UPDATE – Monday, June 13, 2011

Akira “Eager Beavers” to Add Mizutani

After announcing they were taking SP Kata Nakamura with the #1 overall selection in the upcoming LRS draft, where would Neo-Tokyo turn to for the #2 overall?  With quality position players on the board and NeTo having few such candidates in their minor league system, it appeared certain that they would opt for a big bat.

Surprisingly, GM Ron Hiscock is gambling that Takiji “Eager Beaver” Mizutani will overcome an injury-plagued season and return to his dominating 2010 form. 

“Doctors have cleared him and our scouts think he’s a special talent,” he said.  “The events of the past few weeks show that you can never have enough pitching.”  He was referring to lengthy injuries that have hit the Akira staff hard, including super-prospect Takiji Shishkikura.

Lead scout Toshikazu Yoshimura explains what he likes about “The Beaver”.  “He’s one of the few quality lefties in the draft and he has 4 quality pitches.  He can be dominating.” Indeed, in 2010 Mitzu threw not one but two no-hitters, including one that followed a 3-hit shutout.

Yoshi also liked his leadership qualities.  “You don’t find guys that can be great influences in the clubhouse too often.  And with a moniker like ‘Eager Beaver’ you’ve gotta have something, right?”

UPDATE – Friday, June 10, 2011

Neo-Tokyo Halfway Home; #1 Pick to be Kata

So many choices, so few picks.  Rumors have been swirling as to who might get the call from Akira headquarters.  Even player agents couldn’t get a feel for the direction they might go.

“They’ve called several times this week,” confirmed one agent who represented top prospects Ietsuna Oyama and Tadamasa Hashimoto, “but not in the last 2 days.”

GM surveys and mock drafts hinted that pitching would be at the top of the list and, as it turns out, the mock draft wasn’t so funny after all.  A call to NeTo GM Ron Hiscock confirmed they have struck a deal with Rikkyo University Bishops ace Kata Nakamura.

“We looked at other pitchers but we kept coming back to Kata.  He has the best velocity of anyone in the draft and his stats are the best around.”

Indeed in his 2 years at RIU, Nakamura had a WHIP of 0.90 and a strikeout-to-walk ratio of over 5-to-1.  The knock on Kata is his relatively small repertoire compared to other prospects in the draft.  “He’s not flashy, but should be solid,” was one scout’s opinion.  Only time will tell, as they say…

Now the question remains: who will NeTo nab with the second pick?

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Neo-Tokyo Announces Top Draft Pick…

…will be revealed this week.  With the LRS draft fast approaching, GMs around the league are cramming for the big day where team’s future fortunes can be won or lost.

Ability, potential, stats, scouts opinions, other scouts opinions, and perceived personality traits can all be a factor in determining – or confusing – a GM’s opinion.  In the end, only he will shoulder the responsibility for his team’s selection.

Having traded last year’s #1 overall, NT’s 2010 draft appears lackluster in the glaring light of hindsight.  That performance resulted in the hiring of new lead scout Toshikazu Yoshimure.  With the top 2 picks in this year’s draft, the pressure is on Toshi Yoshi (as his friends – and detractors – call him) to strike gold.

There has been little hint of who they will select and rumors of last minute trade downs are swirling.  All eyes are on Akira as draft day approaches.