innings)
mygrain at 11:42 PM JST - 23rd October

Sorry fellas but it’s more simplistic than,

“I would say that he over-studied MLB hitters... he probably studied them more than any catcher in the game; his little "blackbook" is well-known”

The fact of the matter is, any coach or manager can take over the pitch calling duties… it’s not so uncommon and maybe should have been considered for Jojima. However, he was not brought on board to merely be a catcher, it was his bat the Mariners were more interested in. And in that arena the guy has been a bust. His numbers dropped dramatically after the first year and bottomed out by year three. This past season was gut check time and he failed to impress. Welcome to the short life span of a pro athlete in America.
sfjp330 at 03:22 AM JST - 24th October

his other problem was the cultural differences of being a catcher..

When you get paid top money of $8 million a year, you have no excuses with communication skills with pitchers and teamates. You better know it. "Cultural differences?" This is excuse and a Joke. Look at catchers from different countries in MLB. Molina of St. Louis, Posada of Yankees, Molina of Giants, they perform well in all levels. "Overstudied" MLB hitters? Overstudied and never learned. He is a dumb guy that marginally understood philosophy of MLB pitchers and hitters. Why do think Seattle didn't want him? He needs to go back to Japan for minor league baseball.
nigelboy at 04:11 AM JST - 24th October

He is a dumb guy that marginally understood philosophy of MLB pitchers and hitters.

This is a quote from J.J. Putz about Johjima.

"No catcher in the major leagues is more prepared," Mariners closer J.J. Putz said. "He knows the hitters inside and out. He knows his pitchers. And I think once guys establish communication and keep an open dialogue with him, the better they are."

And as others have pointed out, communication was the problem. (Not that it's an excuse).

Why do think Seattle didn't want him?

Seattle did want him, hence the contract. It was Johjima who optioned out of the contract.
sfjp330 at 04:53 AM JST - 24th October

This is a quote from J.J. Putz about Johjima. "No catcher in the major leagues is more prepared," Mariners closer J.J. Putz said. "He knows the hitters inside and out. He knows his pitchers. And I think once guys establish communication and keep an open dialogue with him, the better they are."

What are you talking about J.J. Putz of the Mets? He didn't even play for the Mariners in '09. How does he know how the season went this year not being on the same team? Seattle's veteran starters complained about how Johjima handled the game. And when Johjima wasn't injured this year, the Mariners chose Johnson's leading of the pitching staff. By the end of the season, Johjima only played when Seattle's newest and youngest pitchers started. Heck, Bavasi could not trade Johjima with his fat contract. Would you want to build team around this marginal catcher?

You talk about communication which is garbage, the Latin catchers do not have a same problem. It's a problem of Johjima.
nigelboy at 05:45 AM JST - 24th October

sfjp330

What are you on, sfjp330? You stated that "He(Johjima) is a dumb guy that marginally understood philosophy of MLB pitchers and hitters".

I countered with a quote from J.J. Putz stating "He(Johjima) KNOWS the hitters inside and out. He KNOWS his pitchers". READ and Concentrate!!!

Unless Johjima is suffering from Alzheimers, you just don't become a "dumb" guy.

Seattle's veteran starters complained about how Johjima handled the game. And when Johjima wasn't injured this year, the Mariners chose Johnson's leading of the pitching staff. By the end of the season, Johjima only played when Seattle's newest and youngest pitchers started.

Again, read my comment at 10:56 which is

"The popular phrase often used were that Mariners starting pitchers were not "in sync" with Johjima in regards to pitch selection and was the primary reason why Reed(should be Rob) Johnson started over him."

"Not In sync" or your "Seattle's veteran starters complained about how Johjima handled the game", it's all under the "communication problem"

Heck, Bavasi could not trade Johjima with his fat contract. Would you want to build team around this marginal catcher?

I think NOBODY here is debating that. But the fact is, when the Mariners offered a 3 year $24 mil, they did want Johjima. That's the point. Was there a time the M's brass had second thoughts about giving him that contract? Of course!! I could come up with HUNDREDS and HUNDREDS of players who aren't living up to their contracts. But how many of those are willing to give up their high GUARANTEED $$?
sfjp330 at 07:53 AM JST - 24th October

Here is a quote from Jarred Washburn as completely opposite of Putz opinion.

Asked about some apparent situations during his start Saturday when he and catcher Kenji Johjima weren’t in concert, Washburn didn’t deny it. “There’s times when you’re not always on the same page,” he said. “It happens.” Washburn was asked if there was any more of it than normal. “With Kenji? No,” he said. “Read into that what you want.” Washburn has made prior reference to some difficulty working with Johjima. On Saturday, he appeared to bark at his catcher after one White Sox at-bat. “It’s a work in progress,” said Washburn. “When he comes over from Japan, you know there are going to be communications issues with the language barrier, and him learning an entirely different league and a whole new pitching staff. And also, he has to learn the umpires and opposing pitchers. He’s got a lot to handle. I would never want to have to do what he’s doing. He’s got a tough job, a lot of hurdles.” As for whether it’s more complicated than merely different pitch preferences in particular situations, Washburn said: “I don’t know how exactly to word it. It’s more like a consistency issue, I guess. Sometimes you click and sometimes you don’t.”
cracaphat at 12:27 PM JST - 24th October

If Johjima had English,it probably woulda helped.
Blue_Tiger at 07:43 PM JST - 24th October

I lost all respect for Jojima after he threw his bat down and got tossed out of one of the WBC Games after a called third strike. This little episode comes as no surprise. He couldn't hack it at Seattle and in the States, pulls some lame exucse for coming back, and leaves "taking his ball and going home" despite his contract. Loser. Whichever team here in Japan he signs with, I wil not be a fan...
eresay at 10:58 PM JST - 24th October

Look at the numbers over the past two years people! You'll see nothing more than a backup catcher. He doesn't even have the defence to back up poor numbers. What are we debating here? Sure, his numbers in Japan will probably be better because of the inferior pitching but I don't get the raging debate over what is an extremely ordinary player.
nigelboy at 11:13 PM JST - 26th October

sfjp330

"you’re not always on the same page" "Sometimes you click and sometimes you don’t.”=communication problem.

What is your problem? Being "dumb" as you claimed and having communication problems are two different issues. Would you call Jorge Posada "dumb" because he can't communicate with A.J. Burnett which resulted Posada being benched over Molina on his start?
sfjp330 at 02:45 AM JST - 27th October

you’re not always on the same page" "Sometimes you click and sometimes you don’t.”=communication problem.

Nigelboy: Who are you talking about, yourself? Quit contradicting yourself. You say Putz does not have problem and says nice thing to Jojhima at same time you're saying their starting pitching staff response is that "is not in sync" with Jojhima. What are you saying?
sfjp330 at 03:27 AM JST - 27th October

Just for reference: 6/25/09.

Johjima: ERA=4.89, CS%=40.9, WP+PB/G=.303, TE=1, FE=0 Johnson: ERA=2.84, CS%=28.6, WP+PB/G=.603, TE=2, FE=1
nigelboy at 06:26 AM JST - 27th October

Johjima: ERA=4.89, CS%=40.9, WP+PB/G=.303, TE=1, FE=0 Johnson: ERA=2.84, CS%=28.6, WP+PB/G=.603, TE=2, FE=1

Oh Wow!

Straight from the blogsphere.

Then, if I may.

RS (Ryan Rolan-Smith): You know, I learned a lot from Kenji. I think he was misunderstood.

The media and fan reaction was delight in seeing Joh go. They felt Johnson was the better catcher because of his CERA.

RS: How else would it be? That's like comparing Felix's ERA with the other pitchers'. Of course, Johnson's would be lower if he catches the better pitchers.

The reporter said McP often brought that up to the media corp in support of Joh but most of the media had their agenda and didn't pay any attention.

RS did not mention any names in particular but he did not deny that Joh just didn't get along with some of the pitchers.

RS: I often heard complaints about why he would call for certain pitches. I thought that was ridiculous complaint since the pitcher has the final say on what pitch to throw. I think they just used him as a scapegoat. I suppose they could always use "language barrier" or "lack of communication" as excuses. I think they just blamed their own poor performances on Joh.

RS: Joh helped me in many ways. He knew me well--when I was going well or poorly. He would tell me if I am opening up my shoulder too early or if my arm was dropping too low. He was a catcher that really knew the pitcher well.

RS: Kenji also taught me a lot about pitching fundamentals. He would tell how important it was to get a strike with the first pitch. I used to think, what's the difference. I could get a strike on the second pitch if I miss the first. But it's not the same whether you get the strike first and go 1-1 or the other way around. He would teach me things like that during the game and at the pre-game meetings.

RS: He also helped me with his arm. If I use a quick step, a runner would not even try to steal knowing about Joh's arm. Even when I forget and use the high kick sometimes, Joh would bail me out with his throws. It's not just that you get a bonus out but it can change the flow of the game. The situation would be totally different if it went the other way. His arm used to save a lot of pitchers that way....

And the best you could come up with is CERA. For your reference, Posada's CERA was 5.05 in 2009. Does that make him "dumb" now? Does that also make Jason Kendall, a 14 year vet "dumb" since he has a CERA of 4.91?

Another from the blogsphere

"And Johnson caught Felix, Bedard, and the good version of Washburn while Joh was stuck with Silva, Fister, Jak, Olson, Vargas, etc"

which along with Ryan Roland Smith alluded to, is a meaningless stat.
Junnama at 11:59 AM JST - 28th October

It's also possible that Felix, Bedard and Washburn weren't comfortable with Johjima so management gave in and let Johnson catch them.

As an aside that 40% caught stealing is really good.