Kenshin Kawakami

[asspancakes182]

dam if he could still paint like he did in japan he'd def be in the braves rotation right now

[Dunderhead36]

those jap batters have awful stances

[HadleyDGRC]

And now he is on a AA team and still doing poorly.

[42underscored]

Battousai!

[asiandude469]

hahaha look where this mothafuckas at now..in the MINORS!!!

[meatbman123]

So does every pitcher in the world

[jortrott]

sick 12-6 curve ball!!! i wish i can pitch like that!! =))

-that is too sick!! haha c(=

[jortrott]

sick 12-6 curbe balL!!! kame hame haaaa!!!! =))

--i wish i can pitch that pitch!! lol

c(=

[99LRM]

that was a sick 12-6 curve!!

[42underscored]

Battousai!!!

[AyePoLLo123]

"Km" means" mph" right? Thats how fast the balls going?

[melloanthony]

@AyePoLLo123 It's a different type of measurements of speed. Personally on the top of my head 150 km at best is 90 mph around maybe more or less

[DaBeS94]

@AyePoLLo123 km is the abbreviation for kilometer, so im guessing its kilometers per hour

[JCSCougar]

I think Kenshin hit a really bad sophmore slump. Frank Wren and Kurt Kemp will be evaluating Kenshin really close next spring training. My feeling is that batters made quick adjustments to Kenshin's finesse type of game. I think it would be great if the Braves could acquire a Japanese and English catcher for Kenshin and Saito, also future Japanese Braves.

[ScottX6945]

@JCSCougar FINALLY!!!!! Someone that understands!!! im so tired of everyone writing him off.....name me one pitcher that came from Japan...hell any pitcher for that matter gets paid a big time contract and doesn't produce!! It's Baseball....shit like this happens....he's gonna be just fine and I hope Wren keeps him for his last year...he just had a really shitty year.....some of the time is was his fault but when he was on....and was pulled, the bullpen fucked up!! he's still a great pitcher!!!!

[JCSCougar]

@ScottX6945 One pitcher I can think of on top of my head who hasn't produced for more than 1 season has to be Kei Igawa the south paw that's in Scranton Wilkes-Barre AAA. Kei was supposed to be a big time Starter as a south paw but he ended up being a whole lot worse than Kazuhisa (Kaz) Ishii.

[Ballplayer300th]

This guy suck balls! Ship his ass back to Japan! We don't need his ass over here!

[ZoomToadCraazy]

God this guy sucks! he is 0-8 so far this season. We had a good 9 game winning streak going then of course he starts and we lose. Why not...

[SamuelWinters]

Kawakami sure was "thrashed." A 3.86 ERA is very respectable. His run support was 3.22, which is absolutely pathetic. He was just shy of the 162 inning requirement to be tied with the lowest run support in the league.

[santoak47]

thats just mean :(

during the first at bats he drops a 12-6 curve ball then rings him up with the fast ball :D

[andros1984]

Some serious curves

[mirz5]

kk definitly has his moments like that game agains roy halladay and the jays.... he pitched 8 shutout innings of like three hit ball and the braves took the lead in the bottom half and ended up winning 1-0, but he has his dog days too

[daftintendo]

Dude, you need to calm down. You make the rest of us Braves fans look awful. Go root for another team, we don't need you.

[nickelbackrocks16]

Amen ....He makes Braves fans look bad.Plus he even makes himself look like a Mets fan .....Bad also.

[MahRinesColumbus]

Kawakami is a Great Pitcher (Imma Cubs Fan Tho)

Fukudome his former Chunichi Dragon Teammate Hit a Homer off of Him :)

[crappywarmoviesinc]

he outpitched daisuke matsuzaka like this week or last week. When the braves vs red sox(fucking hate red sox) Braves won 8-2

[iEatUglyNoobs]

Yay go Atlanta!

[ScottX6945]

I am finally getting the chance to see him pitch tonight against the cubs!!!!!!! GIVE EM HELL KENSHIN!!!!!!! Can't wait to see you live!!!!

[Ballplayer300th]

you went to that game!!!! wow..... UR SO LUCKY... cuz they hit the 12th inning walk off hit after the 9th inning game tying 2 run blast by francouer ; frenchy..... unless u left..

[ScottX6945]

oh trust me buddy, I stayed!!!! I regretted it the next morning but I saw that blast by frency!!!

[vbm2011]

i love the braves,this guy lookes great pitching here but why can't he do this in the games?

[Ballplayer300th]

eh... he should be 6-6 right now :/

[mirz5]

thats why these guys are in japan and dont come to the mlb

[daftintendo]

You realize that Japan has won the WBC twice now, right?

And it's happened twice...

[mirz5]

well youve got a point on which country is better, but not all mlb players are american, in fact most are foreign, and another point is why are all these kenshin kawakamis and kosuke fukodomes having cy young and mvp seasons in japan, and they come here and theyre thrash. ichiro and matzusaka are the only real mvp players in japan and in mlb also.

[EverythingPaintball5]

kawakami did great in his first american start. 8 K in 6 innings

[SCredskin08]

that 12-6 curve is devistating! looking foreward for the Braves to start another 14 year run this year.

[pooper589]

we need a bullpen though

[schley2]

Can you imagine trying to hit a 63 mph curve after seeing a 90 mph fastball? that's impossible to adjust to. even if you do hit it, its probably not going anywhere cause you'll be so off balance.

btw, anyone who said he has poor placement: watch where the glove is before the pitch and where the catcher catches it. he has amazing placement. Although, you can argue that the catcher asked for it in some pretty ridiculous places

[Fullmetal235]

Watch the catchers glove and where the ball goes. Few times in doesnt hit where the catcher wanted it.

[hollywood0124]

I look forward to seeing Kenshin pitching at turner field and maybe hopefully in the future if the braves pick up another japanese pitcher we will pick up Yu Darvish.

[doonk]

he got a nasty breaking ball im really feeling good about the braves this year and im tired of hearing about the phillies and mets

[jamesreadhunter]

check out the pitch at :30. DAMN!

[bodylover909]

Im seeing the first braves and damn im sure excited about thi year and if frency has a comeback yeAR i 100% garente we make the playoffs

[ScottX6945]

The only thing im worried about is will he be able to work within a smaller strike zone. Other than that......The Braves couldn't have picked up a more better pitcher!!

[tjenkins83]

That third one at 0:12 was Naaaaaasty.

[ehaz00]

Jesus look at the movement on the strikeout on 2:00 its kind of unfair.

[NYCFLYGUY1]

how hard he trhows?? like in mph not km

[jfox210]

the fastest i saw him throw was 145 km/hr which is just over 90 mph...1 kmph= about .62 mph. It's not his fastball that's nice, but that curve

[partylwc]

Hes good

[brianbell42]

cant wait to see this guy pitch ! nasty.

[cheeseman350]

Man I'm excited about this year. I hope we stay healthy.

[ECOOL76]

I think they got a playoff team. You are right about injuries though. Everybody got hurt last year.

[RustySpurz]

Talk about dropping off the table...woooeeeee....some nasty pitch.

[jee5678]

It looks like (from the clip) his fastball only gets up to about 90 mph, but that curve...damn. Again, from the clip, it was at about 68 mph (109 kmph). I could see a lot of ML hitters (especially in the NL) having big time problems catching up to a 90 mph heater after seeing a less than 70 mph curve.

[raybudpodner]

his curveball is sick nasty and that fastball that tails in on right handers is dirty! I'm so glad the braves got him.

[SgtTai]

So glad the Braves get him, and Tom :)

[cageC64]

I can't wait for him to be in The Show! He will be so fun to watch! Nasty off speed stuff with pinpoint command.

[QSN2006]

That my friends is a major curveball. He tops at out 90mph but, speed isn't everything. His offspeed stuff will not allow many hitters to get comfortable at the plate. It's not about blowing away hitters, it's about messing with their timing and this is what Maddux did for years.  Changing speeds and painting the corners.

[djcs1204]

For all who say his fastball is too slow..... tell that to Greg Maddux. His breaking ball will make the fastball look a whole lot faster than it really is. He is gonna be nasty in the ATL. GO BRAVES!!!!!!!

[delldude1025]

dare i say glavine-esk ability to paint corners

[swillhauck]

that hook is filthy

[nickelbackrocks16]

good pitches but that Fastball is gonna get murdered by Ryan Howard and others

[tomahawk368]

Fuck the mets, fuck the mets, fuck the mets! Cant wait to see Kawakami treat Reyes and that fuckin fag Wright like his bitches!

[SoftBank47]

Kawakami is in a pretty good place, in the NL East. The hitting will be tough, but Kawakami's cutter is godly. What may hurt him is the longer schedule and also the lack of gas on his fastball.

[nickelbackrocks16]

lol that curve ball is sick as hell lol nice

[scorpiotiger22]

he just masutsaka

[omarcholo]

go braves, mets suck, bunch of chokers, they got all the resorces in the world to build a good team (highest payroll in the national league), yet they are still 3 starting pitchers short, at least the braves got a rotation almost set

[Negro1221]

Breaking ball is nasty.

[m5goblue]

Go braves!

[poinone]

hey guess wat for the past 3 years ur braves pulled off being non contenders of anything. HAHAHAHAHAHA BRAVES FUCKING SUCK! LETS GO METS!!!!!!!!!!

[johnny21gadawg]

yea yall mets fans are talking trash about the braves being 20 games below 500, well look at this, the braves whoop your team like every game yall play so f*** off

[dprince92]

reminds me a little of Matsuzaka from the Bosox

[Ducks4President]

Go Braves!!!

[smellslikedoodoo]

he may not have the velocity on his fastball but if he can locate it then he will do fine. look at what greg maddux did, he only threw n the mid to upper 80s but he was the best pitcher of the 1990s

[braves05baseball]

How about them Braves !!! We got us a good rotation now !!! suck it mets !!!

[poinone]

braves still suck tho lmfaoooo go mets baby johan for god k rod for predisent =)

[JavyGarcia85]

HAHAHAHA, Go Braves!

[bestthinggoing459]

hey, guess what, your mets pulled of 2 of the nicest choke jobs in history the last 2 seasons. HAHAHAHAHA. METS FUCKING SUCK! GO BRAVES!

[bestthinggoing459]

How many divisional titles do you guys have in the last 20 yrs?? um...let me think...oh yeah...ONE! Yeah, we have 14 dumb ass. HAHAHAHAHA. And tell me this, who's got derek lowe?? hahahahaha. Ya'll wanted him but we got him b/c he wanted to go to a good team. Not a team that chokes every year. ROFLMFAO.

[dreadpiratelamb]

I agree with the fact that he's unproven, but he does have a decent fastball and a pretty sick curveball. I believe he's gonna be a solid player; furthermore Mets fans, you better watch what u say cause when tommy hanson comes up our rotation will be sick and you'll be waiting even longer for a division title.

[RtothaYtothaAtothaN]

Yea, it's been said that Shea resembled the inside of a bum's asshole. It's only a matter of time before the new stadium gets classed up Met style with some graffiti and visible pollutants. Mets fans are so envious of all the past Brave success, it's laughable. The Braves are turning up while the Mets are still the same bunch of chokers that choked the biggest choke ever choked the last 2 years. No backbone.

[HSRSfan]

The Mets fans are gay, go to your expensive seats at citi field to see the braves decimate your shitty franchise, get off of the braves fans you filthy smelly douche. hey nyker your worthless mets were with the braves watching the postseason so you have no right to down the braves, so look in the mirror before you diss other fans. GO BRAVES!!!!

[tylerc2507]

the mets fuckin suck get with the program. GO BRAVES!!!!!

[crapcrap86]

He's got a fair straight, but some nice breaking balls.

Theres no saying how he will do in the states. But if he is certainly a player that could impact the rotation in a positive way. Even if he isn't a 20 win, 15 win pitcher. To have one guy in your pitching staff who can pitch as a starting pitcher, last at least 5 innings, and has over 10 years of experience in the Japanese League (which is debatebly somewhere between the MLB and AAA) is something good for the team. He'll be a good 3rd pit

[touch4596]

強気の勝負で勝利を掴め

一球入魂それ行け憲伸

[nyker07]

Haha Braves fans going crazy over an unproven player. He can turn out to be another Igawa...relax...he isn't any Dice K. Shea Stadium might be a dump, but it has more History than Turner field, and guess what? We have one of the nicest stadiums in all of baseball now you stupid fuck. Mets suck? Where were you last year? Oh yeah, 20 games below .500

[RtothaYtothaAtothaN]

Way to epically choke 2 years in a row. The Mets and their fans are a joke. John Rocker needs a Speak English Campaign all over the Mets roster. Everyone knows Latin players are chokers and the Mets roster is merely a Dominican refugee list. I wonder what monumental collapse the Mets have in store for us in 2009!!

[Dmack219]

more history? how many division titles were won at shea?

[RtothaYtothaAtothaN]

I think he was referring to the Mets history of awful teams over the years. He's right, Shea has seen some stinkers and chokers in its time.

[nickelbackrocks16]

fuck off ya gay azz mets fan ,how many division titles have the mets won in a row ??? no where near the Braves so go choke again losersssssssss

[BlazinAmazin08]

hopefully he works out well in the rotation. go bravos!

[illwill4781]

BALLA!!! Go Braves! Haha Mets suck. I went to Shea Stadium, what a dump! Now I dislike the Mets organization even more. No wonder Tom Glavine came back to the Braves.

[dbizzle1987]

nasty dude, welcome to atl

[aiden30340]

did you see that curve, the Braves and I like him

[BlazinAmazin08]

yeah damn @ 00:09

[shecanreadshecanread]

It seems like Japan has a larger strike zone. Many of those called strikes in the video will be balls in MLB. Shall see if he continues to nibble like Dice-K and build up high pitch counts and walks.

[jlr00021]

japan pitchers throw like 140 pitches a game though

[cardinals0103]

looks dirrrty!

dam.

That hook

[jimtressel1270]

he will be a huge impact with lowe and the rest of the brave's rotation

Go Braves

[nyker07]

And he will be a huge impact because...he has proven what so far? Nothing. He is a wildcard, he hasn't proven he can even handle the MLB yet.

[KisharoDragonwings]

I love this guy!!! =D

[JCSCougar]

he sounds like a great finesse pitcher, he reminds of John Smoltz during the wind up to the head, and has a Dennis Eckersely type throwing angle. He's going to be tough for guys like Jose Reyes, Luis Castillo to pick up on. If Atlanta has a Japanese catcher that's available we can use that so the two won't speak English out loud for people to pick up on.

[Dmack219]

GO BRAVES!!

[anulxc]

amazing curveball

[zulufirebolt]

he's got the tools. just needs to adjust, the cutter and sinker and curve-will be devestating-just needs to work on the fastball to set those up. I think We the BRAVES#1 will have an interesting season.

[brvslugger10]

so he has to work on all of his pitches

[62lin]

interesting but can he last whole season which is very long i put him 4 or 5th and go with 6 pitchers as some these guys need rest also need 2 more bull pen guys as some these guys get down road will only get 5 innings in

[TBA27]

Has some good movemen but I am concerned with his placement, could have a rough time adjusting to the Bigs.

[sacattack1010]

his placement is actually very good

[ericruh]

Movement on off speed pitches looks great! Will be a great #3 or #4 pitcher in MLB I believe!

[wilbowaggins123]

Am I the only one that is looking at a lot of pitches right down the middle?

This guy is going to have a rough adjustment period. I can't imagine what the Phillies are going to do to him.

I hope not...

[craigles02]

I see it, too. Let's hope for the best.

[eatchinesefood0]

I just hope he can work a full season, Japan uses a 6 man rotation.

[blairblink]

Welcome to Atlanta!

[watfulscott]

This guy have some nasty stuff , I AM glad the BRAVES pick him up.

[watfulscott]

Dam this guy have some real good stuff , he will be a great addition on the Braves roster , that ball sinking like that look like a ML pitch

[pauli4975]

Cano dakakami yano hieeee! HIIE!

[brickman08865]

The rotation will more than likely consist of...

Lowe

Vasquez

Kawakami

Jair

Hanson

Then you have Huddy returning by about August after his TJ recovery. Only real problem is the lack of a lefty but, give me Hanson over Reyes any day. Glavine is an option but, I wouldnt really count on that at the moment. I wouldnt be shocked to see an all righty rotation, though...as uncoventional as that may be. Now, Wren needs to fix that horrible outfield. blah, what a nightmarish offseason.

[skipplet]

Derek Lowe isn't that good...

[hwelljgti06]

he's got some sick stuff!!

[poinone]

damn i cant front this picture is autally really nasty but oh wells braves still suck lets go mets!!!!

[RtothaYtothaAtothaN]

If I was a Mets fan, I'd kill myself.

[supergrizz120]

Atlanta's rotation is shaping up so fucking well!!

1.Jair Jurjjens

2.Javi Vasquez

3.Kenshin Kawakami

4.Jorge Campillo

5.Tommy Hanson

[skyhigh1818]

And if they also get Derek Lowe, this how it could look:

1.Derek Lowe

2.Jair Jurrjens

3.Javy Vasquez

4.Kenshin Kawakami

5.Morton/Reyes/Glavine/Campill­o

That's as good a rotation as any in the NL IMO. Hopefully Wren won't let Lowe slip away.

[atlantagradybaby]

I agree with you skyhigh1818 I hope the rotation ends up like that it would be awesome.

[aiden30340]

he didn't

[rockhurstdrive]

1:52 is a fork ball. Many japanese pitchers use that ball. fork is different from SFF. that is slower than SFF. But,more sinking.

[bretth801]

GO ATL!!!!!!!!!!!!!! but still dont replace smoltz we just now need lowe

[bretth801]

u suck id like to c you go and try in tha japaneize league and watch u suck and he is a good fit for atl

[djn227]

Thank God! There is actually a pitcher who will sign with the Braves! And his curve and cutter look wicked!

[kauf67]

that cutter is sick. GO BRAVES!

[diablo3366]

Go Braves!

[Khamsin50]

This really brings back memories from Saturday afternoons, broke in Shibuya-ku ;)

LET'S GO BRAVES!!!

[CrayonParade]

That breaking pitch is some sick shit.

[atlantagradybaby]

I' am glad the braves acquired him we needed him badly his style of pitching reminds me of daisuke matsuzaka. By bringing in Kenshin the braves will attract Japanese fans and that will be great for the braves in the media market as well.

Go Braves 2009 is going to be a optimistic year and I' am looking forward too it.

[PatrickSpeaks]

Well now he will be a Brave..hooray!!

[tennisdude120]

A brave now!!!!!!!!!! He's has some nasty pitches!!

[skyhigh1818]

Hopefully this guy can help the Braves do a little something.

[tomymogo]

Does he have a circle change? What pitch did he threw at 1:52?

[diablo3366]

he has a 90 mph fastball, slow curve, and a decent cutter

[tomymogo]

HE looks great in this video. Good control and movement. Bad thing is he barely reaches 90, and won't give a lot of innings. At least he is better than Campillo, welcome to the Braves. According to David O'Brien it's official.

[c0chese]

As a Braves fan, I do not like the way he throws that 2 seam inside and belt high on lefties. It looks so flat and hittable. I will be closing my eyes all season when he's up against the likes of Ryan Howard and other notables.

[utubefavorsdems]

Holy Kung-Fu!The Braves hopefully will land this guy.

[RealBloppy]

He's got some nasty stuff. The Braves desperately need someone.

[renandstim]

The Braves remain in the mix for free agent Kenshin Kawakami, his agent told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

There was a report over the weekend that said Kawakami was down to the Cardinals, Orioles and Twins, but it's doubtful that there was any truth to it. The Twins already have five starters and probably aren't willing to pay $20 million or more for another one. The Red Sox, Mets and Angels have also been linked to Kawakami, though not as recently.

[mzherdev]

Hope the Cards get him. That guy looks wicked. Only looked like three pitches, though: 4 seem, 2 seem, and curve. Was there anything there there? Looked like maybe one slider in that reel.

[redsoxin09]

He throws a devasting splitter as well, but his 2-seam and curveball look amazing. His fastball clocks out at around 92 from the numerous scouting reports I've read. Hopefully the twins poney up and grow some balls and make a signing this off-season. I've gone 6 years without any type of signing that has gotten me excited. Livan last year, Tony fucking Batista the year before that, it's just depressing....lol

[SAIKANOSHOU]

This image is the one 4 or 5 years ago.

He has 4seem, Cutter, Shuuto(2seem),slowcurve, fork, and slider. It throws out around 4seem, Cutter,and shuuto. It pitches a curve ball occasionally and batter's timing is removed. The control is very good. 4seem is usual about 90 miles.

From the Chunichi Dragons fan of Japan.

[Dalandow]

His fastest Fastball in that reel was clocked at 143km with is almost 89 mph. That big ass curve he threw was at 103km with is 64mph. I also saw a splitter and 2 seamer. It did look like he threw a slider near the end of the reel.

[Dalandow]

Scratch that, his fastest fastball was 145km.

[IWB420]

C'mon johnny Mo Sign this guy!!

[bbarker9]

Look at that breaking ball, wicked. And the fastball may only top out at 89-90MPH but it has good movement. This guy is 33 so probably wouldn't be looking for a long-term deal that Mo has said he won't do. Get it done Mo!

[TwinsFan11092]

I love this guys stuff. He'd make a great addition to the Twins. Make it happen Bill!

[RojoSeventyOne]

A very talented pitcher who wins big games. Plus fastball with great command. Chunichi's #1 starter and great character. He will be a good Major League starter.