Chunichi, Yakult, Yomiuri, Hanshin, Hiroshima, Yokohama: December 21, 2012
by Gen on Dec.21, 2012 @ 11:56 pm, under NPB
Chunichi Dragons
Motonobu Tanishige celebrated his forty-second birthday with a ten million yen raise. Source: Sanspo 12/21/2012
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Hirokazu Ibata, Masahiro Araki, Yohei Oshima, and Kenta Asakura visited a Nagoya hospital on Thursday. During a Q&A session with patients, they were asked if they had an interest in the Majors.
Araki and Ibata replied by saying things like, "When you consider my age..." and "I never really thought about going, even at a young age."
Oshima was the last to speak and said, "I am not thinking about it, but I would like to go if there is an opportunity."
Source: Nikkan Sports 12/21/2012, Sponichi 12/21/2012
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Brad Bergesen's registered name may have ended becoming "Bradley" because Morimichi Takagi said his last name sounded like "bargain sale" earlier this month. The Dragons may have also felt fans would have an easier time remembering his first name instead of his last name. Source: Sports Hochi 12/21/2012
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Hector Luna will apparently be the first foreign player in NPB history to wear the number zero (0). The double zero (00) has been worn by foreign players in the past, most recently: Ruppert Jones with Hanshin in 1988 and Scott McClain with Seibu in 2004. Source: Daily Sports 12/21/2012
Yakult Swallows
Yoshinori Sato's right shoulder is showing improvement -- he can now play catch at distances of up to about fifty meters. Source: Sports Hochi 12/21/2012
Depending on how his shoulder is feeling, he might also be able to attend workouts with Kyohei Muranaka and Masanori Ishikawa in Saito, Miyazaki next month. Source: Sanspo 12/21/2012
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Tsubakuro visited the Kodansho offices today and met with the person in charge of the serial yakyu manga Gurazeni. He was also offered a three-year deal worth 30,030 yen. Tsubakuro placed the offer on hold and said he needed more time to think. He is scheduled to meet with FC Tokyo on Saturday and with the Yakult Swallows on the 26th. Source: Nikkan Sports 12/21/2012, Daily Sports 12/21/2012
Yomiuri Giants
Toshiya Sugiuchi met with the front office today and agreed to a 500 million yen (up 150 million yen) salary for 2013. He and teammate Shinnosuke Abe are currently the only NPB players that will be making 500 million yen or more next year. Source: Daily Sports 12/21/2012
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Takahiko Nomaguchi is thinking about moving back to an over-hand delivery. Source: Sanspo 12/21/2012
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Hirokazu Sawamura is only interested in being a starter. Source: Daily Sports 12/21/2012
Hanshin Tigers
Tsuyoshi Nishioka practiced at Koshien Stadium today for the first time since finalizing his deal with the Tigers. His workouts included some light running and some catch. Source: Sanspo 12/21/2012, Nikkan Sports 12/21/2012
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The Tigers are thinking about signing a fifth foreign player, but they are not sure what kind of player they need. As of now, they plan to use spring camp to evaluate their current group of foreign players -- Randy Messenger, Jason Standridge, Matt Murton, and Brooks Conrad -- before making a decision.
"There is no need to rush and sign another foreign player. Starter, closer, position player. We need to figure out what he need. Someone can also get hurt. We just need to have a list prepared," said GM Katsuhiro Nakamura.
Source: Nikkan Sports 12/21/2012
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The Tigers may be prepared to walk away from Kosuke Fukudome if their only option is to increase their base offer. Bottom line: they do not want to get into a bidding war for the veteran. Source: Sponichi 12/21/2012
If they fail to sign Fukudome, they could begin looking at domestic outfield options via trade. Possible targets could include players like Atsushi Fujii (Chunichi), Yasushi Iihara (Yakult), and Tomoaki Egawa (Softbank). Source: Sports Hochi 12/21/2012
The Tigers are quietly continuing negotiations with Fukudome's agent. Source: Daily Sports 12/21/2012
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The Tigers were at one point thinking of marketing a line of otokomae (男前, handsome) Akihito Fujii merchandise, but had to cancel the project because they found out the word was already a registered trademark. Source: Daily Sports 12/21/2012
Hiroshima Carp
Shota Dobayashi merchandise, with his old uniform number, will be pulled from the team store after the 24th. Supplies are limited. Source: Nikkan Sports 12/21/2012
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Kazuhiro Uemura, Tetsuya Kokubo, Ren Nakata, and Kyosuke Yamano will join Jun Hirose for workouts in Oita, beginning on January 7. Source: Sponichi 12/21/2012
Yokohama Bay Stars
Kentaro Takasaki has been working on a change-up since fall camp. Source: Nikkan Sports 12/21/2012
Gen, isn’t Tsubakuro the bird mascot?
Why is he going around places like google and now Kodansha office asking them to hire him?
Any story behind this?
Yep, Tsubakuro is indeed the mascot.
I think it’s just a PR stunt and the media is sort of playing along. It might be a different story if the Swallows were thinking of bringing in a new mascot, and they were sort of using this as a way to phase him out, but AFAIK, that isn’t the case.
The Yokohama DeNA Baystars will win the 2013 NPB Championship…….
Aim for 5th, buddy – you might get there!
Don’t be so mean Steve Novosel, your team isn’t that great either in the second half of the season.
OHAHA, I’m just teasing DeNA Steve because he was so optimistic last year as well. Not being mean at all.
As much as August/September was a total shitfest for us last year I was thinking our ceiling was 3rd or so anyway. Hey, I’m a Lotte fan – everyone knows we either win titles or are totally awful and nowhere in between! Still got 2 championships in the past 8 years.
Wouldnt it surprise the shit out of you all if they did capture the pennant, it is a possibility.
You are very right; I think all of Japan would be surprised!