There were talks of Akinori Otsuka (41) finalizing a deal with the Shinano Grandserows later this month, but it now seems that will not happen until early June.  Otsuka still needs some more time to square things away in San Diego and Shinano's schedule later this month is full with the team heading overseas to Hawaii for the Route Inn Cup Series.

"There is no doubt that [Otsuka] has decided to sign with Shinano.  The official contract [will be signed] in early June," said team president Kesaharu Misawa.

Source: Sponichi 5/18/2013

The Shinano Grandserows (BC League) announced the addition of former Yokohama Bay Star Brandon Mann (28) on Tuesday.

Mann signed a minor league deal with the Washington Nationals that included a spring training invite in January.  He decided to return to Japan after he was re-assigned in March.  He arrived in Japan on the 11th and started participating in workouts on the 12th.

Shinano has posted the following comment from Mann:

Hello, my name in Brandon.  I am happy to have another opportunity to pitch in Japan.  I will do my best to help the Shinano Grandserows win a championship.

Source: Sponichi 4/17/2013, official announcement, official tweet (with photo)

The Toyama Thunderbirds (BC League) announced today that they signed thirty-seven-year-old pitch Tomokazu Oka.

Oka spent a few years playing for the Yokohama Bay Stars (1994-1998) before going overseas.  While in the US, he spent time playing for the Boston Red Sox (1999-2001), Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals (2001-2005), Milwaukee Brewers (2005-2006), Toronto Blue Jays (2007), Chicago White Sox (2008, minor league), and Cleveland Indians (2009).  He returned to the Bay Stars in 2010 and released in October 2011, shortly after he got his right shoulder cleaned out.

Source: official announcement via Sponichi 4/8/2013

The BC League held a press conference today to announce additional details of a series of games between their five teams and two teams from the Pacific Baseball Association.

BC League Teams

Gunma Diamond Pegasus
Niigata Albirex Baseball Club
Shinano Grandserows
Toyama Thunderbirds
Ishikawa Million Stars
Fukui Miracle Elephants

Pacific Baseball Association

Hawaii Stars
Na Koa Ikaika Maui

The series of games will be sponsored by Route Inn Hotels and will be called the Route Inn Cup Japan/US Independent League Series (ルートインカップ日米独立リーグ対抗戦).

The Series will be split into two rounds.

Japan Round

Dates: July 30 - August 5
Rain Dates: August 2, August 6

July 30
Gunma vs Hawaii
Fukui vs Maui

July 31
Niigata vs Hawaii
Toyama vs Maui

August 1
Shinano vs Hawaii
Ishikawa vs Maui

August 3
Shinano vs Maui
Fukui vs Hawaii

August 4
Gunma vs Maui
Toyama vs Hawaii

August 5
Niigata vs Maui
Ishikawa vs Hawaii

America Round

Dates: May 28 - June 2

May 28 - May 30
Maui vs Ishikawa
Hawaii vs Shinano

May 31 - June 2
Maui vs Shinano
Hawaii vs Ishikawa

Start times and venues and will be release when schedules for the regular season are released (some time in late February).

Source: official announcement, official announcement

The BC League will play twenty-four games against two US independent league teams in Hawaii this year.  An official announcement is scheduled for the 25th.

The six teams in the BC League will play a total twenty-four games against the Na Koa Ikaika Maui and the Hawaii Stars, in both Japan and Hawaii.

Source: Sanspo 1/16/2013

The Niigata Albirex Baseball Club (BC League) announced on Thursday that Naoyuki Naito (44) will take over as new manager of the team.  A press conference is scheduled for December 11, beginning at 14:00.

Source: official announcement

A joint US/Japan tryout for the BC League and the North American League is being held in Alliant International University Baseball Field over the weekend (November 3 and 4).

According to the reports, eighty-seven players attended the first day of tryouts on Saturday.  Forty-seven attended Sunday's session.

Source: official announcement (pdf), official announcement (website), Sponichi 11/4/2012, Daily Sports 11/4/2012

The Niigata Albirex Baseball Club announced today that they accepted Shingo Takatsu's resignation as manager and that they will make an announcement about his replacement when they decide on one.  A press conference will be held on November 2 at 14:00.  A live stream will be available via the team's Ustream account.

Source: official announcement (via Nikkan Sports)

Mobage Cup BC League Playoff: Japan Independent League Grand Championship 2012

Note: This post will be updated as necessary.

Rain dates: 10/22 - 10/23; and 10/30 - 11/1

See also:

BC League: Niigata wins the 2012 BC League Championships

Island League: Kagawa sweeps Ehime, wins 2012 Championship

===

October 20

October 21

October 27

The Niigata Albirex Baseball Club team trainer, Hidetsugu Ohashi, suffered an injury when they accidentally dropped him while tossing him up into the air during celebrations on September 29.  Ohashi was taken to the hospital and did not suffer any injuries, but required a one-day stay for observation.

The BC League issued a warning to Niigata on Tuesday because they felt celebrations may have gotten a little out of hand.  The league also issued notices to the other teams in the league to exercise a little caution during celebrations to avoid future accidents.

Source: official announcement, official announcement, Daily Sports 10/2/2012

Note: doage = the act of tossing someone up into the air.