I hope you’re reading this, Rōki.
If you’re to believe the reports, the San Francisco Giants are one of the finalists for Japanese pitching superstar Rōki Sasaki. That’s the good news. The bad news is that those same reports suggest the Los Angeles Dodgers are overwhelming favorites and the San Diego Padres are overwhelming runner-up favorites.
I prefer to focus on the good news. So here are a few reasons why I think Sasaki should sign with the Giants.
- They’re cool, and have great colors.
- Patrick Bailey is the best pitch-framing catcher in the Majors, and it is not even remotely close.
- Matt Chapman and Willy Adames are quite likely the best defensive left side of the infield in the Majors.
- Oracle Park is a delightful place to pitch.
- It’s also a delightful place to watch a game while drinking a beer, though that’s probably more a point for me than for Sasaki.
- Pitchers tend to love Bob Melvin.
- I also love Bob Melvin but, again, more of a point for me than for Rōki.
- The Giants have no other Japanese players for Sasaki to compete for endorsement dollars with.
- The Giants are set up to maybe have some success going forward, which Sasaki could be a huge part of, rather than being the front-runner that he might be if he signed with other teams.
- I would only say good things about him. You have my word, Rōki.
- San Francisco is awesome.
I think those are plenty enough reasons, personally.