Every press conference the Braves have ever called has been held in the auxiliary clubhouse. The exception was the one for right-hander Kenshin Kawakami, which drew the Japanese consul and nearly two dozen Japanese reporters as well as local reporters, radio and television crews more accustomed to covering cultural news.
There was more buzz in the room from the usual Braves beat reporters, however, as news that right-hander Derek Lowe had agreed to terms on a four-year contract filtered out. Lowe is a known quantity; Kawakami is not.
General manager Frank Wren, manager Bobby Cox and pitching coach Roger McDowell have seen only video of Kawakami pitching. Only Braves scouts have seen Kawakami pitch live.
Wren made trips to Japan last season trying to catch Kawakami in a game but was foiled by the practice there of not announcing starting pitchers. Wren went to three Chunichi Dragons games; Kawakami did not appear in any of them. Still, assured by reports from their scouts, the Braves targeted Kawakami for the rotation.
Questions about Kawakami centered on a back strain that kept him out three weeks last September, and the fact that he pitched in a six-man rotation.
The back ailment, according to Wren, occurred because Kawakami was transitioning from the reliever's role he assumed for Team Japan in the Olympics back to his customary starting role. Braves physicians were not concerned about it.
As for pitching more often, Wren says that Kawakami will have to learn to throw less than he is used to. Kawakami has already taken that into consideration, saying through his interpreter that he will cut back to one side session between starts.
The best news for the Braves -- particularly for the bullpen -- is that Kawakami expects to throw 130 to 140 pitches every time he goes out.
