Who is that baseball player?

[gekisou]

Hi all!

What was that Japanese baseball players name that was around in 1999? He was 18 played for the lions (i think) and pitched the fastest of his time. He was on TV NON STOP. about how good and fast he was.

I have a signed baseball and phone card I got while in Japan from him, and as I have come on hard times I was thinking of selling. I can't read his signature as it is too messy.

Cheers!

[AssKissinger]

Do you mean Daisuke Matsuzaka?

[gekisou]

Yes thats him!

Thanks for that!

Does he still play? Wasnt baseball season when I was over there on business last year.

[emperor]

AK is that you drinking in front of a blue screen of death?

[AssKissinger]

AK is that you drinking in front of a blue screen of death?

No. It's just an avatar I stole. I mix my Scotch with water.

Daisuke is still with the Lions. He wants to play in MLB but may not have what it takes. No teliing how much wear they put on his elbow in high school.

[emperor]

part of my sumo paper talks about foreign sports:
(the grammar is shit, but i have to translate it anyway so it dont matter none)

mirroring the restictions placed on foreign sumotori;

For many years, Japanese baseball teams were limited to two foreign players each, with foreigners who played amateur ball in Japan excluded.
The first move to broaden this restriction came in the 1990's, when three foreign players were allowed on each team, with up to three on the field at one time, provided one was a pitcher.
The next change allowed each team to sign an unlimited number of foreigners, while holding the three-man on-the-field limit. Currently, each team is allowed four foreigners on the bench but still only three on the field at one time.

is this still the case?

[Greji]

AK is that you drinking in front of a blue screen of death?

No. It's just an avatar I stole. I mix my Scotch with water.

Daisuke is still with the Lions. He wants to play in MLB but may not have what it takes. No teliing how much wear they put on his elbow in high school.

They also about ruined him in the Sydney Olympics. He had hurt his arm, but they still used him. Anything for the gold! BTW, he wasn't the fastest, the unruly Irabu was until last week when the FG from Yokohama threw 161 kph, which, I might add is moving. I've never had a J-car that could go that fast.

All though this is probably more for the J-Ball thread, since we're here:

One of the reasons (besides the normal J-mentality) that the over use of pitchers is no big concern is the small amount of Pro teams limits available openings for pitchers. So there is a long line of candidates waiting. There's some 2,000 HS competing each season in the Tokyo taikai alone. So when you think of zenkoku that is a lot of pitchers for the few pro slots.

They operate under the "burn one out, run a new one" on concept and there is never a shortage of takers.

[Greji]

Irabu held the recognized record for speed at 159k and Matsuzaka had an unofficial 160k pitch (apparently). But Kroon from Yokohama hit 160 and 161k in a game just last Tuesday the 19th.
<http://speed.s41.xrea.com/i/speednpb.html>