Nippon Ham Fighters: Sho Nakata going back to Ni-gun for more seasoning
by Gen on Mar.10, 2010 @ 10:33 pm, under NPB, Spring Camp
...Going into Tuesday's game against the Hanshin Tigers, Shinji Takahashi did not have a hit in his last 11 plate appearances. Tsuyoshi Shimoyanagi changed all of that for Takahashi as he hit a home run in his first at bat and a double in his second at bat. He ultimately ended the game 3-for-5 with a double, home run, 2 run scored, and an RBI.
He kept up the hitting on Wednesday as well, going 2-for-3 with a double and 2 RBI.
...Bob Keppel's last exhibition game outing will likely be against the Chunichi Dragons on the 16th.
...Sho Nakata doesn't like domed stadiums. Here's some evidence (albeit a very small sample size):
March 3: 0-for-3 with a walk, a run scored and 2 SO at Sapporo Dome (rest of line-up: 8-for-30)
March 4: 1-for-3 at Sapporo Dome (rest of line: 3-for-26)
March 6: 1-for-4 with a run scored and 1 SO at Sapporo Dome (rest of line-up 13-for-31)
March 7: 1-for-4 with a double and 2 SO at Sapporo Dome (rest of line-up: 3-for-26)
March 9: 0-for-4 at Kyocera Dome Osaka (rest of line-up: 12-for-33)
March 10: 0-for-3 with 3 SO at Kyocera Dome Osaka (rest of line-up: 12-for-35)
Total: 3-for-21, 1 BB, 1 2B, 2 R, 8 SO
Ok, so maybe it's just a coincidence. But it's always a lot more fun overstating a possibility. In any case, it seems Nakata is Ni-gun bound after going 0-for-3 on the 10th.
