[Previous entry: "Japanese Baseball News: Yomiuri Hall of Famer Chiba Dies"] [Main Index] [Next entry: "Cooperstown Confidential, December 10, 2002, by Bruce Markusen"]
12/10/2002 Archived Entry: "Japanese Baseball News: Eyes of Texas on Shinjo?"
Hot Shots....
According to Nikkan Sports, which is quoting an uncle of Tsuyoshi Shinjo, the Texas Rangers may have a $1.6 million offer (I would assume that would include incentives) in front of the former Met and SF Giant. The Rangers have had both defensive and injury problems in their outfield the last couple of seasons, but I can't find any corroboration of this item in the Texas area press....Sankei Sports is reporting that Hideki Matsui may be asking for a deal in the $6-8 million a season range....Hanshin Tigers outfielder Osamu Hamanaka was granted a $160,000 raise to $400,000....The Daiei Hawks have acquired outfielder Bryant Nelson, 28, from the Boston Red Sox. He will wear number 4....Makoto Suzuki still has yet to formally sign with Orix....While Hanshin plans for now to use Hideki Irabu has a closer, he says that he wants to start. Another Hanshin hurler, Tetsuro Kawajiri, says that he hopes to somehow go to MLB after next season if any team is interested. He had been looked into by the Astros and Cardinals....Kintetsu backup catcher Hirotoshi Kitagawa had hispay cut by $40,000 to $160,000....Kintetsu's team president is going to the U.S. to renew the team's agreement with the Dodgers....Six Seibu Lions players are getting new numbers for next season. Infielder Scott McClain will go from 3 to 44. Also, the team ratcheted up outfielder Tatsuya Ozeki's salary to $800,000 from $550,000, though he went away a little unahppy anyway since he was hoping for just a hair under $1 million.... Yokohama outfielder Tatsuhiko Kinjo absorbed a $64,000 salary reduction to $335,000. Stars reliever Kazuo Fukumori was also victimized by a decrease, about $12,000, to around $270,000 ....Yakult Swallows closer Shingo Takatsu fattened his wallet by $240,000 to approximately $1.4 million plus incentives....Lotte ace Tomohiro Kuroki was rocked by a $320,000 cut to just a little over $1.1 million after spending most of the season on the shelf with a bad shoulder....Hiroshima Carp outfielder Tomonori Maeda had his salaru upped $160,000 to $1.3 million....The Nippon Ham Fighters have gone to court to have a fan club started by an ex-employee in Hokkaido shutdown. The man had claimed that the fan organization was official when it was not. It cost $80 for a sign up fee and charged yearly dues of $24. Nippon Ham already has a 20,000 strong fan club of its own....Are the Chunichi Dragons really seriously considering acquring Reggie Sanders? He would seem to be out of their price range. More workable would be their scrutiny of Ron Gant....The Japanese Scholastic Baseball Federation removed two officials from different schools after they were both arrested for felonies. One man named Yoshida was busted for engaging in an act of prostitution with a minor while another unnamed man was recently popped for beating his wife. Several others were suspended or reprimanded for engaging in hazing or bullying incidents, among other offenses...Orix reliever Hidetaka Kawagoe, who stunk it up on the way to a 15 loss season, got off lightly with only a $16,000 pay cut to $250,000 ....Unrest in Venezuela has resulted not just in the postponement of the winter league all star game, but now the regular schedule has been suspended until things calm down. Associated Press quoted league president Guillermo Aveledo as saying, ""You'll hear 'Play Ball!' only when we can guarantee the quality of the game and the safety of the players."
Nakamura to Meet With Mets Today
And leave it up to the American press to get it wrong again. Nakamura has not abandoned playing in Japan. He may not get a shot at MLB anyway since the Mets seem to be a bit wary. See story at:
Newark Star-Ledger Article
Japanese Baseball Old Timers Forgotten
Marty Kuehnert has another interesting story at: Japan Times Article
Today in Japanese Baseball History
This report is for December 10th and on that date in Japanese baseball history in 1968, the Sankei Atoms announced an agreement with Yakult, which eventually bought the team.
Also on that date in 1979, Nippon Ham number one draft choice Isamu Kida asked for some real estate as part of his contract negotiations. I don't know if they gave it to him, but he went on to win the Rookie of the Year, the MVP, the ERA and strikeout crowns as well as a Gold Glove and lead the the Pacific lead in wins with 22 in 1980. He won only ten games the following season and then never posted more than eight shiroboshi the rest of his 11 season career, ultimatly finishing with a record of 60-71 with an ERA of 4.23. He then worked for a printing company and a construction company as a salaryman before doing some tv commentary work in the late 90's.
Replies: 1 Comment
I believe Kida were told by his boss something along the lines of "a professional baseball player should buy real estate on his own". So no, they didn't give it to him.
Posted by Dusanh @ 12/11/2002 09:06 AM EST
