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10/23/2002 Archived Entry: "NPB News: October 21, 2002 by Gary Garland"
NPB News: October 21, 2002
Complete MLB All Star Team Announced
Major League Baseball has finally announced the full roster for the squad that will travel to Japan and play one game against the Yomiuri Giants before facing off against an NPB all star contingent starting November 10. Those participating are:
Pitchers:
Bartolo Colon (Montreal); Brad Penny (Florida); Brian Lawrence (San Diego); Eric Gagne (L.A.), J.C. Romers (Minnesota); Mike Fetters (Arizona); Mark Buerhle (Chicago WS); Miguel Batista (Arizona); Randy Wolf (Philadelphia); Rodrigo Lopez (Baltimore); Scott Schoenweiss (Anaheim); Tomokazu Ohka (Montreal).
Catchers:
Benito Santiago (San Francisco); Paul LoDuca (L.A.).
Infielders:
Eric Chavez (Oakland); Eric Hinske (Toronto); David Eckstein (Anaheim); Derek Lee (Florida); Jason Giambi (New York Yankees); Jimmy Rollins (Philadelphia); Junior Spivey (Arizona); Roberto Alomar (New York Mets).
Outfielders:
Ichiro Suzuki (Seattle Mariners); Barry Bonds (San Francisco); Bernie Williams (New York Yankees); Jacque Jones (Minnesota); Pat Burrell (Philadelphia). Torii Hunter (Minnesota).
Miguel Tejada was said earlier to be participating, but he apparently isn't. Too bad. It's also interesting that Alex Rodriguez won't be going even though Japanese fans would love to see him. Yet another example of what a jerk the guy is.
Dodgers' Williams Hanshin Bound
According to Nikkan Sports, the Hanshin Tigers are going to bolster their weak middle relief by bringing in 30 year old lefty Jeff Williams from the L.A. Dodgers. Williams and Hanshin are reported to have just about finished agreeement on contract terms and it appears that he will join Makoto Yoshino as one of the main lefthanders in the pen. the six foot, 180 pounder recorded 29 saves for Las Vegas, but will be used mainly in a setup role with the Osaka outfit for closer Mark Valdez.
In 37 major league games, the Canberra, Australia native went 4-1 with a 7.41 ERA. He represented his home country in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and joined L.A. that same year. He brings a fastball that will touch 93mph as well as sharp breaking pitches that will enable him to rack up some strikeouts in the Central League, team officials believe.
In other Hanshin related news, owner Shunjiro Kuman lambasted George Arias, saying that "it is rare to pay so much for a player who was so ineffective" and that Arias was good only for short periods that were broken up by long stagnant phases. "Even though we pay him so much money, he strikes out like that." "I can see we have some problems in the front office," Kuman fumed.
Of course, one has to question where Kuman has been all this time while Arias was leading the team in both homers and RBIs, becoming the first Tiger since Cecil Fielder to hammer 30 homers in a campaign. He is right in that Arias, even with the decent power numbers, hasn't been much of an offensive force otherwise. One can be sure that the former Angel and Padre will be glad to be released from a club whose management has long been the butt of criticism by foreign players and baseball commentators. Roberto Petagine, this could be YOU.
The Osaka favorite sons got a bit of good news today when 21 year old hard throwing Tokiwa University righthander Tomoyuki Kubota said that he will only go to Hanshin and will refuse offers form all others. Kubota's motion resembles Hideo Nomo's, except he can run a heavy fastball to the plate at 95mph. The 5'11" and 185 pound Yoshimi-machi, Saitama Prefecture native also features a slider.
12 MLB Teams Interested in Nakamura?
According to Sankei Sports, as many as 12 MLB ballclubs have their eyes on Kintetsu Buffaloes free agent third baseman Norihiro Nakamura. The Mets are considered the most ardent suitors, who see him as a replacement for Edgardo Alfonso, but the Phillies would like to supplant the recently departed Scott Rolen with him while the SF Giants, Red Sox, and Rangers are taking a hard look at the burly slugger. Nakamura himself has expressed an interest in both the Diamondbacks and the Dodgers.
But the Osaka native is also seeking a large payday and the greatest offer he is expected to receive from a big league outfit is around $2 million a season while the Hanshin Tigers are going to offer more than $5 million. Moreover, Nakamura has indicated that he isn't willing to accept a discount in exchange for a shot on a stateside roster.
Nakamura's 59 year old father has weighed in on the issue and firmly declared that he doesn't want his son leaving home shores due to his being married with three children and uncertainty generated due to the recent sniping murders as well as the pending war with Iraq.
Matsui Homer Calls to be Issued on CD
According to the Hochi Shimbun, NHK has collected all the home runs calls for each of Yomiuri centerfielder Hideki Matsui's 332 lifetime regular circuit clouts and is issuing them on a CD. Also included will be a booklet that has more details about each of those roundtrippers. This item goes on sale December 4. Unfortunately for avid fans, there are no plans to put out one that features the calls on his Japan Series jacks.
Graczyk: Japan Series Will be a Seven Game Barnburner
See Japan Times article at: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getsp.pl5?sb20021023wg.htm
Takahashi's Power Gives Giants Edge in Right
See Yomiuri Shimbun story at: http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/newse/20021023wo52.htm
LG Twins Advance to Next Round With Defeat of Hyundai
See Korea Times article at: http://www.hankooki.com/kt_sports/200210/t2002102310310047110.htm
Today in Japanese Baseball History
This report is for October 21 and on that date in Japanese baseball history in 1958, the Nishitetsu Lions, who had been down three games to none in the Japan Series, complete a four game sweep afterward to become champions. Lions ace Kazuhisa Inao picked up all four victories.
Also, on the same day, Yomiuri Giants first baseman Tetsuhara Kawakami announces his retirement.
Also on that date in 1975, the Yomiuri Giants finished last for the first time in the team's history. It was also Shigeo Nagashima's first year as the club's manager.
Also on the same date in 1995, the Japan Series opens at Kobe Green Stadium months after the disastrous earthquake that struck that city with the home team, the Orix Blue Wave, facing the Yakult Swallows. Behind a fine performance from starter Terry Bross as well as a pinch hit two run homer by Yuji Ono just inside the leftfield foul pole in the eighth, the Swallows escape with a 5-2 victory. Pacific League batting champ Ichiro Suzuki went 1-4 with a walk.
