Hanshin Tigers

Shinobu Fukuhara was taken off the active roster today because of tightness in his lower back.  The Tigers expect Fukuhara to return to the active roster in the minimum ten days.

Source: Daily Sports 5/15/2013

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Kosuke Fukudome (left knee) may not be able to return to the active roster until, at the earliest, June.  His workouts on Tuesday included upper body and shoulder exercises and about twenty minutes of running in a therapy pool.  Fukudome will not be able to begin regular roadwork training until the pain in his left knee goes away.  Until then, he will have to continue pool therapy.

Source: Sports Hochi 5/15/2013, Daily Sports 5/15/2013

Seibu Lions

Randy Williams was taken off the active roster today with tightness in his left upper arm.

Source: Nikkan Sports 5/15/2013

The Tigers will likely go with a five-man rotation during Inter-league play.  The first four spots will probably go to, in no particular order, Randy Messenger, Jason Standridge, Atsushi Nomi, and 1st round draft pick Shintaro Fujinami.  Daiki Enokida will most likely land the fifth spot, but Minoru Iwata may still have a shot.

Source: Sanspo 5/10/2013

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The Tigers are planning to remove pitch limits on Fujinami some time in June.

Source: Sanspo 5/10/2013

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The Tigers are thinking about bringing Kosuke Fukudome back during Inter-league play and using him as a DH provided that his left knee is healed to the point where it can not get worse.  Bottom line: they want Fukudome as a healthy position player, not as a bat off the bench or a long-term DH.  For the time being, he will focus on rehab/treatment.

Source: Sponichi 5/10/2013, Sanspo 5/10/2013

Fukudome began his rehab today at the indoor training facilities at Koshien (electrotherapy and ice treatment).

Source: Daily Sports 5/10/2013

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Coming into today, Takahiro Arai is 14-for-40 with one home run and five RBI in eleven games at Matsuyama over his career.  He also went 3-for-4 with a home run during the 2002 All-Star Game.

Source: Sponichi 5/10/2013

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Akira Iwamoto and Hirokazu Shiranita could make the active roster during Inter-league play as long relievers or spot emergency starters (particularly during games in which the DH-rule is used).

Source: Sanspo 5/10/2013

The Orix Buffaloes announced today that Yoshio Itoi was diagnosed with a minor tibial collateral ligament injury in his right knee.

"It is a grade one injury, the most minor in a three tier system.  [Itoi] can hit.  We will have to wait to see on the running and bring that up accordingly.  The doctor did not throw up a red light," said chief trainer Takuya Noma (野間 卓也).

Itoi will not be taken off the active roster for the time being.  His treatment will include icing and electrotherapy.

Source: Nikkan Sports 5/8/2013

UPDATE @ 5:31pm - It could take about two weeks for a full recovery.  Source: Sponichi 5/8/2013

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Kosuke Fukudome (Hanshin) was taken off the active roster today with pain in his left knee.  Fukduome tweaked the knee while getting out of te batter's box during an at bat in a game against Yakult on the 3rd.

"We were thinking about how to get [Fukudome] back in the shortest amount of time.  He is swinging the bat well during batting practice, but in terms of running, he says he is at about fifty percent.  In watching him over the last couple of days, it does not seem like things are improving very quickly.  If we were looking to get one at bat out of him, then it might not take ten days, but we want him back in the starting line-up and do not want this to drag out.  He is not a pinch-hitter.  He is a starter.  We want him back as soon as possible," said Yutaka Wada.

Fukudome will return to Osaka today, rest on Thursday, and begin rehab at Koshien on Friday.

Source: Nikkan Sports 5/8/2013, Daily Sports 5/8/2013

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Kazuki Yoshimi (Chunichi) was taken off the active roster today, most likely because of tightness in his right elbow.  The tightness is reportedly in the same area he had problems with back in April.

Source: Daily Sports 5/8/2013

The Chunichi Dragons took Yuta Muto off the active roster on Friday because of pain in his left side.

Source: Sponichi 5/3/2013

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Kosuke Fukudome (Hanshin) hurt his left leg while swinging the bat during his at bat in the 2nd inning of Friday's game against Yakult.  He was removed on defense in the 3rd as a precaution.  Yutaka Wada later told reporters that Fukudome twisted his ankle while swinging the bat.

Source: Daily Sports 5/3/2013, Sanspo 5/3/2013

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Kenji Otonari (Softbank) was removed from the active roster on Friday with discomfort in his lower back.  Otonari reportedly tweaked his back during his last outing on April 29 (vs Lotte at QVC Marine).  The Hawks are hoping he will be ok to pitch after skipping his next turn in the rotation.

Source: Sports Hochi 5/3/2013

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Yoshio Itoi (Orix) hurt his right knee when his right foot got caught in ground while sliding into second base in the 4th inning of Friday's game against Lotte.  He remained in the game on defense in the 5th, but was removed on defense in the 6th.  He is considered day-to-day.

Source: Sponichi 5/3/2013

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Takahiro Okada (Orix) was taken off the active roster on Friday with what the team feels is fasciitis in his left hamstring.

Source: Sanspo 5/3/2013

Ryota Arai started outdoor workouts (running, playing catch) at Naruohama on Tuesday.  He also took indoor batting practice in the cages against a pitching machine.

"I was able to hit as usual.  I have no problem with hitting.  I [got hurt] while running, so once I can do that, I will be fine," said Arai.

He will begin taking outdoor batting practice on Thursday.

Source: Daily Sports 4/10/2013

Arai could play in Ikusei games at Naruohama on the 13th and 14th.  Depending on his progress, he could return to the active roster as early as the 16th (vs Yomiuri).

Source: Sanspo 4/10/2013

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Ryo Watanabe (right shoulder tightness) pitched in a Ni-gun game against Softbank on Tuesday.  He entered the game in the 8th and retired the side in order.  He topped out at 135km/h.

Source: Sanspo 4/10/2013

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Kosuke Fukudome took 112 swings during pre-game batting practice on Tuesday and hit two over the fence.

Source: Sanspo 4/10/2013

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Matt Murton said he loved Atsushi Nomi during his hero interview on Tuesday night.  Last season, he sarcastically told the media he allowed runners to advance because he did not like Nomi.  Unfortunately for Murton, the sarcasm was lost in translation.  There was an attempt to clarify the quote, but the damage was done.  He is hoping the issue is now settled.

Source: Daily Sports 4/10/2013, Sponichi 4/10/2013

Murton celebrated his daughter's third birthday at the Hard Rock Cafe on the 5th before heading out to Hiroshima for the start of a road series.

Source: Sanspo 4/10/2013

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Sun TV will celebrate their 3,000th Hanshin game broadcast with a special LIVE program on April 29 the begins at 13:00.  They will also broadcast the Hiroshima game that begins an hour later at 14:00.

The first Sun TV game broadcast took place on May 6, 1969 (vs Hiroshima at Koshien).  Assuming no rain outs, the broadcast on the 25th (vs Chunichi at Nagoya Dome) should be the TV station's 3,000th.

Source: Daily Sports 4/9/2013

Takahiro Arai joined the Ichi-gun team for workouts today.  He is scheduled to play in Wednesday's exhibition game against Hiroshima.

Source: Nikkan Sports 3/19/2013

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Daiki Enokida will likely make his first regular season start on April 4 against Chunichi at Kyocera Dome as the number six starter in the rotation.

The starting rotation will most likely be: Randy Messenger, Minoru Iwata, 1st round draft pick Shintaro Fujinami, Atsushi Nomi, Jason Standridge, and Enokida.

Source: Sanspo 3/19/2013, Daily Sports 3/19/2013

Nikkan Sports thinks Enokida could make his first regular season start on April 2 against Chunichi.

Source: Nikkan Sports 3/19/2013

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The Tigers will probably carry seven relievers.  Yasutomo Kubo, Shinobu Fukuhara, Naoto Tsuru, Kosuke Kato will likely take the first four sports.  Yusuke Kawasaki, Masanori Fujihara, Kazuhito Futagami, and Yuya Ando are among the pitchers competing for the remaining three spots.

Source: Daily Sports 3/19/2013

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Hirokazu Shiranita is scheduled to start an exhibition game against Hiroshima on Wednesday.  He is trying to win a spot on the active roster as either a starer or reliever.

Source: Nikkan Sports 3/19/2013

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Fujinami participated in workouts and checked the mound at Jingu Stadium on Monday.  He also sat next to Akihiro Fujii in the dugout during the team's exhibition game against Yakult.  He returned to Osaka after the game.

Source: Sanspo 3/19/2013, Nikkan Sports 3/19/2013, Daily Sports 3/19/2013

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While Tsuyoshi Nishioka is considered the everyday lead-off hitter, Takashi Toritani is also an option the team may consider if the offense falls into a slump.

Source: Sanspo 3/19/2013

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Kosuke Fukudome is not scheduled to play in Wednesday's exhibition game against Hiroshima and will instead work out at the Naruohama training facilities.

Source: Sanspo 3/19/2013

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Brooks Conrad was given permission to skip Wednesday's exhibition game and return to his family in Kobe.

Source: Sanspo 3/19/2013

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Tickets are not selling as well as the Tigers had hoped despite the additions of players like Fukudome, Nishioka, and Fujinami.

Source: Sponichi 3/19/2013

With Samurai Japan heading to the US for the Championship Round, there is  very good chnce Randy Messenger will get the opening day start.  If he does, will join Matt Keough (1987) and Gene Bacque (1965) as the only foreign pitchers in franchise history to get opening day starts.

Source: Sponichi 3/12/2013, Sports Hochi 3/12/2013

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Ryota Imanari was called up to Ichi-gun on Tuesday.

Source: Sanspo 3/12/2013

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Brooks Conrad watched a few sumo matches with his wife at the Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium (Body Maker Colosseum) on Monday.

Source: Sanspo 3/12/2013

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The media learned that Ryohei Hashimoto (24) filed marriage papers with a twenty-four-year-old woman living from Osaka on Sunday.

Source: Nikkan Sports 3/12/2013

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Kosuke Fukudome's Sanspo Tigers' Promise: record a walk-off hit during the season.

If he does not make good on his promise, he will present one family (up to four people) with tickets to a Yoshimoto Shinkigeki performance.  If he makes good on the promise, Sanspo owes him a top-of-the-line putter.

Source: Sanspo 3/12/2013

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ABC TV will be using a high-speed camera for all their Hanshin games this season (it was just Yomiuri games last season).

Source: Sanspo 3/12/2013

The team visited Hirota Shine in Nishinomiya, Hyogo today to pray for a successful season.

About 1,300 fans showed up to watch the Tigers.  That is up from the 800 they drew last year.

Source: Nikkan Sports 3/1/2013, Sanspo 3/1/2013

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GM Katsuhiro Nakamura, Yutaka Wada, and head coach Masahiro Kuroda are planning to hold weekly update meeting throughout the year.

Source: Nikkan Sports 3/1/2013

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Kosuke Fukudome took fifty-eight swings during batting practice at Koshien on Thursday and hit two over the fence.

Source: Daily Sports 3/1/2013

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Brooks Conrad is scheduled to play in both practice games over the weekend (vs Orix on Saturday and vs Seibu on Sunday).

Conrad is a switch-hitter that uses two separate batting helmets instead of one with ear flaps on each side.

Source: Sanspo 3/1/2013

Conrad recently received a new set of bats.  Up to now, he used bats made of white ash, but decided to give maple a try.  He also increased the weight of the bat by ten grams.

Source: Daily Sports 3/1/2013

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1st round draft pick Shintaro Fujinami is scheduled to pitch on Saturday.  Numbered tickets for the game will be handed out to fans at a tent in front of Aki Dome at 8:00am.  Stadium gates are scheduled to open at 11:00am.  Security patrols will begin at 5:00am.

Source: Sanspo 3/1/2013

All of the team's top players will be available on Saturday when Fujinami pitches.  That includes Tsuyoshi Nishioka, Kosuke Fukudome, Matt Murton, and Conrad.

Source: Sanspo 3/1/2013

Fujinami threw forty-fives pitches in the bullpen today.

Source: Sanspo 3/1/2013

There is a chance Fujinami could make his starts on the weekends on six days of rest before the start of the regular season.  That would mean: Orix on March 2, Nippon Ham on March 9, Lotte on March 16, and Orix on March 23.

Source: Nikkan Sports 3/1/2013

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4th round draft pick Shinya Azuhata was sent down to Ni-gun on Thursday.

Source: Sanspo 3/1/2013

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Ryuma Matsuda's workouts on Thursday included light catch and fielding practice.

Source: Sanspo 3/1/2013

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The Tigers see no need for Hiroki Uemoto to rush back from an ankle injury, especially since one of his greatest strengths is his speed.

Source: Sanspo 3/1/2013

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US-based scout Jeff Williams was in the stands for the Dodgers-Cubs game on the 27th.  His area of concentration right now is Arizona.

Source: Sanspo 3/1/2013

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Former Hanshin Tiger Tsuyoshi Shimoyanagi failed his minor league tryout with the Los Angeles Dodgers.  Former Yokohama Bay Star Takahiro Matsuka also failed to make the cut.

Shimoyanagi did make it past the first round (bullpen session) and faced two batters during the second round (BB, Ks).

Over 200 players attended the tryout.  Only one player made the cut.

Source: Sanspo 3/1/2013

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Kosuke Fukudome took some grounders at short during fielding practices today.  This does not mean he will be playing short -- this is just something he likes to do to help him prepare.

Fukudome began his career as a shortstop with the Chunichi Dragons.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/19/2013

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Takahiro Arai is Yutaka Wada's top choice to bat clean-up.  But if Arai is needs more time for rehab (right shoulder, back), then Takashi Toritani and Ryota Arai are possibilities.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/19/2013

Brooks Conrad could be another possibility.

Source: Sports Hochi 2/19/2013

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1st round draft pick Shintaro Fujinami and his parents visited three former high school teammates -- Gen Mizumoto, Satoshi Mega, and Minoru Hirohata -- at Asia University spring camp in Shimajiri, Okinawa on the team's day off on Monday.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/19/2013

Wada wants to check on Fujinami's pitches from the batter's box.

Source: Daily Sports 2/19/2013

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Conrad's Sanspo Promise: record one of every kind of hit from both the left and right side of the plate.

If he makes good on the promise, Sanspo will present him with children's clothing from Miki House.

Source: Sanspo 2/19/2013

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Kosuke Fukudome could play in a practice game against the Yomiuri Giants on the 20th.  If he does not feel ready, then either the 23rd (vs Nippon Ham) or 24th (vs Yakult).

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

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Brooks Conrad's family (wife and two children) are scheduled to arrive in Japan in early March.

Source: Sanspo 2/13/2013

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While the Tiger may let 1st round draft pick Shintaro Fujinami toss bullpen sessions on two consecutive days, they will not let him push that to three.  They will also try to keep him on a regular throwing schedule.  He will most likely not toss batting practice until some time on or after the 19th.

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

Shigeru Sugishita watched Fujinami toss his bullpen session today.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/13/2013

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Yutaka Wada's Sanspo Tigers' Promise: Win a championship

If he fails, he will give away six boxes of memorabilia to Sanspo readers.  If he succeeds, he will get a free trip to an onsen, hold a baseball clinic for one family, and get his car washed by Sanspo reporters.

Source: Sanspo 2/13/2013

Wada's theme for the second-half of spring camp: 「活/喝」「克」「勝」 or katsu, katsu, katsu, as in: push yourself, control yourself, and win.

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