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11/20/2002 Archived Entry: "Cruz, Clark, Colbrunn Could Turn Japanese in 2003"
Dragons Sign Former Hanshin First Baseman Cruz
According to Sankei Sports, the Chunichi Dragons will soon be signing St. Louis Cardinals farmhand Ivan Cruz, 34, who washed out with Hanshin last season after a spectacular 2001 spring training campaign where he jacked nine homers. Upon being released by the Osaka team, Cruz played with Memphis, St. Louis' AAA affiliate, and lead all of the minors in homers.
With Hanshin, Cruz was in 70 games and banged 14 homers and drove in 34 runs while hitting an anemic .234. He then came down with a shoulder malady and was let go after returning to the states to have it treated.
This sign is probably better than the Scott Bullet aquisition last season, but not by much, especially at such an advanced age. They probably would have been better off giving the everyday first base job to Hiroyuki Watanabe before signing Cruz.
In another interesting turn, the Dragons are apparently interested in courting Hideki Irabu and have made him an offer, according to the Hochi Shimbun. Irabu's agent, Dan Nomura, says that the beefy righty is still hoping to find a job with an MLB team. Like that is a credible wish given his history.
Earlier, the Japanese press had treated Irabu as if Hanshin had him locked up. So we'll see what happens with that.
Coming Up: Draft Special
The Japanese pro draft is almost upon us, as it will take place later today U.S. time. A week from today, we will take a look at who picked best and who perhaps didn't get the job done, so stay tuned.
Hot Shots....
The Yakult Swallows have lost Roberto Petagine, but they did pickup one of the best arms in the draft in southpaw Yuhei Takai, as manager Tsutomu Wakamatsu drew the winning ticket in a two team lottery for the 18 year old's services,an encouraging start to next season. They will reportedly offer him an $800,000 signing bonus, a $120,000 salary and another $400,000 in incentives, a record deal for a team high school signing ....Nikkan Sports says that six MLB teams are interested in Norihiro Nakamura, though what they don't say is that it will be in vain....The Red Sox are indeed going to be in the Matsui hunt. That team is such a disaster area, though, that I doubt that they have a chance of actually signing him. They need a bullpen first. God forbid if they give the GM job to Mike Port, whose tenure in Anaheim was an unmitigated disaster....Alex Cabrera returned to Venezuela earlier today and will play in that country's winter league....The Yokohama Bay Stars may aquire Boston first baseman Tony Clark. The Stars are also looking into Greg Colbrunn. Right now, Yokohama's main concern is how much the pair would want monetarily.
Yomiuri Signs Petagine
See depressing story at:Japan Times Article
Matsui Looking for Agent
Please not freaking Scott Boras. See story at:Associated Press Article
Red Sox Trying to Sign Contreras, Matsui
See story at:Boston Globe Article
Giambi Has Kind Words for Matsui
See story at:Japan Times Article
Swallows Game Inspired Murakami to Write First Novel
Wacky but true:Time Magazine Article
Expos Remind of Lotte's "Gypsy" Period
See story at:Japan Times Article
Today in Japanese Baseball History
This report is for November 19th and on that date in Japanese baseball history in 1973, the Nittaku Flyers turned over ownership of the team to Nippon Ham after holding the club for just one season. Osamu Mihara was named president of that outfit while Futoshi Nakanishi was tapped to manage them.
Also on that date in 1949, the Tokyu Flyers Hiroshi Oshita went 7-7 in a game, which is still the record.
