Sunday, December 30, 2007
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Uehara re-signs for 400 mil. yen salary
(Kyodo) _ Yomiuri Giants right-hander Koji Uehara re-signed with the Central League club Wednesday for an annual salary of 400 million yen -- the highest for a pitcher in Japan among those who have already agreed to contracts this winter.
The contract agreement represents a 90 million yen salary injection, surpassing Chunichi Dragons closer Hitoki Iwase's 2007 paycheck of 390 million yen. Iwase is currently considering an offer of 430 million yen from the Dragons.
Uehara made a slow start to the season after injuring both of his hamstrings but managed a comeback and took over the closer's role at the end of April.
The 32-year-old Uehara had pitched out of the starting rotation until suffering his injuries but made his mark as a closer, registering a new club record 32 saves en route to helping Yomiuri win its first league championship in five years.
"The team has given me a very high evaluation," said Uehara, who also contributed as the closer to help the Japanese national team book a berth in next year's Beijing Olympics.
"I didn't know how they would evaluate me as a closer, but I kind of knew that I would get a pay raise and it was a great feeling."
The contract agreement represents a 90 million yen salary injection, surpassing Chunichi Dragons closer Hitoki Iwase's 2007 paycheck of 390 million yen. Iwase is currently considering an offer of 430 million yen from the Dragons.
Uehara made a slow start to the season after injuring both of his hamstrings but managed a comeback and took over the closer's role at the end of April.
The 32-year-old Uehara had pitched out of the starting rotation until suffering his injuries but made his mark as a closer, registering a new club record 32 saves en route to helping Yomiuri win its first league championship in five years.
"The team has given me a very high evaluation," said Uehara, who also contributed as the closer to help the Japanese national team book a berth in next year's Beijing Olympics.
"I didn't know how they would evaluate me as a closer, but I kind of knew that I would get a pay raise and it was a great feeling."
Next season, Uehara hopes to rejoin the starting rotation after experiencing the pressure of the closer's role. Yomiuri has acquired former Yokohama BayStars closer Marc Kroon.
"The closer really is a tough position. I really learned how important every pitch is. Hopefully, I can be a starter again."
Uehara will be eligible for free agency if he remains on the active roster eight days after the start of the 2008 season.
HARD DRIVES: Japan can't be blind to doping
In this Christmas story, now that the furor over the recently released Mitchell Report has somewhat settled, not a chemist is stirring--we hope.
Presumably, there is no stirring of substances, nor are there clear creams being applied and no pills being popped in Japan's baseball world.
The proof is in the testing.
That is, if the testing is really proving anything in Japan pro baseball.
Drug testing here ostensibly kicked off with a trial period in 2006 and went full force this past season.
As it turned out, the first offender was a non-Japanese player who may be more guilty of trying to mask his age than masking the use of a banned substance.
Rick Guttormson of the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks was the only guilty party in the inaugural year of drug testing.
The import got busted in August for using Finasteride, a common component found in hair-growth stimulant often used to mask illegal substances.
Guttormson, who said a doctor issued the hair enhancer, got 20 games for his act of vanity.
Score one for Nippon Pro Baseball.
But 10 days ago, the collection of active--and wanna-be active--foreign players here listed in the Mitchell Report sent a few jaws dropping.
Kirk Radomski, a former New York Mets clubhouse employee, gave up the goods on a roster's worth of players--including the names of Hanshin hurler Jeff Williams and sporadic Yakult slugger Adam Riggs--sending eyebrows toward hairlines.
Also among the listed were free agent Alex Cabrera, whose bulging biceps have long drawn attention in making Seibu's dome look like a high school field, and Chad Allen of Orix.
According to information in the Mitchell Report, Allen said he used steroids in the 2003 offseason.
Riggs, who denied using anything illegal, exploded for 39 homers with Yakult in 2006 but has a total of 30 in two other seasons. Williams came out right away to vigorously proclaim purity.
But the report said Radomski furnished five checks and money orders he received for the healing-enhancer HGH from Riggs and had deposited into his bank accounts between July 10, 2003 and Nov. 30, 2005.
Radomski also claimed Williams purchased the steroids Anavar and Dianabol, and turned over a check from Williams dated Dec. 10, 2004 in the amount of 1,820 dollars.
Cabrera was said to have had a package believed to contain steroids delivered to the Arizona Diamondbacks' clubhouse in September 2000, but before the team could investigate the matter, the slugger had joined Seibu.
All the speculation and all the mystery could be solved with a noninvasive process.
Japan tests randomly tests a pair of players per team at any given game. At the end of the fifth inning, each player on the active roster has his name essentially thrown into a hat and the chosen ones must report for testing within 30 minutes of the final out.
The usual suspect substances are on the banned wagon: steroids, amphetamines, marijuana and cocaine.
But Tyrone Woods of the Japan Series champion Chunichi Dragons, a three-time homer champ, told Hard Drives that testing here is lenient.
"I think having the testing is good, but it could be more strict," Woods said by phone from his home in Florida.
"Why not test the whole team? It's a random thing," chimed Woods, who said his name was drawn twice this past season.
When quizzed about the possibility of some Japanese players using performance-enhancing substances, Woods was confident the sport here is clean.
"I don't think so. You may have had a couple, but not now since the start of testing.
"The simple fact is that you can look at a guy's production level and you can tell who is on steroids and who has been. If the numbers decline...."
His confidence was recently echoed by NPB commissioner Yasuchika Negoro.
"Of the players who were listed in [the Mitchell Report], we have tested at least two of the three and there was no problem," Negoro told the Yomiuri Shimbun.
"There is no reason to worry."
Certainly there is no homer-hammering hulk among Japanese players.
But as the salary figures soar and the competition level rises in Japan, tougher testing wiill stir the chemists.
(Dec. 26, 2007)
Presumably, there is no stirring of substances, nor are there clear creams being applied and no pills being popped in Japan's baseball world.
The proof is in the testing.
That is, if the testing is really proving anything in Japan pro baseball.
Drug testing here ostensibly kicked off with a trial period in 2006 and went full force this past season.
As it turned out, the first offender was a non-Japanese player who may be more guilty of trying to mask his age than masking the use of a banned substance.
Rick Guttormson of the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks was the only guilty party in the inaugural year of drug testing.
The import got busted in August for using Finasteride, a common component found in hair-growth stimulant often used to mask illegal substances.
Guttormson, who said a doctor issued the hair enhancer, got 20 games for his act of vanity.
Score one for Nippon Pro Baseball.
But 10 days ago, the collection of active--and wanna-be active--foreign players here listed in the Mitchell Report sent a few jaws dropping.
Kirk Radomski, a former New York Mets clubhouse employee, gave up the goods on a roster's worth of players--including the names of Hanshin hurler Jeff Williams and sporadic Yakult slugger Adam Riggs--sending eyebrows toward hairlines.
Also among the listed were free agent Alex Cabrera, whose bulging biceps have long drawn attention in making Seibu's dome look like a high school field, and Chad Allen of Orix.
According to information in the Mitchell Report, Allen said he used steroids in the 2003 offseason.
Riggs, who denied using anything illegal, exploded for 39 homers with Yakult in 2006 but has a total of 30 in two other seasons. Williams came out right away to vigorously proclaim purity.
But the report said Radomski furnished five checks and money orders he received for the healing-enhancer HGH from Riggs and had deposited into his bank accounts between July 10, 2003 and Nov. 30, 2005.
Radomski also claimed Williams purchased the steroids Anavar and Dianabol, and turned over a check from Williams dated Dec. 10, 2004 in the amount of 1,820 dollars.
Cabrera was said to have had a package believed to contain steroids delivered to the Arizona Diamondbacks' clubhouse in September 2000, but before the team could investigate the matter, the slugger had joined Seibu.
All the speculation and all the mystery could be solved with a noninvasive process.
Japan tests randomly tests a pair of players per team at any given game. At the end of the fifth inning, each player on the active roster has his name essentially thrown into a hat and the chosen ones must report for testing within 30 minutes of the final out.
The usual suspect substances are on the banned wagon: steroids, amphetamines, marijuana and cocaine.
But Tyrone Woods of the Japan Series champion Chunichi Dragons, a three-time homer champ, told Hard Drives that testing here is lenient.
"I think having the testing is good, but it could be more strict," Woods said by phone from his home in Florida.
"Why not test the whole team? It's a random thing," chimed Woods, who said his name was drawn twice this past season.
When quizzed about the possibility of some Japanese players using performance-enhancing substances, Woods was confident the sport here is clean.
"I don't think so. You may have had a couple, but not now since the start of testing.
"The simple fact is that you can look at a guy's production level and you can tell who is on steroids and who has been. If the numbers decline...."
His confidence was recently echoed by NPB commissioner Yasuchika Negoro.
"Of the players who were listed in [the Mitchell Report], we have tested at least two of the three and there was no problem," Negoro told the Yomiuri Shimbun.
"There is no reason to worry."
Certainly there is no homer-hammering hulk among Japanese players.
But as the salary figures soar and the competition level rises in Japan, tougher testing wiill stir the chemists.
(Dec. 26, 2007)
Darvish youngest to reach 200 mil. yen in annual salary
Kyodo) _ Nippon Ham Fighters right-hander Yu Darvish became the youngest player in Japanese baseball history to reach 200 million yen in annual salary when the 21-year-old received a hefty pay raise of 128 million yen from the club on Saturday.
Darvish will make 200 million yen plus performance incentives in 2008, his fourth season as a professional. He was named the Pacific League MVP and won the Sawamura Award after going 15-5 with a 1.820 ERA, the second best in the PL, and a league-leading 210 strikeouts.
Ichiro Suzuki, Hideki Matsui and Daisuke Matsuzaka, who were drafted out of high school and are now in the major leagues, all took six years to reach 200 million yen.
Yomiuri Giants outfielder Yoshinobu Takahashi, right-hander Koji Uehara and Softbank Hawks left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada reached the amount in their respective fifth seasons after playing college baseball.
"I'm not really satisfied with the results I had this past season. I want to double up my efforts for what I've got from the club," Darvish said.
Darvish, who has a 32-15 career record with a 2.53 ERA in three seasons, also helped Japan win the Asian Championship in early December for a ticket to next year's Beijing Olympics.
Darvish will make 200 million yen plus performance incentives in 2008, his fourth season as a professional. He was named the Pacific League MVP and won the Sawamura Award after going 15-5 with a 1.820 ERA, the second best in the PL, and a league-leading 210 strikeouts.
Ichiro Suzuki, Hideki Matsui and Daisuke Matsuzaka, who were drafted out of high school and are now in the major leagues, all took six years to reach 200 million yen.
Yomiuri Giants outfielder Yoshinobu Takahashi, right-hander Koji Uehara and Softbank Hawks left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada reached the amount in their respective fifth seasons after playing college baseball.
"I'm not really satisfied with the results I had this past season. I want to double up my efforts for what I've got from the club," Darvish said.
Darvish, who has a 32-15 career record with a 2.53 ERA in three seasons, also helped Japan win the Asian Championship in early December for a ticket to next year's Beijing Olympics.
Former Indians pitcher Tadano agrees to join Nippon Ham
TOKYO, Dec. 20 (AP) - (Kyodo)—Former Cleveland Indians right-hander Kazuhito Tadano agreed on a deal with the Nippon Ham Fighters on Thursday after the club picked him in the first round of Japanese baseball's amateur draft this past fall.
The 27-year-old Tadano, who had a 1-1 record with a 4.47 ERA in 15 games, including four starts, for the Indians in 2004-2005, will receive an annual salary of an estimated 30 million yen with a signing bonus of 60 million yen.
Tadano played in North America the past five seasons, mostly in the minor leagues, after he earned 20 wins in the Tokyo Big Six League for Rikkyo University but was overlooked in the 2002 Japanese baseball draft because of a shoulder injury.
Lee re-signs with Yomiuri, hit with pay cut
TOKYO, Dec. 17 (AP) - (Kyodo)—Yomiuri Giants first baseman Lee Seung Yeop agreed Monday on the terms of a contract that will pay him an annual salary of 630 million yen -- a 20 million yen pay cut from this past season.
In 2008, the 31-year-old South Korean slugger will start the second year of a four-year deal, which stipulates a possible move to the major leagues.
This past season, Lee was limited to 30 home runs and 74 RBIs while batting just .274 after suffering injuries, including a damaged left thumb.
"I am not satisfied with my personal performance this past season. I didn't fulfill my role as the cleanup man," Lee said.
Lee had an operation to correct ligament damage in his thumb in late October and declined to take part in the Beijing Olympic qualifiers for South Korea earlier this month.
He is aiming to participate in the final Olympic qualifiers in Taiwan in March next year.
In 2008, the 31-year-old South Korean slugger will start the second year of a four-year deal, which stipulates a possible move to the major leagues.
This past season, Lee was limited to 30 home runs and 74 RBIs while batting just .274 after suffering injuries, including a damaged left thumb.
"I am not satisfied with my personal performance this past season. I didn't fulfill my role as the cleanup man," Lee said.
Lee had an operation to correct ligament damage in his thumb in late October and declined to take part in the Beijing Olympic qualifiers for South Korea earlier this month.
He is aiming to participate in the final Olympic qualifiers in Taiwan in March next year.
NPB denies steroid use in Japan
Kyodo) _ (EDS: UPDATING, INCORPORATING EARLIER STORIES ON JAPAN'S REACTION TO REPORT ABOUT USE OF PERFORMANCE-ENHANCING DRUGS IN MAJOR LEAGUES)
Acting Nippon Professional Baseball commissioner Yasuchika Negoro on Friday categorically denied the use of performance-enhancing substances in Japanese baseball.
"Our monitoring of the use of banned substances has been working properly," Negoro said following the release of former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell's report on steroid use in the major leagues that cites cases involving players currently active in Japan.
Yakult Swallows first baseman Adam Riggs and Hanshin Tigers reliever Jeff Williams are among the players who appeared on the list. However, both have tested negative in random drug screenings conducted by the NPB.
"About two-thirds of the NPB-related players mentioned by the report have received tests and there have been no positive cases, so I don't see any problems at all regarding the monitoring by our organization," Negoro said.
According to the Mitchell report, Williams bought Anavar and Dianabol steroids from a former New York Mets clubhouse attendant in December 2004 -- after the former Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander joined the Hanshin Tigers in 2003.
"In order to provide Williams with information about these allegations and to give him an opportunity to respond, I asked him to meet with me. He did not respond to my request," the report said, showing a copy of one check from Williams dated Dec. 10, 2004, in the amount of $1,820.
"I trust him," Hanshin club president Nobuo Minami said in a brief comment when asked about Williams' case cited by the report.
"He flatly denied the use of any banned substances and said he is ready to accept fresh checkups any time," Minami added.
Williams, who helped Australia win the silver medal in the Athens Olympic baseball tournament, was negative in tests conducted by the Australian Olympic Committee in May last year and by the NPB two months later.
The NPB systematically started doping tests this year after one year of framework building amid controversy over alleged steroid use that has rocked the major leagues.
"We've been urging each club in NPB executive committee meetings to remain cautious about the use of banned substances. I hope all clubs continue their work," committee chairman Tadao Koike said.
The Mitchell report also named Alex Cabrera, who left the Seibu Lions this offseason after the two sides remained divided over a salary deal.
Senior Seibu official Kosuke Maeda denied Friday that the Pacific League club did not re-sign the former Arizona Diamondbacks slugger because of his alleged steroid use.
"That's not why he left Seibu," Maeda said when asked whether his alleged steroid use is the reason for Cabrera's departure after the Venezuelan spent seven years with the Lions.
The report said, "The Drug Enforcement Administration confirmed that the shipment to Cabrera (a bottle of anabolic steroids and several hundred pills in a package mailed to the Diamondbacks' stadium in mid-September 2000) had contained steroids."
Maeda ruled out the possibility that Cabrera used banned substances during his stint with the Lions that began in 2001.
"I don't believe he ever did it and we always warn foreign players against drug use each time we sign them," Maeda said.
Meanwhile, officials of the Orix Buffaloes said the allegations will not affect their hunt for Cabrera, who led the Pacific League in home runs in 2002 and in RBI in 2006.
Acting Nippon Professional Baseball commissioner Yasuchika Negoro on Friday categorically denied the use of performance-enhancing substances in Japanese baseball.
"Our monitoring of the use of banned substances has been working properly," Negoro said following the release of former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell's report on steroid use in the major leagues that cites cases involving players currently active in Japan.
Yakult Swallows first baseman Adam Riggs and Hanshin Tigers reliever Jeff Williams are among the players who appeared on the list. However, both have tested negative in random drug screenings conducted by the NPB.
"About two-thirds of the NPB-related players mentioned by the report have received tests and there have been no positive cases, so I don't see any problems at all regarding the monitoring by our organization," Negoro said.
According to the Mitchell report, Williams bought Anavar and Dianabol steroids from a former New York Mets clubhouse attendant in December 2004 -- after the former Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander joined the Hanshin Tigers in 2003.
"In order to provide Williams with information about these allegations and to give him an opportunity to respond, I asked him to meet with me. He did not respond to my request," the report said, showing a copy of one check from Williams dated Dec. 10, 2004, in the amount of $1,820.
"I trust him," Hanshin club president Nobuo Minami said in a brief comment when asked about Williams' case cited by the report.
"He flatly denied the use of any banned substances and said he is ready to accept fresh checkups any time," Minami added.
Williams, who helped Australia win the silver medal in the Athens Olympic baseball tournament, was negative in tests conducted by the Australian Olympic Committee in May last year and by the NPB two months later.
The NPB systematically started doping tests this year after one year of framework building amid controversy over alleged steroid use that has rocked the major leagues.
"We've been urging each club in NPB executive committee meetings to remain cautious about the use of banned substances. I hope all clubs continue their work," committee chairman Tadao Koike said.
The Mitchell report also named Alex Cabrera, who left the Seibu Lions this offseason after the two sides remained divided over a salary deal.
Senior Seibu official Kosuke Maeda denied Friday that the Pacific League club did not re-sign the former Arizona Diamondbacks slugger because of his alleged steroid use.
"That's not why he left Seibu," Maeda said when asked whether his alleged steroid use is the reason for Cabrera's departure after the Venezuelan spent seven years with the Lions.
The report said, "The Drug Enforcement Administration confirmed that the shipment to Cabrera (a bottle of anabolic steroids and several hundred pills in a package mailed to the Diamondbacks' stadium in mid-September 2000) had contained steroids."
Maeda ruled out the possibility that Cabrera used banned substances during his stint with the Lions that began in 2001.
"I don't believe he ever did it and we always warn foreign players against drug use each time we sign them," Maeda said.
Meanwhile, officials of the Orix Buffaloes said the allegations will not affect their hunt for Cabrera, who led the Pacific League in home runs in 2002 and in RBI in 2006.
Japan gearing up for battle for Olympic berth
TOKYO, Nov. 27 (AP) - (Kyodo)—Japanese players will face the first test to prove their mettle since winning the World Baseball Classic in March 2006 as Senichi Hoshino's men enter the Asian-zone qualifying tournament that started Tuesday for only one ticket to next year's Beijing Olympic Games.
Japan manager Hoshino boasts a strong pitching staff, led by Nippon Ham Fighters sensation Yu Darvish, the probable starter against South Korea, arguably Japan's biggest competitor in the Dec. 1-3 final round of the qualifiers in Taiwan.
Darvish struck out eight in four innings in the second of a two-game exhibition series against Australia last Friday, but it was a somewhat sub-par performance, controlwise, considering he won Pacific League MVP honors.
The 21-year-old right-hander gave up a run in the first inning on two doubles and admitted after allowing four hits and three walks with a hit batter that he struggled with his control.
Hoshino, however, is not worried about his ace pitcher.
"He (Darvish) said he wasn't comfortable with the rosin bag -- which was different from the commonly used ones, but he is a pitcher who knows how to win. He indeed passed the baton to the next pitcher without giving up any other runs," Hoshino said. "I'm sure he'll be ready for the tournament."
Darvish had a 15-5 record with a 1.820 ERA in 26 starts this past season. He led the league with 210 strikeouts and 12 complete games.
Japan will take on the preliminary round winner, South Korea and host Taiwan, respectively, in round-robin play.
The preliminary round held for three days through Thursday features Thailand, the Philippines, Hong Kong and Pakistan. China has earned an automatic berth as the Olympic host.
Lotte Marines left-hander Yoshihisa Naruse, Seibu Lions right-hander Hideaki Wakui and Chunichi Dragons right-hander Kenshin Kawakami are among the candidates to fill up the remaining two starter spots.
Naruse had a breakout season in 2007, leading the PL with a 1.817 ERA and a .941 winning percentage (16-1). Wakui became the PL winningest pitcher with a 17-10 record.
Kawakami has made his case by allowing only one hit in four dominant innings in the first game against Australia.
The bullpen is also filled with talent. Chunichi's Hitoki Iwase, Koji Uehara of the Yomiuri Giants and Kyuji Fujikawa of the Hanshin Tigers, the closers of their respective clubs, are set to handle late-inning duties.
Hiroyuki Kobayashi (Lotte), Shunsuke Watanabe (Lotte), Hisanori Takahashi (Yomiuri), key starting pitchers in the regular season, will likely be middle relievers as Hoshino says he has chosen players who will do anything for the national team.
"Ten (Japanese) guys pitched the last two nights. I think any of them could pitch in the big leagues," Australian manager Jon Deeble said after his players managed just one run in two games.
Deeble expected Japan to finish the upcoming tournament "undefeated easily," while saying, "I didn't think they had a lot of power on the team. They are more of a running, quick ballclub. It's hard to defend Kawasaki, Aoki and Araki."
Yakult Swallows outfielder Norichika Aoki won his second Central League batting title this year with a .346 average and will likely be batting third.
Chunichi second baseman Masahiro Araki, the CL stolen base leader with 31 this year, or Lotte's Tsuyoshi Nishioka is expected to hit in the leadoff spot, followed by a player such as Chunichi's Hirokazu Ibata.
Takahiro Arai, the 2005 CL home run leader who has agreed to join Hanshin as a free agent from the Hiroshima Carp, was in the cleanup spot in the series against Australia.
"I know that reporters call us 'small baseball' because our players have got speed, but everyone's got a big heart and they are great players, not small at all," Hoshino said.
In the 2006 WBC, South Korea beat Japan twice before losing to Sadaharu Oh's team featuring two major leaguers, Ichiro Suzuki and Akinori Otsuka, in the semifinals in their third encounter.
South Korea even defeated the United States 7-3 in a second-round game and was the only team that had a perfect 6-0 record in the first two rounds.
South Korea has many speedy players like Japan, while outfielder Lee Byung Kyu (Chunichi), Doosan Bears third baseman Kim Dong Joo and 2006 Triple Crown winner Lee Dae Ho of the Lotte Giants are projected to bat in the heart of the order without WBC home run leader Lee Seung Yeop (Yomiuri), who has pulled out with a finger injury.
Hanwha Eagles left-hander Ryu Hyun Jin, who won 18 and 17 games in his first seasons, is widely expected to start against Japan.
"Ryu is more of a power pitcher although he doesn't have great control," New York Mets scout Isao Ojimi said during his visit to the Japan-Australia exhibition series.
"It must be hard for Japanese hitters since they face him for the first time. I expect a close game between Japan and South Korea, probably within two runs by each side, because of great pitching," Ojimi said.
Ryu Jae Kuk, the right-hander who went 1-2 with a 7.33 ERA in 17 relief appearances for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2007, his second major league season, will likely be another key starter.
Park Chan Ho, the first Korean major leaguer with a 113-88 career record in the big leagues, serves as captain. Samsung Lions right- hander Oh Seung Hwan, who earned a total of 87 saves the last two seasons, is expected to assume the closer role.
Taiwan, skippered by former Seibu pitcher Kuo Tai-yuan, features powerful hitters such as three-time batting champion Peng Cheng-min (Brother Elephants), former Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder and 2007 batting leader Chen Chin-feng (La New Bears) and Chang Tai-shan (Sinon Bulls).
Uni-President Lions right-hander Pan Wei-lun, who went 16-2 with a 2.26 ERA in 21 games this year, is one of Taiwan's starter candidates, along with Lin En-yu (Rakuten Eagles), Lin Ying-chieh (Rakuten) and Hsu Ming-chieh (Seibu), who all had limited appearances in Japanese baseball in 2007.
Japan manager Hoshino boasts a strong pitching staff, led by Nippon Ham Fighters sensation Yu Darvish, the probable starter against South Korea, arguably Japan's biggest competitor in the Dec. 1-3 final round of the qualifiers in Taiwan.
Darvish struck out eight in four innings in the second of a two-game exhibition series against Australia last Friday, but it was a somewhat sub-par performance, controlwise, considering he won Pacific League MVP honors.
The 21-year-old right-hander gave up a run in the first inning on two doubles and admitted after allowing four hits and three walks with a hit batter that he struggled with his control.
Hoshino, however, is not worried about his ace pitcher.
"He (Darvish) said he wasn't comfortable with the rosin bag -- which was different from the commonly used ones, but he is a pitcher who knows how to win. He indeed passed the baton to the next pitcher without giving up any other runs," Hoshino said. "I'm sure he'll be ready for the tournament."
Darvish had a 15-5 record with a 1.820 ERA in 26 starts this past season. He led the league with 210 strikeouts and 12 complete games.
Japan will take on the preliminary round winner, South Korea and host Taiwan, respectively, in round-robin play.
The preliminary round held for three days through Thursday features Thailand, the Philippines, Hong Kong and Pakistan. China has earned an automatic berth as the Olympic host.
Lotte Marines left-hander Yoshihisa Naruse, Seibu Lions right-hander Hideaki Wakui and Chunichi Dragons right-hander Kenshin Kawakami are among the candidates to fill up the remaining two starter spots.
Naruse had a breakout season in 2007, leading the PL with a 1.817 ERA and a .941 winning percentage (16-1). Wakui became the PL winningest pitcher with a 17-10 record.
Kawakami has made his case by allowing only one hit in four dominant innings in the first game against Australia.
The bullpen is also filled with talent. Chunichi's Hitoki Iwase, Koji Uehara of the Yomiuri Giants and Kyuji Fujikawa of the Hanshin Tigers, the closers of their respective clubs, are set to handle late-inning duties.
Hiroyuki Kobayashi (Lotte), Shunsuke Watanabe (Lotte), Hisanori Takahashi (Yomiuri), key starting pitchers in the regular season, will likely be middle relievers as Hoshino says he has chosen players who will do anything for the national team.
"Ten (Japanese) guys pitched the last two nights. I think any of them could pitch in the big leagues," Australian manager Jon Deeble said after his players managed just one run in two games.
Deeble expected Japan to finish the upcoming tournament "undefeated easily," while saying, "I didn't think they had a lot of power on the team. They are more of a running, quick ballclub. It's hard to defend Kawasaki, Aoki and Araki."
Yakult Swallows outfielder Norichika Aoki won his second Central League batting title this year with a .346 average and will likely be batting third.
Chunichi second baseman Masahiro Araki, the CL stolen base leader with 31 this year, or Lotte's Tsuyoshi Nishioka is expected to hit in the leadoff spot, followed by a player such as Chunichi's Hirokazu Ibata.
Takahiro Arai, the 2005 CL home run leader who has agreed to join Hanshin as a free agent from the Hiroshima Carp, was in the cleanup spot in the series against Australia.
"I know that reporters call us 'small baseball' because our players have got speed, but everyone's got a big heart and they are great players, not small at all," Hoshino said.
In the 2006 WBC, South Korea beat Japan twice before losing to Sadaharu Oh's team featuring two major leaguers, Ichiro Suzuki and Akinori Otsuka, in the semifinals in their third encounter.
South Korea even defeated the United States 7-3 in a second-round game and was the only team that had a perfect 6-0 record in the first two rounds.
South Korea has many speedy players like Japan, while outfielder Lee Byung Kyu (Chunichi), Doosan Bears third baseman Kim Dong Joo and 2006 Triple Crown winner Lee Dae Ho of the Lotte Giants are projected to bat in the heart of the order without WBC home run leader Lee Seung Yeop (Yomiuri), who has pulled out with a finger injury.
Hanwha Eagles left-hander Ryu Hyun Jin, who won 18 and 17 games in his first seasons, is widely expected to start against Japan.
"Ryu is more of a power pitcher although he doesn't have great control," New York Mets scout Isao Ojimi said during his visit to the Japan-Australia exhibition series.
"It must be hard for Japanese hitters since they face him for the first time. I expect a close game between Japan and South Korea, probably within two runs by each side, because of great pitching," Ojimi said.
Ryu Jae Kuk, the right-hander who went 1-2 with a 7.33 ERA in 17 relief appearances for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2007, his second major league season, will likely be another key starter.
Park Chan Ho, the first Korean major leaguer with a 113-88 career record in the big leagues, serves as captain. Samsung Lions right- hander Oh Seung Hwan, who earned a total of 87 saves the last two seasons, is expected to assume the closer role.
Taiwan, skippered by former Seibu pitcher Kuo Tai-yuan, features powerful hitters such as three-time batting champion Peng Cheng-min (Brother Elephants), former Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder and 2007 batting leader Chen Chin-feng (La New Bears) and Chang Tai-shan (Sinon Bulls).
Uni-President Lions right-hander Pan Wei-lun, who went 16-2 with a 2.26 ERA in 21 games this year, is one of Taiwan's starter candidates, along with Lin En-yu (Rakuten Eagles), Lin Ying-chieh (Rakuten) and Hsu Ming-chieh (Seibu), who all had limited appearances in Japanese baseball in 2007.
Ishii signs free agent deal with Seibu Lions
TOKYO, Nov. 25 (AP) - (Kyodo)—The Seibu Lions announced the acquisition Sunday of left- hander Kazuhisa Ishii, who has singed a two-year, 800 million yen deal with the Pacific League club after filing for free agency earlier this month.
Ishii has agreed on the deal that includes a 100 million yen signing bonus plus performance incentives three days after turning down an offer from the Yakult Swallows of the Central League, who attempted in vain to keep the services of the 34-year-old.
"Keeping my winning percentage over .500 is the minimum goal for me with the Lions and I'll try to help the team win crunch games we can't afford to lose," Ishii said. "I'm ready to devote myself to the Lions because it's possible that I would end my playing career with this team."
Ishii accepted an offer from the Lions following a career that included 12 seasons with Yakult and four in the major leagues.
Ishii is 98-63 with a 3.47 earned run average in 300 career games in Japan and posted a 39-34 record with a 4.44 ERA in the major leagues in 2002-2005 with the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets. He went 9-10 with a 4.16 ERA this year with the Swallows.
Kanemoto remains highest-paid Japanese player
Thursday, December 27, 2007 at 15:19 EST
OSAKA — Veteran Hanshin Tigers outfielder Tomoaki Kanemoto will remain the highest-paid Japanese player for the second year in a row after re-signing Thursday for an estimated 550 million yen plus performance incentives.
Kanemoto's annual salary remains unchanged from 2007 after he continued to play with a painful left knee that he hurt in late June and finished the season with a .265 batting average, the worst since he joined Hanshin in 2003, 31 homers and 95 RBIs in 144 games. Kanemoto, 39, who extended his streak of playing every inning of every game to 1,186 games, is expected to reach two milestones in 2008, the second year of his three-year contract with Hanshin. He is 13 hits shy of 2,000 career hits and six shy of 400 career home runs.
OSAKA — Veteran Hanshin Tigers outfielder Tomoaki Kanemoto will remain the highest-paid Japanese player for the second year in a row after re-signing Thursday for an estimated 550 million yen plus performance incentives.
Kanemoto's annual salary remains unchanged from 2007 after he continued to play with a painful left knee that he hurt in late June and finished the season with a .265 batting average, the worst since he joined Hanshin in 2003, 31 homers and 95 RBIs in 144 games. Kanemoto, 39, who extended his streak of playing every inning of every game to 1,186 games, is expected to reach two milestones in 2008, the second year of his three-year contract with Hanshin. He is 13 hits shy of 2,000 career hits and six shy of 400 career home runs.
Orix set to sign slugger Cabrera
Friday, December 28, 2007
TOKYO — The Orix Buffaloes are close to an agreement on terms with slugger Alex Cabrera, who left the Seibu Lions after talks on a new deal broke down earlier this offseason, officials of the Pacific League club said Friday.
"We've seen substantial progress in our talks and I can say the final countdown has begun. It's possible that we'll reach an agreement by the end of the year," senior Orix official Katsuhiro Nakamura said. Cabrera has spent seven seasons in Japanese baseball — all with the Lions — and has a .306 batting average, 273 homers and 686 RBIs. He led the Pacific League in home runs in 2002 and in RBIs in 2006. This year, he hit .295 with 27 homers and 81 RBIs.
TOKYO — The Orix Buffaloes are close to an agreement on terms with slugger Alex Cabrera, who left the Seibu Lions after talks on a new deal broke down earlier this offseason, officials of the Pacific League club said Friday.
"We've seen substantial progress in our talks and I can say the final countdown has begun. It's possible that we'll reach an agreement by the end of the year," senior Orix official Katsuhiro Nakamura said. Cabrera has spent seven seasons in Japanese baseball — all with the Lions — and has a .306 batting average, 273 homers and 686 RBIs. He led the Pacific League in home runs in 2002 and in RBIs in 2006. This year, he hit .295 with 27 homers and 81 RBIs.
Giants announce signing of Ramirez
Saturday, December 29, 2007
TOKYO — The Yomiuri Giants said Saturday they have signed a two-year, 1 billion yen contract with former Yakult Swallows outfielder Alex Ramirez.
The 33-year-old Ramirez, who was released from the Swallows at the end of the season after talks on a new deal collapsed, will don the No. 5 jersey. The Venezuela native joined Yakult in 2001 and claimed the home run (40) and RBI titles (124) in 2003. This season, Ramirez set a league record with 204 hits and led the league with 122 RBIs.
TOKYO — The Yomiuri Giants said Saturday they have signed a two-year, 1 billion yen contract with former Yakult Swallows outfielder Alex Ramirez.
The 33-year-old Ramirez, who was released from the Swallows at the end of the season after talks on a new deal collapsed, will don the No. 5 jersey. The Venezuela native joined Yakult in 2001 and claimed the home run (40) and RBI titles (124) in 2003. This season, Ramirez set a league record with 204 hits and led the league with 122 RBIs.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
