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03/12/2008 Archived Entry: "Japanese Baseball Team Preview 2008: Tokyo Yakult Swallows"

Japanese Baseball Team Preview 2008: Tokyo Yakult Swallows
Glenn Davies, Tokyo Japan

TOKYO YAKULT SWALLOWS TEAM PREVIEW 2008 SEASON

Ex Fighters GM Shigeru Takada took control of the Swallows after the departure and retirement of player-manager Furuta late last year after he led the Swallows to 6th, their lowest finish for 10 years.Takada will be looking to replicate his success at building the Fighters into a Japan Series winning team in 2006 and return the Swallows to the role of perennial playoff contenders. Losses of their key hitter and starting pitcher will make this an uphill climb but they look to have enough quality to best the Carp and Baystars.

PREDICTION: 4th in Central League

The Swallows were 2nd in batting average (.269) and HRs (139) in 2007. Take away Ramirez and his 29 HRs and replace him with...well...The Swallows are obviously hoping that Aoki is for real and can replicate his career highs (20HRs etc) in 2008, that Guiel can be more selective at the plate and up his average and that Riggs will not get injured like last year and return to his '06 form of .294 39 94. No other real power threats are in the line-up that takes the shape of a contact hitting club.Fukukawa needs to be more disciplined at the plate and drive in runs rather than swinging from his heels constantly, replacing the hall of fame bound Furuta at catcher is a tall order but Fukukawa is their best prospect.

Continuing the Japan League trend ace pitcher Greisinger signed with the Giants and left the Swallows wondering who their ace will be in 2008. The club was 5th in the CL in ERA (4.07) with him and taking away his 16 wins and 2.84 ERA will put a lot of pressure on the rest of the staff. David Rios is the wild card here, 12-22 wins each of the past 4 seasons in Korea, he looks to have the stuff to succeed big time here. Gonzalez improved for his 3rd straight season in Japan and Ishikawa was a consistent 10-12 wins a season before his slump in '07. Lim also comes over form Korea where he was rarely used as a starter for Samsun over the past 4 years and may end up as the team closer if Iiyama doesn't pan out or Igarashi doesn't return. Igarashi was the Swallows first choice closer after recording 37saves in 04. He was out all of last year after undergoing elbow surgery. First round draft pick Mikinori Kato could find himself in the rotation quickly as he has overpowering stuff and recorded 30 wins and 317 SOs over 6 years at University (6th best all time).