Stockstill headed to Japan to look at Darvish among others; Jones likely back in lineup tomorrow
Here's a couple of quick notes as Brian Matusz and Mark Buehrle are locked in a pitching duel through three innings at U.S. Cellular Field.
Orioles director of player development John Stockstill will head to Japan on Sept. 6, and spend nearly two weeks scouting players. The Orioles want to get a look at five to seven players, according to Stockstill. That list includes heralded pitcher Yu Darvish.
“The idea is to see all the key people a few times,” Stockstill said.
Stockstill is expected to return to the United State around Sept. 19, in time to help run the team’s instructional program, which will be held until Oct. 2 or 3.
In other news, center fielder Adam Jones, who was hit in the back with a Gavin Floyd pitch in the fourth inning in Tuesday’s series opener and later diagnosed with a left shoulder contusion, was held out of the starting lineup tonight. However, Showalter said that he would consider using him as a pinch hitter and he expects him back in the lineup in Thursday’s series finale.
“It hurts, but I can tolerate it,” Jones said.
Reliever David Hernandez (left ankle sprain) threw a bullpen session today in Sarasota and Showalter said that he’s on schedule to throw live batting practice Sept. 1. Hernandez could join Single-A Frederick or Double-A Bowie, if the Baysox make the playoffs, to make a couple of rehab appearances before rejoining the Orioles.
A Baltimore native, 
Comments
You are joking right? You have a better chance of finding talent in a boat trolling off the coast of Cuba for a ball player than you do looking in Japan. These guys cannot play 162 at MLB standard. I mean Ichiro is an exception but other than that who has 10 yrs with no major injury? Why not Dominican Rep? Or Puerto Rico? Baseball is all year long there. Why not even go to Cuba, again? Been there once, go back and woo them to coming to play for the Yankees.
Posted by: Jeff Davis | August 25, 2010 10:58 PM
Can we get Masato Akamatsu? Who's he, you ask? You probably know him from this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9ryXlPgbgI
Go Carp.
Posted by: Tyler | August 26, 2010 12:47 AM
The O's just need new scouts, not sending scouts to new locations. Make moneyball mandatory reading for the whole scouting staff.
Posted by: M. Niicole | August 26, 2010 8:30 AM
JEFF,I am not familar with Yu Darnish. Please follow up with some scouting updates on some of the players they might be looking at.. ARE there any power hitters?? Would that make it attractive to keep Uhara in the pen if available at a decent price???
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Jeff Z's reply: I don't know much about these guys other than what I read, Grant. But Darvish is one of Japan's most celebrated pitchers. I think he's 23, and there has been plenty of talk about him coming to the United States. Some talent evaluators feel like he'll be an ace in the big leagues. I think there will definitely be interest in Koji, but a lot depends on what sort of deal he's looking for because there's obviously a lot of concern about his health.
Posted by: grant | August 26, 2010 9:05 AM
What is the prognosis for Uehara going forward? His injuries notwithstanding, his abilities when healthy point to a potential closer (especially recently) if he's affordable and the O's are still willing to gamble with him. And, would Darvish be more receptive if Uehara was still on the team? One would think another player with same language makes transition easier
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Jeff Z's reply: I don't know if Koji and Darvish have any sort of relationship so to speak, but it usually helps the comfort level to have one Japanese player already on the team. As for Koji, the Orioles have interest in resigning him, but it depends on what price and at what length. Koji has been asked multiple times and he prefers to wait until after the season to speak about next year.
Posted by: johnny c | August 26, 2010 2:46 PM
Yu Darvish played for Japan in WBC. The announcers kept praising him but he didnt seem that impressive. But he is still young and has great potential
Posted by: ysy | August 26, 2010 2:47 PM