Pinstripe Alley · Apr 13, 2016
Masahiro Tanaka could learn something from Johnny Cueto
Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY SportsBorrowing a strategy from San Francisco's $130 million man might help Masahiro Tanaka maintain his front of the rotation status.
In the final game of the 2013 Japan Series (Japan's equivalent of the World Series), Masahiro Tanaka famously came on in relief to close the game for his Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles. In that appearance, he did something that would seem unthinkable now: almost all of his pitches were fastballs. Sitting at 93-94 mph, he gassed opposing hitters away to clinch the championship, riding off into the sunset to go join the New York Yankees.