Chunichi Dragons

The Dragons have been holding fall practices at Nagoya Stadium since 2006.  This year, they plan to bring fall camp back for the first time in seven years -- workouts will begin in early November out in Chatan, Okinawa.  Source: Nikkan Sports 9/29/2012

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Masafumi Hirai asked to be taken off the active roster after he learned he was not a part of the team's plans next year.  The team was thinking about keeping him on the active roster and holding a farewell game for him during the last home game of the season.  Hirai was taken off the active roster on Friday.  Source: Nikkan Sports 9/29/2012

Yakult Swallows

Wladimir Balentien is the first player in franchise history to reach thirty home runs in a season before anyone else in either league.  He could also become the fifth player in NPB history to finish the season with thirty or more home runs without attaining enough plate appearances to qualify for a batting title.  Source: Nikkan Sports 9/29/2012

He is also the first player in the NPB since Tuffy Rhodes in 2002 to reach ten, twenty, and thirty home runs before anyone else in either league.  The last player in the CL to achieve the feat was Hideki Matsui in 1997.  Source: Sponichi 9/29/2012

Hanshin Tigers

Fifteen plastic megaphones were thrown onto the field Yutaka Wada as he walked off the field after Friday night's game against the Yakult Swallows at Jingu Stadium.  Four of the fifteen were obviously thrown toward Wada, with one landing near his feet.  Some fans also called for Wada to quit.  Source: Sanspo 9/29/2012

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Tickets to Tomoaki Kanemoto's retirement game on October 9 apparently sold out in about ninety minutes (around 30,000 tickets).  Source: Sanspo 9/29/2012

Kanemoto played his last game at Jingu Stadium on Friday.  After the game, he not only bid the fans along the third base side farewell, but also the fans out in left.  Yakult Swallows Shinya Miyamoto and Kazuki Fukuchi also presented him with flowers during a pre-game ceremony.  Source: Daily Sports 9/29/2012

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Matt Murton was taken off the active roster today and will probably return to the US shortly.  Daiki Kiyohara was called up to take Murton's place.  Source: Sanspo 9/29/2012

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Minoru Iwata will be taken off the active roster to make room for Kazuo Ito.  Ito is slated to start a game against Chunichi on October 3.  Source: Daily Sports 9/29/2012

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Ni-gun battery coach Fujio Tamura will not be returning next season after just one year in the organization.  Source: Sponichi 9/29/2012

Hiroshima Carp

Takuro Ishii will get the start at short and bat lead-off during his retirement game on Saturday (per his request).  He may also make the starting line-up for the last game of the season at Yokohama Stadium, where he began his pro career.

Tickets for Saturday's game have already sold out.

Source: Sports Hochi Osaka 9/29/2012