Through Tuesday, only two starters have managed to pitch more than six innings this season: Hiroshi Kisanuki went seven innings against Lotte on April 4 and Mitsuo Yoshikawa went seven innings against Rakuten on April 10.

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1st round draft Shohei Otani (right ankle inversion sprain) felt good while walking around on Tuesday morning and started playing catch later that day -- he threw the ball about eighty times at a distance of about thirty meters.  He made sure not to put too much energy into his throws (about twenty percent).

Source: Sponichi 4/17/2013, Nikkan Sports 4/17/2013

He threw some curves and sliders during his game of catch on Tuesday.  He threw the last ten balls at about 120km/h.

Source: Sanspo 4/17/2013

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Masaru Takeda threw forty-nine pitches in the bullpen at Kamagaya on Tuesday.  He is scheduled to pitch about five innings in relief in a Ni-gun game against the Futures on the 20th.  Bobby Keppel will make his first rehab start in the same game and pitch one inning.

Source: Nikkan Sports 4/17/2013

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Yuki Saito threw the ball off the bullpen mound about fifty times at around sixty percent on Tuesday -- Ni-gun pitching coach Takeharu Kato stood on home plate to catch the balls.  Saito first started throwing off a mound to a standing catcher on the 9th.  He is also playing catch at distances of about sixty meters.

Source: Sanspo 4/16/2013, Nikkan Sports 4/17/2013

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Atsunori Inaba will continue to donate money to Hokkaido emergency children's services based on the number of hits he accumulates over the course of the season.  The money he raises this year will go towards equipping the 400 or so Hokkaido ambulances with non-contact thermometers.

Inaba has been donating money to Hokkaido emergency children's services since 2009.  He finished providing emergency response units at seventy locations in Hokkaido with medical equipment designed for children last year.

Source: Nikkan Sports 4/16/2013, Sponichi 4/16/2013

Inaba hit a home run on Tuesday night and has now recorded at least one home run in each season of his nineteen-year career.

Ten players, including Sho Nakata and Atsunori Inaba, will make special appearances on five different Hokkaido news programs on Tuesday, between 4:00pm and 7:00pm.

Source: Nikkan Sports 3/25/2013

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Keisuke Tanimoto could make his first regular season start on the 31st against Seibu at Seibu Dome.

Source: Sports Hochi 3/25/2013

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1st round draft pick Shohei Otani has a shot at becoming the first player out of high school in franchise history to make the opening day line-up in his first year since Isao Harimoto in 1959.

Source: Sanspo 3/25/2013

Daily Sports figures Otani will start the year at Ni-gun.  While the team does have an opening in right, there is a good chance Hideki Kuriyama will have the rookie take things slow.

"In considering the future of players, we need to use them carefully.  We will not use players that do not have to be rushed," said Kuriyama.

Source: Daily Sports 3/25/2013

Sports Hochi claims that Otani will be in the opening day starting line-up in left batting seventh.  He could then go on to make his debut as a pitcher on April 29 vs Orix at Sapporo Dome.

Source: Sports Hochi 3/25/2013

If Otani makes the Ichi-gun roster, there will probably days he pitches in Ni-gun games during the day before playing in Ichi-gun games as a position player in the evening.

Source: Sanspo 3/25/2013

Otani went 12-for-45 in various pre-season games (from spring camp in February through to Sunday).  He went 4-for-22 in the exhibition games he played.

Source: Sponichi 3/25/2013

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3rd round draft Yohei Kagiya got a new prescription for his contact lenses after he had trouble seeing signs from the catcher during a game against Orix on the 10th.

Source: Nikkan Sports 3/25/2013

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Ichi-gun players had the day off.

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Atsunori Inaba gave Sho Nakata tips on how to pull pitches up and in during soft-toss batting practice on Tuesday.

Inaba thinks Nakata needs to lose some weight.

Source: Sanspo 2/13/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/13/2013

Isao Harimoto spent some time working with Nakata on Tuesday -- he explained how taking overly large strides results in less power.

Source: Sponichi 2/13/2013

Inaba and Nakata worked out with Ni-gun players today.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/13/2013

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Nakata suffered a bit of a scare on Tuesday when he had to go to the hospital because of some swelling on the left side of his face, just below the ear.  Fortunately, it was nothing major since his his condition improved after taking some antibiotics.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/13/2013

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The coaches are concerned about 1st round draft pick Shohei Otani's workload and no longer have him scheduled to pitch in an intra-squad game on the 17th.  They do plan to have him pitch at least one batting practice before the last day of Ni-gun spring camp on the 22nd.

Source: Sanspo 2/13/2013

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Bobby Keppel is coming off right shoulder surgery.  His bullpen session was canceled today because it was a little chilly (precaution).

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/6/2013

Keppel did apparently throw the ball five times before cutting the session short.

Source: Sanspo 2/6/2013

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Mitsuo Yoshikawa will likely start to toss bullpens every other day.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/6/2013

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Yuki Saito threw into a new for about an hour on Tuesday and stopped every now and then to check on footage of his mechanics.  He has also been checking footage after returning to the player hotel.

Source: Sponichi 2/6/2013

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During workouts on Tuesday, Shinya Tsuruoka said he would quit if he allowed Takuya Nakashima to steal a base on his during base-running/catching exercises.  Nakashima ended up getting the stolen base and people started to jokingly chant, "Quit!"

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/6/2013

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Sho Nakata and Atsunori Inaba are expected to play a full game on 7th (intra-squad).  Inaba will likely shift to just a hitting role after the 5th inning.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/6/2013

Nakata spent about an hour taking grounders at first base after general workouts today under the watchful eye of Samurai Japan OF/base-running coach Koichi Ogata.

Source: Sanspo 2/6/2013

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Masaru Nakamura is currently slated to start a practice game against Hanshin on the 10th.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/6/2013

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1st round draft pick Shohei Otani took part in pick-off play and bunt defense practices on Tuesday.  He had some difficulties keeping up and made a number of mistakes.  Drills had to be stopped three times during the twenty minute or so session.  Makoto Kaneko did his best to help Otani out.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/6/2013

The Fighters have more than ten signals for plays involving bunts and pick-off throws.

Source: Sponichi 2/6/2013

Otani left Okinawa today for Iwate -- he has high school finals.  He will return on the 8th and rejoin workouts on the 9th.

Source: Sanspo 2/6/2013, Daily Sports 2/6/2013

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Atsunori Inaba stayed back after regular workouts today for extra fielding and batting practice.

Source: Sanspo 2/1/2013

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Mitsuo Yoshikawa did not toss a bullpen session today but did play catch.  There is still no timetable for when he will pitch in the bullpen.

"I it is still not quite there, but I am feeling less pain [every time I throw the ball]," said Yoshikawa.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/1/2013

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Yuki Saito played catch at a distance of about thirty meters.

Source: Sanspo 2/1/2013

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Hideki Kuriyama threw salt onto the fields on Thursday to ward off the evil spirits.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/1/2013

Kuriyama started at Ichi-gun camp today, worked his way to Ni-gun camp after morning workouts to check on players coming back from injuries, like Makoto Kaneko and Eiichi Koyano, and then went back to Ichi-gun camp.

It takes about forty minutes to get from one camp to the other by car.

Source: Sponichi 2/1/2013

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About 300 fans greeted the Nippon Ham Fighters at Naha Airport on Thursday.  Thirty TV cameras also crowded the airport.

Source: Sanspo 2/1/2013, Sponichi 2/1/2013

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GAORA will try to provide as much coverage of 1st round draft pick Shohei Otani during spring camp.  They are already prepared to handle live feeds from the Ni-gun camp facilities (their main focus still remains Ichi-gun camp).

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/1/2013

Otani speaks to the media:

You are now in Okinawa.  Your impressions?

It is a warm place.  I had a good workout during rookie training camp.  I want to keep going tomorrow.

This will be your first spring camp.  Your thoughts?

I am not sure about the practice menus.  I do not know how things go over the course of the day.  I am a little worried, but I want to strap myself in and go.  I would like to get through this at my own pace.

Are you ready?

I want to do what I have to and absorb whatever information, like advice and tips from other players, I can.

Did Kuriyama say anything to you?

He told me not to feel rushed...  That it must be difficult being in the spotlight and that I should not worry about all the eyes looking at me.

Source: Sanspo 2/1/2013

According to Sanspo, the Nippon Ham Fighters are planning to offer forty-year-old Atsunori Inaba an extension for the 2013 season.  A multi-year deal is a possibility.  Source: Sanspo 9/25/2012

Sports Hochi provides the following quote from acting owner Hiroji Okoso: "There is concern about injury, but that [Inaba] can perform at such a high level at forty means he is taking good care of himself.  With regards to a multi-year deal, if it something that agrees with the player."  Source: Sports Hochi 9/25/2012

And from Sponichi...

Acting owner Okoso: "[Inaba] continues to perform at a high level.  He can still play."

GM Masao Yamada: "He is an important piece.  A multi-year deal is possible."

Inaba: "[I do not want to comment because] we are still in the middle of the season. ... I am honored they would say those things about me.  I am not at an age where I can demand things, all I can do is accept what they offer."

Source: Sponichi 9/25/2012

Atsunori Inaba was taken off the active roster today with a left ankle sprain.  Inaba is scheduled to have it examined on Monday.

Source: Sponichi 6/24/2012

Today's Nippon Ham Fighters vs Rakuten Eagles game at Kleenex Stadiums.

Runners on first and second, two out.

Atsunori Inaba batting.  Kelvin Jimenez on the mound.

Inaba became the 39th player in NPB history to record 2,000 career hits.

(Youtube video not mine)

Nippon Ham Fighters official 2,000 hit Atsunori Inaba site

UPDATE 4/29 @ 10:43pm - Additional information...

According to Sponichi:

• Inaba's 2,000th career hit came on a 3-0 pitch.  Only two other players recorded their hits on a 3-0 pitch: Kazuhisa Yamauchi in 1967 and Katsuo Osugi in 1981.
• He extended his hitting streak to four games with the hit.  Only one other player extended their hitting streak to four or more games: Tadanori Ishii in 2006 (eight games).
• He is the tenth player that reached the milestone with hits from both the CL (972) and PL (1028).  He fell short twenty-eight CL hits from becoming the third player to record 1,000 hits in either league.  The other two: Katsuo Osugi (1171 PL, 1057 CL) and Hiromitsu Ochiai (1096 PL, 1275 CL).
• If he can record at least 150 hits this season, he will become just the second player in NPB history to be a member of the 2,000 hit club and record three seasons of 150 or more hits after turning thirty-seven (150 hits in 2009, 152 hits in 2010).  The other: Tomoaki Kanemoto.
• He is the third member of the 2,000 hit club that is also within the top five in HBPs (130 HBP, fifth place).  The other two: Kazuhiro Kiyohara (196 HBP, first place) and Sachio Kinugasa (161 HBP, third place).
• At thirty-nine years and eight months, he tied Atsuya Furuta as fifth oldest to reach 2,000.

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Countdown to 2,000

Atsunori Inaba (Nippon Ham Fighters): 1,999 hits, needs one more

Inaba has a chance to become the first player in NPB history to record his 2,000th hit and 250th home run in one swing.  Three players have hit homers for their 2,000th hit (Makoto Matsubara in 1980, Hideji Kato in 1987, and Hiromitsu Ochiai in 1995), but none were also significant home run milestones.

And according to Sponichi, of the thirty-eight players that reached 2,000 hits in the past, thirty-two players ended games with 1,999 hits.  Of those, twenty-four recorded their 2,000th hit during the next game they played.

Assuming Inaba reaches the milestone, the Fighters will hold a 2,000 Hit Ceremony for Inaba on May 23 (vs Yokohama at Sapporo Dome).

Meikyukai Jacket presenter: undecided

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Shinya Miyamoto (Yakult Swallows): 1,993 hits, needs seven more

Shinya Miyamoto Countdown Boards (2,000 yen) will hit stadium store shelves on May 1.

The Swallows are guessing (hoping) Miyamoto will reach 2,000 hits during the team's three game series against Hiroshima Carp between May 4 and 6 (at Jingu).  The team might even have him sit out some road games depending on how well he hits.

The team is thinking about holding a 2,000 Hit Ceremony for both Miyamoto and former Swallow Atsunori Inaba when the Nippon Ham Fighters play two games at Jingu later next month (May 30-31).  That is, of course, assuming that both players have reached the milestone by then.

The Musashi Koyama Palm shopping area in Shinagawa is also prepared -- they plan to put up a banner and 130 flags the moment he reaches the milestone.  They also plan to hold ceremony with Miyamoto as their guest.  The shopping area has set aside a total budget of 1M yen to celebrate Miyamoto's milestone.

* Junji Ogawa was the scout in charge of both Miyamoto and Inaba.

Meikyukai Jacket presenter: at the request of Miyamoto, Tsutomu Wakamatsu

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Hiroki Kokubo (Softbank Hawks): 1,979 hits, needs twenty-one more

Meikyukai Jacket presenter: will likely be Sadaharu Oh

Atsunori Inaba recorded his 1,500th career hit at Tokyo Dome on July 15, 2008.  He now has a shot at recording his 2,000th career hit at Tokyo Dome tonight (just needs two).

Countdown to 2,000