Dead Ball (JPN Baseball Thread)

[Bucky]

Red Sox looking for more Japanese talent

The next target to watch is Hisanori Takahashi. A 34-year-old veteran hurler with the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball, Takahashi recently announced his intentions to leave Japan after 10 seasons with the Giants, hoping to find a career in the major leagues. Takahashi brings a 79–66 career record, a 3.70 ERA and 1,032 strikeouts to the table -- and many think he's got the resume to earn himself a big contract in the major leagues.

"If I didn't have confidence in myself, I wouldn't have made the decision [to pitch in the majors]," Takahashi said in November. "I want to go to a team that needs me. I'd be extremely happy if I'm used as a starter."

The Red Sox might not be able to offer him a starting job right away. They won't guarantee that he'll feel needed in Boston from day one. But there's one thing that Boston can offer, and that's the friendly atmosphere that only a truly international team like the Red Sox can provide.

[BO-SENSEI]

I heard that it was the Orioles that were interested in giving him an opportunity at spring-training. The Sox don't need any more pitching.

Orioles interested in Japanese lefty Takahashi
Mon Nov 30,2009 1:59 PM ET By Aaron Gleeman

Last offseason the Orioles signed veteran Japanese starter Koji Uehara to a two-year, $10 million deal and now they're reportedly interested in his former Yomiuri Giants teammate Hisanori Takahashi....

....
Takahashi has said previously that he wants to remain a starter, but Newman suggests that he "seems better suited for the bullpen" and could be "an effective reliever in the Hideki Okajima mold." That would obviously be a best-case scenario given that Okajima has a 2.72 ERA in 192 innings for the Red Sox, but he's shown that Japanese lefties with good, unconventional off-speed stuff can thrive in the majors despite high-80s fastballs.

He would definitly improve his chances of playing in the majors if he tried to be a step-up pitcher like Okajima is in Boston. I am afraid that Kawakami, Uehara, and even Matsuzaka's sub-standard performance last year has made general managers think twice before shelling over big bucks for Japanese talent.

[Bucky]

I heard that it was the Orioles that were interested in giving him an opportunity at spring-training. The Sox don't need any more pitching.
.

The linked article did go on to say:

So will the Red Sox' international flavor help them land Takahashi? There's a good chance of it. The Orioles, Dodgers, Mets and Giants are reportedly also interested, but you have to think that Boston is the real favorite. They've earned that status with years of legwork.

[Mike Oxlong]

[TennoChinko]

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/baseball.html

Whiting examines Valentine era with Marines

Best-selling author Robert Whiting, who wrote "You Gotta Have Wa," "The Meaning of Ichiro," and "The Chrysanthemum and the Bat," returns to top form in an exhaustively researched exclusive four-part expose on Bobby Valentine's rise and fall with the Chiba Lotte Marines.

1. Clandestine campaign led to Valentine's demise
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/sb20100117j1.html

2. Valentine's philosophy brought Marines glory, money
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/sb20100124c1.html

3. Resentment of Valentine's power factored in downfall
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/sb20100131c1.html

4. History, tradition helped to undermine Valentine
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/sb20100207c1.html

[Bucky]

David Lennon of Newsday reports that Japanese pitcher Hisanori Takahashi has reached a minor-league agreement with the New York Mets.
Our View: Takahashi has spent his entire 10-year baseball career pitching for the legendary Yomiuri Giants of the Japanese Central League. Lifetime, he is 79–66 with a 3.70 ERA and 1,032 strikeouts. The Mets will reportedly give him a chance to be their fifth starter. Stay tuned.

from here

[Greji]

from here

Rumor has it his contract is for just under a million for the year, but that price is based on him making the big league club. I did hear from an insider that the Dodgers were not interested in him at all. I don't know if it was because they considered him over the hill (an opinion with which I agree), or it was because of the on-going Dodgers internal management problems. At any rate, it would indicate from the lack of interest there and other clubs that he was not as "highly" sought after as the J-sports sheets would have us believe....

[Bucky]

[BO-SENSEI]

I would hate to have 30 of the ugliest guys in the world following me around, how come their are no good looking female Japanese reporters there? Or are they in Fort Myers, asking Matsuzaka what kind of gel he uses in his hair or what is it like to be the 4th/5th best starter on a team? I swear to God, if you pussy out one more time, I am going to fly back to Boston and I am going to personally kick your ass.

[Greji]

I would hate to have 30 of the ugliest guys in the world following me around, how come their are no good looking female Japanese reporters there? Or are they in Fort Myers, asking Matsuzaka what kind of gel he uses in his hair or what is it like to be the 4th/5th best starter on a team? I swear to God, if you pussy out one more time, I am going to fly back to Boston and I am going to personally kick your ass.

All the good lookers are interviewing, or married to the single ball players. Those gals jump on that wagon in a flash. Seriously, do a check, google or otherwise, and you would be surprised how many female announcers/reporters are married to J-ballers. i.e. Ichiro's old lady worked for a sports sheet..

[Bucky]

More talks about a Japanese team moving to Arizona for spring training.

Pima County appears to be closer to bringing Japanese baseball to Tucson.
The Nippon Ham Fighters are expected to visit Tucson starting March 4 to potentially complete a deal to train at Kino Sports Complex in 2011. The Rakuten Golden Eagles are also expected to visit, but no date has been set. A visit would be a major step toward finalizing a one-year or multiyear deal to train in Tucson.
"What we have is a verbal understanding that this is something they want to do," said Jack Donovan, who heads Baseball's International Group, the liaison between the Japanese teams and the Pima County Sports and Tourism Authority.
"It's a matter of them working out their schedule to come in and see everything, and then solidify the arrangement. ... It's very exciting for us. We know they're going to be impressed with the facilities."
The Japanese teams would replace the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies, who are moving to a complex near Scottsdale next year.
Donovan said five Japanese teams are interested in visiting Tucson. The group also invited the Lotte Marines' Japanese and Korean teams and the Orix Buffaloes to train in Tucson.
Pending Major League Baseball approval, MLB teams would play the Japanese teams during spring training.
"It doesn't necessarily help the major-league team, but for our minor-leaguers to be able to get games in and workouts in and see different pitchers and players, we're definitely open to it, and we hope they do," Diamondbacks president Derrick Hall said before the team's first full-squad workout.

more

[Behan]

More talks about a Japanese team moving to Arizona for spring training.

I think Nippon Ham used to have their camp in Kamogawa, Chiba Prefecture. There were signs around the station saying that, I believe.

[Greji]

I think Nippon Ham used to have their camp in Kamogawa, Chiba Prefecture. There were signs around the station saying that, I believe.

That may have been their 2gun Behan. Don't remember exactly where but their 2gun was out there somewhere.

[Behan]

[Bucky]

One-man economic stimulus

Sales of team merchandise has been "brisk," according to team president John Carpino, with Matsui fans swapping their Yankees gear for Angels red. There has been "a residual effect in ticket sales" from Matsui's signing, Carpino added. The sagging travel industry in Japan has gotten a boost with the chance to sell travel packages featuring trips to see Matsui's new team as well as area attractions like Disneyland and Orange County's beaches – a new sales pitch after the more expensive New York City packages or Seattle's different appeal.

Of more immediate help to the Angels' bottom line were the calls the Angels' sales and marketing department began getting from Japanese companies interested in signing on as sponsors and advertising at Angel Stadium.

[Bucky]

[Behan]

One of the reasons Nomura may be cantankerous:

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

Sacchi is a fine woman.
And Nomura is a cool bloke for liking her. I'm dubious about his abilities as a manager, but as a person I don't think he's too bad. When all Japan was slamming Sacchi for stealing Nomura when he was a star catcher, he stuck up his middle finger at everyone and chose her. I admire him for that. She's an easy to hate target, but a good person. I'm on the Nomuras' side here.

[Behan]

Sacchi is an arrogant, gold digging crook who is hated by her own children.

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

Sacchi is an arrogant, gold digging crook who is hated by her own children.

Nah, mate. She's an easy target of the type Japan loves.
I'm not saying she's a saint, but she's definitely not as bad as she's made out to be.

[Behan]

The Red Sox just put Matsuzaka on the 15 day DL due to a neck strain. He hasn't seemed to be too healthy recently.

[BO-SENSEI]

This is just to give him more time to catch up with the rest of the pitchers, he pitched 4 scoreless innings, albeit against the Nats, last weekend, he should be back to perfect by late April, and if he isn't, i am still going to get on a plane back to boston and kick his ass.

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

This is just to give him more time to catch up with the rest of the pitchers, he pitched 4 scoreless innings, albeit against the Nats, last weekend, he should be back to perfect by late April, and if he isn't, i am still going to get on a plane back to boston and kick his ass.

I think he's the 21st century version of the fat fucking toad....

[Bucky]

I dare say the Angels love Matsui so far.

It might not have been Game 6 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium, but it was another night to remember for the Japanese legend.

[BO-SENSEI]

I think he's the 21st century version of the fat fucking toad....

I am confused...why would a toad fuck fat.

[Bucky]

I came across this this blog by an American woman. She describes the blog as:

A Japanese baseball blog written by a girl who goes to too many baseball games and takes too many photos. Mostly a Nippon Ham Fighters blog, but the author likes a few other teams and hates the Giants.

[Behan]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP)—Trey Hillman became the first manager to get fired this season when the Kansas City Royals let him go Thursday after a final win.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AsqfpqBu2EyEcMMUEp.yqX8RvLYF?slug=ap-royals-hillmanfired

[TennoChinko]

I came across this this blog by an American woman. She describes the blog as:

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Bucky again.

Nice recommendation. She seems to really know her stuff.

Liked this one on MLB:

http://marinerds.blogspot.com/2010/05/post-about-seattle-mariners-for-change.html

[Mulboyne]

Ramirez hits 300

Alex Ramirez of the Yomiuri Giants hit his 300th career home run in Japan when he belted a solo shot off the Chiba Lotte Marines' Yoshihisa Naruse in the fifth inning of Saturday night's game at Tokyo Dome. Ramirez became the 36th player and third foreigner in Japan pro history to reach the milestone.

[Behan]

Ramirez hits 300

Ramirez seems like such a class act, too. I'm glad for him.