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11/03/2003 Archived Entry: "Japanese Baseball News: Call Him "Backauchi;" Oh, Players and Fans Go Ballistic as Hawks Owner Dispatches Slugger Kokubo to Giants With No Compensation"
News of Hawks Move Stuns Japanese Baseball
Daiei Hawks manager Sadaharu Oh and the team's players union rep, first baseman Nobuhiko Matsunaka, both blew their stacks when the Fukuoka outfit announced Monday that it was sending their great third baseman, Hiroki Kokubo, to the Yomiuri Giants Tuesday for nothing. That's right, nada, zip, zilch. No money, not a young prospect or even a crate of baseballs.
The Hawks barely finished celebrating their second Japan Series championship in the last five seasons when its players, fans and skipper were floored by this electrifying and very curious news. When one takes into account the hassle second baseman Tadahito Iguchi is contending with over his wish to be posted to MLB, this becomes a real headscratcher.
Sports Nippon posits that the decision is both economic and a desire to accomodate Kokubo, who has himself talked about making an MLB shot, and his admitted request to be moved somewhere else. Daiei has reportedly been dickering with the infielder over the expenses for his recent knee surgery, which a Chunichi Sports piece said run as high as $180,000 (how is that possible?) and that, coupled with Kokubo's nearly $2 million salary, may have made this deal possible. By asking for nothing in return, Daiei was able to accomplish getting rid of Kokubo with little problem, though the public relations aspect may really comeback to haunt them.
Well known comic book illustrator Shinji Mizushima, one of the Hawks faithful, registered his objections: "I couldn't believe it. I was really surprised. What intention they had in sending him [to Yomiuri] with no compensation is a mystery to me. The fans were waiting for Kokubo's return and were hoping for a repeat championship. I want a satisfactory explanation for this."
While obtaining Kokubo solves the Giants' third base question, it doesn't do anything for the core defect of that nine, its pitching. At least Daiei can keep the suddenly emergent Munenori Kawasaki, who stepped in when Kokubo went down and import Bryant Nelson couldn't plug that gap himself. On the other hand, Kawasaki would also have been the most likely candidate to take over second base if or when Iguchi bids Kyushu sayonara.
Surely, considering how the Hawks' lineup laid waste to Pacific League pitching, its players had to be drooling over what it would do with Kokubo back in the fold, which would allow Kawasaki , providing that Iguchi stays, to gravitate to shortstop, where weak hitting Yusuke Torigoe is the incumbent. Put another 40 homers and 90-100 RBIs in that order and you would have had an even more intimidating offense. Now, obviously, that turns to dust.
"We were planning to bat him cleanup next season," Oh sputtered. "This really hurts our ballclub and it engenders a lot of questions. I hope it doesn't become a bad precedent."
Matsunaka steamed, "I just want to say, 'you gotta be kidding! Why the hell did they have to give Kokubo to the Giants? Maybe this team doesn't want to win. I'm sorry for the fans and the feeling that we can repeat has just faded away." Sankei Sports then went on to portray the mood of the players as one of being betrayed.
PL MVP Kenji Johjima, who has been helped a lot by batting advice given to him over the years by Kokubo, chose his words very carefully, but the underlying feeling was that Johjima was not happy. The potential future hall of fame backstop has had his own run ins with the front office over the length of his contract and it is now whispered that Johjima, who would really like to finish his career with the Hawks, has been looking into what kind of interest there is in him from stateside teams.
Rookie of the Year Tsuyoshi Wada noted that Kokubo loomed large as a presence on the club and he can't think of the Hawks without him.
Nippon Ham boss Trey Hillman noted, "this is just speculation on my part, but they mush have made a calculation that they could continue to carry on without him. However, if Iguchi goes to America, that will be a damaging move."
New Orix helmsman Haruki Ihara averred that he was astonished, but he was also pleased since not having Kokubo available to their league opposition makes for less of a headache for the Blue Wave. Ihara's centerfielder, Yoshitomo Tani, merely offered that it was sad to see Kokubo go.
With centerfielder Arihito Muramatsu about to announce that he is going to jump ship in contradiction of an earlier report he would stay, the PL may see the best offense in Japanese baseball annals gutted.
Kokubo's evacuation is yet another example of how Japanese owners just don't get it when it comes to keeping pro yakyu's fan base intact and that's even before you get to the subject of team morale. They draw more than three million a season and this is how they repay their followers as well as Kokubo's teammates. One can project it encouraging Iguchi to fight even harder to leave and, should the birds of prey stumble out of the gate in 2004, maybe its fans will follow. Nakauchi-owner ha baka (moron)! Maybe we should call him "Bakauchi" from here on in.
Kokubo will be eligible for free agency after next season.
Replies: 1 Comment
As a believer in conspiracy theory,my first thought was that Tsuneo Watanabe strikes again, methinks he must have orchestrated this in collusion with "Bakauchi". What could Watanabe's payback be for the Hawks? If this is allowed to stand, and I'm sure it will, the Giants' 3-4-5 hitters in 2004 could be Kokubo, Rhodes, and Petagine; not much speed there but potentially 125+ HRs.
Posted by Mike Todd @ 11/03/2003 10:45 PM EST
