Sports Hochi is reporting that 30-year-old Shuchi Murata is planning on exercising his FA option.  He is also quoted as saying, "I want to think of all 12 NPB teams being on on the same level.  I want to speak to any teams that [feel they] need me.  I would like to win a championship."

Naoyuki Shimizu most likely won't exercise his option and will remain with the team.  Takayuki Shinohara is also expected to stay put.

UPDATE @ 11:52pm - Sponichi is reporting that Murata could file for free agency as early as the 24th (a day after Yokohama's fan appreciation day).

UPDATE 11/22 @ 6:12pm - Sanspo is reporting Murata will file on the 25th.

The media learned yesterday that Naoyuki Shimizu recently had surgery on his left knee and will require about 3 months until he's ready to start running again.  An unnamed team rep told reporters that he might, just barely, make it back in time for the start of the 2012 season.

Shimizu is in the final year of a 2-year deal and is looking to stay in Yokohama.

UPDATE @ 7:50pm - My apologies, I meant to say knee, not elbow...  And it was apparently surgery to get the knee cleaned out.

UPDATE @ 8:26pm - Shimizu was released from the hospital on the 12th and will require 5-6 months for a full recovery.

Naoyuki Shimizu was taken off the active roster on Friday because of left knee pain.  Because the team is concerned that Shimizu may have suffered an injury to the cartilage in his knee joint, they plan on having him get his knee checked out sometime in September.  Surgery is a possibility.

UPDATE 8/27 @ 3:33pm - Shimizu is scheduled for an MRI on 9/16.  Shimizu is also having problems walking up and down stairs.

The Yokohama Bay Stars announced today that Naoyuki Shimizu was examined at a hospital and diagnosed with a cartilage injury near his left knee.  He will require 10 days for a full recovery.  Shimizu started complaining of left knee pains on 2/24 and was not with the team at Ginowan, Okinawa.

This post will be updated throughout the day.

===

Today's practice game against the Yakult Swallows:

The Swallows beat the Bay Stars, 3-1.

Yoshitomo Tsutsugo started at third and batted 5th.  He went 1-for-3 with an RBI.

===

Naoyuki Shimizu took a day off from throwing today after tossing 201 pitches in the bullpen on the 16th and 80 pitches yesterday.

===

Hichori Morimoto, Terrmel Sledge, and Shuichi Murata chatted yesterday morning about how they wanted everyone to play aggressively as a team, regardless of the outcome.  Morimoto also told reporters he plans on holding Sledge to his word about shaving his head if the team manages to sweep the Yomiuri Giants during their first 3-game series.

===

Sledge took 30 swings of the bat during BP yesterday and hit 6 over the fence.

This post will be updated throughout the day.

===== 2/16 @ 11:12pm

Daisuke Miura tossed a bullpen session today (no word on the number of pitches) and spent most of his time checking on his off-speed pitches.

===== 2/16 @ 5:09pm

Brett Harper took 30 swings during BP today and hit 9 over the fence.

===

Naoyuki Shimizu threw 201 pitches in the bullpen today (a high for Shimizu this spring).

Shimizu - "I wanted to get really tired.  And since I won't be throwing tomorrow, I [decided to throw a lot today] to see how much tightness I'll end up feeling in my shoulder and elbow tomorrow.  If I threw the ball wrong, I'm sure the tightness will also be bad."

Shimizu is scheduled to pitch in an intra-squad game on the 20th.

===

The media learned yesterday that Sho Aranami (3rd round) was being promoted to Ichi-gun camp in Ginowan, Okinawa today.  Aranami has already made appearances in two intra-squad games (centerfield batting lead-off) and finished with fairly decent results -- he went 1-for-2 with an RBI in the first game and hit a triple in the second game.

This post will be updated throughout the day.

===== 2/14 @ 10:01pm

Practice took place indoors today due to the rain -- the position players worked out at Kadena while the pitchers worked out at Ginowan.  Takao Obana spent the day watching the Ichi-gun pitchers in the morning and the Ni-gun pitchers in the afternoon.

===

Hichori Morimoto was back to practicing with the rest of the group today after spending time working out under a different training menu after tweaking his right shoulder on the 5th during BP.

===== 2/14 @ 5:04pm

Katsuaki Furuki (MMA fighter) visited the Bay Stars training camp facilities today and spent some time reminiscing with his former teammater, like Daisuke Miura and Shuichi Murata.

===

Naoyuki Shimizu was throwing his shuto to the inside corners against right-handed batters during situational BP yesterday.  At one point, Shimizu also managed to use his shuto to get a batter to ground into a double play.  It can sometimes be difficult for pitchers to throw pitches to the inside corner against players on their own team, but it seems Shimizu doesn't have too much of a problem with it because he can ask his teammates for feedback on his pitches.  He also said that he considered his shuto to be his second best pitch behind his fastball.

Shimizu ended up throwing 21 pitches to 6 batters; he did not give up any hits and walked 1.

As new chief player rep for the team, Shinji Niinuma listed three things he wanted to push through during his term:

1. Set one specific color for the team to create a more consistent feel in the stands.
2. Get rid of Ni-gun night games so that Ichi-gun coaches and players can have a chance to watch.
3. Increase the number of support personnel, like bullpen catchers and batting practice pitchers.

===

A while back I briefly mentioned Tasuku Hashimoto's complaint about team chemistry.  Seems he's not the only one that's speaking up.  Tomokazu Oka said that he felt the team lacked unity.  Hayato Terahara (recently traded away to Orix) felt that not enough players were individually motivated.  And while perhaps not entirely related, Shuichi Murata is trying to step up (while changing his image a bit at the same time) and pull the team together by saying he'll consider cosplaying with Hichori Morimoto, if asked.  And Naoyuki Shimizu appears to be convinced that Murata can help the team improve, if only he can become more vocal.

Naoyuki Shimizu (YOK) was taken off the active roster today because of neck pains.  No word on how long it will take for a full recovery.  There are currently no plans for Shimizu to go to a hospital.

The deal is now official.

The Yokohama Bay Stars send 27-year-old Takumi Nasuno (P) and 25-year-old Toshio Saito (C) to the Chiba Lotte Marines for 33-year-old Naoyuki Shimizu (P).

Shimizu will be in the second year of a 2-year deal next season.

On paper, this seems like a good deal for either side.  The Bay Stars get a live arm they can stick in the rotation behind Daisuke Miura, Stephen Randolph, and Hayato Terahara.  And the Marines get a little younger with a left-handed arm and another catcher to play around with.

Could all of this be another indication that Tasuku Hashimoto is on his way to Yokohama as well?

Naoyuki Shimizu

Takumi Nasuno

Toshio Saito