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11/30/2002 Archived Entry: "Little Matsui Goes for the Big Bucks; Sasaki Adds Cutter to Menu"
According to Sports Nippon, Seibu Lions shortstop Kazuo Matsui, who had his profile raised substantially with an outstanding showing against a team of major league all stars earlier this month, is now asking the club to pay him a team record 400 million yen (about $3.2 million) for next season. He made around $1.2 million this past year. Moreover, if Norihiro Nakamura does leave Kintetsu for either Hanshin or MLB, it would make the new single season extra basehits record holder the best compensated man in the Pacific League.
The Lions front office had intended to proffer an $800,000 raise for their star infielder, but he apparently has bigger numbers in mind. Furthermore, leftfielder Kazuhiro Wada and second baseman Hiroyuki Takagi have substantial raises coming, so this may be a very expensive offseason, though billionaire owner Yoshiaki Tsutsumi can more than handle it.
Hot Shots....
Today formally marks the day when Hideki Matsui's contract with the Yomiuri Giants formally runs out. So what did Godzilla do to mark the occasion? He attended a friend's wedding cermony....Despite the fact that he will turn 40 next season, Yomiuri great Kimiyasu Kudoh says he would still like to take a shot at MLB. If he does go over in 2004, it would make him Japan's equivalent of Satchel Paige....To absolutely nobody's surprise, prize draftees Tsuyoshi Wada and Nagisa Arakaki will start spring training on the big club roster.... Sankei Sports is saying today that Yakult's number one draft choice, Yuhei Takai, will indeed sign. Kazuhiro Sasaki, like Takai an alumnus of Tohoku High School, said he hopes that Takai will join the Swallows with an aggressive attititude and make people take notice....Speaking of the Mariners closer, he participated in an anti-gun violence event in his hometown of Sendai today, also calling for the building of a new stadium in the city to replace one that is becoming increasingly dilapidated. That may be difficult to do in recessionary times, however. In addition, yesterday, he was at a Starbuck's coffee shop in Sendai working behind the counter as a promotional stunt for the chain. While doing so, he commented to reporters that he will attempt to add a cut fastball to his repetoire next season.... The Dodgers are going to pass on Yokohama closer Takashi Saito. There were other MLB teams interested, but apparently they felt that the righthander was asking for too much money. So he will most likely end up back with the Bay Stars....Yomiuri middle reliever Tsuyoshi Jobe got a $32,000 pay raise. He was reportedly disappointed with the amount....Norihiro Nakamura will meet Tuesday to negotiate with the Kintetsu Buffaloes, who have yet another new offer, one that would allow him to be posted after two years. Former Buffalo Ralph Bryant alos revesled that the burly Osakan told him he wants to play in the U.S. The former Dodgers outfielder said he thinks Nakamura's chances of success are good.... Yokohama shortstop Takuro Ishii, who got legally married to his wife Shiori Arase, a former Fuji-tv announcer, some time ago, finally took time out for the actual ceremony earlier today with more than 200 well wishers in attendance....More than 60 hopefuls tried out at Meiji Jingu Stadium today for a spot on the Elmira Pioneers, an independent league club owned by Hideki Irabu, Makoto Suzuki, and Hideo Nomo, the latter personally watching the audition. Afterward, Nomo prounouced himself happy with the results of the three hour workout. "The quality level was higher than I expected," he offered. "It's going to be tough to decide who to pick for the team." The former Kintetsu righthander also averred that he had already begun workouts in preparation for next season with the Dodgers....According to Nikkan Sports, the Kintetsu Buffaloes plan to convert first round draft choice Tomotaka Sakaguchi from a pitcher into an outfielder. "I want to be like Shinjo," the rookie told reporters, disclosing that he enjoys hitting more than toiling from the hill. Sakaguchi jacked 23 homers in high school and can run 50 meters in six seconds flat....Finally, Mariners reliever Shigetoshi Hasegawa just put out a new book, which is called something like, Winning by Making the Best of Your Opportunities: How to Prepare Yourself So That You Don't Fail in Tight Situations. Asked if he would recommend the tome to Hideki Matsui, the crafty righthander laughed, "no, he should get the one before this one," which was on how Hasegawa learned english after going to MLB. Hasegawa also said that the toughest adjustment for Matsui will be finding something to do on long plane rides during road trips.
Godzilla Pads His Trophy Cabinet
See story at: Asahi Shimbun Article
Kudoh Becomes Highest Paid Pitcher With $480,000 Raise
See story at:Japan Times Article
IOC Spares Baseball
See story at:Baseball America Article
Japan Olympic Committe Annoyed at IOC Indecision
See story at:Japan Times Article
Korean Sports Papers Resort to Sex to Keep Readers Interested
See story at:Joong Ang Ilbo Article
Today in Japanese Baseball History
This report is for November 30th and on that date in Japanese baseball history in 1969, 400 game winner Masaichi Kaneda announced his retirement.
Also on that date in 1968, Hanshin Tigers first round draftee Koichi Tabuchi, a catcher, announced that he would sign with the club after all. He had said previously that he would only be agreeable to going to Yomiuri. He then went on to slug 22 homers and, despite batting only .226 and striking out a ton (98 in 359 official at bats), win the Central League Rookie of the Year Award. For his career, he slammed 474 homers and hit .260.
