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11/27/2002 Archived Entry: "Japanese Baseball News"
Hanshin Says That Irabu is Likely to Sign With Them
According to Sankei Sports, former Yankees and Rangers righty Hideki Irabu is in the final stages of an agreement on a contract that will bring him back to Japan in 2003.
Irabu was a number one draft choice out of Jinsei Gakuen High School in 1988 by the Lotte Orions (later the Chiba Lotte Marines), for whom he played with for nine years, leading the Pacific League in wins in 1995 under then manager Bobby Valentine as well as ERA titles that year and in 1996. He also lead the circuit in strikeouts in 1994 and 1995 and was the third fastest in history to 1000 lifetime whiffs in Japanese annals. For his Japan career, he was 59-59 with 11 saves. He then went to the Yankees after a tempestuous fight with the San Diego Padres, ultimately posting a 34-35 record with 16 saves in six MLB seasons.
Hot Shots....
The Yomiuri Giants have signed number four draft choice Masahiro Nagata for a $650,000 signing bonus and a $50,000 a season salary. There was mention of him perhaps making the team out orf spring training as a bench player, but he needs to see regular action to develop, so hopefully he will start the year in the minors ....When asked by reporters what he was going to do with his signing bonus, Yomiuri draftee Kenji Yano
revealed that he was going to buy some new underwear. Reporters then followed him to a nearby shop, where he did just that....With the news the last couple of days that offers from the Red Sox and Orioles are pending and that he is going to hire an agent, a report in Sankei Sports claims that has engendered declining interest in Hideki Matsui by the Yankees, with many fans and writers insisting that they should make Jose Contreras their number one priority....Be that as it may, Godzilla may train in Tampa in the offseason, where the Yankees have a training camp....Former Taiyo Whales and Hiroshima Carp manager Takeshi Koba is running for mayor of Hiroshima. A two time steals champ as a player, he ranks 13th all time in wins as a field boss and was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999. He lead the Carp to its first ever pennant in 1975 and then won three more flags with the team, then going on to guide them through three Japan Series championships....Yomiuri second baseman Toshihisa Nishi expressed uneasiness at having Roberto Petagine in rightfield now while the previous rightfielder, Yoshinobu Takahashi, moves over to center to replace Hideki Matsui. The source of Nishi's misgivings have to do with language differences as well as just not knowing that much about Petagine's abilities as an outfielder.... Chunichi Sports is saying that the SF Giants are hoping that they can get Norihiro Nakamura as a cheaper alternative to signing either Edgardo Alfonso or Robin Ventura ....The Kintetsu Buffaloes announced that they will be contributing $800 per school for each of the 300 elementary institutions in the city of Osaka this coming year. They are also mulling expanding that program to include all of Osaka Prefecture as well as Nara and Mie Prefectures....The Yokohama Bay Stars are negotiating with Doosan Bears slugger Tyrone Woods. They are also still looking at Brian Daubach and Steve Cox....The Central League has an umpiring position open and will conduct both writtten and oral exams for it on January 19th....The father of Chunichi Dragons draftee Yoshimi Sakurai, who was born in Brazil, says that he hopes his son will do well in pro ball and "be na inspiration for the 250,000 Brazilians living in Japan."
Jim Allen Back on the Hot Corner
See story at:Yomiuri Shimbun Article
Mariners to Play Giants, Lions in March
See story at:Japan Today Article
Alderson Working to Preserve Olympic Baseball
But is it too little too late? Associated Press Article
See related story at: Toronto Star Article
Bonds Paid $1 Million to Appear in NPB-MLB Series?
See story at: Japan Times Article
Baseball's Purging from Olympics Could Lead to World Cup
See story at: Pakistan Daily Times Article
Taiwanese Leagues Agree to Merger
See story at: ETaiwan News Article
USA Softball Campaigns to Save Sport in Olympics
See story at: USA Today Article
