The man generally regarded as the greatest catcher in Japanese baseball history has reached a milestone that helps establish him as one of the country’s greatest managers, too. When the Rakuten Eagles defeated the Nippon Ham Fighters, 2-1, in a recent Pacific League contest, it marked the 1,500th win in the managerial career of Rakuten skipper Katsuya Nomura. But it didn’t come easily.
The Eagles got off to a 2-0 lead on RBI singles by Daisuke Kusano in the second inning and Fernando Seguignol in the sixth, but a solo homer by the Fighters’ Termel Sledge brough Nippon Ham to within one run of Rakuten. However, Eagles starter Masahiro Tanaka held on to keep the Fighters off the scoreboard the rest of the way to complete his fourth complete game in as many starts this season. Tanaka limited Nippon Ham to four hits and a walk, striking out eleven batters.
Nomura becomes the fifth manager in Japanese baseball history to reach 1,500 victories. The late Kazuto Tsuruoka tops the list with 1,773 wins. Before becoming a manager, Nomura spent over 20 seasons as a catcher in Japanese baseball, primarily with the Nankai Hawks, beginning in 1954. He retired in the 1970’s with over 600 homers and 2,500 hits in his career.
Showing posts with label Japan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Japan. Show all posts
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Saturday, April 25, 2009
YOMIURI WIN STREAK AT SIX, LEAD CENTRAL LEAGUE TABLE
Pinch-hitter Shinnosuke Abe drilled the first pitch he saw from Takehiko Oshimoto off the right field wall to drive in the winning run in the ninth inning April 22 as the Yomiuri Giants beat the Yakult Swallows, 2-1, in a Japanese Central League contest. The win was the sixth in a row for the Giants.
The game was a scoreless tie until the top of the fourth inning, when Yomiuri’s Yoshitomo Tani stroked an RBI double. Yakult knotted the score in the bottom of the eighth when Norichika Aoki socked a game-tying double, setting up Abe’s ninth-inning heroics for the Giants. Daisuke Ochi is now 2-0 after collecting the win in relief.
With the win, Yomiuri’s record went to 11-3-2 on the season, good for first place in the Central League standings. Yakult fell to 9-7 after losing their third game in a row, but still holds second place by one game over the 8-8 Chunichi Dragons.
The game was a scoreless tie until the top of the fourth inning, when Yomiuri’s Yoshitomo Tani stroked an RBI double. Yakult knotted the score in the bottom of the eighth when Norichika Aoki socked a game-tying double, setting up Abe’s ninth-inning heroics for the Giants. Daisuke Ochi is now 2-0 after collecting the win in relief.
With the win, Yomiuri’s record went to 11-3-2 on the season, good for first place in the Central League standings. Yakult fell to 9-7 after losing their third game in a row, but still holds second place by one game over the 8-8 Chunichi Dragons.
HIDAKA’S WALK-OFF HOMER GIVES ORIX WIN OVER SEIBU
Takeshi Hidaka whacked a walk-off homer off Koji Onuma in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Orix Blue Wave a 2-1 victory over the Seibu Lions April 22 at Osaka’s Kyocera Dome. Reliever Daisuke Kato picked up his first win in five decisions for Orix, which evened its record at 8-8. Seibu fell to 8-8-1 with the loss. The Blue Wave turned a 5-4-3 triple play in the fourth stanza, marking the second time a Pacific League team has registered a triple killing this month after Nippon Ham turned one against Lotte on April 7.
The Rakuten Golden Eagles lead the Pacific League with a 9-6 record despite a 5-2 loss to Lotte April 22. Naotaka Takehara went 4-for-5 to key the Marines’ 18-hit attack as five Lotte players finished with three or more hits. Marines starter Shingo Ono went eight innings and gave up two runs on six hits with no walks to even his record at 1-1. The win snapped Lotte’s three-game losing streak.
The Rakuten Golden Eagles lead the Pacific League with a 9-6 record despite a 5-2 loss to Lotte April 22. Naotaka Takehara went 4-for-5 to key the Marines’ 18-hit attack as five Lotte players finished with three or more hits. Marines starter Shingo Ono went eight innings and gave up two runs on six hits with no walks to even his record at 1-1. The win snapped Lotte’s three-game losing streak.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
DARVISH SPARKLES IN WIN OVER LIONS
After a streaky performance for Japan in the World Baseball Classic, Yu Darvish appears to be back on track pitching for the Pacific League’s Nippon Ham Fighters. Darvish held the Seibu Lions to two runs on three hits over eight innings on Friday, April 17 as the Fighters beat Seibu, 4-2, for their third consecutive win. Darvish struck out eight and walked two for the win, retiring the first eight batters he faced before Seibu’s Hiram Bocachica slammed a homer in the third inning. Shinji Takahashi hit a two-run homer and singled in another score for the Fighters, who got a scoreless ninth inning from reliever Hisashi Takeda for the save.
Despite the loss, Seibu held on to first place in the Pacific League with a 7-4-1 record, a half-game ahead of 7-5 Rakuten. Nippon Ham moved into third place at 6-5, while Orix is in fourth with a 6-6 mark. Lotte is fifth place at 4-7, just ahead of 4-7-1 Softbank.
Despite the loss, Seibu held on to first place in the Pacific League with a 7-4-1 record, a half-game ahead of 7-5 Rakuten. Nippon Ham moved into third place at 6-5, while Orix is in fourth with a 6-6 mark. Lotte is fifth place at 4-7, just ahead of 4-7-1 Softbank.
YOMIURI ALONE ATOP CENTRAL STANDINGS
Import first baseman Seung-Yeop Lee bashed a pair of solo homers and Alex Ramirez pounded a two-run bomb to lead the Yomiuri Giants to a 4-3 win over the Chunichi Dragons on Friday, April 17 at the Nagoya Dome. Ramirez’ homer in the fourth inning tied the game at 3-3, and Lee’s second roundtripper of the night put the Giants ahead for good. Yomiuri starter Sun Tono’s record went to 2-0 after a five-inning outing in which he let in three Chunichi runs on five hits, and closer Marc Kroon came on for his third save of the young season. Chunichi’s Kazuki Yoshimi gave up all three homers.
The win gave Yomiuri sole possession of first place in Japan’s Central League with a 6-3-2 record. Chunichi, Yakult and Hiroshima are all in a virtual tie for second at 6-5, although Hiroshima also has a tie. Hanshin is in fifth place with a 4-6-1 mark, while Yokohama brings up the rear at 4-8.
The win gave Yomiuri sole possession of first place in Japan’s Central League with a 6-3-2 record. Chunichi, Yakult and Hiroshima are all in a virtual tie for second at 6-5, although Hiroshima also has a tie. Hanshin is in fifth place with a 4-6-1 mark, while Yokohama brings up the rear at 4-8.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
TUFFY RHODES CLOBBERS 444TH HOMER IN JAPAN
Former Major League outfielder Karl “Tuffy” Rhodes swatted the 444th home run of his career in Japanese baseball Wednesday, April 8, tying him with Yomiuri Giants legend Shigeo Nagashima for 12th place on Japan’s all-time homer list. Rhodes’ three-run bomb helped propel the Orix Buffaloes to a 10-2 pounding of the defending Pacific League champion Seibu Lions.
Rhodes is beginning his 13th season in Nippon Professional Baseball after spending all or part of six seasons in MLB between 1990 and 1995. Prior to heading across the Pacific, the 40-year-old outfielder played for the Chicago Cubs, Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox. He is best remembered among American baseball fans for hitting three homers for the Cubs on Opening Day in 1994 off New York Mets ace Dwight Gooden.
Rhodes is currently the active leader in career home runs in Japan, but has a long way to go to catch Sadaharu Oh’s world record total of 868. Rhodes did tie Oh’s single season record of 55 homers while playing for the Kintetsu Buffaloes in 2001.
Rhodes is beginning his 13th season in Nippon Professional Baseball after spending all or part of six seasons in MLB between 1990 and 1995. Prior to heading across the Pacific, the 40-year-old outfielder played for the Chicago Cubs, Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox. He is best remembered among American baseball fans for hitting three homers for the Cubs on Opening Day in 1994 off New York Mets ace Dwight Gooden.
Rhodes is currently the active leader in career home runs in Japan, but has a long way to go to catch Sadaharu Oh’s world record total of 868. Rhodes did tie Oh’s single season record of 55 homers while playing for the Kintetsu Buffaloes in 2001.
IMAMURA BRILLIANT AS SEIHO WINS SPRING KOSHIEN TOURNEY
Three years after a humiliating 21-0 defeat by Yokohama in the final game of Japan’s Spring Koshien Tournament in Nishinomiya, Nagasaki’s Seiho High School defeated Iwate’s Hanamaki Higashi, 1-0, on April 2 at Koshien Stadium to win this year’s version of the event. It marks the first time a Nagasaki school has won a national championship.
The lion’s share of credit goes to pitcher Takeru Imamura, who allowed just one run in 44 innings of work in the 32-team tournament, including a shutout in the final game in which he scattered seven hits. The only run of the game came in the seventh inning, when Seiho’s Hirotoshi Hashimoto doubled in Kohei Shimazaki off Yusei Kikuchi.
Kikuchi allowed only three runs over 40 innings for Hanamaki Higashi, who were making their first-ever Koshien appearance.
The lion’s share of credit goes to pitcher Takeru Imamura, who allowed just one run in 44 innings of work in the 32-team tournament, including a shutout in the final game in which he scattered seven hits. The only run of the game came in the seventh inning, when Seiho’s Hirotoshi Hashimoto doubled in Kohei Shimazaki off Yusei Kikuchi.
Kikuchi allowed only three runs over 40 innings for Hanamaki Higashi, who were making their first-ever Koshien appearance.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
FEMALE KNUCKEBALLER MAKES PRO DEBUT IN JAPAN
A 17-year-old high school girl made history by pitching against a men’s professional baseball team in Japan. Eri Yoshida, who throws a sidearm knuckleball, made her debut for the Kobe 9 Cruise of the independent Kansai League in a game against the Osaka Gold Villicanes at the Osaka Dome.
Yoshida, who was drafted and signed last winter by the first-year team, faced two batter in the ninth inning in front of 11.592 fans and curiosity-seekers at the 45,000-seat stadium. She walked the first batter she faced on four pitches and allowed a stolen base before she struck out the next batter swinging before being pulled from the contest, which was won by Kobe, 5-0.
Yoshida began playing baseball in the second grade, and wants to emulate Boston’s Tim Wakefield as a successful knuckleball pitcher. Until now, no woman had ever played against a men’s team in Japan, although there was a women’s professional league there in 1950 and 1951.
Yoshida, who was drafted and signed last winter by the first-year team, faced two batter in the ninth inning in front of 11.592 fans and curiosity-seekers at the 45,000-seat stadium. She walked the first batter she faced on four pitches and allowed a stolen base before she struck out the next batter swinging before being pulled from the contest, which was won by Kobe, 5-0.
Yoshida began playing baseball in the second grade, and wants to emulate Boston’s Tim Wakefield as a successful knuckleball pitcher. Until now, no woman had ever played against a men’s team in Japan, although there was a women’s professional league there in 1950 and 1951.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
ICHIRO CLUTCH HIT KEYS JAPAN'S SECOND WBC TITLE GAME WIN
Ichiro Suzuki’s two-run single in the top of the 10th inning broke a 3-3 tie as Japan went on to beat South Korea, 5-3, Monday night in Los Angeles to win their second World Baseball Classic championship. With two Japanese runners on, first base open and two out, Korean reliever Chang-Yong Lim pitched to Suzuki, who already had three hits on the night. The two battled it out until Ichiro stroked Lim’s eighth pitch into right field to score both runners, putting Japan up for good. Yu Darvish, Japan’s 22-year-old pitching prodigy, held Korea scoreless in the bottom of the 10th.
Korea was trailing by a 3-2 count going into the bottom of the ninth when Darvish gave up an RBI single to Bum-Ho Lee, but Darvish settled down when it mattered. Shin-Soo Choo whacked a homer for the second straight game for the Koreans in the fifth inning. Japan’s Daisuke Matsuzaka was the WBC’s MVP for the second consecutive time after going 3-0 with a 1.69 ERA.
Korea was trailing by a 3-2 count going into the bottom of the ninth when Darvish gave up an RBI single to Bum-Ho Lee, but Darvish settled down when it mattered. Shin-Soo Choo whacked a homer for the second straight game for the Koreans in the fifth inning. Japan’s Daisuke Matsuzaka was the WBC’s MVP for the second consecutive time after going 3-0 with a 1.69 ERA.
AMERICANS CLOBBERED IN WBC SEMIS
The United States took a shaky pitching staff into their WBC semifinal matchup against Japan, and went on to be crunched, 9-4, last Saturday at Dodger Stadium. Roy Oswalt, who had pitched creditably his first two times out in the tournament, was rocked for five Japanese runs in the fourth inning before USA manager Dave Johnson finally brought John Grabow in from the bullpen. The Americans had led, 2-1, before that fateful frame.
To their credit, the USA battled back, scoring two runs on a Mark DeRosa double in the eighth to come to within 6-4, but Johnson raised eyebrows when he sent in right-handed batter Evan Longoria to pinch-hit for lefty batter Curtis Granderson against righty Takahiro Mahara. Longoria struck out, and the rally died when Brian Roberts tapped a 1-3 comebacker to Mahara for the third out. Japan scored three more times in the bottom of the eighth to close out the game’s scoring.
To their credit, the USA battled back, scoring two runs on a Mark DeRosa double in the eighth to come to within 6-4, but Johnson raised eyebrows when he sent in right-handed batter Evan Longoria to pinch-hit for lefty batter Curtis Granderson against righty Takahiro Mahara. Longoria struck out, and the rally died when Brian Roberts tapped a 1-3 comebacker to Mahara for the third out. Japan scored three more times in the bottom of the eighth to close out the game’s scoring.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
JAPAN BOPS SOUTH KOREA, 6-2, TO WIN WBC POOL 1 TITLE
Michihiro Ogasawara’s pinch-hit single in the eighth inning broke a 2-2 tie as Japan went on to post a 6-2 win over South Korea Thursday night in San Diego to clinch first place in Pool 1 of the World Baseball Classic’s second round. Japan scored two more runs in the eighth off an Akinori Iwamura single, and added an insurance run in the ninth inning.
Japan reached the Pool 1 title game by bracketing a pair of shutouts over Cuba around a loss to the Koreans. Japan whitewashed Cuba, 6-0, last Sunday as Daisuke Matsuzaka struck out eight batters in five innings and Shuichi Murata drove in two runs. Following a 4-1 loss to South Korea in which Kosuke Fukudome scored Japan’s only run, the Japanese registered a 5-0 shutout over Cuba as Hisashi Iwakuma blanked the Cubans over six innings.
Japan reached the Pool 1 title game by bracketing a pair of shutouts over Cuba around a loss to the Koreans. Japan whitewashed Cuba, 6-0, last Sunday as Daisuke Matsuzaka struck out eight batters in five innings and Shuichi Murata drove in two runs. Following a 4-1 loss to South Korea in which Kosuke Fukudome scored Japan’s only run, the Japanese registered a 5-0 shutout over Cuba as Hisashi Iwakuma blanked the Cubans over six innings.
TEENAGE GIRL KNUCKLEBALLER PREPS FOR PRO DEBUT
The pro baseball debut of 17-year-old female pitcher Eri Yoshida is fast approaching. The 5’0” tall Yoshida is expected to pitch Tuesday, March 22 for the Kobe 9 Cruise in a Japanese independent league exhibition game against the Kishu Rangers in Wakayama. Kobe manager Yoshihiro Nakata has said he plans to pitch Yoshida in the inaugural Kansai League season opener for Kobe on the 27th against the Osaka Villicanes at the Kyocera Dome.
The drafting and signing late last year of Yoshida, who still attends high school, was considered by many a publicity stunt, but the 114-pounder raised eyebrows at a winter camp when the sidearming knuckleballer baffled a number of male batters. Her fastball has been clocked at 63 MPH, while her knuckler travels about 50 MPH.
The drafting and signing late last year of Yoshida, who still attends high school, was considered by many a publicity stunt, but the 114-pounder raised eyebrows at a winter camp when the sidearming knuckleballer baffled a number of male batters. Her fastball has been clocked at 63 MPH, while her knuckler travels about 50 MPH.
Friday, March 13, 2009
BONG PITCHES KOREA TO 1-0 WIN OVER JAPAN IN POOL A FINAL
After being crushed, 14-2, by Japan the first time the two countries met in World Baseball Classic Pool A action, South Korea came back to win a 1-0 nailbiter at the Tokyo Dome Tuesday night to earn the top seed coming out of pool play.
Nearly 43,000 fans witnessed a superlative pitching performance by Korean starter Bong Jeun-Keun, who allowed just three hits and no walks in 5.1 innings for the win. Korea plated the game’s only run in the top of the fourth when Lee Jong-Wook came in on Kim Tae-Kyun’s single to left.
The Koreans advanced to the Pool A final with a 14-0 drubbing of China on Monday night.
Nearly 43,000 fans witnessed a superlative pitching performance by Korean starter Bong Jeun-Keun, who allowed just three hits and no walks in 5.1 innings for the win. Korea plated the game’s only run in the top of the fourth when Lee Jong-Wook came in on Kim Tae-Kyun’s single to left.
The Koreans advanced to the Pool A final with a 14-0 drubbing of China on Monday night.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
VALENTINE LIKELY DONE WITH MARINES AFTER NEXT SEASON
Former major league player and manager Bobby Valentine may be out as skipper of Japan’s Chiba Lotte Marines after his four-year contract expires following the 2009 season. Valentine told the Associated Press last week that the Marines have decided not to offer him a contract extension, saying “they just wanted to go in a different direction.”
Valentine led the Marines to a Japan Series championship in 2005, but the team finished fourth in the Pacific League standings in 2008 and did not make the playoffs. Valentine managed the New York Mets to a National League pennant in 2000 before losing the World Series to the rival New York Yankees in five games that fall. He managed the Texas Rangers from 1985 to 1992 before running the Mets between 1996 and 2002, winning 1,117 major league games against 1,072 losses.
As a player, Valentine made his major league debut in 1969 as a 19-year-old infielder with the Los Angeles Dodgers. After a final season in the minors in 1970 (when he was the Pacific Coast League’s Most Valuable Player with the Spokane Indians), Valentine spent nine seasons in the majors, batting .260 with 12 homers and 157 RBI for five teams before retiring in 1979.
Valentine led the Marines to a Japan Series championship in 2005, but the team finished fourth in the Pacific League standings in 2008 and did not make the playoffs. Valentine managed the New York Mets to a National League pennant in 2000 before losing the World Series to the rival New York Yankees in five games that fall. He managed the Texas Rangers from 1985 to 1992 before running the Mets between 1996 and 2002, winning 1,117 major league games against 1,072 losses.
As a player, Valentine made his major league debut in 1969 as a 19-year-old infielder with the Los Angeles Dodgers. After a final season in the minors in 1970 (when he was the Pacific Coast League’s Most Valuable Player with the Spokane Indians), Valentine spent nine seasons in the majors, batting .260 with 12 homers and 157 RBI for five teams before retiring in 1979.
JAYS OUTFIELDER MENCH TO PLAY IN JAPAN IN ‘09
Outfielder Kevin Mench has signed a one-year contract with the Hanshin Tigers of Japan’s Central League for the 2009 season. The deal is reportedly worth $1.8 million.
The 30-year-old Mench hit .243 in 51 games for the Toronto Blue Jays last season. He has a career batting average of .269 with 89 homers and 330 RBIs in 702 MLB games with the Jays, Milwaukee Brewers and Texas Rangers. He hit 51 homers and drove in 144 runs for the Rangers between 2004 and 2005.
Mench was named the America East Conference Player of the Year in both 1998 and 1999 while playing college ball for the University of Delaware, and earned Baseball America’s Class A Player of the Year honors in 2000 with the Rangers’ Florida State League affiliate in Port Charlotte after batting .334 and leading the league in six offensive categories. His brother-in-law is Colorado Rockies outfielder Scott Podsednik.
Mench is expected to replace import Lew Ford in the Hanshin lineup after Ford struggled to a .225 average with just three homers in 47 games for the Tigers in 2008.
The 30-year-old Mench hit .243 in 51 games for the Toronto Blue Jays last season. He has a career batting average of .269 with 89 homers and 330 RBIs in 702 MLB games with the Jays, Milwaukee Brewers and Texas Rangers. He hit 51 homers and drove in 144 runs for the Rangers between 2004 and 2005.
Mench was named the America East Conference Player of the Year in both 1998 and 1999 while playing college ball for the University of Delaware, and earned Baseball America’s Class A Player of the Year honors in 2000 with the Rangers’ Florida State League affiliate in Port Charlotte after batting .334 and leading the league in six offensive categories. His brother-in-law is Colorado Rockies outfielder Scott Podsednik.
Mench is expected to replace import Lew Ford in the Hanshin lineup after Ford struggled to a .225 average with just three homers in 47 games for the Tigers in 2008.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
JAPANESE TEAM SIGNS TWO CHINESE MAINLANDERS
Two players from the China Baseball Association’s Tianjin Lions have signed preliminary minor league contracts with Japan’s Yokohama BayStars for 2009. Twenty-year-old infielder Wang Jing-Chao and 25-year-old pitcher Chen Wei inked interim agreements to play in the BayStars system next year on November 30 at the Tianjin Sports Hotel prior to a December 12 press conference in Yokohama.
The Tianjin Lions are the reigning three-time champions of the CBA, but went winless in three games at last month’s Asia Series in Tokyo. A number of Lions players represented China in last summer’s Olympics in Beijing.
The Tianjin Lions are the reigning three-time champions of the CBA, but went winless in three games at last month’s Asia Series in Tokyo. A number of Lions players represented China in last summer’s Olympics in Beijing.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
DARVISH SIGNS NEW CONTRACT WITH FIGHTERS
Nippon Ham Fighters ace Yu Darvish will be returning to the Pacific League team in 2009 after signing for an estimated salary of 270 million yen next season, which translates to about $2.9 million U.S. dollars. Darvish earned 200 million yen in 2008 on the heels of a Sawamura Award-winning season for the Fighters in 2007.
The son of an Iranian father and Japanese mother, the 22-year-old Darvish is considered one of Japan’s top pitchers. The 6’5” righty has a career record of 63-18 with 518 strikeouts in 600 innings over four seasons with the Hokkaido-based Fighters. He has won 43 of 57 decisions the past three years, two seasons with an ERA of below 1.90. Darvish was 16-4 in 2008 with a 1.88 ERA, 208 strikeouts and Japanese-best ten complete games.
Darvish also pitched for Japan in the Beijing Olympics last summer, but did not do well. He appeared in three games and finished 0-1 with a 5.14 ERA. While he struck out ten batters in seven innings, he also issued five walks, uncorked two wild pitches and hit a batter.
The son of an Iranian father and Japanese mother, the 22-year-old Darvish is considered one of Japan’s top pitchers. The 6’5” righty has a career record of 63-18 with 518 strikeouts in 600 innings over four seasons with the Hokkaido-based Fighters. He has won 43 of 57 decisions the past three years, two seasons with an ERA of below 1.90. Darvish was 16-4 in 2008 with a 1.88 ERA, 208 strikeouts and Japanese-best ten complete games.
Darvish also pitched for Japan in the Beijing Olympics last summer, but did not do well. He appeared in three games and finished 0-1 with a 5.14 ERA. While he struck out ten batters in seven innings, he also issued five walks, uncorked two wild pitches and hit a batter.
TAZAWA AGREES TO DEAL WITH RED SOX
Japanese amateur pitcher Junichi Tazawa has agreed to a three-year, $3 million deal with the Boston Red Sox, according to the Boston Globe. Last week, the 22-year-old right-hander flew from Narita to Boston, where he was expected to take a physical exam prior to signing a contract with the Red Sox.Tazawa pitched the Nippon Oil team to Japan’s industrial baseball championship last spring, then shocked the Japanese baseball establishment by opting out of that country’s amateur draft to pursue a professional career in the USA. The Globe quoted a “baseball source” as saying Tazawa’s contract with Boston will be a major league deal, and that he would not be eligible for free agency until he completes six years of service. One Red Sox source told the Boston paper that Tazawa was expected to begin his career in the States as a minor leaguer because he needs additional experience.Besides the Red Sox, Tazawa received contract offers from the Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers and Atlanta Braves.
Sunday, December 7th
Today's stories:
*Tazawa to sign contract with Red Sox
*Rays open baseball academy in Brazil
*Maddux retiring after 23 years, 355 wins
*Pinar clobbers Santiago in Cuban season opener
*Caribbean winter league roundup
*Royals sign another Mexican reliever
*Darvish re-signs with Fighters for 2009
*Ex-Tennessee coach Delmonico to manage Dutch Nationals
*Baseball Philippines semis begin this weekend
And while you're reading/listening to WBT, please pause with a moment of silence for one of our WBT subscribers, whose beloved Alabama Crimson Tide lost to Florida in Saturday's SEC football championship game. At least it wasn't to Vandy, Gene.
TAZAWA AGREES TO DEAL WITH RED SOX
Japanese amateur pitcher Junichi Tazawa has agreed to a three-year, $3 million deal with the Boston Red Sox, according to the Boston Globe. Last week, the 22-year-old right-hander flew from Narita to Boston, where he was expected to take a physical exam prior to signing a contract with the Red Sox.
Tazawa pitched the Nippon Oil team to Japan’s industrial baseball championship last spring, then shocked the Japanese baseball establishment by opting out of that country’s amateur draft to pursue a professional career in the USA. The Globe quoted a “baseball source” as saying Tazawa’s contract with Boston will be a major league deal, and that he would not be eligible for free agency until he completes six years of service. One Red Sox source told the Boston paper that Tazawa was expected to begin his career in the States as a minor leaguer because he needs additional experience.
Besides the Red Sox, Tazawa received contract offers from the Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers and Atlanta Braves.
RAYS OPEN BASEBALL ACADEMY IN BRAZIL
The American League champion Tampa Bay Rays announced last week that they have entered into an agreement with the city of Marilia, Brazil to construct and open that country’s first baseball academy operated by a major league organization. The complex is expected to be built in 2009, with the cost borne by both local and Brazilian government funding. It will include two full playing fields, two diamonds for youth teams and a dormitory for up to 40 players. The academy will be overseen by Adrian de Souza, who was hired earlier this year by Tampa Bay to scout for Brazilian prospects. There are currently twelve minor leaguers from Brazil, but no player from the soccer-mad country has ever made it to the majors.
In addition to searching for baseball talent in a nation with a population of over 200 million people, the Rays will also introduce the game to groups between 7 and 14 years of age in the Marilia area. Marilia is a city of about 225,000 residents northeast of Brazil’s capital of Sao Paolo. Rays president Andrew Friedman says the team’s special assistant of baseball operations Andres Reiner has worked for years on the Brazilian project, which Friedman acknowledges is “obviously a long-term initiative” that is not “going to pay dividends in a year from now, necessarily.”
The Rays also operate baseball academies in the Dominican Republic and Venezuela.
GREG MADDUX CALLS IT A CAREER, RETIRES WITH 355 WINS
Future Hall of Fame pitcher Greg Maddux announced his retirement late last week, ending a career in which he won 355 games, struck out 3,371 batters and had an ERA of 3.16. Maddux was a 20-game winner for the Chicago Cubs in 1992 and the Atlanta Braves in 1993, and was an eight-time All-Star. He spent his entire 23-year major league career in the National League, and recently earned his record 18th Gold Glove.
Maddux split the 2008 season between the San Diego Padres and the Los Angeles Dodgers, going 8-11 with a 4.22 ERA. He made three relief appearances for the Dodgers in the playoffs, tossing four shutout innings.
PINAR CLOBBERS SANTIAGO IN CUBAN SEASON OPENER
Pinar del Rio pounded defending Cuban National Series champion Santiago de Cuba, 12-3, on November 30 in the league’s season opener. Starter Yuniesky Maya gave Pinar 5.1 solid innings of pitching, while Donald Duarte reached base all five times he strode to the plate (including an inside-the-park home run).
Maya retired ten consecutive batters at one point en route to breaking Pinar’s ten-game regular season losing streak to Santiago, whose ace Norge Vera was clobbered by the Pinar batsmen, allowing eight runs before leaving the contest with the bases loaded and two out in the sixth inning. Last season’s MVP, Santiago’s Alexei Bell, had to leave the game for X-rays after being struck in the face by a Maya pitch in the first inning. Bell smashed 31 homers and drove in 111 runs last winter, but his untimely exit was indicative of what kind of night it was for Santiago, who lost their first opener in four years.
CARIBBEAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP
The 27-19 Mazatlan Venados have taken the Mexican Pacific League second half lead despite a 6-5 loss to Hermosillo on Wednesday. Humberto Cota led the Narajeros with a pair of two-run homers. First half champion Los Mochis is hot on Mazatlan’s heels at 26-19. Mochis lost to Obregon, 7-3, Wednesday as Iker Franco homered for the eighth time in nine games for the defending MexPac champion Yaquis.
In Puerto Rico, the 11-7 Arecibo Lobos are a game ahead of 10-8 Mayaguez after the Lobos lost to Santurce, 8-7, as Jose Valentin smacked a homer for the Crabbers on Wednesday. Ponce (11-9) is in a virtual tie for second with Mayaguez after beating Caguas, 8-6, as Red Sox farmhand Joe Thurston went 3-for-4 with four runs for the Leones.
The Cibao Gigantes are on top of the Dominican League tables with a 22-16 record. Cibao lost Wednesday night to the 21-17 Este Azucareros, 3-2, thanks to Danny Richar’s two-run eighth inning single for the Azucareros. Licey is tied with Este for second despite losing to Cibaenas, 10-4, on Wednesday as Luis Polonia had two hits and three RBIs for the Aguilas.
In the Venezuelan League, Caracas is holding on to the league leadership at 25-13 following a 6-5 loss to LaGuaira Wednsday night. Rangers catching prospect Max Ramirez swatted a three-run walkoff homer to hand the Tiburones their second straight win over the Leones, who got a homer from infielder Marco Scutaro.
ROYALS SIGN MEXICAN RELIEVER TO MINOR LEAGUE CONTRACT
Hoping to repeat the great success they’ve had with the signing of Mexican closer Joakim Soria to a contract two years ago, the Kansas City Royals have inked another reliever from south of the border. Federico Castaneda was a classmate of Soria’s at the Mexican baseball academy near Monterrey, and (like Soria) is a 24-year-old with a good fastball and slider who has shown well in the Mexican Pacific League prior to signing with Kansas City.
A native of Torreon, Castaneda pitched last summer with the Mexican League’s Laguna Vaqueros, going 4-1 with a 4.28 ERA in 58 appearances out of the bullpen. Pitching for the Culiacan Tomateros in the MexPac this winter, the 6’3” righty middleman has a 1.19 ERA in 19 relief stints with 16 strikeouts in 22 innings. He has not been involved in any decisions.
Castaneda is expected to open the 2009 season with Northwest Arkansas in the Class AA Texas League after signing a minor league contract with the Royals, but may be invited to Kansas City’s major league training camp in February as a non-roster pitcher.
DARVISH SIGNS NEW CONTRACT WITH FIGHTERS
Nippon Ham Fighters ace Yu Darvish will be returning to the Pacific League team in 2009 after signing for an estimated salary of 270 million yen next season, which translates to about $2.9 million U.S. dollars. Darvish earned 200 million yen in 2008 on the heels of a Sawamura Award-winning season for the Fighters in 2007.
The son of an Iranian father and Japanese mother, the 22-year-old Darvish is considered one of Japan’s top pitchers. The 6’5” righty has a career record of 63-18 with 518 strikeouts in 600 innings over four seasons with the Hokkaido-based Fighters. He has won 43 of 57 decisions the past three years, two seasons with an ERA of below 1.90. Darvish was 16-4 in 2008 with a 1.88 ERA, 208 strikeouts and Japanese-best ten complete games.
Darvish also pitched for Japan in the Beijing Olympics last summer, but did not do well. He appeared in three games and finished 0-1 with a 5.14 ERA. While he struck out ten batters in seven innings, he also issued five walks, uncorked two wild pitches and hit a batter.
DELMONICO NAMED DUTCH NATIONAL TEAM MANAGER
Former University of Tennessee head coach Rod Delmonico has been selected as manager for The Netherlands National Baseball Team. The 50-year-old Delmonico becomes the 14th American to manage the Dutch squad since longtime Miami coach Ron Fraser began his first stint in Holland in 1960. Current USA National Team coach and former big league player and manager Davey Johnson managed the Dutch team in 2003.
Delmonico is a 1980 graduate of Virginia’s Liberty University, and spent six years as an assistant coach at Florida State before taking the reins at Tennessee in 1990. In 18 seasons with the Volunteers, Delmonico coached teams to nine Southeast Conference tournament titles, 14 NCAA Regional Championships, and six appearances in the College World Series. During his time with the Vols, 73 of his players were taken in the major league draft, including ten first-rounders. In all, 95 of Delmonico’s Tennessee players signed professional contracts, including Todd Helton, Jimmy Key, Luis Alicea and Paul Sorrento.
Delmonico takes over the Dutch National Team from former Yankees infielder Robert Eenhorn, who led the squad for eight years. He inherits a team that is considered Europe’s best, along with Italy, and will manage The Netherlands in next spring’s World Baseball Classic.
FINAL FOUR PLAYOFF MATCHUPS SET FOR PHILIPPINES
Following a flurry of makeup and first round playoff games last weekend at Manila’s Rizal Memorial Stadium, four teams remain standing in the Baseball Philippines Series 4 postseason this weekend.
The Cebu Dolphins finished the regular season tied with the Taguig Patriots for first place at 8-2, while the Dumaguete Unibikers and Muntinlupa Mariners finished tied for third with 4-6 records. The defending champion Batangas Bulls tied with the Manila Sharks for fifth and last places at 3-7 apiece, but Batangas leaped past Muntinlupa into their semifinal berth by beating the Mariners in their first round matchup while Dumaguete dispatched Manila in their matchup as both Cebu and Taguig earned first-round byes.
This weekend, Cebu was set to open the semis on Saturday with a game against Batangas, while Taguig was scheduled to take on Dumaguete. The winners will meet in a best-of-three BP Championship Series, beginning next weekend.
*Tazawa to sign contract with Red Sox
*Rays open baseball academy in Brazil
*Maddux retiring after 23 years, 355 wins
*Pinar clobbers Santiago in Cuban season opener
*Caribbean winter league roundup
*Royals sign another Mexican reliever
*Darvish re-signs with Fighters for 2009
*Ex-Tennessee coach Delmonico to manage Dutch Nationals
*Baseball Philippines semis begin this weekend
And while you're reading/listening to WBT, please pause with a moment of silence for one of our WBT subscribers, whose beloved Alabama Crimson Tide lost to Florida in Saturday's SEC football championship game. At least it wasn't to Vandy, Gene.
TAZAWA AGREES TO DEAL WITH RED SOX
Japanese amateur pitcher Junichi Tazawa has agreed to a three-year, $3 million deal with the Boston Red Sox, according to the Boston Globe. Last week, the 22-year-old right-hander flew from Narita to Boston, where he was expected to take a physical exam prior to signing a contract with the Red Sox.
Tazawa pitched the Nippon Oil team to Japan’s industrial baseball championship last spring, then shocked the Japanese baseball establishment by opting out of that country’s amateur draft to pursue a professional career in the USA. The Globe quoted a “baseball source” as saying Tazawa’s contract with Boston will be a major league deal, and that he would not be eligible for free agency until he completes six years of service. One Red Sox source told the Boston paper that Tazawa was expected to begin his career in the States as a minor leaguer because he needs additional experience.
Besides the Red Sox, Tazawa received contract offers from the Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers and Atlanta Braves.
RAYS OPEN BASEBALL ACADEMY IN BRAZIL
The American League champion Tampa Bay Rays announced last week that they have entered into an agreement with the city of Marilia, Brazil to construct and open that country’s first baseball academy operated by a major league organization. The complex is expected to be built in 2009, with the cost borne by both local and Brazilian government funding. It will include two full playing fields, two diamonds for youth teams and a dormitory for up to 40 players. The academy will be overseen by Adrian de Souza, who was hired earlier this year by Tampa Bay to scout for Brazilian prospects. There are currently twelve minor leaguers from Brazil, but no player from the soccer-mad country has ever made it to the majors.
In addition to searching for baseball talent in a nation with a population of over 200 million people, the Rays will also introduce the game to groups between 7 and 14 years of age in the Marilia area. Marilia is a city of about 225,000 residents northeast of Brazil’s capital of Sao Paolo. Rays president Andrew Friedman says the team’s special assistant of baseball operations Andres Reiner has worked for years on the Brazilian project, which Friedman acknowledges is “obviously a long-term initiative” that is not “going to pay dividends in a year from now, necessarily.”
The Rays also operate baseball academies in the Dominican Republic and Venezuela.
GREG MADDUX CALLS IT A CAREER, RETIRES WITH 355 WINS
Future Hall of Fame pitcher Greg Maddux announced his retirement late last week, ending a career in which he won 355 games, struck out 3,371 batters and had an ERA of 3.16. Maddux was a 20-game winner for the Chicago Cubs in 1992 and the Atlanta Braves in 1993, and was an eight-time All-Star. He spent his entire 23-year major league career in the National League, and recently earned his record 18th Gold Glove.
Maddux split the 2008 season between the San Diego Padres and the Los Angeles Dodgers, going 8-11 with a 4.22 ERA. He made three relief appearances for the Dodgers in the playoffs, tossing four shutout innings.
PINAR CLOBBERS SANTIAGO IN CUBAN SEASON OPENER
Pinar del Rio pounded defending Cuban National Series champion Santiago de Cuba, 12-3, on November 30 in the league’s season opener. Starter Yuniesky Maya gave Pinar 5.1 solid innings of pitching, while Donald Duarte reached base all five times he strode to the plate (including an inside-the-park home run).
Maya retired ten consecutive batters at one point en route to breaking Pinar’s ten-game regular season losing streak to Santiago, whose ace Norge Vera was clobbered by the Pinar batsmen, allowing eight runs before leaving the contest with the bases loaded and two out in the sixth inning. Last season’s MVP, Santiago’s Alexei Bell, had to leave the game for X-rays after being struck in the face by a Maya pitch in the first inning. Bell smashed 31 homers and drove in 111 runs last winter, but his untimely exit was indicative of what kind of night it was for Santiago, who lost their first opener in four years.
CARIBBEAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP
The 27-19 Mazatlan Venados have taken the Mexican Pacific League second half lead despite a 6-5 loss to Hermosillo on Wednesday. Humberto Cota led the Narajeros with a pair of two-run homers. First half champion Los Mochis is hot on Mazatlan’s heels at 26-19. Mochis lost to Obregon, 7-3, Wednesday as Iker Franco homered for the eighth time in nine games for the defending MexPac champion Yaquis.
In Puerto Rico, the 11-7 Arecibo Lobos are a game ahead of 10-8 Mayaguez after the Lobos lost to Santurce, 8-7, as Jose Valentin smacked a homer for the Crabbers on Wednesday. Ponce (11-9) is in a virtual tie for second with Mayaguez after beating Caguas, 8-6, as Red Sox farmhand Joe Thurston went 3-for-4 with four runs for the Leones.
The Cibao Gigantes are on top of the Dominican League tables with a 22-16 record. Cibao lost Wednesday night to the 21-17 Este Azucareros, 3-2, thanks to Danny Richar’s two-run eighth inning single for the Azucareros. Licey is tied with Este for second despite losing to Cibaenas, 10-4, on Wednesday as Luis Polonia had two hits and three RBIs for the Aguilas.
In the Venezuelan League, Caracas is holding on to the league leadership at 25-13 following a 6-5 loss to LaGuaira Wednsday night. Rangers catching prospect Max Ramirez swatted a three-run walkoff homer to hand the Tiburones their second straight win over the Leones, who got a homer from infielder Marco Scutaro.
ROYALS SIGN MEXICAN RELIEVER TO MINOR LEAGUE CONTRACT
Hoping to repeat the great success they’ve had with the signing of Mexican closer Joakim Soria to a contract two years ago, the Kansas City Royals have inked another reliever from south of the border. Federico Castaneda was a classmate of Soria’s at the Mexican baseball academy near Monterrey, and (like Soria) is a 24-year-old with a good fastball and slider who has shown well in the Mexican Pacific League prior to signing with Kansas City.
A native of Torreon, Castaneda pitched last summer with the Mexican League’s Laguna Vaqueros, going 4-1 with a 4.28 ERA in 58 appearances out of the bullpen. Pitching for the Culiacan Tomateros in the MexPac this winter, the 6’3” righty middleman has a 1.19 ERA in 19 relief stints with 16 strikeouts in 22 innings. He has not been involved in any decisions.
Castaneda is expected to open the 2009 season with Northwest Arkansas in the Class AA Texas League after signing a minor league contract with the Royals, but may be invited to Kansas City’s major league training camp in February as a non-roster pitcher.
DARVISH SIGNS NEW CONTRACT WITH FIGHTERS
Nippon Ham Fighters ace Yu Darvish will be returning to the Pacific League team in 2009 after signing for an estimated salary of 270 million yen next season, which translates to about $2.9 million U.S. dollars. Darvish earned 200 million yen in 2008 on the heels of a Sawamura Award-winning season for the Fighters in 2007.
The son of an Iranian father and Japanese mother, the 22-year-old Darvish is considered one of Japan’s top pitchers. The 6’5” righty has a career record of 63-18 with 518 strikeouts in 600 innings over four seasons with the Hokkaido-based Fighters. He has won 43 of 57 decisions the past three years, two seasons with an ERA of below 1.90. Darvish was 16-4 in 2008 with a 1.88 ERA, 208 strikeouts and Japanese-best ten complete games.
Darvish also pitched for Japan in the Beijing Olympics last summer, but did not do well. He appeared in three games and finished 0-1 with a 5.14 ERA. While he struck out ten batters in seven innings, he also issued five walks, uncorked two wild pitches and hit a batter.
DELMONICO NAMED DUTCH NATIONAL TEAM MANAGER
Former University of Tennessee head coach Rod Delmonico has been selected as manager for The Netherlands National Baseball Team. The 50-year-old Delmonico becomes the 14th American to manage the Dutch squad since longtime Miami coach Ron Fraser began his first stint in Holland in 1960. Current USA National Team coach and former big league player and manager Davey Johnson managed the Dutch team in 2003.
Delmonico is a 1980 graduate of Virginia’s Liberty University, and spent six years as an assistant coach at Florida State before taking the reins at Tennessee in 1990. In 18 seasons with the Volunteers, Delmonico coached teams to nine Southeast Conference tournament titles, 14 NCAA Regional Championships, and six appearances in the College World Series. During his time with the Vols, 73 of his players were taken in the major league draft, including ten first-rounders. In all, 95 of Delmonico’s Tennessee players signed professional contracts, including Todd Helton, Jimmy Key, Luis Alicea and Paul Sorrento.
Delmonico takes over the Dutch National Team from former Yankees infielder Robert Eenhorn, who led the squad for eight years. He inherits a team that is considered Europe’s best, along with Italy, and will manage The Netherlands in next spring’s World Baseball Classic.
FINAL FOUR PLAYOFF MATCHUPS SET FOR PHILIPPINES
Following a flurry of makeup and first round playoff games last weekend at Manila’s Rizal Memorial Stadium, four teams remain standing in the Baseball Philippines Series 4 postseason this weekend.
The Cebu Dolphins finished the regular season tied with the Taguig Patriots for first place at 8-2, while the Dumaguete Unibikers and Muntinlupa Mariners finished tied for third with 4-6 records. The defending champion Batangas Bulls tied with the Manila Sharks for fifth and last places at 3-7 apiece, but Batangas leaped past Muntinlupa into their semifinal berth by beating the Mariners in their first round matchup while Dumaguete dispatched Manila in their matchup as both Cebu and Taguig earned first-round byes.
This weekend, Cebu was set to open the semis on Saturday with a game against Batangas, while Taguig was scheduled to take on Dumaguete. The winners will meet in a best-of-three BP Championship Series, beginning next weekend.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
YOMIURI TO MEET SEIBU IN JAPAN SERIES
Alex Ramirez swatted a tiebreaking two-run homer in the eighth inning last Saturday to lift the Yomiuri Giants to a 6-2 win over the Chunichi Dragons and a slot in this month's Japan Series against the Seibu Lions. The victory gave the Giants their first Central League berth in the Japan Series in six years after winning the regular season pennant by overtaking the Hanshin Tigers in the last week of the season. Yomiuri won the regular season title last year as well, but fell short against Chunichi in the Central League Climax Series.
Not so this time. After being spotted a win going into the finals against the Dragons by virtue of their first-place finish, the Giants won two games and lost one, with one contest ending in a tie. With the score tied at 2-2 in the bottom of the eighth in the clinching game, Yomiuri's Takayuki Terauchi stroked a leadoff double off Chunichi left-hander Akifumi Takehashi. Ramirez then stepped to the plate and bashed a Takehashi pitch into the left field seats to give the Giants a lead they would never relinquish. Mark Kroon, who saved 41 games over the regular season, came on in the ninth and retired the Dragons without a run to preserve the win and eliminate the defending Japan Series champions.
The Giants and the Pacific League champion Lions were slated to begin the Japan Series this weekend.
Not so this time. After being spotted a win going into the finals against the Dragons by virtue of their first-place finish, the Giants won two games and lost one, with one contest ending in a tie. With the score tied at 2-2 in the bottom of the eighth in the clinching game, Yomiuri's Takayuki Terauchi stroked a leadoff double off Chunichi left-hander Akifumi Takehashi. Ramirez then stepped to the plate and bashed a Takehashi pitch into the left field seats to give the Giants a lead they would never relinquish. Mark Kroon, who saved 41 games over the regular season, came on in the ninth and retired the Dragons without a run to preserve the win and eliminate the defending Japan Series champions.
The Giants and the Pacific League champion Lions were slated to begin the Japan Series this weekend.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
