Podcasts about Junichi Tazawa

On today’s show Sean dives into the Kyle Hendricks extension as the Professor will be sticking around in Chicago for another four seasons. The final roster spot came down to two lefty relievers, Randy Rosario and Kyle Ryan, Sean shares his thoughts on the Cubs pick and more in the second segment. And Cubs also agreed to a minor league deal with reliever Junichi Tazawa, who the Cubs had just released a few days, despite his strong spring.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's show Sean dives into the Kyle Hendricks extension as the Professor will be sticking around in Chicago for another four seasons. The final roster spot came down to two lefty relievers, Randy Rosario and Kyle Ryan, Sean shares his thoughts on the Cubs pick and more in the second segment. And Cubs also agreed to a minor league deal with reliever Junichi Tazawa, who the Cubs had just released a few days, despite his strong spring.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Topics include the recent signings of Brad Brach, George Kontos, and Junichi Tazawa -- how they fit in the bullpen -- and the state of the Cubs farm system now that many prospects are getting recognition.

The Angels drop a Tuesday game to the Rangers, but that's not going to take our spirits down right? Lucas is back talking about that game and how the Angels going 1 for 10 with runners in scoring position cost him his bet on the over. We then dive into talking about the shape of the bullpen and what people like Junichi Tazawa will mean to the club moving forward with what we currently have under contract.  Then we move to our weekly Wild West Wednesday segment where we look more closely at the entire league as a whole and where the playoff picture is for a lot of other teams. Lucas makes his predictions for what he sees going forward moving into the playoffs, and ultimately his World Series Champion. A great episode to get you ready for your HUMP DAYYYY! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Angels drop a Tuesday game to the Rangers, but that's not going to take our spirits down right?Lucas is back talking about that game and how the Angels going 1 for 10 with runners in scoring position cost him his bet on the over. We then dive into talking about the shape of the bullpen and what people like Junichi Tazawa will mean to the club moving forward with what we currently have under contract. Then we move to our weekly Wild West Wednesday segment where we look more closely at the entire league as a whole and where the playoff picture is for a lot of other teams. Lucas makes his predictions for what he sees going forward moving into the playoffs, and ultimately his World Series Champion.A great episode to get you ready for your HUMP DAYYYY! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 706 Dave Cameron is the managing editor of FanGraphs. On this edition of the program, he discusses the merits of Miami’s decision to sign two relievers (Junichi Tazawa, Brad Ziegler); cites the flaws in Colorado’s decision to sign a third (in this case, Mike Dunn); and addresses the awkward situation created by the new […]

This week the crew talks the Red Sox losing Brad Zieger and Junichi Tazawa to the Miami Marlins and, with Koji gone too, what this all means for the team's bullpen in 2017! They round out this week's show talking MLB news and happenings around the league!

12/18/16 The latest episode of “The Sleeper and the Bust” is live! Follow us on Twitter @sporer @enosarris @jasoncollette @paulkastava  Leading Off: Question of the Day  How will SVs breakdown in MIA w/Brad Ziegler & Junichi Tazawa in the mix? Notable Transactions/Rumors/Articles/Game Play Will Brian Dozier get dealt? Will TB trade an SP? Will DET […]

In true 2020 All-Star fashion, we have a nice little false start. We re-begin the podcast with a discussion of Trea Turner. He doesn’t necessarily have a lot of opportunity for playing time, but he’s definitely a stashable guy in keeper leagues. We move onto the Chase Utley trade. We don’t necessarily see a lot of value, but we discuss some of the other guys that you can get. This leads to more Dodger talk and in particular the team’s bullpen situation. Speaking of bullpens, we bring back your favorite segment, Closerpocalypse. We tell you that Junichi Tazawa is definitely the guy. Of course, later in the night he blows a save is spectacular fashion. My roommate comes home so we quickly blast through the news of people who hit the DL. There were a ton of guys that hit the DL, including one pitcher who hit a homer then hurt himself. Then we just abruptly and awkwardly wrap up the whole thing. Nothing but the best for all of you. We apologize for those of you who enjoy our food segments. This week we didn’t get to that. As always, check us out on Twitter @2020AllStars, Instagram 2020AllStars, and iTunes. Season 3 Episode 24 (36:59)

The Red Sox just completed a disappointing road trip with a couple of wretched losses, but there's no reason to panic yet. The American League East appears to be just as mediocre as advertised, so the Red Sox are still in the thick of the race. It will probably take a lot for this team to bury itself – that's for sure. But there are causes for concern – especially the bullpen. Though the starting rotation has the highest ERA in the league, Alex says all five starters should be able to keep the Red Sox competitive. The same can't be said for the bullpen. With Koji Uehara's struggles, the only reliable reliever is Junichi Tazawa, There just seems to be a lack of arms there. In the "Around the League" segment, Alex talks about the likely final chapter in the embarrassing Josh Hamilton saga, why the DH should be installed in the National League and Chris Rock's poignant commentary on baseball's declining popularity among African-Americans and young people. Follow Alex on Twitter, @AlexReimer1.

There was a lot of baseball to discuss. I promise you that we had sketched out a plan to cover it all, but like a young buck getting his first taste of big league pitching, we panicked and threw that out the window. Not to say the quality of the podcast is sub-par, but we wandered, Henry David Thoreau wandered. It’s certainly enjoyable though. The view from 10.000 meters… I mean, 30,000 feet, is Small Sample Size Theater, Closerpocalypse, and our new segment called “Whack or Back”. We start with the young guns. Anthony Gose might be legit, but he definitely does not play on Toronto. But there is a young whipper snapper in Toronto that we like, Devon Travis. We’re bullish that he’ll move up in the lineup and become an ownable middle infielder. Drew Pomeranz is a guy that you want to keep on your roster. We are less bullish on Trevor Bauer, but he’s also an interesting name to follow. The Closerpocalypse is upon us. Surprisingly, we’re a little skeptical of the young guys in Toronto, but they make interesting prospects if you want saves. The situation there is fluid to say the least. Chris Hatcher got a cup of tea, then dropped it and Joel Peralta picked it up. There is also the Yankee situation. We like Andrew Miller, but Todd likes him a bit more than me. If you’re looking for a name to speculate on someone that no one else is talking about, Junichi Tazawa. Without any evidence, I speculate that he’s the guy behind the guy in Boston. I boldly predict 15 saves. In other big city closer news, we discuss the Mets. However, moments after finishing the podcast, it came out that Jennry Mejia was suspended 80 games for PEDs. Todd likes Bobby Parnell. I boldly predict “other”. Whack or Back. David Wright! He is back!!! or is he whack?!? Joey Votto is unequivocably back! We think he’s a guy that you want to buy into. We wander into a discussion regarding Jon Lester’s woes throwing to first base. Then our most divisive player… Alex Rodriguez. He’s won my heart back, but Todd is squarely in the whack camp. Another disagreement comes up with Tim Lincecum except exactly the opposite. We end with some chat about young corner infielders in Mike Moustakas and Mark Canha. We believe! Alright, as always, check us out on iTunes and Twitter @2020AllStars. Tschüssi! Season 3 Episode 7 (1:03:57)

The Red Sox are going to the World Series. The most historic turnaround in modern baseball history is almost complete. Inside this edition of 201CWithout a Curse,201D Alex recaps Games 5 and 6 of the ALCS against the Tigers and previews the World Series match-up against the Cardinals. Alex talks about the Red Sox2019s patience at the plate, and how that was one of the major keys of the series. Max Scherzer was dominant in Games 2 and 6, but had to exit his starts early because of high pitch counts. The Tigers mediocre bullpen was incapable of protecting leads in both contests, and that was the series right there. Few players embody that patience more than Xander Bogaerts, who walked twice in Game 6. Bogaerts2019 walk in the seventh inning chased Scherzer from the game on Saturday night, and led to Shane Victorino2019s series-winning grand slam. Victorino had been 2-23 in the series prior to smashing that grand slam off reliever Jose Veras. He has embodied the heart and soul of this team all season, and it isn2019t just because Fenway Park sings Bob Marley2019s 201CThree Little Birds201D in unison every time he comes to the plate. It2019s because he2019s a damn good player. So good, in fact, he led all right fielders in WAR this season. Koji Uehara won ALCS MVP honors after tossing six scoreless innings against the Tigers. The Red Sox2019s bullpen was fantastic, as Craig Breslow has yet to allow a run this postseason. Junichi Tazawa owned Miguel Cabrera, which was arguably the biggest match-up advantage of the series as well. The Red Sox proved to be a better team than the Tigers, as they are deeper and more complete. The Tigers flaws, such as a bad bullpen and atrocious base running, proved to be too much for them to overcome. Add in the fact that Fielder was a corpse (0 RBI in the playoffs) and Cabrera wasn2019t himself (.250 batting average in the playoffs), and it2019s easy to see why the Tigers struggled to score runs in the series. Though the Cardinals aren2019t as star-studded as the Tigers, they2019re a better team. They finished with the best record in the National League, and don2019t have a gaping hole on their roster. Allen Craig will likely be back in the lineup as well, which should give the Cardinals an offensive boost. Alex says the key to the series is to beat both Joe Kelly and Lance Lynn in Games 3 and 4. If the Red Sox can split against Adam Wainwright and Michael Wacha while beating both of them, they should be in pretty good shape. This is the seventh time the Red Sox or Cardinals will play in the World Series over the past 10 years, and a rematch of 2004. The Cardinals are an excellent organization, as 17 of the 25 players on their NLCS roster were homegrown. But the Red Sox, though they2019ve taken their lumps, have proven to be an excellent organization too. It should be a great series. Email Alex at areimer@bu.edu, and follow him on Twitter @AlexReimer1.

Oct. 13, 2013 will forever be known as the day in which Boston sports flashed back to 2004. Tom Brady led a 70-yard drive to propel the Patriots to victory in the afternoon, and David Ortiz hit a grand slam that defied all of the odds to lead the Red Sox to victory on Sunday night. This is the Golden Age of Boston Sports. Fans should appreciate what they get to see on a weekly basis, because it isn2019t going to last forever. The Red Sox had been no-hit through five innings for the second consecutive game on Sunday. Anibal Sanchez struck out 12 batters in Game 1, and Max Scherzer fanned 13 men in Game 2. It looked bleak, especially with Justin Verlander scheduled to start in Game 3. But then the Red Sox exposed the soft underbelly of the Tigers middle relief core. They loaded the bases in the eighth inning, and set the table for Ortiz to smash a game-tying grand slam off closer Joaquin Benoit. Defensive miscues cost the Tigers in the bottom of the ninth, as Jose Iglesias airmailed a through the first base (HAHAHA), which allowed Jonny Gomes to advance to second base. Gomes scored on a Jarrod Saltalamacchia ground ball that advanced past the outstretched Iglesias on the left side of the infield (HAHAHA). Red Sox relievers combined to throw three and one-third scoreless innings in relief of Clay Buchholz on Sunday, and didn2019t let the game get out of hand. Craig Breslow and Junichi Tazawa haven2019t allowed a run this postseason, as the bridge to Koji Uehara no longer appears to be a concern. Tigers starting pitchers have only allowed one run over the past 23 innings. Verlander will be opposed by John Lackey in Game 3, who has a 3.83 career ERA at Comerica Park. It will be a tall task for the Red Sox in Game 3, but it is no longer a must-win contest thanks to their heroics in Game 2. The Red Sox have a favorable pitching match-up in Game 4, as Jake Peavy will take on Doug Fister. Though Sanchez and Scherzer were dominant in Games 1 and 2, neither pitcher reached the eighth inning. This relentless Red Sox lineup grinds pitchers down, and will almost always reach a team2019s bullpen. Even if Verlander is terrific in Game 3, it is unlikely he2019ll pitch into the eighth or ninth inning. If the game is close, the Red Sox will have a chance. In the 201CAround the League201D segment, Alex talks about the NLCS, and explains why the Cardinals continue to show why they2019re one of the best organizations in baseball. Alex also tells you why Carlos Beltran is a better postseason hitter than Babe Ruth was. Emil Alex at areimer@bu.edu, and follow him on Twitter @AlexReimer1.

Inside this edition of 201CWithout a Curse,201D Alex recaps the final series of the regular season and attempts to put this 97 win campaign in context before the postseason begins on Friday. If the Red Sox are eliminated in the first round, it will be a disappointment, but it won2019t be a disappointing season. Given where expectations were at the start of the year, finishing with the best record in the American League and advancing to the playoffs has to be considered a success regardless of how it ends. Still, expectations should be high, as this team has proven itself to be the best in the league through the six-month season. The Red Sox should be expected to win against all three of the Rays, Rangers or Indians. If the Red Sox are eliminated early, it will look awfully like the eighth inning did on Saturday night. Junichi Tazawa and Craig Breslow couldn2019t keep the Red Sox lead intact, and surrendered two runs in the frame. Felix Doubront struggled out of the bullpen on Sunday, and has shown little interest on pitching as a reliever in October. Doubront has the talent to continue to progress in his career, but he has a long way to go in terms of maturity. In the 201CAround the League201D segment, Alex gives a final look at the AL East standings, and gives a season memoriam on the Yankees. It2019s difficult to look at anything in a genuine light in the era of cynicism, but Alex says Mariano Rivera2019s final appearance at Yankee Stadium last Thursday was one of those moments that every sports fan has to be appreciate. It was indelible memory for all involved, and outweighs any chair made of broken bats, sandcastle or anything else Rivera received on his farewell tour. Bud Selig officially announced he would retire after the 2014 season last week. Alex briefly talks about Selig2019s decision, and says Selig has done a lot more good than bad in his tenure as commissioner. We will be privy to three elimination games in a three-day span thanks to the new wild card system this week. Enjoy! Email Alex at areimer@bu.edu, and follow him on Twitter @AlexReimer1.

Inside this edition of 201CWithout a Curse,201D Alex speaks with Chad Finn of The Boston Globe and Boston.com. Alex and Chad talk about the importance of the Red Sox obtaining the best record in the American League, and how it would affect their postseason chances. Alex and Chad also discuss the postseason roster, and whether the team would benefit from an 11th pitcher or extra position player off the bench. Though seemingly every other area of the roster seems intact, the middle relief core remains a question mark. With Brandon Workman2019s struggles on Tuesday night, it is apparent he will not emerge as a compliment to Junichi Tazawa or Craig Breslow in October. The redemption of John Lackey, and the turnaround of Jon Lester are talked about too. Alex recaps the past two games against the Rockies, including John Lackey2019s mediocre start on Tuesday night. Lackey has struggled on the road all season long, so his poor performance on Tuesday shouldn2019t be of much concern. Jacoby Ellsbury returned to the lineup on Wednesday, and went 1-3 with two runs scored over three and a half innings. Wednesday also happened to be Todd Helton2019s final career game in Coors Field, and he homered in his first at-bat. In the 201CAround the League201D segment, Alex talks about the AL East and wild card standings. The Indians, after taking two straight from the White Sox, maintain a lead over the Rangers for the second wild card spot. Alex says the fervor surrounding Jason Giambi2019s walk-off home run on Tuesday night shows that fans don2019t care about steroid use as long as those who are caught aren2019t manipulative liars. The Yankees were officially eliminated from the postseason last night, as the Rays won their sixth consecutive game. Alex says though Yankees fans should feel good about this season in a vacuum, they shouldn2019t feel good about the potentially bleak future of the organization. Email Alex at areimer@bu.edu, and follow him on Twitter @AlexReimer1.

Inside this edition of 201CWithout a Curse,201D Alex talks about the Red Sox expanding their lead in the AL East to a whopping nine and a half games after taking the first two games from the Rays this week. Clay Buchholz looked as good as anybody could have expected him to look on Tuesday night, as he tossed five innings of shutout ball. But arguably more importantly, his stuff looked good. Buchholz looked awfully similar to the ace caliber pitcher we saw in the first two months of the season, which bodes well for the Red Sox as they head into October. Koji Uehara continues to dominate, as he2019s retired a franchise record 34 consecutive batters (that2019s a perfect game AND THEN SOME). Though there is little left to say about Uehara2019s unworldly performance, Alex tries to put what he2019s done into words. The bridge to Uehara remains shaky; however, as Brandon Workman surrendered two runs in Wednesday night2019s win. With a playoff birth essentially locked up, the Red Sox should spend the rest of the regular season trying out an abundance of pitchers in the latter innings. They need to figure out who else besides Uehara, Craig Breslow and Junichi Tazawa factors into the bullpen in the postseason. Despite Workman2019s poor performance, the Red Sox still came away with the win on Wednesday after Mike Carp2019s pinch-hit grand slam. The resiliency of this team continues to amaze, as does their ability to consistently have good at-bats. In the 201CAround the League201D segment. Alex takes a look at the increasingly close American League wild card standings. Because the Rays have struggled in September, four teams are within striking distance of the second wild card spot. Even the Yankees, who the Red Sox slaughtered last weekend, are still in the thick of the race. Alex previews this weekend2019s Red Sox and Yankees series at Fenway Park, and talks about the AL playoff picture as a whole. The Rangers are in the midst of another September slide, and though the Indians are not, nobody is showing up to watch them anyway. Oh, and any modicum respect you may have had left for Bobby Valentine will be gone after Alex tells you what he said about the Yankees efforts post-9/11. What an egomaniac. Email Alex at areimer@bu.edu, and follow him on Twitter @AlexReimer1.

The Red Sox slaughtered the Yankees in New York this weekend, expanding their lead to seven and a half games in the AL East. They2019re a lock for the postseason, and are legitimate a World Series contender as there is in all of baseball. Alex recaps the four games against the Yankees, including the thrilling victory on Thursday night. Though it wasn2019t the best win of the season, it was one of the more rewarding ones. The Red Sox came back from a five-run deficit to win on Friday night, which speaks to the team2019s resiliency and the ability of this lineup. They grind out at-bats, and never give away at-bats. The Red Sox are recreating the magic they had in 2003 and 2004 because they2019re recreating the offensive approach they had in that time period. Though there are mostly positives to take from this weekend2019s slate of games, there are a couple of negatives. Alex talks about the problems with the middle relief core, and the importance of finding reliable arms next to Craig Breslow and Junichi Tazawa who can bridge to Koji Uehara at the end of games. Arguably the biggest negative, however, is the uncertain status of Jacoby Ellsbury. A foot fracture promises to keep Ellsbury out for at least a week, as the Red Sox hope he can return prior to the postseason. If the Red Sox are to make a World Series run this season, Ellsbury has to be at the top of the lineup. Clay Buchholz will make his return to the rotation this week, and will aim to get back to form over the next three weeks. With the division essentially locked up, Buchholz2019 progress becomes the most interesting storyline as the regular season comes to a close. In the 201CAround the League201D segment, Alex takes a closer look at the AL East, and the problems the Rays had on the west coast. Alex also talks about the AL wild card race, and which team has the best chance at unseating the Rays for the second wild card spot.

The Red Sox took two of three games from the Rays this week, winning their fourth consecutive series. Alex takes a look back at the epic (not really) 14 inning win on Monday night, and how the resiliency of this Red Sox team was on full display yet again. They retook the lead twice in extra innings, which should be commended. There were some negative stories to come out of Monday's game, though, including the struggles of closer Andrew Bailey. Outside of the grossly overused Koji Uehara and Junichi Tazawa, the bullpen has been in-flux this season. John Lackey hit Matt Joyce on the back in the 6th inning of Monday's game, and the benches cleared. Following the game, Joe Maddon called Lackey a "bad teammate" for hitting Joyce. So according to Maddon, only his players are allowed to hit batters? Got it. Following the 14 inning game on Monday, the Red Sox needed Jon Lester to give them innings on Tuesday night and he couldn't do it. Alex cites the mediocrity of Lester's last 10 outings, and asks whether Lester isn't as good as we think he is. Alfredo Aceves of all people came up big with a quality start on Wednesday night. Should we give the Red Sox credit for not releasing Aceves earlier this season like we all wanted them to? With Lester's struggles and Clay Buchholz' status up in the air, it seems as if the Red Sox may need Aceves more than we might have thought. In the "Around the League" segment, Alex talks about the AL East standings, and gives his take on the brawl involving the Dodgers and Diamondbacks this week. Though entertaining, the brawl in isolation will not ignite the Dodgers. The players need to play better for the Dodgers to go on a long winning streak, it's as simple as that. The intangibles attached to the aftermath of a brawl are irrelevant. Email Alex at areimer@bu.edu, and follow him on Twitter @AlexReimer1.