Archived Weblog Entry - 01/03/2004: "Japanese Baseball News: Millar Argument May Have Lead to Yamada Firing; Moore, Fernandez Begin New Year with New Teams"

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01/03/2004 Archived Entry: "Japanese Baseball News: Millar Argument May Have Lead to Yamada Firing; Moore, Fernandez Begin New Year with New Teams"

Did Millar Controversy Cost Yamada His Job?

Usually, one prefers to forget the previous year's negative events, but the Kevin Millar incident has raised its ugly head again thanks to an article in Chunichi Sports. According to the paper, which is part of the same media group that owns the Dragons, now ex-manager Hisashi Yamada, an intense guy of the old school when he was a 284 game winning submarining pitcher with Hankyu, got into a blowout of an argument with team president Junnosuke Nishikawa the same night in February when it was announced that Millar would not honor his deal with the Nagoya nine. The more conciliatory Nishikawa and Yamada, who, one presumes, just like when he was facing opposing hitters, probably wanted to play some serious hardball, apparently didn't see eye to eye and a loud, acrimonious confrontation ensued.

Fast forward to the day when it was ultimately all settled with feelings of betrayal in Aichi Prefecture and Millar in a Red Sox uniform. Yamada went out with reporters and team officials for a night of drinking into the early morning hours. When everybody had cleared out, Yamada remained, telling one scribe, "I'm already fired." That would prove prophetic.

The Dragons would eventually be devastated by injuries to Kenta Asakura and Kenshin Kawakami, an anxiety problem that torpedoed Melvin Bunch's career, disappointing hitting from second baseman Masahiro Araki and shortstop Kazuhiro Ibata as well as ineffectiveness by then closer Eddie Gaillard, Yamada, who was at that point having communication problems with his players, was effectively suspended. The squad surged the last month or so of the season to end up in second, but Yamada had burned some bridges and was punted in favor of Hiromitsu Ochiai.

It's really too bad. Yamada was a very respected coach with Orix and it was thought that he could re-inject a fresh presence into a club that had been worn down by predecessor Senichi Hoshino's goon show. Yamada did resurrect Masafumi Hirai's career, but that was about it for the positives. The snake bites of injury, the Millar incident, and non-performance by key players were just too much to overcome for him and that was that.

Team Reports

Hanshin As a lot of Japanese do on New Year's Day, manager Akinobu Okada visited a local shrine in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture in a rite called "hatsumode." He prayed for his side to win their second consecutive pennant. In addition, just after Christmas, he told Yomiuri mouthpiece Hochi Sports that he isn't afraid of the Giants, suggesting that new third baseman Hiroki Kokubo is injury prone Instead, he claimed that Chunichi is finding a better balance between pitching and offense and that he doesn't really have any idea how Hiromitsu Ochiai is going to conduct his team's games. The Dragons really made life hard for the Tigers last season, so Okada obviously has that in mind in preparing for spring training....Much heralded number one choice Takashi Toritani started his first 2004 workouts to prepare for his rookie campaign in the Central League Thursday. Toritani's parents, Toshi and Akemi, own a tangerine orchard and will, as usual, enlist their now famous offspring when they harvest it. "I just want him to get through the year without injury," Akemi-san averred to Sankei Sports. Toshi-san lamented that Takashi will be playing his home games in the Kansai area, where he won't have time to see his son do his thing.

Chunichi The team hopes to make "ore-ryuu (doing it my way)" the phrase of the coming year, as they will push iconoclastic manager Hiromitsu Ochiai to the front of their marketing campaign. You will be able to buy an Ochai cell phone strap and other such goods are in the works....Number one starter Shigeki Noguchi said that his elbow is fine. That he experienced discomfort there last season is no surprise since his out pitch is a slider and he throws it perhaps more than he should....With Akinori Otsuka now off to San Diego, the closer's job is apparently going to go to veteran Hitoki Iwase, according to Chunichi Sports. He said that he wants to finish the opposition off with the same authority as the Dodgers Eric Gagne. He will work on fortifying his back, which has given him some aches and pains over the years, during this offseason.

Yakult As part of a strategy to lure more female fans to Meiji Jingu Stadium this coming season, the team will have some of its players, including Waseda University grad Yuya Kamada, appear in fashion magazines. You may also see Swallows players popping up in car publications, says a Yakult official....Manager Tsutomu Wakamatsu may put little lefthander Masanori Ishikawa on the hill Opening Day against Yokohama since Ishikawa has a career ERA under 3.00 within the cozy confines at Meiji Jingu, according to Hochi Sports. Jason Beverlin is also a candidate, the report states....Speaking of Wakamatsu, he is likely to lead the team through 2005. Swallows owner Tagiku has told the former outfielder that if he wants to stay manager after his contract ends in 2004 he must finish in the upper division. However, another Yakult official stated that even if Yakult finishes fourth or lower, they don't have anyone in mind to bring in for one season before they execute their plan to make catcher Atsuya Furuta the field boss starting in 2006....Closer Shingo Takatsu is still awaiting MLB offers....Second year pitcher Yuhei Takai returned to Japan from Phoenix, where he took some training tips from Diamondbacks ace Randy Johnson. Takai said that Johnson told him to be "the little unit." He also spent some time with Yomiuri lefty Kimiyasu Kudoh, who was also there, who gave him some advice about his mechanics.

Yomiuri Young lefty Masanori Hayashi, one of the few pleasant developments in a disastrous 2003 for the Giants, told reporters Thursday that he will focus on strengthening his legs in hopes of putting a little more heat on his fastball. He also revealed that he had watched a lot of tv footage of Hanshin ace Kei Igawa and tried to pattern some of his approach toward the hitters after him. Hayashi, a seventh round choice now going into this third season out of high school, stated that his goal is to win at least ten games.

Hiroshima Hiroki Kuroda, who came into his own during the second half of last season to lead the club in wins, wants to reverse his 2003 first half fortunes, when he went 3-7, by this time collecting seven victories before the all star break. It might also help if manager Koji Yamamoto could do something about the Carp's league worst defense, but that is unlikely with his current personnel. In any event, Kuroda will travel to Arizona on January 6th to start his offseason training.

Yokohama The Stars are trying out a $300,000 pitching machine used by the Cardinals and Mariners that looks like a big tv monitor (sorry, not going to give the name of the company or the product line). It reportedly enables hitters to better simulate facing specified pitchers. Yokohama is being allowed to audition it for free for three months.

Daiei With the aim of repeating as Japan Series champions, manager Sadaharu Oh said that he will be putting the most effort into improving his pitching staff during the spring. He also hopes to do something about shortstop Yusuke Torigoe's weak stick.

Seibu The Lions have picked up third baseman/DH Jose Fernandez, who was released by Lotte when they signed Benny Agbayani. The former Angel and Cub, who has also played in the KBO, slugged 32 homers last season with 100 RBIs and a gaudy .363 with runners in scoring position....Replacing leadoff Kazuo Matsui at the top of the Lions lineup in 2004 will be Hiroyuki Shibata, according to Hochi Sports. Shibata is listed as an outfielder, but has an elbow problem which will confine him to DH duty. Following Shibata, in order, will be centerfielder Tatsuya Ozeki, third baseman Fernandez, first baseman Alex Cabrera and leftfielder Kazuhiro Wada. Rightfielder Hiroyuki Oshima will occupy the six hole, shortstop Hiroyuki Nakajima the seven spot, followed by catcher Toru Hosokawa and, then, presumably, second baseman Hiroyuki Takagi. That would leave the promising batsman Taketoshi Goto on the bench.

Kintetsu Third baseman Norihiro Nakamura hopes to have recovered from knee surgery in time for spring training and even wants to make it on to the Japanese olympic team. The burly Osaka native played in the Sydney games in 2000 and insisted that his addition to the squad would bring it a little more personality.

Lotte Sidearmer Hiroya Tani, who was signed after being released by Yomiuri, tied the knot last weekend with 26 year old housepkeeper Aya Mahashi. The pair met two years ago through mutual friends.

Nippon Ham The Tatsuya Ide to Yomiuri for Yusaku Iriki has gone through after all. Iriki had been holding out on joining the Fighters by demanding that they post him after the coming season. Nippon Ham's front office refused and as enmity between the Giants and Fighters escalated and the latter were considering asking for either Junichi Kawahara or Hideki Okajima (why?), they then opted to offer a compromise whereby, providing that Iriki put up good numbers, the southpaw would be put up for bid after the 2005 season. Iriki should be an improvement, but that doesn't mean he can pitch in MLB, which is his dream. Meawhile, Iriki's brother Satoshi has reupped for another sojourn with the KBO.

Orix The Blue Wave, hoping that its record worst pitching staff can be given a shot in the arm, has picked up former Hanshin Tigers and Atlanta Braves lefthander Trey Moore. Moore was the loser in the final game of the Japan Series, but still posted a fine 10-6 record in an injury hampered regular season and will be a big asset in the clubhouse for a demoralized rotation. And, in an odd turn, Moore's ability with the stick has resulted in an incentive clause in his contract where he will get $1000 for each successful sac bunt or RBI despite the fact that the Pacific League uses the DH. But that's not all. Moore's distinctive Fu Manchu mustache will be prominent in the Blue Wave's marketing plans, as they will paste the sidearmer's mug on jackets and windbreakers. Moreover, they may also sell fake Moore mustaches. No word on whether they will have a "Moore Mustache Day," but it could do for Orix what [Jay] Buhner Buzzcut Day did for Seattle....Manager Haruki Ihara will not conduct evening workouts this spring. "Such workouts are nonsense," the former Lions skipper blurted. "I'd rather they read a book and use that time and develop themselves." Ihara will, though, work his charges hard during the day, but noting that there are limits to players' concentration, will give them evenings off.

Miscellaneous A weather adviser for the Japanese Olympic Committe (no, you didn't misread that) told the Yomiuri Shimbun's Hiroshi Hirai that the nation's baseball contingent can expect lots of wind that will play havoc with the flight of the ball: "if it blows from the north or northeast, fly balls that may reach the stands can be pushed back," he noted. "Those who can take advantage of the winds will be the winners"....Here's to hoping that Al Martin, who gave Saturday Night live character Tony Flanagan a run for his money when he was caught in several lies while he was with Seattle, won't embarrass himself in Korea with the LG Twins....Seung-yeop Lee's Asian record tying 55th homer ball was auctioned off for $104,000, according to the Chosun Ilbo....While it is apparently questionable whether players from the Japanese pro baseball dream team will take part in the opening ceremonies of the 2004 olympics, maanager Shigeo Nagashima will. There had also reportedly been some discussion of having Seibu ace Daisuke Matsuzaka carry the flag for Japan, but that was negated due to concerns that the righthander might injure himself doing so.

In the News

Did Hara Firing Cost Giants Matsui?

Although not obtaining the Lions superstar no doubt kept Tomohiro Nioka happy. See story at:
Japan Times Article

Leon Lee Choi's "Grandafther"

See story at: Cincinnati Enquirer Article

Johjima Now Japan's Highest Paid Catcher Ever

See story at: Japan Times Article

Valentine May be Mets Adviser in Deal with Lotte

See story at: Newark Star-Ledger

In Japan, It Will be Baseball and More Baseball

See story at: Japan Times Article

Perfect Timing for Japanese Dream Team