Dead Ball (JPN Baseball Thread)

[mr. sparkle]

I just hated it when TBS calls the Braves, "America's Team". I think they finally knocked that shit off.

Turner used the Braves as a major programming draw for his fledgling cable network, making the Braves the first franchise to have a regular, nationwide audience and fanbase. WTBS marketed the team as "The Atlanta Braves: America's Team," a nickname that still sticks in some areas of the country, especially the South, today.

Yuck. I like my Giants even though...."We took steroids and we liked it.!"

Grumpy Old Man: I'm oooooold! And I'm not happy! And I don't like things now compared to the way they used to be. Progress?! Flobble-de-flee! In my day, when we were angry and frustrated, we just said, "Flobble-de-flee!" 'cause we were idiots and we didn't know what else to say! Just a bunch o' illiterate Cro-Magnons, blowin' on crusty handkerchiefs, waitin' in lines for our head to burst into flame and that's the way it was and we liked it!

The NL West is pretty tight this year. Should be a good second half. I recently went to a Detroit vs. Oakland game. Man, Oakland won but Detroit looked good. They got guys throwing over 100 MPH well into the late innings of the game.

[GuyJean]

I'm not sure if someone already posted this, but I didn't realize Bobby Valentine kept his blog so up-to-date..

http://www.bobbysway.jp/

Let's continue the list of differences between MLB and NPB:

NPB: Players take their own equipment to the stadium.
MLB: All the equipment is taken to the stadium and is there when they arrive.

NPB: Players always shower at the hotel and leave their used clothing outside the room door to be cleaned for the next day.
MLB: Players shower and have their clothing cleaned for them at the stadium

NPB: Travel is done by train, bullet train or plane. The team travels together when traveling by plane and the flights are always commercial flights which means going to airport terminals and making and often waiting for scheduled flights. The players and coaches fly in the coach section of the plane. The bullet train is very fast and comfortable but the players must go to the station to catch the train. The team travels together often but there are times when the players travel on their own and meet at the hotel.
MLB: All plane travel is done on chartered planes. The planes are rented by the team and will be waiting at the airport for the team after the game. The team will go from the stadium directly to the plane. Most of the time, the team does not have to go through the passenger terminal since the bus goes directly from the stadium to the plane and the players get off the bus and board onto the plane. The chartered flight has meal and drink service during the flight.

.. GJ

[IkemenTommy]

I just hated it when TBS calls the Braves, "America's Team". I think they finally knocked that shit off.

Gotta remember, Ted Turner basically owns the Braves.

You think that's bad.. the Braves were once coined as the team of the decade in the 90s, but they only won 1 World Series.

[AssKissinger]

Braves are in 2nd place. It's a wild card run!

[Mulboyne]

I can't say I was aware that baseball players had even brought this action:

Yomiuri: Firms can use pro ballplayers' images

The Tokyo District Court ruled on Tuesday that 10 professional baseball clubs have the right to permit third-party companies to use their players' names and images for baseball game software and cards. In handing down the ruling in the case, filed by 34 professional baseball players from 10 clubs, presiding Judge Makiko Takabe said their contracts do not void the practice of allowing third party companies to use the images. Fukuoka Softbank Hawks and Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles players were not involved in the case. The contents of contracts signed by players and clubs are uniform, based on the baseball agreement.

[Mulboyne]

This has to be one of the least funny Japan anecdotes on record:

Despite the language barrier, Sikorski also managed to fit in well with his Japanese teammates and even was the victim of a few practical jokes. The Japanese teams Sikorski played for provided translators for their English-speaking players. The translators are almost always by the players' sides, even during on-field conferences. But in one instance during his first year with the Yomiuri Giants, Sikorski called catcher Shinnosuke Abe to the mound and attempted to speak for himself. The conversation didn't go so well, but all further dialouges between the two were much clearer. "After the inning was over, he came up to me and started laughing and said, `English is OK,'" Sikorski said. "He actually (became) a good friend. I always talked to him."

Story from here.

[dimwit]

So I am watching the semi-finals and the team from Kagoshima is down 4-0 in the middle innings and they get a one out single. Next up is I assume one of their beter hitter as he is averaging .400. What do they do? They sacrifice bunt the runner over to second base. Now there are two out and any rally is effectively dead. What am I missing here? I guess my question is how does a team with such lousy coaching get to the semi-finals?

[canman]

Dimwit what are you thinking!!! This is high school baseball. You must always bunt with less than two outs. Just as you must always dive head first for first base, even though running hard will give you a better chance of beating the throw. You must always bring your defence in to better the chance of a getting the man out at first, even if a double play would end the inning.
I love watching Koshien baseball, started to love it 7 years ago while stuck in a hosptial after having ACL surgery. But I will never understand what the hell the coaches are thinking, and how they can stay for so long when they are old and over the hill.

[IkemenTommy]

Bunt.. that's an easy one. They were trying to psych the other team into thinking that they will go for a long hit in the backfield. Perfect play and you will always be known as the "bunt kid"

Though I don't see the big fuckin deal about watching these little leaguer kids in action. It's such a boring tradition yet sadly more people watch it than any given Gomiuri Giants game during this season

[emperor]

I might go for the beer & the babes,
but baseball is boooring!

even rounders is better (its wetter)

baseball is fun to play but crap to watch:
thats why god invented lesbians

[canman]

I'm watching the final game and would like to know why these kids won't wear their baseball caps lower on their heads. Is it some kind of fashion thing. After every pitch the pitcher's cap either almost falls off or does, and then he has to rearrange it. Also I think we all know who the manager is, do they really need that gay little ribbon telling us who they are. They are the S/M people who run the teams.
Anyway good luck Waseda!!!

[canman]

What a game!! I can't believe that the poor Waseda pitcher just pitched 15 straight innings. And he will have to come back tomorrow and do it again. I think there should be some kind of rule that a pitcher can only throw a certain number of pitches in one game. Otherwise you destroy their arms. I read that is why Hideo Nomo said he was able to pitch in the big leagues. He knew of too many pitchers who went to the Koshien tounament only to have their arms destroyed by overzealous managers. He said his high school teams were pretty weak, so he didn't have all the wear and tear on his arm that other pitchers his age had.

[Captain Japan]

It was a great game. I know the announcer said they are going to start again tomorrow from 1PM. But will they play nine innings? Or will they just continue with today's game?

The Komazawa pitcher threw over 160 pitches. The Waseda pitcher had to have been up around 180 (or more). Didn't Matsuzaka throw back-to-back games 8 years ago? I should check that...

These managers never saw a situation where they didn't like to bunt. Guy gets on first, bunt. No matter who is coming up. I can see it with no outs, I guess. But they were doing it with one out in the second half of the game today each time. Haven't these managers heard of the stolen base? Hit and run?

If the same Waseda pitcher goes tomorrow they should call the cops. That really would be child abuse.

[Captain Japan]

It wasn't the next day. It was two days later. Story here.

Japanese baseball fans were first captivated by Matsuzaka during the quarterfinals of the 1998 summer Koshien tournament. A desperate 17-inning struggle was unfolding between Matsuzaka's Yokohama High School and PL Gakuen, widely famed for its baseball program. Matsuzaka threw 250 pitches under the broiling sun without any loss of concentration. Even as his exhaustion grew, his form never wavered and he maintained power and control. The outstanding stamina and ability Matsuzaka showed on the mound moved not only the fans, but pro baseball scouts as well. A mere two days later, Matsuzaka pitched a no-hit shutout in the championship game. A victory like that had only been seen once before in the Koshien finals--59 years earlier. Matsuzaka's popularity and reputation soared, and he became an overnight national hero.

Stamina? That must mean he eats lots and lots of eels or hangs around the restaurant in this thread.

[IkemenTommy]

Koshien...

[Greji]

But will they play nine innings? Or will they just continue with today's game?

Today never happened! They'll stop it from the top and go nine or further.


The last one of these I remember was in 2003, when Toyodai Himeiji High School tied in 15 innings and went on to lose the next day with Vietnamese-Japanese lefty Kwen Tran Phuoc An going all the way in both games.

BTW Capt'n if you remember An as the skinny looking little VN kid pitching on TV, forget about it. Now he is throwing for Toshiba-Fuchu and I saw him in the Open sen last year and this year. Toshiba has had him on a mass weight lifting program (or training him under Barry Bond's old trainer) and he looks like a short, dark haired "Hulk Hogan". He's as wide as he is tall and he sure ain't little no more.

Anyway you are looking at a nine inning game plus. I think you got to tip Sojitsu because of their depth, but having said that, everybody has been counting the Dosanko out for three tournaments and they're still here. It's gotta be a great game!

[Captain Japan]

Waseda Jitsugyo wins National High School Baseball Tournament for first time
Mainichi

NISHINOMIYA, Hyogo -- Waseda Jitsugyo High School from western Tokyo won the 88th National High School Baseball Tournament on Monday, defeating Komadai Tomakomai High School 4-3.

Monday's game was held after the teams played to a 1-1 draw after 15 innings on Sunday.

It was the first time Waseda Jitsugyo won the annual competition. Komadai Tomakomai, from southern Hokkaido, was aiming to lift the trophy for the third year in a row....more...

[GuyJean]

Waseda Jitsugyo wins National High School Baseball Tournament for first time

Super Free!!!

Good game... Exciting till the last strike..

GJ

[Greji]

[quote="GuyJean"]Super Free!!! ]

I think Sojitsu had it sewed up all the way, although the Hokkaido dudes definately got their attenion with that two run dinger in the ninth.

It was a good game. Both aces, after doing most of the 15 innings yesterday, did the most today (Tanaka did 8 innings to day and Saito did 9, 20 some innings apiece over the last two days alone)

Neither will be able raise their arms to lope their mule for the next 30 years, but they can always say they were at Koshien!

I just hope the assholes didn't ruin them. Both are 150km class pitchers (or at least were, up until today)

[canman]

I was sitting in my family room trying to escape the heat and the wife was watching some wide show. The whole damn show was about the Waseda pitcher Yuki Saito. Now I think the guy did a hell of a job, and I hope that his right arm doesn't fall off from all the pitching.
But now we have to know about what handerchief he was using, and what is his favorite stuffed toy, and his lucky charm. I really hope the kid does as he said and signs with an MLB team. Its the only way he will be able to escape this media feeding frenzy. Or I guess he could sign with one of the Japanese teams, make a fortune and live in a bottle.
But its just a little sickening, IMHO.

[dimwit]

From MLB

Sato dominant in Japan semis win
Starter plates four, shuts down Saudi Arabia
By David Briggs / MLB.com

Ryoya Sato shut down the team from Saudi Arabia to help the favored Japan team into the International finals this weekend. (Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
MLB Headlines


SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. -- Ryoya Sato had designs on offering a reprise of his no-hit effort last week against Moscow on Thursday afternoon.
"I intended on throwing another no-hitter today, but I began to realize from the beginning that was not possible," Sato said through a translator.

So the Kawaguchi City, Japan, pitcher had to settle for a mere dominating showing and driving in all four of his team's runs in Japan's 4-1 win over Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, at Lamade Stadium.

The win sends Japan, the tournament's heavy favorite, into Saturday night's International championship game against Mexico.

Story here

I wonder if there are any pro players in Japan who are Little League World Series alumni?

[Greji]

I wonder if there are any pro players in Japan who are Little League World Series alumni?

Obviously there will be some if not a lot who just have the experience. But most people are surprised to find that the large majority of the Little League stars do not specifically progress. The reason is that a large majority of the stars are early "bloomers". They have grown faster, and obtained their coordination quicker than team mates and counter parts.

We have all seen the kids who were small in elementary school and suddenly during middle and high school rapidly grew to be the tallest or biggest in the class. Coordination is the same. Some kids progress really fast. Several of the kids who were star pitchers in my Little League days, were never able to carry on when they moved up to what we called Junior League, 13 to 15 and beyond that to Connie Mack League 15 to 17. A couple played other positions but they had been out grown and were being out played by the other kids.

A lot of kids will have little league experience, but again the amount of talent they have to offer up at the sixth and seventh grade level(age 12), may very greatly between players.

[AssKissinger]

[Taro Toporific]

Columbus, Ga., wins Little League title
Associated Press, Tue Aug 29, 7:44 AM ET
SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - Cody Walker hit a two-run homer, Kyle Carter struck out 11, and Columbus, Ga., beat Kawaguchi City, Japan, 2-1 on Monday, giving an American team the championship for the second straight year....
....Just 13, Japan's Go Matsumoto dominated hitters like a major leaguer with an overpowering fastball. It was potent again for him on Monday, except for Walker's shot in the third inning that followed a baserunning blunder.....
....more...

[IkemenTommy]

Columbus, Ga., wins Little League title

For me to poop on

[Taro Toporific]

For me to poop on

You haven't pooped in a few days, so here's a little something for your regularity!



BEIJING - SEPTEMBER 05 Getty Images: ....Japanese players during the match against US at ISF XI Women's Fast Pitch Softball World Championship at the Fengtai Softball Stadium on September 5, 2006 in Beijing, China. Japan lost the match 0-3 to US and won the silver medal.

[Mulboyne]

Xinhua: Japan's teenage baseball star chooses university over pros

Japan's teenage baseball star Yuki Saito, who led his team to its first title at the national high school baseball championship last month, said Monday he decided to attend university instead of playing pro baseball. "After discussing the matter with family and school advisers, I have decided not to become a candidate for pro baseball. I have decided I will attend university," Kyodo News quoted the 18-year-old pitcher as saying. "I want to go to university and develop my skills as a baseball player and also grow as a person. I might be taking the long route by going to university for four years, but I'm not that naive to think I can just go directly to the pros and perform at a high level," Saito told a news conference held at his school in Tokyo's Kokubunji.

Will that be better for his pitching arm over the long run or will it get just as much wear and tear over a university career?

[Greji]

Xinhua: Japan's teenage baseball star chooses university over pros

Will that be better for his pitching arm over the long run or will it get just as much wear and tear over a university career?

Absolutely not in the question. Only a very, very select few make the main team straight out of HS, most will spend 3-4 years on the farms or in jitsugyodan. So by the same period of time of college "training", the player then has his shot at the big time. The difference is if he fails after going pro from HS, he is out of work as an HS grad. He he fails after college, he is still out of work, but as a college grad with a bit better chance of finding employment and better employment at that.

This is extremely big for pitchers who easily get hurt, burned out, or otherwise fall by the wayside with arm problems on the way up. Infielders and outfielders, or even catchers, have a chance to recover from injury and continue. Pitchers are usually dead in the water once the old flipper goes.

[Taro Toporific]

Racist remarks against foreign baseball coach result in suspension, fine
debito.org on September 27th, 2006
....vastly overshadowed by the actions of Fighters starter Satoru Kanemura, who threw a major hissy fit due to being pulled by manager Trey Hillman in the fifth inning needing just one out to become the first Nippon Ham hurler to rack up five straight ten win seasons since Yukihiro Nishimura. After the game, he told the press that. yanking him was "absolutely unforgivable" and then took a racial shot at Hillman, grumbling that, "because he's a foreigner, he doesn't care about players' individual goals." He then challeneged reporters to print his remarks. "I don't even want to look at him," Kanemura said of Hillman. In addition, he accused the former Rangers farm director of being more indulgent with Iranian-Japanese righthander Yu Darvish than him. In the context of this little explosion, that also has a racial tinge to it. Kanemura also beefed that he didn't think Hillman trusted him.........

[canman]

What a fucking idiot. His team is in the middle of a great pennant race and all he can think about is getting his ten wins. I hope the Fighters go on to win the whole thing without him. Hillman is a real bright spot for Japanese baseball, and of course he is going to help Darvish, he is the ace and will be for years to come. Why did it have to be mentioned that Darvish is half Iranian, he was raised and is Japanese. Just goes to show you how backward a lot of these stupdi fucking baseball players are. Learn nothing and do nothing but play baseball.