Dead Ball (JPN Baseball Thread)

[Mulboyne]

[GuyJean]

[Mulboyne]

[GuyJean]

ALERT ALERT...Brushback.com = Sports Onion.com

Or was that a double bluff?

Ha, ha!.. I just ran to take a piss, and while pissing, I realized I had been taken by someone taking the piss...

D'oh!

GJ

[Captain Japan]

Nomo broke ground for Japan
MLB

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Early Monday morning, with dew still moistening lawns in neighboring communities, Hideo Nomo will take the mound in the Devil Rays' minor league complex.
Nomo will twist into and coil out of his windup against Tampa Bay prospects, looking for four innings to project him further into Lou Piniella's plans.

He is 36 now, the man who led off the Japanese line, perhaps nearing the end of his own.

There are so few genuine pioneers, no more in baseball than anywhere else.

Babe Ruth, obviously, for popularizing the home run. Jackie Robinson, definitely.

Maury Wills, certainly. He gave the game legs. Before his 104 steals in 1962, no National Leaguer had topped 60 in 46 years, since Max Carey in 1916. In the 42 years since, 51 have done so.

Bruce Sutter, of course. When he recorded his first save in 1976, the career record was 227, by Hoyt Wilhelm. Now 26 closers own more than that.

And Hideo Nomo. He high-kicked in the door through which Japanese ballplayers have enriched the Majors, and advanced the game itself to the ledge of true globalization....more...

[Captain Japan]

Manuel a favorite in Japan
phillyBurbs.com

TAMPA, Fla. - Making like one of his childhood heroes, New York Yankees superstar Hideki Matsui hit a first-inning grand slam off Phillies pitcher Randy Wolf on Saturday.

As a child in Japan, Matsui used to admire a big left-handed slugger named Charlie Manuel, now the Phillies manager.

"I had a strong desire to be a hitter like that," Matsui said through an interpreter.

Manuel averaged 31 homers while playing in Japan from 1976-81

"I loved to play there because they played baseball the right way," Manuel said. "You could tell that in their heart, they loved to play."

Manuel is best known in Japan for making a speedy recovery from a broken jaw that came from a beaning in 1979. After missing only six weeks, he returned with three steel plates in his jaw. His first game back, he wore a batting helmet with a face mask.

"I was in elementary school and when I saw Charlie come back with a football helmet, I almost started crying," said Katsushi Nogao, now a Japanese reporter for Sha magazine. "I thought, 'This is a real samurai out there.' It was so exciting."...more...

[Mulboyne]

Asahi: Baseball lifts lifetime ban
Japanese professional baseball has opened the way for former players who received lifetime bans to return to its fold. This revision of the professional baseball convention has attracted attention because it makes it possible to cancel punitive action even in cases against players implicated in fixed games or gambling...Although the baseball association says the recent revision of the baseball convention was made for no particular player, it has apparently in its mind Masaaki Ikenaga, a former pitcher with the then-Nishitetsu Lions, who was banished for gambling on baseball.
The "black fog" scandal came to light in 1969. Twenty players were subjected to punitive action, including lifetime bans, for their involvement in gambling and organized crime. The entire baseball world was caught up in the scandal and its leaders were summoned to the Diet to answer questions by lawmakers. Ikenaga was handed a million yen in cash. He did not spend the money and he denied that he fixed any game. But he was banished from the baseball world the next year.
... Several scandals in recent days, such as illegally obtained profits from a team's cheerleading song, indicate involvement of organized crime in the current baseball world. Japanese professional baseball has just embarked on taking steps to expel fan clubs that might include members of yakuza groups. The decision to lift the ban on banished players is inconsistent with the policy of getting rid of the influence of organized crime.

[Captain Japan]

I really don't see Ishii getting his head straight with the Mets...
Confident Ishii reports to Mets
Japan Times

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) Kazuhisa Ishii is looking to build a new reputation in a new town.

Ishii, traded Sunday from Los Angeles to the New York Mets, spent three years with the Dodgers and was known as a left-hander with inconsistent control. Los Angeles manager Jim Tracy dropped him from the starting rotation last August.

Ishii made some changes during the offseason and says his control is better and his fastball is now 145-kph-plus. He also read sports philosophy books.

"I would like it if everyone did not get too nervous about the walks," Ishii said through a translator Monday after reporting to the Mets. "I just want to keep my concentration up and maintain and focus on putting zeros on the boards."

Despite an average of 101 walks per season in the majors, Ishii has a 36-25 career record. Mets pitching coach Rick Peterson says Ishii is evolving, and the pitcher hasn't allowed an earned run in seven innings during spring training. He's given up two hits and struck out 10 in three appearances, walking only four.

Ishii joins a team with high expectations this year.

"I would like to pitch for a ring, and I would like to be a part of the run," he said....more...

[AssKissinger]

Not Japan related but this is good news we can all enjoy. Shrunk up little dick Bonds might sit the season out!

Shrunken Balls Bonds

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- Barry Bonds' chase of Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron on baseball's home run list may be delayed.

Two knee surgeries and baseball's steroids scandal have taken their toll on the San Francisco Giants' slugger, who said he may not play this season.

I hope your knees are killing you and you never walk straight again, Bonds.

Saying he was physically and mentally ``done,'' Bonds blamed intense media scrutiny for at least part of his troubles.

Hey Bonds, since you're so 'done' why don't you put a shotgun in your mouth and pull the trigger?

Sitting at a picnic table outside the Giants' clubhouse Tuesday with his 15-year-old son, Nikolai, Bonds told reporters: ``My son and I are just going to enjoy our lives. You guys wanted to hurt me bad enough, you finally got me.

Fuck you Bonds.

``I'm tired of my kids crying. You wanted me to jump off a bridge, I finally did. You finally brought me and my family down. ... So now go pick a different person.''

No Bonds. We don't mean figuratively. Really, go over tp the Golden Gate Bridge and jump the fuck off.


Give it up Bonds! You'll never catch Aaron you fake ass roided up phony BULLSHIT punk.

[AssKissinger]

Nomo broke ground for Japan
MLB

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Early Monday morning, with dew still moistening lawns in neighboring communities, Hideo Nomo will take the mound in the Devil Rays' minor league complex.
Nomo will twist into and coil out of his windup against Tampa Bay prospects, looking for four innings to project him further into Lou Piniella's plans.

He is 36 now, the man who led off the Japanese line, perhaps nearing the end of his own.

There are so few genuine pioneers, no more in baseball than anywhere else.

Babe Ruth, obviously, for popularizing the home run. Jackie Robinson, definitely.

Maury Wills, certainly. He gave the game legs. Before his 104 steals in 1962, no National Leaguer had topped 60 in 46 years, since Max Carey in 1916. In the 42 years since, 51 have done so.

Bruce Sutter, of course. When he recorded his first save in 1976, the career record was 227, by Hoyt Wilhelm. Now 26 closers own more than that.

And Hideo Nomo. He high-kicked in the door through which Japanese ballplayers have enriched the Majors, and advanced the game itself to the ledge of true globalization....more...

Nomo's starting for Tampa Bay! The game's on BS1 live right now! Gambatte Nomo! I love this guy. He's all class, almost exactly the same age as me and I certainly remember his rookie MLB season. Still and always a legend.

[AssKissinger]

Nice 2nd inning for Tampa, 7 to 0

Yabu is there as well (copy and pasted to avoid registration hassles)

Yabu is looking forward to seeing Nomo pitch

By Joe Roderick

Knight Ridder


ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- When Hideo Nomo became the first Japanese-born player to join a major league team in 1995 after playing professionally in Japan, A's pitcher Keiichi Yabu was in his second year with the Hanshin Tigers.

Yabu watched Nomo's televised games aired in Japan and wondered if someday he would emulate him and pitch for a major league team. Nomo wasn't exactly Yabu's hero since they're both 36, but Yabu respects his countryman for being a pioneer in their sport.

Nomo, who pitches today for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, hasn't had a chance to talk with Yabu since the A's pitcher arrived in Florida on Thursday night. Yabu isn't sure if their schedules will allow them to socialize.

With Nomo making his Devil Rays debut and Yabu in town, it's something of an event to the Japanese media.

``I'm looking forward to seeing him throw,'' Yabu said through a translator. ``Tomorrow it will be a big deal. I'm sure the game will be broadcast in Japan.''

Nomo has made 301 appearances in the majors, including stints with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee, New York Mets, Detroit and Boston. Yabu has yet to appear in a major league game.

Yabu said his situation is different from Nomo's. ``As a reliever, my job is to be ready to throw every day. When that happens, it happens.''

Several Japanese reporters have followed Yabu to Baltimore and Florida but haven't had much to write because Manager Ken Macha has not used him in a game. Yabu wants to get his debut over with as much as the countrymen journalists covering him.

``As quickly as possible,'' he said. ``I'm ready any time.''

Nomo would not talk with reporters the day before his start, which is not unusual for pitchers.

• Left-handed reliever Ricardo Rincon has been impressive in two outings. Macha used him differently this spring, having him pitch more in minor league games than exhibition outings. Rincon's fastball has been better than in the past, Macha said.

A's catcher Jason Kendall said Baltimore's Rafael Palmeiro was shocked when Rincon threw him a couple of fastballs, Macha said.

``He usually throws him a slider in those situations,'' the manager said. ``Jason said his fastball is moving great. That's going to help against right-handers.''

• Seth Etherton, pitching for the Sacramento River Cats, allowed only two hits over five scoreless innings in a 3-2 victory over the Portland Beavers in a Pacific Coast League game in West Sacramento.

Etherton, however, did not get the win. Josh Barfield's two-run homer in the ninth off reliever Chris Mabeus tied the score.

Freddie Bynum's RBI single in the 10th gave the River Cats the victory

[AssKissinger]

Yabu's finally going in with one out and the bases loaded.


edit


Well he just gave up two runs but they were charged to the starting pitcher.

2nd edit

One more run in. Inning over. Oakland's manager waited too long to put in Yabu, I think.

[GuyJean]

Yabu's finally going in with one out and the bases loaded.

Looks like he has good stuff.. Except he just gave up another run..

Nomo vs Yabu, baby!

It's so refreshing to watch 'real' baseball with 'real' camera crews; The NHK monkeys doing the Mariners home games are a fucking joke.. I end up just listening to the TV because their molasses like camera instincts infuriate me.

Good to see Lou managing a game..

GJ

[AssKissinger]

A solid six innings for Hideo. If he keeps that up it'll be a good season. He's really changed his release from when he was younger, hasn't he? The form is still the same. I love watching him. But remember how he used to wind up and release so quickly? Now he has slowed it down but added a little stutter move to trip up the batters. You gotta respect what he's done. He doesn't have much of chance to get into Cooperstown though, does he?

BTW, why the fuck did they build that nasty ass dome in Tampa Bay?

[Captain Japan]

Yabu's finally going in with one out and the bases loaded.

Looks like he has good stuff.. Except he just gave up another run..

Nomo vs Yabu, baby!

It's so refreshing to watch 'real' baseball with 'real' camera crews]

When they zoom in on only the baseball I really start wondering if they know what is appealing about the game.

[AssKissinger]

NHK has their own cameras set up in the Mariner's stadium? I didn't know that. Do those games still have an English sub-channel?

[GuyJean]

I love watching him...

Me too.. His delivery is so unique; so many chances to make mistakes with so much movement before delivery, but he's fairly consistent.. The most recent stint with the Dodgers, he never seemed to get any run support.

My best memory was when he pitched his no-hitter visiting Colorado.. I was impressed that even though they were playing away, the fans were cheering him on the whole last inning. Then he flashed his sheepish smile after the last out; "Shucks, guys. Thanks." He made good drama..

Watch the Mariniers game after this.. I think it starts around 10:15.. Notice the difference in TV coverage.

GJ

[GuyJean]

NHK has their own cameras set up in the Mariner's stadium? I didn't know that. Do those games still have an English sub-channel?

Yeah. English with non-English camera angles.. You can listen to the commentators go on about how great the last play was as they watch every angle, but you get to see Ichiro stretching or sitting in the dugout..

GJ

[mr. sparkle]

Barry Ruuuuuules!

Let's GO Giants!

[canman]

The reason they have their own camera's and don't use the Fox feed is that there are too many ads and the like. For example when they flash a highlight it might be sponsored by some company and NHK doesn't want to show it. I really love watching the game and having the English announcers talk about what a great play, and we all the while are watching Ichiro scratch himself, or do some of his countless stretches. Man that guy is limber.
But yeah the coverage pretty well sucks, but its better than nothing that's for sure. Its amazing how quickly the Dodgers have fallen out of favor in Japan, get rid of the two Japanese players and you'd think the team had gone bust.
GJ for the life of me I can't understand why Lou left Seattle for TB, what a bunch of losers. The owners that is. They won't put any money into the team. I read that they are making like bandits, with this redistribution of money from the Yankees and Red Sox. They don't have to filed a competative team and they still make a fortune.
Mr. Sparkly Barry rules? What the hell does that mean? He rages maybe, but rules, come on the guy is a shmuck. I know you are a Bay person ,but you can't tell me you like him or what he has done for baseball, which is not a lot in my opinion.

[GuyJean]

The reason they have their own camera's and don't use the Fox feed is that there are too many ads and the like. For example when they flash a highlight it might be sponsored by some company and NHK doesn't want to show it.

I realize that, but they use the 'authentic' feeds for the other non-Mariner games, and any Mariner away games.. I think Fox charges so much for their cameras, it's cheaper for NHK to have their own monkeys do it..

GJ

[AssKissinger]

FWIW, and this is only a speculation, I really don't know but I guess that NHK doesn't actually have cameras at the park they just have a way of controlling the feed so they can choose which shot to put on TV. Maybe they do have one 'Ichiro cam'. Of course, I've noticed that they prefer to show Ichiro scratching his balls over an exciting replay. About the close-ups on the ball (not Ichiro's) that someone mentioned. Yeah, that's fucking retarded. Especially when it's on a line drive. You just see the ball but you have no idea what the fielders and the baserunners are doing. I know the fucking ball is rolling on the grass for Christ's sake! With a homerun though I think it's pretty cool.

[Captain Japan]

FWIW, and this is only a speculation, I really don't know but I guess that NHK doesn't actually have cameras at the park they just have a way of controlling the feed so they can choose which shot to put on TV. Maybe they do have one 'Ichiro cam'. Of course, I've noticed that they prefer to show Ichiro scratching his balls over an exciting replay. About the close-ups on the ball (not Ichiro's) that someone mentioned. Yeah, that's fucking retarded. Especially when it's on a line drive. You just see the ball but you have no idea what the fielders and the baserunners are doing. I know the fucking ball is rolling on the grass for Christ's sake! With a homerun though I think it's pretty cool.

I remember reading that NHK actually did a lot of work installing equipment at Safeco before Ichiro's rookie year. Let me see if I can find it.

I think the zoom on homers is lame as well. They just do that so you are in suspense until the ball hits the bleachers or lands in an outfielder's glove. Just show the damn game!

[Captain Japan]

Ok, I found the story I mentioned...cable and 10 HDTV cameras...

Japanese TV to broadcast Mariners games on HDTV
CNN/SI

SEATTLE (AP) -- Japanese television broadcaster NHK is laying cable at Safeco Field to broadcast all 81 Mariners home games in high-definition television to Ichiro Suzuki fans in Japan.

In addition, 55 home and away games will be broadcast in Japan by regular signal, said Mariners' spokeswoman Rebecca Hale....more...

[GuyJean]

FWIW, and this is only a speculation, I really don't know but I guess that NHK doesn't actually have cameras at the park they just have a way of controlling the feed so they can choose which shot to put on TV.

They used to do that a couple years ago]do[/i] have their own crew; I've seen NHK written on the sides of the cameras.. Plus, some of the Mariner games are broadcast on BS 'high vision' in Japan. Doesn't matter how many pixels you can stuff on the screen; if the camera crew has no sport instinct when broadcasting a sport, as a viewer you're always going to feel one step behind in the action.. And pissed off when they miss a play.

I loath Fox news, but their sports coverage was, and sometimes still is, revolutionary.. You can see the difference..

GJ

[AssKissinger]

Thanks Captain. I stand corrected. It's kind of unbelievable that they would do that though. I mean damn, American coverage ain't good enough for 'em? Just another reason not to pay NHK. Talk about a huge waste of money.


It must be unnerving to be on TV every fucking second of the game.

[canman]

I think this is NHK's way of making sure we only get to see the Japanese players. Heaven forbid they used the Fox feed, we may not get to see that replay of Ichiro stretching 79 times in a row.
I wonder what they do at Yankee stadium. They use the audio from the Yes network, and also from Fox. Do they use their own cameras as well. Or I wonder if they use the same feed but then cut in with their own shots every once in a while. That could be, and it would be cheaper.
BTW AK have you ever watched the superbowl here in Japan, its the same thing. They refuse to show the replays etc. So you can here the commentators talk about the play but we only get to see the shot of the field, or the fans. Don;t know why.

[Captain Japan]

Talk about a huge waste of money.

In looking for that story I found that advertising monster Dentsu is involved. So that might have something to do with it.

[AssKissinger]

AK have you ever watched the superbowl here in Japan, its the same thing. They refuse to show the replays etc. So you can here the commentators talk about the play but we only get to see the shot of the field, or the fans. Don;t know why.

Yeah, I've been lucky enough to get to watch a few Superbowls live here. I've noticed this with the World Series here too. Not that they don't show replays but they have special ed. retard English speaking international announcers for the big games. During the Superbowl, they're constantly explaing the rules of the game. Like the concept of downs and so on. It sucks.

[Mulboyne]

I think we tend to take the fact that there are bilingual broadcasts at all a little for granted. British TV's coverage of sumo must leave some Japanese gnashing their teeth - if they can find tucked away in the programming dead zones. I wonder whether other non-English speaking countries regularly offer an English sub-channel when they broadcast something like the World Series or Superbowl.