11/10/2011: Takashi Saito, Tsuyoshi Nishioka, Hisashi Iwakuma
by Gen on Nov.10, 2011 @ 2:59 pm, under MLB
MLB.com reports (via Sponichi) that the Texas Rangers are interested in Takashi Saito.
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New Minnesota Twins GM Terry Ryan on Tsuyoshi Nishioka (source FS North, via Sponichi):
I think we need to create competition at that position. We struggled there mightily. I don't think really right now you could anoint anybody out there from what we've seen. We need to create chances, choices, opportunities. There should be some people there that we should have the ability to pick from. I'm going to give Nishioka a mulligan here. The transition from Japan to the U.S. is huge, No. 1. Two, he was hurt. Language there's all kinds of things. The pace of the game over here, the size of the ballparks, the way we play compared to what goes on in the Japanese leagues. It's different. So with all that being included here into his equation, hopefully the second time will be certainly more productive and healthy than the first.
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Hisashi Iwakuma opened his training up to the media on Wednesday. Iwakuma is currently in Tempe, Arizona preparing for the 2012 season.
Said Iwakuma, "I'm able to do things with a fresh look on things. I just want to make sure I'm fully prepared. ... I'm waiting to hear good news. The best would be for things to get decided early so that I can get into that mindset."
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Cal Ripken, Brady Anderson, and Sachio Kinugasa took part in the baseball clinic that was held at Komazawa Gakuen Girls' Junior / Senior High School on Wednesday. Ripken is also scheduled to appear at baseball clinics in Ofunato, Iwate (11/10), Nishinomiya, Hyogo (11/12), and Kyoto (11/13)
