ANALYSIS // 56 ENTRIES
Analysis
Data-driven analysis on Japanese MLB players, history, and outlooks.
DATE CAT TITLE
2026-04-25 STATS What are xBA and xSLG? Expected AVG and SLG based on exit velocity and launch angle — strip out luck. 2026-04-25 STATS What is Whiff %? Percentage of swings that miss — how dominant a pitch's swing-and-miss profile is. 2026-04-25 STATS What is Spin Rate? Revolutions per minute on the ball — directly affects movement profile by pitch type. 2026-04-25 STATS What is Launch Angle? The vertical angle of a batted ball off the bat — a key driver of extra-base hits. 2026-04-25 STATS What is Hard-Hit %? Percentage of batted balls with exit velocity 95+ mph — the precursor to Barrel rate. 2026-04-25 STATS What is WHIP? Walks + Hits per Inning Pitched — baserunners allowed per inning. 2026-04-25 STATS Saves (SV) vs. Holds (HLD) Stats that distinguish closers (saves) from setup men (holds). 2026-04-25 STATS What are K/9 and BB/9? Strikeouts and walks per 9 innings — quick gauge of dominance and command. 2026-04-25 STATS What is FIP? An ERA-style metric using only outcomes a pitcher controls: strikeouts, walks, home runs. 2026-04-25 STATS What is ERA? The most fundamental pitcher metric: earned runs per 9 innings. 2026-04-25 STATS Splitter (FS) / Forkball Wide-grip pitch that drops sharply. A signature offering for Japanese pitchers. 2026-04-25 STATS Slider (SL) and Sweeper (ST) Horizontal-movement workhorses. The sweeper recently emerged as a distinct pitch type. 2026-04-25 STATS Four-Seam Fastball (FF) The most common fastball in MLB. Movement profile depends on spin axis and rate. 2026-04-25 STATS Curveball (CU) / Knuckle-Curve (KC) The vertical-break standard. Ideally 2700+ RPM for sharp drop. 2026-04-25 STATS Changeup (CH) A speed-decreasing pitch that fools timing. Low spin is the hallmark. 2026-04-25 STATS What is Slugging Percentage (SLG)? Total bases per at-bat: singles=1, doubles=2, triples=3, HR=4. Pure power output. 2026-04-25 STATS What is OPS? OBP + SLG combined — the most popular all-in-one offensive metric. 2026-04-25 STATS What is On-Base Percentage (OBP)? How often a batter reaches base, including walks and hit-by-pitches. The headline plate-discipline metric. 2026-04-25 STATS What is ISO (Isolated Power)? SLG minus AVG — isolates raw power from contact ability. 2026-04-25 STATS What is Batting Average (AVG)? Batting average is the most classic hitting metric: hits divided by at-bats. 2026-04-23 PLAYER Why Imanaga's Splitter Holds Batters to .175 We dig into why Imanaga's splitter works in MLB — 41.9% whiff rate and a remarkable 20.0% hard-hit rate. 2026-04-21 MATCHUP Dodgers vs. Cubs: History of Japanese Head-to-Heads From Ohtani vs. Imanaga to past matchups — we revisit Japanese player duels between the Dodgers and Cubs. 2026-04-20 STATCAST Statcast 101: What Is Barrel Rate? We explain what a Barrel is, how it's calculated, and why the combination of exit velocity and launch angle matters. 2026-04-19 STATCAST Statcast 101: xwOBA vs. wOBA We clarify when to use xwOBA (expected, luck-neutral) versus wOBA (actual outcomes). 2026-04-18 STATCAST Statcast 101: The Golden Ratio of EV and Launch Angle We use heatmaps to understand which combinations of exit velocity and launch angle drive extra-base hits. 2026-04-17 PLAYER Ohtani's 2026 Pitching Return: Debut Start Review Ohtani's post-Tommy John return: velocity, pitch mix, and an early-season 0.38 ERA. 2026-04-16 PLAYER Imanaga's Command: A Zone% Perspective We examine Imanaga's Zone% and the mechanical traits that enable it. 2026-04-14 HISTORY The Japanese MLB Legacy Started by Hideo Nomo How Hideo Nomo's 1995 MLB leap opened the door for Japanese players that followed. 2026-04-13 HISTORY Ichiro's Run of .300 Seasons and His MLB Standing A look back at Ichiro's 10 consecutive .300/200-hit seasons and his historical standing. 2026-04-12 HISTORY Hideki Matsui: RBI Leader with the Yankees We revisit Matsui's Yankees RBI production, culminating in his 2009 World Series MVP. 2026-04-11 HISTORY Yu Darvish's Path to 1,900 MLB Strikeouts Tracing Yu Darvish's career as he continues to break the Japanese MLB strikeout record. 2026-04-10 HISTORY Masahiro Tanaka's MLB Career: A Retrospective We summarize Masahiro Tanaka's seven Yankees years and his path back to NPB. 2026-04-09 PLAYER Yusei Kikuchi: A Successful Starter-to-Reliever Move We look at Kikuchi's velocity bump and strikeout-rate improvement after moving to the bullpen. 2026-04-08 HISTORY Kenta Maeda: Dodgers Era vs. Twins Era We compare Kenta Maeda's pitching profile between his Dodgers and Twins tenures. 2026-04-07 PLAYER Seiya Suzuki: Heart of the Cubs Order Suzuki's role in the Cubs lineup and his season-to-season trend. 2026-04-06 PLAYER Evaluating Masataka Yoshida's Red Sox Contract We revisit the 5-year, $90M Yoshida deal with Boston in light of his on-field output. 2026-04-05 PLAYER Shintaro Fujinami's Revival with the Orioles Fujinami has been taming his control issues. We look at his current MLB status and role shifts. 2026-04-04 PLAYER Kodai Senga's Ghost Forkball with the Mets A look at Senga's signature ghost forkball, its drop profile, and how it plays vs. MLB hitters. 2026-04-03 PLAYER Is Yamamoto's 12-Year, $325M Deal Worth It? We re-evaluate Yamamoto's massive Dodgers deal in light of his on-field production so far. 2026-04-02 PLAYER Yuki Matsui's Move to the Padres We examine former NPB closer Yuki Matsui's new role as an MLB setup man. 2026-04-01 PLAYER Naoyuki Uwasawa: Rookie Year Struggles and Outlook Using his rookie data, we consider whether Uwasawa can adapt going forward. 2026-03-31 PROSPECT Breakout Candidates: Minor League Names to Watch A quick look at Japanese minor leaguers who could be called up during 2026. 2026-03-30 TEAM 2026 NL West Preview A Dodgers/Padres-centered preview of the 2026 NL West, with standings projections and key storylines. 2026-03-29 TEAM 2026 AL East Preview A preview of the AL East, centered on the Yankees, Orioles, and Red Sox as the likely top trio. 2026-03-28 RULES MLB Rule Change: Pitch Clock's Impact We examine game-length reductions and rhythm effects from the 2023 pitch-clock rules. 2026-03-27 RULES Larger Bases and the Stolen-Base Boom We track how stolen base totals and success rates shifted after the 2023 base-size change. 2026-03-26 RULES Left-Handed Hitter Trends Since the Shift Ban We analyze how LHH batting average and BABIP have shifted since the 2023 shift restrictions. 2026-03-25 CULTURE Japanese Pitchers Meet MLB's Contact Culture We look at how Japanese pitchers handle MLB's contact-oriented hitting culture. 2026-03-24 PLAYER Ohtani the Two-Way Star: Pitch Arsenal Diversity We lay out Ohtani's pitch arsenal and the batting-average-against and whiff rates on each. 2026-03-23 PLAYER How Imanaga Wins With High Fastballs We explain how Imanaga's high-zone 4-seam works, through spin rate and release point. 2026-03-21 HISTORY Japanese MLB Career WAR Rankings We list Japanese MLB players at the top of career WAR and group them by position. 2026-03-20 HISTORY Japanese MLB Gold Glove Winners A list of Japanese MLB Gold Glove recipients and what set their defense apart. 2026-03-19 PROSPECT 2026 Rookie of the Year: Japanese Candidates We review Japanese candidates in the 2026 Rookie of the Year conversation. 2026-03-18 TEAM Japanese Players on Postseason Contenders A roundup of Japanese players on 2026 postseason-contending rosters. 2026-03-17 MARKET Rising MLB Demand for Japanese Relievers We analyze why MLB teams are increasingly signing Japanese relievers, and how they use them. 2026-03-16 TEAM 2026 Midseason Outlook and Storylines We map out midseason storylines to watch for Japanese players and teams in 2026.