Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 12121 Location: It was fun while it lasted. Country:
Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2013 8:52 am Post subject:
JackClark wrote:
Dodgers might get Masahiro Tanaka
I dunno, I'm not that impressed with Tanaka. He just had one of those years this year. Game 6 the Giants lit him up pretty good, he threw 160 pitches and then came back and pitched the 9th inning in game 7.
I think he has a better chance of being the next Kei Igawa than being the next Yu Darvish.
Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 12121 Location: It was fun while it lasted. Country:
Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2013 7:46 pm Post subject:
He won't get enough votes, but it's another milestone:
Hideo Nomo becomes first Japanese player eligible for Cooperstown
NEW YORK, Nov. 27 (14:01) Kyodo
Former Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Hideo Nomo on Tuesday became the first Japanese player to be named on the Baseball Hall of Fame ballot.
Credited for paving the way to the major leagues for current Japanese players, the pitcher was among 36 on this year's ballot to be decided by the Baseball Writers' Association of America, and among 19 who are eligible to be voted on for the first time.
Joining Nomo on the list are four-time Cy Young Award winner Greg Maddux, two-time winner Tom Glavine and two-time American League MVP Frank Thomas.
To be enshrined, Nomo needs to receive 75 percent of the votes from BBWAA members. The ballot boxes will close Dec. 31, and the results will be announced Jan. 8.
Nomo, now 45, bolted for the majors in 1995, signing with the Dodgers from the Kintetsu Buffaloes and becoming an instant hit in America with his unique windup that earned him the nickname "Tornado."
He was named the National League's Rookie of the Year after winning 13 games and leading the league in strikeouts with 236, and twice threw no-hitters and notched 123 victories during a 12-year career in the U.S.
Nomo also played for six other teams and retired in 2008.
Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 12121 Location: It was fun while it lasted. Country:
Posted: Sat Dec 07, 2013 9:24 am Post subject:
Busy day for Japanese MLB players:
Brewers trade Aoki to Royals
NEW YORK, Dec. 6 (18:39) Kyodo
Japanese outfielder Norichika Aoki was traded to the Kansas City Royals on Thursday after two seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers.
The 31-year-old Aoki, a former three-time Central League batting champion for the Yakult Swallows, has batted .287 over his first two National League seasons with a .355 on-base percentage. He joined Milwaukee through the posting system in 2012 and won a regular position that season. This year he was the Brewers' leadoff man.
"I guess my work with the Brewers over the past two years has paid off," Aoki told reporters in Tokyo. "They (the Royals) are a team that gets in a playoff contention and I feel it'll be worth the move. This is a positive trade," he said.
This year, Aoki batted .286 with eight homers, 37 RBIs and 20 stolen bases for Milwaukee. The Brewers received 24-year-old lefty Will Smith in exchange for Aoki.
The Royals finished third in the American League Central last season, seven games behind the division-champion Detroit Tigers.
And, Kuroda re-signs with Yankees
Hiroki Kuroda will be returning to the Bronx for a third season as the two sides have agreed to a new deal worth $16 million for the 2014 season. The Yankees had wanted the Japanese right-hander back for some time now, but they were unsure whether or not Kuroda wanted to retire, return to Japan, or continue to play for them. Brian Cashman spoke about his optimism to re-sign him on Thursday and it turns out the deal was signed that night.
Kuroda will earn a $1 million raise in his age-39 season after making $15 million in 2013, despite falling off at the end of last season. The Yankees must be confident that he won't experience a decline like that again, because he's been one of their best pitchers since originally signing in 2012. His contract will contain the same incentive bonuses as his last contract: $250,000 at 190 innings pitched and another at 210 innings. If he reaches both incentives, Kuroda's final contract would be worth $16.5 million, though he only reached 210 in 2012, missing by 8.2 innings in 2013.
Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 12121 Location: It was fun while it lasted. Country:
Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2013 3:34 am Post subject:
Looks like Tanaka is staying in Japan for the foreseeable future:
Less than two days after the highly sought Japanese pitcher Masahiro Tanaka said he wanted to pitch in Major League Baseball next season, there was still no definitive word from his team, the Rakuten Golden Eagles, whether it would let him leave.
But on Thursday morning, several Japanese newspapers reported that the Eagles — who control the rights to Tanaka until the end of 2015 — would not permit major league teams to bid for him.
Instead, the Eagles will offer to double or even triple his annual salary of about $4 million, which could make him the highest-paid Japanese pitcher in history.
By keeping Tanaka for at least another year, the Eagles would forgo a $20 million compensatory posting fee from the major league team that ultimately signed him. But they would enhance their chances at repeating as champions in Japan, and they would avoid millions of dollars in lost ticket, food and merchandise sales.
One newspaper, Sports Hochi, reported that there was a strong possibility that team officials would meet with Tanaka after Friday, not to negotiate his contract, but to tell him they would not permit him to depart to play in North America.
Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 12121 Location: It was fun while it lasted. Country:
Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2014 4:42 am Post subject:
Maddux, Glavine, Thomas earn Hall of Fame honors
Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and Frank Thomas were announced as Hall of Famers on Wednesday, as the Baseball Writers Association of America has elected its largest Hall of Fame class since 1999. Craig Biggio, who was projected to get in, missed the cut by a very slim margin — just two votes.
To earn induction, players needed 75 percent of the vote. Maddux topped the list with 97.2 percent, followed by Glavine (91.9) and Thomas (83.7). The last time three players were elected by the BBWAA, in 1999, the nods went to George Brett, Nolan Ryan and Robin Yount.
Missing the cut this year were Biggio (74.8), Mike Piazza (62.2), Jack Morris (61.5), Jeff Bagwell (54.3) and Tim Raines (46.1). This was Morris' final year on the ballot. His divisive case — sabermetrics believers don't think he's worthy, while old-school types often do — will now be left up to the Veterans Committee in 2016.
Voters — there were 571 this year — were allowed to select 10 players from the ballot of 36, but some voters said they thought there were as many as 13 worthy players this year. That split the vote some, and ultimately hurt the numbers for Biggio, Piazza and others.
Most of the players in limbo will be back, as BBWAA voters still wrestle with the moral dilemma of enshrining players such as Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens, who have been linked to PEDs. Bonds received 34.7 percent of the vote, while Clemens did slightly better at 35.4. Both players dropped about two percent from their 2013 totals. One PED-linked player, Rafael Palmeiro, did drop off the ballot after getting just 4.4 percent of the vote.
Greg Maddux wasn't just the smartest pitcher I ever saw, he was the smartest PLAYER that I ever saw. I can't believe Tim Raines didn't even 50% though.
For the record Hideo Nomo received 6 votes or 1.1%, a player needs to receive at least 5% to remain on the ballot for next year so Nomo didn't make the cut.
Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 12121 Location: It was fun while it lasted. Country:
Posted: Fri Jan 17, 2014 7:34 pm Post subject:
But he did make it in Japan:
Nomo elected to Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame on first ballot
TOKYO, Jan. 17 (18:29) Kyodo
Hideo Nomo became the third player to be elected to Japan's Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility on Friday, when the four-member class of 2014 was announced.
Nomo was joined by outfielder Koji Akiyama, who currently manages the Softbank Hawks, and relief pitcher Kazuhiro Sasaki. All three were selected from the players' pool. The late Choichi Aida, former Waseda University manager, was selected by a special committee for his contributions to the game.
Nomo, who was unable to attend the announcement in person due to a prior commitment, was vilified by Japan's pro baseball community, when he escaped his Nippon Professional Baseball contract through a loophole and moved to the major leagues to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1995. Nomo had a career record of 78-46 in Japan and won an additional 123 games in the majors, including a no-hitter in each
league.
"I am taken aback by my selection, I am so happy," Nomo told a press conference in Hyogo Prefecture. "My biggest memories are of my first pro win with Kintetsu and my first major league game."
"I myself don't consider my efforts to be that big a deal, but I'm extremely happy that fans enjoyed watching me play and thought highly of me."
Prior to Nomo, who also became the Hall's youngest inductee at 45 years and 4 months old, the only players to be voted in on their first ballot were pitching legend Victor Starffin and career home run leader Sadaharu Oh.
Nomo, who was Japan's ace at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, became the first Olympic player to enter the Hall, while he and Sasaki are the first of Japan's major leaguers to be inducted.
Sasaki achieved success on both sides of the Pacific with a devastating forkball. He was the Central League's MVP in 1998, when the Yokohama BayStars won their second Japan Series championship. He pitched for the Seattle Mariners for four years starting in 2000, and finished his career in Yokohama in 2005. Sasaki saved a total of 381 games in Japan and the majors.
Akiyama, who began his career as a third baseman, won eight Pacific League pennants and six Japan Series titles with the Seibu Lions. He moved to the Daiei Hawks in a 1994 trade and was the MVP of Daiei's 1999 Series victory. Akiyama collected 2,157 hits, 437 homers and 303 stolen bases over his career that ended in 2002. He became Hawks manager in 2009 and in 2011 led them to a Japan Series
championship.
To earn election, nominees needed to be named on 75 percent or 243 of the 324 ballots cast by veteran baseball writers. Nomo received 267 votes, Akiyama 257 and Sasaki 255. Yomiuri Giants manager Tatsunori Hara, who is in his next-to-last year of eligibility, was fourth in the voting with 196 votes.
Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 12121 Location: It was fun while it lasted. Country:
Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2014 8:22 pm Post subject:
Matsuzaka signs minor league deal with Mets
NEW YORK, Jan. 25 (16:28) Kyodo
The New York Mets said Friday they have signed Daisuke Matsuzaka to another minor league deal with an invite to spring training with the major league club.
Matsuzaka, 33, went 3-3 with a 4.42 ERA in seven late-season starts with the Mets in 2013 after pitching for the Cleveland Indians' Triple-A affiliate until August, where he was 5-8 with a 3.92 ERA in 19 starts.
Matsuzaka helped the Red Sox win the World Series when he joined Boston in 2007 but he struggled from 2009 with injuries before undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in 2011. He has a career 53-40 record with a 4.52 ERA in the majors.
and in case anybody was curious:
Tanaka to wear number 19 with Yankees
NEW YORK, Jan. 25 (15:33) Kyodo
Japanese right-hander Masahiro Tanaka, who has signed a seven-year, $155 million deal with the New York Yankees after using the new posting system, will wear the No. 19 uniform, the club announced on Friday.
Tanaka, 25, joins notable former Yankees to don that number such as lefties Whitey Ford and Dave Righetti, who had a career 252 saves. Other Yankees who have worn the number include Johnny Murphy, Fritz Peterson and Al Leiter.
In his seven years with the Rakuten Eagles, Tanaka wore No. 18. Yankees teammate Hiroki Kuroda has donned No. 18 with the Yankees since 2012.
Hall of Famer Ford, who had a career 236 victories for the Yanks, wore No. 19 when he debuted in 1950. Bob Turley, who won the Cy Young award in 1958, used the number from 1955 to 1962. Righetti, who threw a no-hitter in 1983 before taking over as the Yankees' closer, wore it from 1981 to 1990.
Third baseman Robin Ventura, currently with the Chicago White Sox, and Aaron Boone, who hit a walk-off homer in Game 7 of the 2003 American League Championship Series, also wore the number.
Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 12121 Location: It was fun while it lasted. Country:
Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2014 7:15 pm Post subject:
For the Hiroshima Carp fan that has to have everything:
Carp to sell commemorative underpants
HIROSHIMA, Jan. 27 (18:04) Kyodo
The Hiroshima Carp announced Monday the team will celebrate winning its first-round lottery at last autumn's amateur draft by selling limited edition red underpants.
The Central League club won the negotiating rights to university pitcher Daichi Osera on draft day, when the winning lot was drawn by Carp scout Kei Tamura, who had worn red underpants for good luck.
In honor of the occasion, the club will sell "Carp Lucky Underwear," which come only in red, the team's color, with the same Chinese characters that are printed on the winning draft lot. Only 200 pair will be sold starting Feb. 1, and each will cost 2,800 yen.
Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Posts: 46182 Location: Los Skandolous, California Country:
Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2014 1:28 am Post subject:
gaijinmark wrote:
For the Hiroshima Carp fan that has to have everything:
Carp to sell commemorative underpants
HIROSHIMA, Jan. 27 (18:04) Kyodo
The Hiroshima Carp announced Monday the team will celebrate winning its first-round lottery at last autumn's amateur draft by selling limited edition red underpants.
The Central League club won the negotiating rights to university pitcher Daichi Osera on draft day, when the winning lot was drawn by Carp scout Kei Tamura, who had worn red underpants for good luck.
In honor of the occasion, the club will sell "Carp Lucky Underwear," which come only in red, the team's color, with the same Chinese characters that are printed on the winning draft lot. Only 200 pair will be sold starting Feb. 1, and each will cost 2,800 yen.
Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 12121 Location: It was fun while it lasted. Country:
Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2014 8:31 am Post subject:
M's Iwakuma out 4 to 6 weeks with injury
Seattle Mariners' right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma has a strained tendon in the middle finger of his throwing hand that will sideline him for four to six weeks.
Iwakuma was injured while working out at home in January in southern California, the Tacoma News Tribune reported Thursday.
"I knew it was injured. I didn't think it was a major thing," Iwakuma said through a translator. "I rested my finger for about a week and started playing catch again, long toss. I thought it was good, but then the pain didn't go away."
No surgery is necessary, but Iwakuma will not be able to throw for at least three weeks and is likely to miss all of spring training, leaving his status in doubt for Opening Day. The finger is scheduled to be re-examined in three weeks.
"To be honest, very disappointed with what happened," Iwakuma said. "We have to go from here on."
Last season, Iwakuma finished third in the American League Cy Young Award voting after posting a 14-6 record with a 2.66 ERA, 42 walks and 185 strikeouts in 220 innings. His ERA was the third lowest in the AL.
"Luckily, this does not appear to be a serious injury," Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik said in a statement. "It is a setback for 'Kuma,' but we are confident that he will quickly overcome the missed time and be able to rejoin our rotation early in the regular season."
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