A welcoming ceremony was held at Chatan Stadium before practices this morning.

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Both Hirokazu Ibata and Masahiro Araki worked out at short during morning fielding practice.  Morimichi Takagi watched carefully and later expressed concern about Araki's shoulder, indicating he will most likely revert to Ibata at short and Araki at second.

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1st round draft pick Shuhei Takahashi worked out for about eight and a half hours during the first day of spring camp.

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Actress Emi Takei will be throwing out the ceremonial first pitch on opening day (March 30, vs Hiroshima, at Nagoya Dome).

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Batting practice:

Wednesday

1st round draft pick Takahashi took forty-six swings against Yuta Muta and hit six over the fence.

Yudai Ono threw 30 pitches in the bullpen on Wednesday (squatting catcher).

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Daiki Yoshikawa strained his back and worked out under separate a training program on Wednesday.  Yoshikawa suffered the injury during practice sessions on Monday (January 23).  The injury is not considered serious.

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Morimichi Takagi will likely go with Masahiro Araki at second and Hirokazu Ibata at short this season after the two players talked it out with each other and contacted the team with their thoughts.

The Dragons held a staff meeting in Nagoya today that lasted about three hours and went over spring camp scheduling and coaching roles.  Player assignments for spring camp will be decided during a second meeting on 1/19.

As of now, 1st round draft pick Shuhei Takahashi will likely start the year at Ichi-gun spring camp and get a chance to play in a practice game scheduled on 2/11.  Ichi-gun and Ni-gun players will also be rounded up on the first day of spring camp for fielding practice.

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Morimichi Takagi told reporters on Tuesday that losing Wei-Ying Chen was a big blow, but that it was something the team was prepared for.  The question he is now faced with is trying to find a viable left-handed replacement for the rotation.  Possibilities apparently include Takashi Ogasawara, Ryuya Ogawa, Toshiya Okada, and Yudai Ono.

Takagi also said that this was going to be an important year for developing young talent.

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A total nine players, including Hirokazu Ibata and Takuya Asao, left for Guam on Tuesday.  They will spend about 10 days working out in the warmer weather.

Before leaving, Ibata spoke to reporters and said that he was bringing 16 bats with him to Guam, 14 of which were golf clubs (jokingly).  He also said that the bats he did pack were based on a new model that is 20-40 grams heavier than the 900 grams bat he used last year.  And as mentioned before, he plans to prepare for the heavier bats by swinging a 1kg practice bat around during practices.

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Team scout Hiroaki Mizutani is high on 1st round draft pick Takahashi's swing and told reporters that it was comparable to players like Kazuhiro Kiyohara and Hideki Matsui.  He also said he felt Takahashi turned pro at a higher level than Masahiko Morino.

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Daily Sports reports that the Dragons may be looking for one more foreign pitcher and one more foreign position player.  Other reports indicate at least one more (either a pitcher or a position player).

The Chunichi Dragons announced today that they will unveil their new uniforms on 1/30.  The time and place have not yet been set.  Fans will also to able to watch the unveiling online via Dragons Live TV.

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Hirokazu Ibata and Takuya Asao took off for Guam out of Chubu International Airport on Tuesday.

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A number of members of the 2011 draft class, including 1st round pick Shuhei Takahashi, 3rd round draft pick Shinji Tajima, and 4th round draft pick Takehiko Tsuji worked out at Nagoya Stadium today.  Workouts included running, playing catch, and BP.

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1st round draft pick Takahashi is thinking about selecting a Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi song for his intro music.  The song Hold Your Last Chance is on possibility.

4th round draft pick Kentaro Nishikawa had a chance to meet Hideki Matsui in person when he visited Seiryo High School on 1/4.  Matsui is a Seiryo High School graduate.

Morimichi Takagi appeared on a TV program on Sunday and said he might consider naming Masahiro Yamamoto (46) as the opening day starter (dependent on his condition during spring camp).  Takagi has already informed Yamamoto of the possibility.

He also said that he could put Hirokazu Ibata back at short if Masahiro Araki is ok with returning to second (no need to force them into sticking with the position change); and he plans to have every player on the roster workout together on the first day of spring camp so that he can see what is available.

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Opening Day Starters in their 40's (via Sponichi)

1949, Hanshin, Tadashi Wakabayashi, 41 years and 1 month

1990, Lotte, Choji Murata, 40 years and 4 months

1995, Orix, Yoshinori Sato, 40 years and 6 months

1998, Hiroshima, Yutaka Ono, 42 years and 7 months

If Yamamoto gets the opening day start, he will become the oldest pitcher, at 46 years and 7 months, to get an opening day start.  If he gets the win, he will become just the second player in their 40s to record an opening day victory (the other is Murata).

The NPB Commissioner's Office announced today that they had Hirokazu Ibata file a formal report for committing a doping violation.  He was also fined 3M yen by the Chunichi Dragons.

According to various reports, Ibata tested positive for the banned substance, prednisolone, in July this year.  Investigators later found that the substance was an ingredient in eye medicine Ibata was (is?) taking.  He originally had permission to use the eye medicine, through to May 2009, but an extension apparently was never filed.

Ibata becomes the first Japanese player to be charged with a doping violation since the rules were introduced in 2007.

UPDATE @ 7:24pm - Ibata actually has to file the report by the 10th.  The actual drug test took place on 7/12.  And the 3M yen fine was actually levied on the Chunichi Dragons for failing to keep their reports on players updated (as in, they were supposed to renew the paperwork that informed the league Ibata was taking medication that contained a banned substance).

UPDATE 9/2 @ 1:26pm - The violation was reportered on 7/30.  Ibata was randomly picked to get tested out of a group of players.  There are four levels of punishment and Ibata was given the lightest punishment: write up a full report on the incident (with an apology); 10 game suspension; 1 year suspension; indefinite suspension.

A total 543 players have been test since 2007 and 4 players have tested positive:

1. Rick Guttormson - tested positive for finasteride in 8/2007 (found in his hair growth product), given 20 day suspension, Softbank fined 7.5M yen.
2. Luis Gonzalez - tested positive for 4 substances, including an amphetamine, in 5/2008 (apparently being used to treat rheumatism), given 1 year suspension and ultimately released by Yomiuri.
3. Daniel Rios - tested positive for hydroxystanozolol in 6/2008 (apparently being used for lower back / hip pain), given 1 year suspension, immediately released by Yakult.
4. Kazuki Yoshimi - made the headlines on 10/22/2009 for getting garlic injections and almost got in trouble with the league (injections, unless for medical purposes, are forbidden), but was ok after it was decided the injections were used for medical purposes.
5. Ibata - tested positive for prednisolone in 7/2010 (eye medication), told to write up full report on incident, Chunichi fined 3M yen.

UPDATE 9/2 @ 1:42pm - Investigations on 8/3 revealed that Chunichi failed to file paperwork that would extend the exception Ibata had on using eye medication with prednisolone in it.  Going back a little further, Ibata filed paperwork for an exception through Chunichi on 4/21/2009 with an expiration date of 5/30/2009.  Ibata and the team trainer apparently didn't understand the rules for exceptions and mistakenly thought they didn't have to apply for an extension.

UPDATE 9/2 @ 8:28pm - The name of the document the Dragons had to file is called the TUE form, or the Therapeutic Use Exemption form.  The Dragons never gave Ibata a copy of the forms; they also don't have an Anti-Doping department to handle these types of forms / situations.  Ibata was also using the medicine until 6/27/2011; and it takes prednisolone about a month to leave the body.

Hirokazu Ibata was taken off the active roster Wednesday after he was diagnosed with ligament damage in his right finger.

"It hurts to even tough things and there's swelling, but I can bend the first joint," said Ibata.  "I feel bad about having to take time away from the team, especially since it seems like this is going to take some time to heal.  Personally, I'm going with the idea that I'll make it back in 10 days."

Ibata will concentrate on lower body exercises until the pain and swelling in his finger goes away (so no running, no playing catch, and no BP for the time being).

UPDATE 7/28 @ 1:53pm - The Daily Sports article quoted above mentioned that Ibata was taken off the active roster yesterday (7/27), but that will likely be done today.

This post will be updated throughout the day.

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Today's practice game against the Orix Buffaloes was canceled due to the rain.

===== 2/20 @ 8:39pm

Keisuke Seki (5th round) joined the Ichi-gun team for practice today (just a one day visit).  He also tossed 85 pitches in the bullpen with Hiromitsu Ochiai watching.

===== 2/20 @ 3:15pm

Hirokazu Ibata told reporters today that he started feeling pain in his teeth 2 days ago and visited a dentist, only to find out that he was clenching his jaw too hard during his training.  Ibata has also managed to lose 5kg since the start of spring camp and weighs less than his ideal weight of 72kg.

The Dragons have a scheduled day off tomorrow (their last during spring camp).  While Ibata usually works out on these days off, it appears he'll take it easy tomorrow and rest.

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Kazuki Yoshimi threw 15 pitches off the mound today (5 more than the last time he threw off a mound on the 16th and with a standing catcher).  It was more an extension of playing catch with Yoshimi wanting to check on his footing while throwing from on an incline.

This post will be updated throughout the day.

===== 2/8 @ 11:25pm

Maximo Nelson faced 6 batters during situational BP today and struck out 4 batters (3 of which came in a row).  His fastball also topped out at 149km/h.

===== 2/8 @ 10:16pm

Wei-Ying Chen threw 173 pitches in the bullpen in the morning (primarily fastballs) and 30 pitches in the afternoon (standing catcher).  In between the two sessions, he did long some toss.

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Daiki Yoshikawa (2nd round) took part situational BP today and struck out looking in his first AB and walked in his second AB.

===== 2/8 @ 3:05pm

Hirokazu Ibata invited Yohei Oshima to work out with him on the team's day off yesterday.  They started things off with about 30 minutes of running and stretching.  Ibata then spent about 40 minutes in the batting cages.

Said Ibata, "I decided I would do this before the start of camp.  There are a couple of things I'm looking to change.  And I feel if I take the day off, my body will forget.  This year, I want to pull the ball.  I was too stiff last year.  I want to take an easier approach to hitting the year, keep things simple."

Ibata also asid that he planned to work out during the team's next day off as well.

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Masahiro Yamamoto played some catch (at a distance of about 20 meters) on the team's day off yesterday.

Said Yamamoto, "It's all better now.  I couldn't walk 4 days ago.  If you consider that, I've come a long way."

During practice today, he also started jogging a little (between the outfield poles, for about 40 minutes).

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A Curry House Coco Ichi-ban will be opening up at Nagoya Dome on 2/12.  During night games, the curry restaurant will open at noon and close when the game ends.

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Nikkan Sports has the following comments from Joel Guzman (taken yesterday):

The first block of spring camp in Japan is over, a tough 6 day work schedule.  Your thoughts?

It's just an amazing amount of practicing.  I heard about how tough practices were before coming to Japan, but it was even more than that.  Every player on this team, works really hard during practice in order to win.

During a game of situational BP, you managed to collect 2 hits.  They say you've got good bat speed.

Really?  I think Tony Blanco has better bat speed than me.  I have a bigger body, but I don't take big cuts.  If you swing too hard, you won't get good results.  It isn't about using all your power, it's about trying to relax your entire body while swing the bat.

You went to the US after signing a contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers when you were 16.  People in the Dominican Republic talk about how great a player you are, why did you decide to come to Japan?

I actually knew that the level of play in Japan was pretty high from before.  When I played for Tampa I faced [Daisuke] Matsuzaka.  I ended up striking out swinging and grounding out to short.  I was surprised at how many off-speed pitches he had.  I've also faced [Kei] Igawa at triple-A.  And there's nothing more I can say about the way Ichiro plays.  It was because of him that I have such a good image of Japanese baseball.  The Dragons have been talking to me over the last 3-4 years.  But I had my contract and then I decided to try playing in Japan.

Why couldn't you make it in the US?

Because I was still a kid back then.  I didn't have any experience.  I had potential and confidence, but that wasn't enough.  Now, I have experience under my best.  I spent 10 years in the US and I learned discipline through playing baseball.  When I played for the Dodgers, Mariano Duncan said to me, "Keep things simple.  Stay true to yourself."  I still remember those words.

Discipline fits well with Japanese baseball and Hiromitsu Ochiai's style.

I suppose.  I'm 26, but there are players like 38-year-old [Kazuhiro] Wada and 40-year-old [Motonobu] Tanishige that practice really hard.  And watching them gets me going.  If I see them working hard, it makes me feel like I have to do more.

Has Ochiai said anything to you specifically?

Since the start of camp, Ochiai did tell me to be careful about getting hurt during camp.  He also asked that I prepare myself for the start of opening day.  Bottom line, I'm ready to play baseball in Japan for a long time.  I'll do my best to help win a championship.

This post will be updated throughout the day.

=== 10:34pm

Kenichi Nakata tossed BP today to three batters: Masahiro Araki, Tatsuro Iwasaki, and Atsushi Fujii.  He threw a total 53 pitches and gave up 3 could-be hits.

=== 3:44pm

Hirokazu Ibata took early fielding practice today.  Ibata was at Chatan Stadium about an hour before the start of general practice and took some grounders with Tatsuro Iwasaki.  The day before, Ibata stayed back after general practice for extra indoor BP.

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Of the 21 batters that took BP yesterday, Joel Guzman was the only one that managed to hit the ball out of Chatan Stadium (out to left-center and over the 5 meter high netting).  But Guzman did struggle to connect for could-be hits with only 5.

Said Guzman, "I was 100% ready [for BP].  But Japanese pitchers throw a lot of breaking pitches and they've got good control.  I also need to get used to the strike zone."

Giants' scout on Guzman - "I can see that he's got a lot of power.  They've also go Blanco, so extreme caution will be necessary.  Seems [Hiromitsu] Ochiai has a knack for bringing up players with power."

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Hiromitsu Ochiai told reporters yesterday that players should think that rest = quitting.

Said Ochiai, "It's everyone for themselves.  Players that want to practice more, should.  Players that want to rest, can.  But, if they rest, we'll make it so that they can't.  Players should think rest = taking the uniform off."

Masahiko Morino took about 400 grounders after general practice (about an hour and 20 minutes worth).

Kazuhiro Wada ran three 400 meter races after general practice and was planning on taking extra BP afterward, but couldn't because he wasn't feeling well from all the running.