a tough guy to know or understand

[Taro Toporific]

Sasaki tough guy to know or understand
Seattle Post Intelligencer, WA - Jan 21 - - - For a guy who solved the most egregious baseball problem in recent Mariners history, it's remarkable how dry are the eyes that view the unexpected departure of Kazuhiro Sasaki.
Instead of sadness, eyes are filled with 9.5 million dollar signs. ...The guess here is Sasaki will pitch in Japan next year, although at considerably less than the $9.5 million he is forfeiting in the U.S. Perhaps the sacrifice is worth it, as he says, to be "closer" to his family.
It's just that when American sports figures invoke family as an excuse for leaving early, skepticism flourishes (see Griffey Jr., Ken; Piniella, Lou; Clemens, Roger; Jordan, Michael)....

[Captain Japan]

But Price, as well as teammates and bosses, never quite knew what they were getting with Sasaki, especially last year when he had a mysterious back problem coming out of spring training, followed by broken ribs he attributed to falling on his suitcase -- the latter causing temporary vision problems among some teammates attributed to rolled eyes.

Ok, anyone want to guess how he broke those ribs then? Or is another cause not what the author is inferring?

[Watcher]

I weas thiniking it was odd too... then NHK filled me in... the injury, the poor results last year... the heir nippon replacement in Hasegawa... the Mariners grabbing a hot 42 saves master over the winter... hmmmmmm... methinks that maybe Sasaki is finished. There's no doubt that if he were able to come back that he would go with another team but now the majors are awash in saves leaders (read not quite good enough starters).
And then my GF pointed out to me this: Who cares? He's made enough money and will never have to work again. Now he truly just plays for himself. If he wants to be near family then that makes sense.
Being family in Japan and being family in Cincinatti (in reference to Ken Griffey Jr.) are two very different things as all us FG know.

[Captain Japan]

I weas thiniking it was odd too... then NHK filled me in... the injury, the poor results last year... the heir nippon replacement in Hasegawa... the Mariners grabbing a hot 42 saves master over the winter... hmmmmmm... methinks that maybe Sasaki is finished. There's no doubt that if he were able to come back that he would go with another team but now the majors are awash in saves leaders (read not quite good enough starters).
And then my GF pointed out to me this: Who cares? He's made enough money and will never have to work again. Now he truly just plays for himself. If he wants to be near family then that makes sense.
Being family in Japan and being family in Cincinatti (in reference to Ken Griffey Jr.) are two very different things as all us FG know.

Actually Guardado is going to be their closer. Hasegawa had his 15 minutes last year.

[Big Booger]

If I were in America, I'd hold up a flag reading, "GAIJIN GO HOME" LOL

HEHEHE

[leathernick]

Actually Guardado is going to be their closer. Hasegawa had his 15 minutes last year.

But interestingly, Guardado's agent, Kevin Kohler, said yesterday that the subject of Sasaki's potential departure was broached during negotiations. In late November reports had surfaced that the Yomiuri Giants had contacted Seattle about a trade for Sasaki. Guardado was signed two weeks later

It seems that the Mariners kind of know this would happen, that's I think that's why they had to secured a closer.