Go after Shim?

by Trocmagic on Nov 21, 2004 12:44 PM PST

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/news/mlb_news.jsp?ymd=20041121&content_id=915238&vkey=news _mlb&fext=.jsp

Slugger in the KBO, seems eager to make jump to MLB. Had an off-year this year, but if he's willing to sign for about a million... he could provide unexpected power for our OF. Couldn't be any worse than Kielty ;)

Just curious, though, do you think Beane will jump into the international market? I mean, the Padres did with Otsuka and it seemed to pay off, and it doesn't seem Shim is going to get the most of attention... maybe the A's can sweep underneath?

Tweet Comment 12 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

He has great numbers

If we can get him at a million a year, I'll take him. He was obviously a fantastic hitter over there. But since a lot of teams have contacted him, it might be a bidding war.....

Beanetown Baby

by ohad on Nov 21, 2004 1:20 PM PST reply actions

Overseas market seems hit and miss

But if the price is right BB might go for it. Considering what it says he'd make in Korea, he probably wont be looking for multi-millions, and that's a definate plus for the A's. oHe seems to have all the makings of a good major league ballplayer(good plate disipline, some power). He probably won't be the same kind of slugger here that he was in Korea, but I imagine he'd put up some decent numbers.

by Wezlar on Nov 21, 2004 1:27 PM PST reply actions

No, no, no.

I wouldn't even touch him. Not unless we can get him for under $500,000, and some big budget team can probably bank at least two or three times that on him. And I'm Korean, so I take a particular interest in these players.

Two years ago, a player named Lee Seung-yeop broke Sadaharu Oh's Asian home run record in the Korean league with 56. He garnered some interested with MLB as FA, but he signed with a Japanese team, Bobby Valentine's Chiba Lotte Marines. He was sent down to the minors after a few months. I couldn't find his final numbers, but he just wasn't that good.

I have seen Korean baseball while in Korea... quite simply put, it is not that good. Defense is shoddy, plate discipline is non-existent, and the swings are horrible. At best I'd say it's AA level.

Someone like Hee-Seop Choi, who just has not exhibited the ability to hit at the Major League level, would probably be a 50-60 HR hitter over there. I wouldn't risk it.

I may be wrong and this guy may be one of the diamonds in the rough... but I wouldn't bet any money on it.

by dchu on Nov 21, 2004 1:52 PM PST reply actions

Re:

Ok, I didn't realize that the article talked about Lee within it. Even so, I'd be wary of Shim. He has a shot at being a Hideki Matsui, but he could just as easily be a Kaz Matsui.

by dchu on Nov 21, 2004 2:40 PM PST up reply actions

He played in America

It sais he played in spring training with the marlins, i dont remember what year. But he hit 307 with 1 homer and 3 rbi's in like 24 at bats. If we sign Jermaine Clark and invite him to spring training, we can sign this guy and invite him to spring training. If he doesnt make it, he goes down to triple A. No biggy. Did you see the remarks major league people said about his plate consistency and evertyhing.

Beanetown Baby

by ohad on Nov 22, 2004 4:00 AM PST up reply actions

Take a chance

We pay first round draft picks 1.5 million. HE can not be any more of risk then those.

by novaoakland on Nov 21, 2004 4:20 PM PST reply actions

Actually

He's riskier than a draft pick because he's nearly 10 years older than most draft picks yet he hasn't proven anything either.

by OaktownTribesman on Nov 21, 2004 5:29 PM PST up reply actions

Gotta disagree.

He has a lot longer track record than a college kid. He has used wooden bats at least.

Not saying we should do it as I know jack about this guy but just saying we need to do our home work.

I would guess OF drafted in round 1 have a rather low success rate with compared with forgien players who have come over.

by novaoakland on Nov 21, 2004 10:29 PM PST reply actions

Korean League

I've read that the KBO (Korean Baseball Organization) is equated to AA ball by scouts. Considering their all-time home run king struggled mightily in the Japanese League, I don't see how this guy would make much of an impact in the Majors. I'd rather spend 1.5 million on the next Huston Street or even Mark Teahen, not on the next Graham Koonce.

by OaktownTribesman on Nov 22, 2004 6:57 AM PST up reply actions

The problem

is that teams with a larger payroll can afford to risk more money. Yankees can afford to pay Hideki 7 million a year (turns out to be a bargan, but no one knew that at the time), Mets can sign Kaz and look what they got. Now he has promise, but the international market is a different gig then drafting, period. It draws such a higher level of media scrutiny, and players are interested in signing with a big name team to impress their country. Beane may be interested, but I gaurentee that this guy is not.

by apocalyptica @ Athletics Nation on Nov 22, 2004 12:14 AM PST reply actions

Maybe earlier, but now...

Matsui and Ichiro are the big names signing with teams they can demand because they are in huge demand, but is Shim really in the same boat as them? I don't really think someone's going to plunk like four million for this guy easy, just because he's from Korea instead of Japan and it's more of a risk (and Lee's also not exactly made a stellar appearance). Like, Otsuka and Takatsu (both good players) signed with the Padres and ChiSox for not that much, neither of which are ultra-exciting places to play. Oakland's perennial contender status could interest him...

by Trocmagic on Nov 22, 2004 12:36 AM PST up reply actions

Exactly

This guy is definitely NOT in the same boat as Hideki Matsui or Ichiro. This guy is from Korea, not Japan. According to most everybody, the professional baseball league in Korea is not at the same level as Japan's. And if this guy is 29 and stuggled last year, he's a mighty huge risk for anything over the league minimum.

by OaktownTribesman on Nov 22, 2004 7:02 AM PST up reply actions