Yomiuri signs Miceli

Here's a look at a projection of a NPB equivalent of what Miceli has done over the past five years:

Year	Games	Won	Lost	Saves	Innings	Hits	HR	BB	K	Runs	ER	ERA
2000	38	6	4	0	40.2	35	3	14	38	12	10	2.18
2001	44	2	4	0	39.0	44	7	15	37	22	19	4.49
2002	8	0	2	0	7.1	12	1	3	4	6	6	6.99
2003	49	2	4	0	60.2	55	14	23	44	28	25	3.66
2004	63	6	6	0	66.0	68	11	25	63	31	27	3.71

How do you make an equivalents between the two?

This article [Baseball Guru] describes the process for pitchers. I've done them for hitters, too, if you're interested. See this article for details. Those articles are set up for NPB to the majors, but if you use the inverse of the adjustment factors (i.e. 1 divided by the adjustment factor), you've got the MLB to NPB factor.

The main problem with doing MLB to NPB has usually been that the guys going to NPB usually receive less than part time playing time, which leaves you: 1) with a very small sample, which is a terrible base to build upon, and 2) often players perform better when used consistently. I haven't done such factors for the various AAA leagues (and they'd have to be done for each league) due to 1) less interest for my readership, which is English based, and therefore usually more interested in those coming to rather than departing the majors, and 2) the difficulties in assembling the needed data.

Jim Albright

Let's go, 1.7 million on Micelli. The Giants could have gotten a better pitcher for a lot less. Also, they overspent on Kapler. He will not meet expectations. Giants, you need good pitching. You can do better. Sikorski will fare better than Micelli.

I think Miceli will be good for the Giants out of the pen. When he was with the Yankees for a little bit back in 2003 I got to see him work regularly, and he does have pretty good stuff and has improved in the last few years - especially his last two years in Houston. I think it is a steal. He's really not as bad as the stats say.