[Previous entry: "Japan Series Game Four"] [Main Index] [Next entry: "Media Ga Ga Over Godzilla"]
11/01/2002 Archived Entry: "Godzilla Crosses the Pacific"
Hideki Matsui Declares Intention to Head to MLB
According to Sports Nippon, who is quoting several sources close to him, Yomiuri Giants centerfielder Hideki Matsui has declared that he will indeed use his free agent rights to almost certainly headoff for MLB. He has reportedly already made a formal notification to his ballclub, according to the Yomiuri Shimbun. "I'm not going to give up my dream," the 28 year old slugger revealed to Yomiuri's leadership. "I'm going to take on the challenge of the major leagues." Teams with an interest in the 2000 MVP and 2001 batting champ will be able to start negotiating with him on November 13th after notification has been made to the Japanese commissioner's office.
Matsui's career numbers: G 1268 AB 4522 H 1390 HR 332 RBI 889 SB 46 AVG .307.
Yomiuri was reportedly preparing an imporoved offer of five years at around $8.5 million a season for Matsui, but he apparently is gung ho about sliding over to MLB. And as earlier reports had insisted, the New York Yankees are the team most likely to add him to their roster. Giants officials are now searchng for a replacement to fill the number four hole in the batting order.
See CNN/SI story at: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/news/2002/10/31/hideki_ap/
Yomiuri in Two for Two Trade With Kintetsu
The Yomiuri Giants will dispatch southpaw pitcher Hitoshi Ono (26) and infielder Yasuo Nagaike (29) to the Kintetsu Buffaloes in exchange for pitcher righthanded sidearmer Katsunari Yoshikawa (25) and outfielder Hiroyuki Nakahama (24), according to Sports Nippon. The Buffs are short of left arms while the Giants like Yoshikawa's delivery.
Ono saw no action with the big club this season, but has pitched in parts of five previous years and compiled a 3-8 record with a 5.77 ERA in 36 appearances.
Nagaike, who originally started his career with Yokohama before moving to Yomiuri in 1998, was in 11 games in 2002 and went 2-13 times for a .154 average. Lifetime, he has a .206 average with two homers and 17 RBIs in 252 games.
Yoshikawa was in three games this year for Kintetsu and racked up a 16.20 ERA in 1.2 innings over three appearances. He's only been in seven total contests and 7.0 innings during his three year career and has yet to win or lose a game.
Nakahama is 1-3 for a .333 average in his brief career with no homers or RBIs.
Mark Valdez Put on Waivers by Hanshin
In a stunning development, Hanshin Tigers closer Mark Valdez, who won four games and saved 22 with a 1.54 ERA this past season, has been placed on waivers by the club for undisclosed reasons. It is assumed now by the Japanese press that Jeff Williams, the recent aquisition from the Dodgers, will be inserted into that role.
One thing that is rumored is that Valdez was looking to make four times as much next year as the $300,000 he received this past season. Since Hanshin is gearing up to spend huge amounts of cash to aquire Roberto Petagine and already have Williams in the fold, they evidently may have decided to jettison Valdez as more money than they want to spend. Considering the weakness of their pen, that is a risky strategy. A combination of Williams and Valdez could be a very good left/right combination. Now they lose a much needed arm in middle relief so that Williams can be dropped into the closer's role. And it's not even a sure thing that Williams will succeed. If they are assuming that the junk relievers they added to the roster from the flotsam and jetsam released by other clubs, they are being rather desperate. Just a dumb, dumb move.
Hot Shots....
Kintetsu Buffaloes veteran starter Hiroshi Takamura has done a 180 and announced that he will not attempt to go to MLB and instead will remain with the Osaka nine....Also reversing course is the Yokohama Bay Stars, who contradicted a statement made the previous day by saying that they will now NOT sign Kazuhito Tadano, citing only "all the various circumstances." Read, his elbow and shoulder problems....Nippon Ham may offer reliever Hiroshi Shibakusa a multi-year deal, according to Hochi Sports. Again, the question is why....Personal opinion here: Hiroshima allowing Tomoaki Kanemoto go, especially most likely to a team in the same league is a bonehead move. Pencil the Carp in for another fifth place finish....Seibu fired its hitting instructor, Eiji Kanamori, citing not just the club's lackluster showing in the Japan Series, but other unspecified matters. The release of Kanamori comes despite the Lions leading the PL in hitting, homers and runs scored....Yakult Swallows president
Cabrera May Not Return to Seibu
Disgusted with management decisions made during the Japan Series that he thinks resulted in his team being swept in four games, Seibu Lions first baseman Alex Cabrera may instead end up in a Braves or Royals uniform next season, according to report in Hochi Sports. "Next year, I might play in the major leagues or I might comeback to Japan. If I don't come back, I'm sorry." The Venezuelan slugger also expressed his gratitude to Lions fans, saying "I love them."
Cabrera, who is represented by Lou Piniella and Randy Johnson's agent, Alan Nero, is someone the Lions desperately want to hold on to both for his run production as well as his appeal at the ticket counter. Moreover, Losing the former Diamondback would be a monster blow to a club that doesn't have much power and it would hurt psychologically as well, since having him in the lineup is known to give the other players more confidence in their chance of winning a ballgame.
Whether this is Cabrera just expressing his angst at being blown out of the Japan Series or whether it is a salary ploy is anyone's guess. But if Atlanta does get him, it solves their first base problem to be sure. Stay tuned.
Kanemoto to Go to Hanshin
See Japan Times article at: http://www.japantimes.com/cgi-bin/getsp.pl5?sb20021101a1.htm
Yomiuri Role Players Came Up Big in Series
See Yomiuri Shimbun story at: http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/newse/20021101wo52.htm
Evans Hopes to Stay With Seibu
See Japan Today article at: http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content=news&cat=6&id=236697
Pierzynski to Replace Santiago on MLB All Star Team
See Minneapolis Star Tribune article at: http://www.startribune.com/stories/503/3400326.html
Tokyo Dome a Hot Stock Even With Yakuza Problems?
See Forbes article at: http://www.forbes.com/markets/newswire/2002/10/31/rtr773287.html
Kiefer Gives Kia and Edge in Deciding Game of KBO Playoffs
See Korea Tims article at: http://www.hankooki.com/kt_sports/200210/t2002103117214547110.htm
Today in Japanese Baseball History
This report is for November 1st and on that date in Japanese baseball history in 1979, the Yomiuri Giants won their ninth Japan Series title in nine seasons, a Japanese record.
