Kenji Jojima

I must be getting mellow in my middle age, I actually enjoyed one of Graczyk-san's articles. And while it was just a little thing, I think that having the main-stream press asking players if they would support inter-league play will do a great deal to further awareness of The Cause.

Nonetheless, let's get down to some stats. Johjima (that's how it's spelled on his uniform, so that's how I write it) was ranked 3rd last season in fielding percentage for catchers:

1. Noguchi (NHF): 1 error in 509 attemps = .998
2. Itoh (SL): 2 errors in 594 attempts = .997
3. Johjima (FDH): 6 errors in 815 attempts = .993
4. Matoyama (OKB): 5 errors in 469 attempts = .991
5. Shimizu (CLM): 6 errors in 572 attempts = .990
6. Hidaka (OBW): 9 errors in 822 attempts = .990

Of course, he also had more plays than most other catchers, and caught in all 140 games.

For throwing out base runners, though, Johjima was top in the Pacific League:

1. Johjima: 38 / 92 = .380 (caught/attempts)
2. Noguchi: 15 / 45 = .333
3. Matoyama: 25 / 79 = .316
4. Hidaka: 29 / 94 = .309
5. Itoh: 15 / 56 = .268
6. Shimizu: 13 / 50 = .260

One can't really say that they tried running against Johjima any more than any body else because, what's missing from these stats is the number of innings each player put in behind the plate. Itoh, for instance, caught in 104 games, but Nakajima doubled with him in quite a few of those.

Now, let's compare this to the Central League:

1. Tanishige (YBS): 44 / 81 = .543
2. Furuta (YS): 21 / 43 = .488
3. Yano (HT): 32 / 81 = .395
4. Abe (YG): 24 / 68 = .353
5. Nishiyama (HC): 15 / 63 = .238
6. Nakamura (CD): 22 / 101 = .218

Tanishige and Furuta were both full time catchers for their respective teams (with Furuta missing just a few games at the end of the season). Yet do you notice that less people were willing to challenge Furuta's arm. His reputation as the best catcher keeps people from even attempting, despite evidence that Tanishige will more than likely throw you out.

Also, as you can see, the stakes are a little higher in the Central League, with Yokohama's former backstop on top (now we have Nakamura - ouch!). Odd that Yano wasn't mentioned. That tells me that the recent injury he took blocking home plate is going to hurt the Tigers more than I had first realized.

Nonetheless, Tanishige did try out for a Major League spot this past off season. He wasn't in top condition, but MLB scouts weren't too impressed, either. Of course, I won't argue that Johjima does bring more to the plate than Tanishige, and may have a better chance.

It strikes me that Johjima is getting better every year. I'll have to put fielding data on my list of things to add to back this up with stats. But he's still very young, and has a lot of good experience. And in front of nightly sell out crowds at Fukuoka Dome on tope of that.

I don't want to curse him by saying anything more than that.

Oh, and as for communication with his pitchers, I think that the article pointed out that a good battery can go beyond verbal communication. A catcher who can tell get a feel for what pitches are on for a pitcher (before it costs him) is valuable regardless of what language he speaks.

This is great. Thanks for the stats and insight.

Kenji's fielding percentage was solid last year and his CS percentage is decent. Do they keep track of CERA in Japan?

As you pointed out, youth is Johjima's strongest asset. Already an all star, he's off to an amazing start this year and he's just 25.

Do you know when Kenji will be a free agent?

Oh, and as for communication with his pitchers, I think that the article pointed out that a good battery can go beyond verbal communication. A catcher who can tell get a feel for what pitches are on for a pitcher (before it costs him) is valuable regardless of what language he speaks.

Agreed. Kenji clearly has a feel for his staff. I'd be very interested to see how far that intuition would take him in MLB.

- Do they keep track of CERA in Japan?

Forgive my ignorance, but what does CERA stand for? I love stats and all, but I'm not familiar with a lot of the terminology.

The stats I have for catchers are: Games, Steal Attempts, Steal Success, Caught Stealing, Pick-offs, Caught Stealing Percentage.

Fielding stats' fields are: Games, Put Outs, Attempts, Errors, Assists, Past Balls (catchers only), Fielding Percentage.

If one can calculate CERA from the above fields, let me know the formula and I'll do it when I get this info entered into my database (long term goal, unless there's a lot of expressed interest in these stat, then I'll move it up).

- Do you know when Kenji will be a free agent?

Let's see... #1 draft pick out of high school in 1995, and I think he spent some time in 2000 on the DL, which will postpone it for about a year. That should make him eligible in 2005 or so. So if Daiei wanted to finance Fukuoka Dome, as Graczyk-san suggested, look for a posting in 2004 plus or minus a year or two (depending on how many active days he's been on the roster). Daiei will most likely hold onto him as long as they can without losing him to free agency.

- Do they keep track of CERA in Japan?

Forgive my ignorance, but what does CERA stand for? I love stats and all, but I'm not familiar with a lot of the terminology.

It's a pretty obscure stat. CERA stands for Catcher's Earned-Run Average, the earned-run average of the club's pitchers with a particular catcher behind the plate. Helps to measure how well a catcher calls a game, but its usefulness is limited -- it's used best to compare catchers on the same team.

- Do you know when Kenji will be a free agent?

Let's see... #1 draft pick out of high school in 1995, and I think he spent some time in 2000 on the DL, which will postpone it for about a year. That should make him eligible in 2005 or so. So if Daiei wanted to finance Fukuoka Dome, as Graczyk-san suggested, look for a posting in 2004 plus or minus a year or two (depending on how many active days he's been on the roster). Daiei will most likely hold onto him as long as they can without losing him to free agency.

Sounds good to me. Thanks.