First Sekimoto, Now Kurihara?
Discussion in the NPB News forum
Comments
Re: First Sekimoto, Now Kurihara?
[ Author: Something Lions | Posted: Dec 8, 2006 7:40 PM
| SL Fan
]
What's the incentives in the NPB pay structure for clubs to increase player salary, other than to keep that player content? It's not like he'll be a free agent any time soon. (MLB's self-referential arbitration system is kind of puzzling, too.)
Re: First Sekimoto, Now Kurihara?
[ Author: BigManZam | Posted: Dec 9, 2006 1:56 PM
| CLM Fan
]
I'd say honor and not looking bad to future recruits. I'm really not liking what Hiroshima is trying to pull with Kurihara. Chunichi had a lot of problems with trying to sign their star players last year. Let's hope this isn't a trend in NPB, because we'll be seeing more players demand postings if salaries don't remain respectable.
Re: First Sekimoto, Now Kurihara?
[ Author: Dragsfan | Posted: Dec 9, 2006 2:55 PM
| CD Fan
]
Yes, that was unpleasant. Players pointed to their individual numbers and their second-place finish, and the front office pointed to their second place finish. I'm happy the sulking ended fairly quickly, or it could have soured the whole season. The Tigers may be in the same position this year.
Re: First Sekimoto, Now Kurihara?
[ Author: Christopher | Posted: Dec 9, 2006 4:14 PM
| HAN Fan
]
Unlikely - the Tigers don't manage to satisfy everyone, but they don't annoy everyone either. If I was Kanemoto I certainly would have no complaints!
Re: First Sekimoto, Now Kurihara?
[ Author: torakichi | Posted: Dec 9, 2006 1:08 PM
| HT Fan
]
Isn't this exactly why Hiroshima can't keep their good players?
Re: First Sekimoto, Now Kurihara?
[ Author: Guest | Posted: Dec 10, 2006 12:21 PM
]
The players in NPB have no leverage. What can they do, hold out? They are locked in for 9 years and unless the players union stands up and fights to gain free ageny earlier, the system will not change. Until then, clubs are able to stick to the players as they see fit. Many fans in the U.S. complain that MLB players get paid too much and they might prefer to see the NPB Free Agency format.
By the way, Hiroshima must be doing something right. They managed to keep Hiroki Kuroda.
But let's get back on topic. Although Kurihara is a solid offensive player, he did miss a large bulk of 2006. If he was healthy and produced as expected, I'm sure he would have been paid substantially more.
By the way, Hiroshima must be doing something right. They managed to keep Hiroki Kuroda.
But let's get back on topic. Although Kurihara is a solid offensive player, he did miss a large bulk of 2006. If he was healthy and produced as expected, I'm sure he would have been paid substantially more.
Re: First Sekimoto, Now Kurihara?
[ Author: torakichi | Posted: Dec 10, 2006 6:19 PM
| HT Fan
]
- Hiroshima must be doing something right. They managed to keep Hiroki Kuroda.
That's right, Guest. They actually paid a decent amount for him.
That's right, Guest. They actually paid a decent amount for him.
Re: First Sekimoto, Now Kurihara?
[ Author: Guest: shipitholla | Posted: Dec 16, 2006 7:14 PM
]
I'm guessing that the Japanese court system isn't such that some player could take this to court like the whole reserve cause deal or anything. I'm guessing they don't do the whole arbitration thing there either.
Re: First Sekimoto, Now Kurihara?
[ Author: Guest: Gary Garland | Posted: Dec 17, 2006 2:43 PM
]
Kurihara is an abysmal fielder and he was out a while with injuries. His .837 OPS in the 101 games he did play plus a solid ARISP was adequate, but I didn't think he should have had that much of a salary increase. Plus it's Hiroshima.
On Kuroda, I am still mystified about why he didn't end up with Hanshin. Hiroshima must have made him some hallacious longterm promises because I think he's still only getting about $2-2.5 million a year. They had already promised Kenjiro Nomura the manager's job after 2009 or thereabouts, so a future manager's position would seem a hard thing to promise there unless Nomura is a bust.
There had been a news item that the Carp were exploring giving him a kind of lifetime insurance policy, that whatever dire straits Kuroda found himself in between now and death would be ameliorated by the team. Hopefully we will definitely find out at some point.
On Kuroda, I am still mystified about why he didn't end up with Hanshin. Hiroshima must have made him some hallacious longterm promises because I think he's still only getting about $2-2.5 million a year. They had already promised Kenjiro Nomura the manager's job after 2009 or thereabouts, so a future manager's position would seem a hard thing to promise there unless Nomura is a bust.
There had been a news item that the Carp were exploring giving him a kind of lifetime insurance policy, that whatever dire straits Kuroda found himself in between now and death would be ameliorated by the team. Hopefully we will definitely find out at some point.
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After hitting 20 homers, 69 RBIs. and batting .295, Kurihara was rewarded with a salary increase of 1,100-man, making his total salary for next year 2,800-man or around 250,000 dollars.
Kurihara's stats and salary lead me to believe he's probably the most underpaid player in NPB right now. In 2004, he batted .267 with 11 homers and 32 RBIs in only 270 ABs. He played for 750-man that season and would only get a 250-man increase in salary for his performance. 2005 saw Kurihara bat .323 with 15 homers and 43 RBIs in 254 ABs and he only got a 700-man increase in pay for his efforts.
I know he's far from being poor, but does anyone else think that Hiroshima is taking advantage of a naive young ball player here? If I were to judge from other players, Kurihara should be getting paid 6,000-man at the bare minimum next year.