I don't think it's really figuring someone out to stand there as he throws fastballs that are not even near the strike zone.

                                                                               
Gcar      Date Opp  Rslt Inngs    Dec DR   IP  H  R ER BB SO HR HBP Pit Str GSc
1         Apr9 SEA W11-5  GS-6 W(1-0) 99  5.2  8  5  5  4  5  0   1 110  59  34
5        Apr30 TOR  W4-1  GS-7 W(4-0)  5  7.0  4  1  1  2  9  1   1  97  62  72
7        May11 LAA W10-3  GS-6 W(5-1)  4  5.1  3  3  3  3  7  2   1  93  57  54
8        May16 OAK  W4-1  GS-8 W(6-1)  4  7.2  4  1  1  2  7  0   0 118  73  72

9        May21 SEA  L1-6  GS-4 L(6-2)  4  4.0  4  5  4  6  5  0   0  96  56  35
10       May27 TOR W12-6  GS-5 W(7-2)  5  5.0  7  3  3  3  3  1   0  93  54  41
11        Jun2 LAA  L2-3  GS-7 L(7-3)  5  6.1  6  3  2  3  7  0   0 111  71  55
12        Jun7 OAK  L1-7  GS-6 L(7-4)  4  5.1  6  6  6  6  4  1   1 110  61  30

It will be interesting to see how he adjusts the rest of the year. Overall his season is still pretty good, but it would be disappointing to see 5.4 BB/9 given his record in Japan.

My unscientific observation concurs with #1. It isn't really batters "figuring out" somebody who doesn't throw strikes. Maybe he needs to figure them out, or have the confidence that he can do so.

His stats are starting to look quite Matsuzakan.

it'd be interesting to know where in the count the 16 strikes called balls came in his previous two games.

His stats are starting to look quite Matsuzakan.

Shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up

Even Daisuke only walked 3.5/9 in his first season. It wasn't until his second season that he decided to start nibbling and walking the world.

I find it interesting the way that hype and excessive coverage of a player can cause a mistaken impression of his performance to someone who is only paying passing attention. I haven't paid much attention to Darvish after his first few starts but I've constantly seen headlines referring to him starting the next game, the Rangers winning or losing a game he started, or seeing his face on the front page of MLB.com or ESPN's MLB page as a featured story on days he starts. With knowing how strong he was after his debut game and seeing his name in the headlines constantly I just assumed he was pitching really well and fulfilling the hopes of those that though he could be an ace in MLB. I had no idea he was struggling so much with his control and getting knocked around lately.

#9 - He must be the Face of the Franchise. Or maybe that other kid who hit a few home runs lately, I don't know.

His stats are starting to look quite Matsuzakan.

Maybe the strike zone is just bigger in Japan?

Maybe the strike zone is just bigger in Japan?

This and the larger American baseball perhaps?

Wei-Yin Chen is walking only 2 batters a start (3 per 9 innings).

But he doesn't strike out nearly as many as Darvish, even though he misses bats with about the same frequency.

Its probably too early to draw conclusions on either of these guys, though.

I just assumed he was pitching really well and fulfilling the hopes of those that though he could be an ace in MLB.

His was 7-3 with a 3.21 ERA before his last start. These are the numbers the media still mostly cares about.

His stats are starting to look quite Matsuzakan.

Shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up

Well, what about "Shakespearean"?

Kuroda have a BB/9 in the lower 2s every year since he came to the states, and a year below 2. Saito also have a BB/9 under 3 (to go along with a K/9 over 10!!!!) in his MLB career, though it should be noted that his worst year in that regard by a mile was his only year in the AL.

So maybe we should consider again the whole AL/NL argument instead :P

Rollingwave have problem with "has"?