Where Eagles Dare A Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles Fansite

2010 Season Preview, Part 3

My 2010 Season Preview has been broken down into five parts:

1. Who's Staying/Who's Out/Who's In
2. My Batting Lineup
3. Pitching Rotation
4. Bullpen
5. Biggest Questions for the Season

Today I'm going to continue my fictional managerial role and break down my starting five pitchers.  Rumour has it that Marty Brown will be using a 6-man rotation to start the season, but in my opinion Rakuten just doesn't have the horses to go six deep, especially with their middle relief problems.

On to the starting rotation.

My Starting Rotation

1. Hisashi Iwakuma (RHP): Although Ma-kun gets all the publicity with his blazing fastball, it's Iwakuma that's the rock of this young pitching staff.  Although he was held to only a 13-6 record last year, the former 21-game winner has a wealth of big game experience (starting the WBC 2009 championship game) but struggled with his control at times during the 2009 season.  Still, the 28-year-old will be counted on to provide leadership to his teammates.  Expect 13-16 wins in another steady season from the right-hander.
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2. Masahiro Tanaka (RHP): "Ma-kun", as he is affectionately known around the league, enjoyed a breakout season last year, emerging as one of the most feared pitchers in the entire league.  In just his third season, Tanaka exploded for 15 wins and a 2.33 ERA, challenging the Nippon Ham Fighters' Yu Darvish as the top arm in the Pacific League.  Leading the Rakuten staff with six complete games, huge things are expected for the youngster as he continues to grow both physically and mentally.  He also got his first taste of the postseason last fall and performed admirably with a 2-0 record coupled with a 1.00 ERA.
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3. Satoshi Nagai (RHP): Also enjoying a breakout year in 2009 was the diminutive 25-year-old Nagai.  Posting double-digit wins for the first time in his career (13), he emerged as a legitimate threat in the rotation over the second half of the season.  Reaching career-bests in all major statistical categories (wins, IP, SO, ERA) while also completing five games, Nagai may actually be the key factor in Rakuten's push for the playoffs.  If he can duplicate or even improve his 2009 numbers the Eagles will have perhaps the best 1-2-3 punch in all of the NPB.
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4. Hiromichi Fujiwara (LHP): As fellow lefty Kohei Hasabe served up homerun after homerun for the better part of the year, rookie Hiromichi Fujiwara emerged as a capable replacement from the left side in the rotation.  With a winning record (5-4) and an ERA (4.04) well under a full run less than Hasebe, it looks as though Fujiwara will get the nod as the starting left-hander in the rotation.  The 25-year-old appeared to be more mature and have better command of his pitches than Hasebe.  10 wins isn't out of the question for Fujiwara if he can build on his rookie year experience.
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5. Darrell Rasner (RHP): Rounding out my top 5 is the only American pitcher on the team.  To put it bluntly, Rasner had a terrible first year in the Japanese majors (4-7, 6.09 ERA).  He also averaged a homerun about every 6 innings pitched.  He would occasionally show his potential but was unable to sustain it for any length of time.  The Eagles are committed to Rasner through the 2010 season, so this will be his final chance to make something of himself over here in Japan.  At this point a .500 record would be welcomed from the right-hander.  If Rasner falters out of the gate again, look for him to be replaced by Koji Aoyama.

That's it for the starting five.  Look for a breakdown of the bullpen in the next few days.  Have a great weekend everyone!

Player photos © www.rakuteneagles.jp

Related posts:

1. 2010 Season Preview, Part 1
2. 2010 Season Preview, Part 2
3. 2010 Season Preview, Part 4
4. 2010 Season Preview, Part 5
5. Hiromichi Fujiwara Out For The Season

About Andrew

Andrew has lived in Japan since 2006, spending time exploring the Tohoku region. He frequently attends Rakuten Eagles games in Sendai. You'll find him sitting along the 3rd base line drinking Guinness wearing a #46 Teppei jersey, next to a Japanese girl in a #5 Seguignol jersey.          You can follow him on Twitter if that makes you happy.