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INF/base-running coach Noriyuki Shiroishi worked with Tetsuto Yamada on his footwork and throwing form at short during practices on his day off on Saturday.

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Special instructor Tsutomu Wakamatsu began working as a special instructor today.

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Masanori Ishikawa told reporters today that he does not plan on throwing another 150+ pitch bullpen session during spring camp.

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The Swallows decided to send Hitoshi Yamamoto to Ni-gun camp after he was diagnosed with right elbow inflammation.  Tatsuo Kinoshita will be called up in his place.

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3rd round draft pick Wataru Hiyane can star in a Blue Seal Ice Cream TV/radio commercial if he can win a stolen base title.

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The Swallows have received five cheer-leading uniforms from students at Bunka Fashion College and will have fans determine which one is used in 2012.  Fans will be able to vote for their favorite designs between February 6 and February 13 at the official team site.  The new uniforms will be unveiled on March 22.

The cheer-leading team will also be bigger this season, from seven members to twelve.

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Today was the end of the first block of spring camp for the Swallows. The team has the day off tomorrow.

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The Swallows were presented with local products, like five kilograms of Agu pork, five kilograms of shrimp, Orion beer, and Blue Seal Ice Cream, from the Naha City before the start of practice today.

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3rd round draft pick Wataru Hiyane stayed back after general practice for extra fielding practice with OF/base-running coach Tetsuya Iida today.

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Masayoshi Miwa stayed back for extra fielding practice on Thursday.

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Lastings Milledge's nickname will apparently be SPAM, as in the canned precooked meat product.

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Catchers Ryoji Aikawa, Yuhei Nakamura, Genki Nitta, and Yuki Mizuno worked on their throws to second during situational fielding practice on Thursday.

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Kyohei Muranaka, Tatsuyoshi Masubuchi, Yoshinori Sato, and Katsuki Akagawa made the following two wagers: the player with the fewest numbers of victories at the end of the season will have to sell Yakult products in the Jingu area after the 2012 season; and if the four pitchers do not win at least 40 games, they will have to show up at fan appreciation day dressed up in AKB48 uniforms.

Masanori Ishikawa picked up his 100th career victory (in his 259th game) today against the Yokohama Bay Stars.  Ishikawa is the 128th player in NPB history to record 100 wins.  He's also just the second player between 160 and 169cm to reach the milestone (the other was Ryohei Hasegawa).

Ishikawa joins Masaichi Kaneda, Genichi Murata, Hiromu Matsuoka, and Takao Obana as the only pitchers in franchise history to record 100 victories.  Ishikawa is also the second quickest pitcher in franchise history (behind Kaneda's 250 games) to win 100 games.

This post will be updated throughout the day.

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The Ichi-gun roster has the day off today.

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Yoshinori Sato worked on his day off today in order to stay loose for his scheduled start against the Hanwha Eagles tomorrow.

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The Swallows' decided to give Masanori Ishikawa the opening day start.  This will be Ishikawa's fourth consecutive opening day start.  Hiromu Matsuoka holds the club record of 7 straight opening day starts (1971 - 1977).

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Yuki Shichijo (2nd round) next appearance as a reliever will likely be against the Yomiuri Giants on the 27th.  Assuming no road bumps, his next appearance after that will probably be as a starter.

This post will be updated throughout the day.

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The Swallows' Ichi-gun roster has the day off today.

===== 2/16 @ 10:52pm

Yoshinori Sato, Tatsuyoshi Masubuchi, and Masato Nakazawa worked out at Urasoe Stadium on their day off today.  Nakazawa also celebrated his 26th birthday today.

===== 2/16 @ 2:57

Sanspo notes that Shohei Tateyama 8 could-be hits to Ryosuke Morioka and Tsuyoshi Ueda during his 55-pitch BP appearance yesterday.  He threw all his off-speed pitches, other than his curve.  Tateyama is currently scheduled to start a practice game against the Orix Buffaloes on the 21st.

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Masanori Ishikawa faced Yasushi Ihara and Kazuhiro Hatakeyama during his 48-pitch BP outing yesterday and allowed 7 could-be hits.  He also threw his new 120km/h sinker 3 times (which sinks low and away to right-handed batters).  Ishikawa is currently scheduled to start a practice game against the Nippon Ham Fighters on the 20th.

This post will be updated throughout the day.

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Masanori Ishikawa tossed his third straight bullpen session today.  He originally wasn't planning on tossing the session, but decided he would after his shoulder go warm during infield practice drills.

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Various groups in the city of Urasoe presented the Swallows with a number of food items, including 30kg of Agu Pork, 5kg of shrimp, 4 cases of pork, 120 ice creams, 10 cases of Orion beer, and 6 cases of Hirami lemon juice, before practice today.

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Wladimir Balentien took 69 swings of the bat and hit 5 over the fence during BP yesterday.

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Tatsuyoshi Masubuchi tossed 111 pitches (all fastballs) in the bullpen yesterday.  It was his second bullpen session in as many days.

This post will be updated throughout the day.

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Yoshinori Sato tossed 69 pitches to a squatting catcher today.

Said Sato, "I threw about 1,400 to 1,500 pitches during spring camp last year.  I'd like to throw about the same amount this year."  Regarding the new baseball, "I've been throwing it since fall camp so it doesn't feel that strange to me.  Personally, I think it's good to move to one standard baseball."

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Masanori Ishikawa will try to win the opening day start using a new sinker that's somewhere between his 130km/h sinker and his 100km/h sinker.  If he gets the opening day start and wins, he'll set a new club record for opening day victories with 4.

Hiroyasu Tanaka is planning on adding a new bat to his collection this season -- one that's the same weight (900 grams) and same length (33.5 inches), but with a center of gravity that's closer to the bat head.

"I want to take advantage of the weight of the bat," said Tanaka.  "We'll be using a new ball, so I asked for a bat that's easier to swing.  I want to be prepared to bat in any place in the line-up."

Tanaka is also thinking about inviting the Waseda ekiden team to a game at Jingu Stadium for winning first place.

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Masanori Ishikawa, Yasushi Iihara, and Koki Watanabe worked out at Jingu today (running, playing catch, fielding practice).  Ishikawa told reporters that he hoped to set a new career high in wins this year (he set a career high of 13 wins in 2009 and matched it last season).

The Yakult staff started cleaning out the clubhouse at Jingu Stadium on Monday.  The Jingu facilities will be completely closed for the New Year holiday (1/29 - 1/4).

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Masanori Ishikawa will not only spend time working out with a few other players, including Masahiro Yamamoto (CHU), in a training facility Tottori this coming January, but will also spend some time running on the beaches in Tottori as well.  Ishikawa has his sights set on securing his 4th consecutive opening day start in 2011 and is currently working on increasing his weight.

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The Yakult Swallows and the Tokyo Big 6 are thinking about working together in order to help improve attendance at Jingu Stadium next season.  The current plan: ticket stubs from Yakult games will become discount coupons for Tokyo Big 6 games and ticket stubs from Tokyo Big 6 games will become discount coupons for Yakult games.  The exact percentages aren't known at this time, but a difference in percentages is expected between Yakult ticket stubs and Tokyo Big 6 ticket stubs.

The Yakult Swallows sign Shinya Miyamoto to a two-year extension today.  Miyamoto's salary for the 2011 season will be 180M yen (down 40M yen).

Miyamoto is 168 hits away from 2,000 and is on pace to reach the milestone in the second year of his 2-year deal (he has averaged 134 hits over the last 4 seasons).

In other team news:

Masanori Ishikawa met with the Swallows on Monday and agreed to a 2011 salary of 180M yen (no change) plus incentives.  Ishikawa will be in the second year of a four year deal next year.

It seems Ishikawa is also trying to push the Swallows into implementing a "no brown-dyed hair, no facial hair" policy.  If it goes through, it'll be a first since Katsuya Nomura managed the club in the 90's.

Ishikawa will be working out with Masahiro Yamamoto (CHU) in Tottori in January.  They also invited Masato Nakazawa to join them.