Red Sox All Aboard the Submarine

Shizuo Kambayashi/Associated Press
Eric D. Schabell
Contributing Writer

I don't think I want to be the play-by-play announcer for the Red Sox when they go to the bullpen for Shunsuke Watanabe.

It might not happen right away, but it could be soon.

Shunsuke Watanabe, a 37 year old right handed starting pitcher, was signed yesterday to a minor league deal and will report to Red Sox minor league spring training as a reliever.

He has a 13 year career record of 87-82 with a career ERA of 3.65, performing primarily as a starter for the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball League.

The best part is that he is a submariner, no, not on a boat, but throws submarine-style. That means he has a release point well below the pitchers waistline and the ball looks like it rises up as it approaches hitters.

The Red Sox are getting experimental as they sprinkle normal pitchers along with flutterballers and submariners among their minor league staff.

It could get very interesting over the next few years.

Post a comment or via twitter @ericschabell with your thoughts.

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