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01/30/2004 Archived Entry: "Japanese Baseball News: Yomiuri Passes on Sasaki; Lotte Acquires Serafini"
Giants Suddenly Bail Out of Sasaki Stakes
According to Sankei Sports, the Stars will offer former Mariners closer Kazuhiro Sasaki a two year deal for a total, inclusive of incentives, of $9.5 million. In addition, he will get his old number back from pitcher Yuji Yoshimi. Furthermore, it appears that Yomiuri, despite badly needing someone who can finish off the opposition on a nightly basis, are bowing out of the bidding.
A Giants spokesman stated that the kyojin are pulling out due to their belief that Junichi Kawahara will be able to comeback from an awful 2003 campaign and be an effective go to guy in the ninth. Too, with the money that it would take to obtain Sasaki, that high of a salary would create problems with lesser paid starters such as ace Koji Uehara and possible future hall of fame lefthander Kimiyasu Kudoh.
According to Sports, Nippon, Yomiuri was going to submit a one year contract for $3.9 million and give Sasaki Hideki Matsui's old number, 55. But at about noon today, the team did an about face and tabled the idea of bidding for the ex-Mariner.
Lotte had apparently showed some interest, too, but the Yokohama deal will likely be too rich for them plus they already have one of the best closers in the Japanese game in Masahide Kobayashi. However, that still didn't stop manager Bobby Valentine from talking to Sasaki agent Tony Attanasio earlier this month, though Valentine denies that he had expressed any interest in Daimajin at that time. The former Mets skipper then went on to say that he is looking for someone who can fill the closer's role while Kobayashi is participating in the Athens Olympics.
Nippon Ham, not wanting to create resentment with their great reigning Pacific League batting champ Michihiro Ogasawara, who will make in the neighborhood of $3.8 million next season, were only going to put a two year, $6.7 million offer on the table, which is not going to get it done.
Yokohama is still not allowing Attanasio to bargain on Sasaki's behalf, so the righthander will use another person to do that for him. Sasaki will also be permitted to bring his personal trainer with him if he so wishes. A formal announcement about all this is expected sometime early next week.
For his part, Sasaki spent the day at home in Tokyo and issued no comment.
Players Select Igawa, Johjima MVPs
The members of the Japan Players Association voted their postseason awards Friday and, as the writers voted, Kei Igawa was picked as Central League MVP while Daiei catcher Kenji Johjima was given a smilar nod for the Pacific League. Hanshin catcher Akihiro Yano and Hawks 20 game winner Kazumi Saito came in second for their respective circuits.
The players also devised their own Best Nine teams, and they are these:
Central League:
Kei Igawa, Hanshin (P), Hitoki Iwase, Chunichi (Reliever), Shingo Takatsu, Yakult (Closer), Akihiro Yano, Hanshin (C), George Arias, Hanshin (1B), Makoto Imaoka, Hanshin (2B), Kazuyoshi Tatsunami, Chunichi (3B), Shinya Miyamoto, Yakult (SS), Tomoaki Kanemoto, Hanshin (LF), Norihiro Akahoshi, Hanshin (CF), Kosuke Fukudome, Chunichi (RF).
Pacific League:
Kazumi Saito, Daiei (P), Shinji Mori, Seibu (Reliever), Kiyoshi Toyoda, Seibu (Closer), Kenji Johjima, Daiei (C), Nobuhiko Matsunaka, Daiei (1B), Tadahito Iguchi, Daiei (2B), Michihiro Ogasawara, Nippon Ham (3B), Kazuo Matsui, Seibu (SS), Tuffy Rhodes, Kintetsu (LF), Yoshitomo Tani, Orix (CF), Hiroshi Shibahara, Daiei (RF), Alex Cabrera, Seibu (DH).
That Shinya Miyamoto finished ahead of Tomohiro Nioka is really curious since as an all around player, Nioka was, and is, by far the more dangerous man. And how do you pick Kanemoto ahead of Ramirez, who surpassed Kanemoto by far in nearly every offensive category?
By the way, for the Jeff Williams marching and chowder society, he finished second in the voting for closer.
Team Reports
Hanshin Ace Kei Igawa finally concluded his salary negotiations, signing for $2 million, just over double what he made in 2003. What's more, he could make another $95,000 in incentives if he reaches certain targets. Igawa, who had hoped to earn around $2.3 million, said that reaching the agreement is a big load off of his mind and it will enable him to concentrate solely on pitching now....Infielder Kentaro Sekimoto hurt himself during today's workout. A herniated elbow is suspected. He will be re-examined at an Osaka area hospital in the coming days.
Chunichi Pitcher Kenjiro Kawasaki, who hasn't thrown a regular season inning in three years, will make the start in the club's first intrasquad game of the spring in a planned one inning assignment. Friday, he threw 50 pitches in his workout...Pitcher Kenta Asakura handcuffed rightfielder Kosuke Fukudome during batting practice Friday, even sawing Fukudome off on one occasion in a frustrating 17 swing outing for the former batting champ.
Yomiuri The heat in Guam is taking its toll on the Giants players, as pitcher Hiroshi Kisanuki and catcher Shinnosuke Abe had to stop a 3km practice run due to being too tired to continue....Meanwhile, third baseman Hiroki Kokubo spent the morning playing golf for what he says will be the final time until the end of the coming season with pitcher Kimiyasu Kudoh....Manager Tsuneo Horiuchi said he is in no hurry to get first baseman Kazuhiro Kiyohara, who needs just 18 hits to become the 30th man in Japanese annals to 2000, back with the first team since he wants to ensure that the former Lion is absolutely 100% physically before putting him through rigrous planned defensive drills with the top club that will begin on February 10 in Miyazaki.
Yakult The Swallows fell in at their camp in Okinawa Friday and will now see a steady diet of pork. Why? With concern about Mad Cow Disease and the bird flu, Yakult players will be seeing pig on the menu four out of every five days. A writer for Sankei Sports scribbled that in Okinawan cooking, pork dishes are so plentiful that it is said that they use everything but the squeal. Spam is featured in that cuisine, too, thanks to the G.I. influence....Leftfielder Alex Ramirez is good friends with White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, a fellow Venezuelan. Thus, Ramirez' former teammate, Shingo Takatsu, "picked a good team." A-Ram also expressed his gratitude "for what [Takatsu] did for us while he was here."
Daiei Both Lindsay Gulin and Hector Mercado had their welcome to Japan press conference Friday at a Fukuoka area hotel. Mercado said, "I'm sorry, but I like to throw inside, even it means I'm going to hit somebody occasionally. Mercado has been friends with leftfielder Pedro Valdes for 12 years and the latter gave Mercado video of opposing PL hitters....First baseman Nobuhiko Matsunaka met with team negotiators Friday, but their offer didn't change a single yen and last season's RBI leader is still a holdout. A team official said they don't intend to change their salary proposal to mollify Matsunaka.
Seibu Pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka will start against Yomiuri on February 27th, almost a month before he will perform his Opening Day duty....New Lion Jose Fernandez will tell you this season that he is number one and he will be correct, since that is the digit he will wear on his uni. At his press conference Friday, he said that he hopes to lead the Tokorozawa outfit to a pennant. Manager Tsutomu Itoh remarked that if Fernandez replicates his .303-32-100 2003 season this time around, he would have no complaints. Fernandez will likely be slotted into the three hole with Alex Cabrera behind him.
Kintetsu Larry Barnes arrived in Japan Friday, saying that he isn't going to try to be another Tuffy Rhodes. Barnes, who had a good field, no hit reputation in MLB, propounded that he will just try to do whatever is best for the team at any given time. Of course, Todd Betts tried that at Yakult and it got him released as Roberto Petagine's replacement. Manager Masataka Nashida hopes that Barnes can hit at least 25 homers this coming season....Kazuo Fukumori filed papers to get married to his longtime girlfriend, a Fuji-Tv announcer. They've already had the ceremony, but only now filed the paperwork due to his wife's job responsibilities.
Lotte Pitcher Satoru Komiyama threw about 40 pitches in his workout today, using the entirety of his repetoire. A team coached was pleased with what he saw from the 38 year old....Manager Bobby Valentine showed up at Kagoshima city hall to press the flesh with the local politicos and civil servants. About 500 fans also turned out and the ex-Dodger and Angel greeted them in Japanese....On the same day that Benny Agbayani and Matt Franco had their press conference formally announcing their additions, the team also inked former Cincinnati hurler Dan Serafini to a contract. He is expected to join the Makuhari contingent around February 10th. The southpaw is likely to be used as a specialist against lefties. The former 1992 number one choice by Minnesota was 15-16 with one save and a 5.98 ERA in six major league years and 101 games. He played in 2002 with the China Trust Whales, so he has at least some overseas experience.
Nippon Ham Pitcher Ryan Rupe arrived in Japan Friday. Like Orix' Trey Moore and Kintetsu's Kevin Beirne, Rupe is a Texas A&M product and hit his elders up for info on what it's like to play in Japan. He also worked out some with former Swallows righty Kevin Hodges and talked to Trey Hillman on the phone several times, too. However, when asked about what he remembers of new Fighters centerfiedler Tsuyoshi Shinjo when the former Hanshin pretty boy was with the Mets, Rupe chuckled, "all I remember is the orange wrist bands."
In the News
Sasaki Clears Waivers and Yokohama Wants Him Back
See story at: Japan Today Article
Tolerance for Tadano
See story at: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Article
See related article at: San Jose Mercury-News Article
Baseball Dominates Osaka Political Race
See story at: Asahi Shimbun Article
Mariners Sign Taiwanese Infielder
See story at: KATU-TV Article
