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02/27/2008 Archived Entry: "Japanese Baseball Team Preview 2008: Yokohama Bay Stars"

Japanese Baseball Team Preview 2008: Yokohama Bay Stars
Glenn Davies, Tokyo Japan

YOKOHAMA BAY STARS TEAM PREVIEW 2008 SEASON

The Yokohama Bay Stars said good bye to their latest stars in the off season and have the look of a retirement home of the aged and invalided. Unable to compete with other clubs on the salary front they will rely on experience and the hope of bounce back seasons for their up and coming players in 2008. The will try and catch lightening in a bottle twice by replacing their power closer Kroon with minor league one year closer Travis Hughes form the Red Sox organization.  Overall it just looks unlikely that they will compete with all but no pitching and limited power in the lineup.

PREDICTION: 5th in Central League

Murata is the star of the show, he's hit 134 HRs in the past 5 seasons and set a career high for batting average in 07. Nishi came over form the Giants and clearly enjoyed being able to play everyday, looking rejuvenated at the plate. Ishii has lost another step of speed and has been in decline for several years now, (once a regular .300 hitter with 20SBs), he will likely split time with a number of up and coming rookie short stops. Kinjoh remains consistent in the 10-20HR range but doesn't provide the speed/power that you would like to see form your centerfielder.Saeki surprised all with a strong 07, hell be 39 in April and may not be able to maintain that production spike. Yoshimura, Uchikawa and Aikawa continue to learn on the job, all being more selective at the plate and improving their batting averages in 2007.

Miura tops out at 10 wins or so a season and is usually good for at least the same number or more loses, Not  a frontline starter and would be better as a number 3 starter to eat innings etc as he was in 1998 when they won the Japan Series. Terahara made a great comeback in 07 after spending a number of years as a highly touted but often injured rookie for Softbank, it will be interesting to see if he holds up physically after his first full season for 4 years.Kudo will be 46 in May and still has the stamina but lacks velocity and wont offer much in 08. Doi can beat the Giants...and that's about it, lacks consistency at this point, as does Yoshimi. Hughes came up with career numbers as a closer for Pawtucket (AAA) in 2007 and the Bay Stars will be hoping he can replace Kroon.