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01/16/2003 Archived Entry: "Japanese Baseball News: "Feel the Ballpark Revolution"?"
Hot Shots....
According to Sports Nippon, Yankees GM Brian Cashman suggests that Hideki Matsui could end up hitting third in the team's batting order if Jason Giambi gets off to a slow start, citing Matsui's willingness to take a walk. Manager Joe Torre, though, says that he will determine just where Godzilla will be slotted in after seeing him in spring training....Ichiro watched the Matsui press conference from his home in Aichi Prefecture following a workout at Orix' workout facility in Kobe. He didn't have that much to say about it other than the ex-Yomiuri cleanup man should do what he feels most comfortable with....Matsui got on a plane earlier today to head back to Japan, but not before telling reporters how well he had been treated during his NY stay. He will then go back to the states the last week of this month and then make for the Yankees camp the first week of February....Also, starting February, Yomiuri will be selling Matsui related goods at its Miyazaki spring camp and will be allowed to do so until the end of March. With his defection to the majors, Matsui-related souvenirs have been flying off the shelves at department stores and shops all over Japan and most are now sold out....The Yankees are also getting requests to reserve Matsui replica uniform tops from fans who want to purchase them....HIS Tours, a respected Japanese tour outfit, is organizing an excursion to Matsui's MLB debut series in Toronto. So far, about 20 fans have signed up. Kinki Nihon Tourist is finalizing preparations to bring more than 100 Matsui enthusiasts to New York in the first days of the regular season. NYC Mayor Mike Bloomberg should like that news....Tsuyoshi Shinjo will wear number 5 with the Mets....Yakult Swallows manager Tsutomu Wakamatsu was smiling today watching his number one draft choice, Yuhei Takai, snap off nasty 12-6 curve ball after nasty curve ball. Takai, though, modestly told reporters that he doesn't really have a good feel for the pitch yet....Lotte ace Tomohiro Kuroki worked out for three hours today and reported that his arm is still feeling good after a session of playing catch. He is expected to throw in the bullpen on the 20th.... Japanese owners are said to be considering extending the trading deadline from June 30th to one month later....Negotiations between second baseman Makoto Imaoka and Hanshin are still on rocky footing, according to Sports Nippon....Hideki Irabu is hitting the weight room six days a week, adding 30 pounds of body weight, but with a total body fat content of 15%. Hmmmm....Also putting emphasis on heavy lifting is Yomiuri second baseman Toshihisa Nishi, who leased some weight equipment and installed it in a room of his house. He is hoping that his four day a week weightwork regimen will reduce the likelihood of incurring the injuries that made his 2002 a struggle ....Yomiuri number two choice Yuya Kubo has a problem we'd all like to have: he has trouble putting on weight. He wants to add another 10 pounds to go to 176 pounds, but has thus far found doing so rough sledding. He is now attempting to do so by loading up on mochi (a kind of rice dumpling) and strawberries every night....Chunichi Dragons reliever Marc Valdes wanted to wear number 77 this season, but that request was refused due to consideration for the feelings of Valdes' old boss at Hanshin, Senichi Hoshino, who wears the same pair of sevens on his back. Hoshino is also a former Dragons manager. Hanshin released the ex-Brave upon the end of the 2002 schedule. Valdes will instead don number 36....Takeshi Yamasaki, who moved over from Chunichi to Orix, says that there were a lot of people with his old team who wouldn't let him do his job. Yamasaki might want to look in the mirror to see one of those people....While it is probable that Kintetsu manager Masataka Nashida will tap Jeremy Powell for opening day duties, Hisashi Iwakuma says he wants to do the honors and is hoping to post a good enough performance during spring training to grab that assignment....The Blue Wave issued its dumb slogan for the coming season, that being, "Feel the Ballpark Revolution. Atsuku Narou Kobe (let's get hot Kobe)!" Sheesh....
Red Carpet for Godzilla
See story at: Staten Island Advance Article
See related story at: New Jersey.com Article
Matsui Hits the Big City
See story at: ESPNArticle
Matsui Press Conference a Media Circus
See story at: Middletown Press Article
Even more on the extent of the frenzy at: NY Post Article
And one more at: Gannet News Service Article
Torre to Wait Until Spring Training to Watch Matsui
See story at: South Florida Sun-Sentinel Article
Yanks Expect Matsui Deal to Easily Pay for Itself
See story at: Stamford Advocate Article
Steinbrenner to Buy Japanese Team?
This story only touches on that, but it's intriguing to say the least: North Jersey.com Article
Meanwhile, Back in Cleveland....
A tale of two press conferences at: Cleveland Plain Dealer Article
Komiyama Looking at Retirement
It's really too bad if his career ends this way. See story at: Japan Today Article
Fukuoka Dome to be Sold?
See story at: Japan Times Article
Millar Rejects Red Sox Offer
See story at: Associated Press Article
Red Sox Wanted to Send Agbayani in Millar's Place
See story at: Boston Globe Article
Taiwan League Considers New TV Contracts
See story at: ETaiwan News Article
Off Topic Article of the Day: Oregon May Not Have Enough Economic Heft to Get Expos
For backers of moving the Expos to Portland, this story makes that out to be a dubious proposition: The Oregonian Article
And New Jersey ain't looking good, either: Bergen County Record
Replies: 1 Comment
Make no mistake about it, Marc Valdes would like nothing more than to make Hoshino regret the day that they released him. But can you blame Hoshino's move, I mean really, Valdes was only the best pitcher on the team. We should have seen it coming earlier when we saw Hoshino snub Valdes in the all-star game. It was Hoshino who chose Moore over Valdes, not the all-star manager, Wakamatsu. There will be even more bad blood between the Tigers and the Dragons in 2003.
Posted by Tora, Tora Tiger @ 01/17/2003 11:21 PM EST
