Kazumi Saitoh
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The two time and reigning Sawamura Award winner, Kazumi Saitoh is regularly regarded as one of, if not the, best pitcher in NPB. Drafted in 1995 by the then-Daiei Hawks, Saitoh's career did not really take hold until 2002. He made three pitching appearances before 2000, and spend most of the 2001 season recovering from his second shoulder surgery in five years. Saitoh came into his own in 2003, putting up a 20-3 record with a 2.83 ERA, and winning his first Sawamura, and was rewarded with a five-fold raise, from 30m yen to 150m yen.[1] However, in 2004, he regressed mightily, putting up the highest ever ERA for one-season (6.26) in NPB history amongst qualified pitchers. Since then, Saitoh has pitched like a man reclaimed. After being on the shelf to start the 2005 with his trademark shoulder woes, Saitoh was jaw-dropping, going 16-1 with a 2.92 ERA. And he only got better. In 2006, Saitoh put up a microscopic 1.75 ERA over a full season, going 18-5 and striking out 205 in 201 inings pitched. He was honored with his second Sawamura, and although he didn not win the league MVP, he received the most first-place votes. On October 7, 2006 playoff game, Saitoh faced off with Matsuzaka, with each pitcher put up an incredible line [2]:
Five days later, Saitoh's team -- in the Pacific League finals -- faced the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. Saitoh went the distance but lost, 1-0, again. Saitoh was seen visibly crying and was helped off the field by his teammates. 2007 thus far has been a test for Saitoh. His shoulder has flared up yet again, and he has been off the active roster since the end of April. SoftBank manager Sadaharu Oh went on record as saying that Saitoh might not be back until September, at the latest, if at all in 2007. No news has been given on Saitoh's latest bout with his shoulder, although in his latest blog update in mid-May, he did talk about a "sophomore slump," meaning his injury troubles after winning the Sawamura the previous season. Thus far in 2007, Saitoh is 1-1 with an ERA of almost 4.00, and in the few starts he has made, he has been nothing of his 2006 form.
[edit] Scouting ReportSaitoh has a unique windup. He "leans in, pauses, brings his hands over his head (similar to Hideo Nomo in that regard), and then briefly stops as he gathers his weight above his plant leg before delivering his pitch," and often-times has a significantly-high leg kick.[3] Saitoh's out pitch is his forkball. HIs fastball tops out at about 93 mph, and he also employs a slider, a shuuto, and a 12-to-6 curve.[4] [edit] Statistics
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[edit] Related Articles[edit] Recent Kazumi Saitoh ArmchairGM Stories
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