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11/23/2002 Archived Entry: "Is Derrick Lee in a Blue Wave Mood?"
Marlins First Baseman May Follow Dad to Japan
Florida Marlins first baseman Derrick Lee may become the first son of a former player for a Japanese team to play in the Land of the Rising Sun himself if he signs an offer from the Orix Blue Wave. Lee, the offspring of former Lotte Orions great Leon Lee, who will act as the club's special batting instructor for foreign players next season.
The younger Lee spent part of his childhood in Japan as his father toiled for three Japanese teams over the course of ten seasons. When he was part of an MLB contingent a couple of weeks ago that faced off against one from Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) in Japan, he told reporters "this is like coming back to my old hometown."
Earlier this month, Orix signed ex-Cub Roosevelt Brown and former Rockie Jose Ortiz. That should go a long way toward curing the team's lack of power hitting. However, if Lee is added, Scott Sheldon would be out of a job since there is a four foreign player limit. Their other non-Japanese is Korean hurler Koo Dae-sung, who lost the ERA title this past season when he went down with a leg injury and missed the last month of the schedule and thus didn't have enough innings to qualify for the crown.
Certainly, given his past experience, Derrick Lee would have little of the headaches that most foreign players go through adjusting to Japan. Now the question is, can he hit the pitching?
Hot Shots....
All of a sudden, Benny Agbayani is a hot commodity. In addition to interest displayed by Nippon Ham, now the Chunichi Dragons are circling around the former Met....Speaking of Nippon Ham, they will send two pitchers to the Diamondbacks camp this coming spring. Right now, though, new manager Trey Hillman and the coaching staff are still deciding who those hurlers will be from four or five candidates they have in mind....And while we're on the subject of Hillman, his club has asked him to appear in tv commercials. They said he is cutout for that because he has a clean cut, likeable image. No word yet on whether Hillman will heed his front office's request....Tsuyoshi Shinjo has been offered $1.6 million a season to comeback and play with an unnamed Japanese team or teams. The Hanshin Tigers, though, now say they aren't interested.... At a clinic for little leaguers he was participating in at Urazoe Stadium in Okinawa, Seibu Lions righthander Daisuke Matsuzaka said he is looking forward to the chance to face Ichiro and the Mariners in an exhibition game next spring, even breaking out an imitation of Ichiro's hitting style as he talked to them. One reason that "the monster," as he is known, may be so enthusiastic about that is that the first time he went head to head with the seven time batting champ in 1999 as a rookie, Matsuzaka blew Ichiro down three times and owned the 2001 AL MVP up until Suzuki left for the majors. I don't have exact stats, but Ichiro can't be hitting much more than a buck against the Yokohama High product....At a fan appreciation day event at Tokyo Dome earlier today, Yomiuri Giants players got together and tossed their now former teammate, Hideki Matsui, up in the air several times (this is knows as "doage" in Japanese) as a tribute. Godzilla then did a victory lap around the stadium to applause and shouts of encouragement from the spectators....Takashi Saito met with Dodgers official A.C. Korogi earlier today.. However, neither side had any comment on the content of their discussion. For his part, Saito was enthusiastic about drawing interest from one of MLB's most hallowed ballclubs. Yokohama, in an attempt to keep their closer in Japan, has offered him a three year deal for $2 million a season plus another $400,000 in incentives....The Stars may also not open next season with their number one starter, Daisuke Miura, who is going to have elbow surgery this coming week....43,000 turned out for a Hanshin fan appreciation day at Koshien Stadium today ....Ivan Cruz and the Chunichi Dragons are reportedly at loggerheads over his salary for 2003, so he may never sign with the team after all....And Hanshin second baseman Makoto Imaoka has hired an agent and is looking to double his salary for next year.... Yakult Swallows pitcher Yataro Sakamoto will be wearing number 11 next season in place of the 63 he had on his back this past one....Lotte has signed their third round draft choice, Keita Asama....Former Hanshin reliever Shoji Toyama is now working as a commentator for Sankei Sports.
Quote of the Day
This comes from Bruce Jenkins over at the San Francisco Chronicle: "Speaking of Japan, where's the one-hour highlight film of the recent U.S. players' tour? You had Jason Giambi trading homers with Barry Bonds (who didn't draw a single walk in 30 at-bats), Ichiro Suzuki returning to his homeland, Hideki Matsui probably saying farewell, Art Howe managing and a ton of goodwill. That would be a wonderful advertisement for the game, especially with Bonds (reportedly) smiling a lot."
Two words, Bruce: "Bud" and "Selig." Need I say more? He was too much of a moron to see to it that this got on television.
Mariners Deny Hochi Sports Story
Watanabe Doesn't Mind Not Obtaining Nakamura
Orix Releases Yu Wen-ping
See story at:JapanToday Article
Yankees Wait For Matsui to Hire Agent
See story at:MLB.com Article
Dodgers Have Faith in Kuo
I've been avoiding posting links to stories on MLB.com because it is so badly thought out, but today, I just couldn't resist on a couple of stories. This one on Dodgers prospect Hong-chih Kuo is at: MLB.com Article
Guerrero Loving Expos Puerto Rico Tilts
See story at: Associated Press Article
Tracy Ringolsby Crunches the Numbers
This is a sweet piece on Colorado pitching plus it has some baseball trivia in it. See story at:
Knoxville News-Sentinel Article
Btw, could Tracy be following the Saito situation via Baseball Guru.com? I don't know for sure, but I would like to think so.
IOC Booting Baseball Nonsensical
See outstanding story at: Rocky Mountain News Article
