Nippon Ham Fighters

Hideki Kuriyama did not give reporters any clues on how he plans to use 1st round draft pick Shohei Otani.  Kuriyama will most likely see how Otani is feeling over the next few days before setting a schedule.

Source: Sanspo 5/23/2013

According to Sponichi, over 6,000 fans waited outside of Sapporo Dome on Thursday before the stadium gates opened.

Nikkan Sports reports that 6,617 people were in line when the gates to the stadium opened at about 4:25pm.  Compare that to the 4,015 people that lined up for the home opener on April 5 (vs Softbank).

Source: Sponichi 5/23/2013, Nikkan Sports 5/23/2013

The Fighters sold over 25,000 pre-advance tickets for Thursday's game.

Source: Sponichi 5/23/2013

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On Wednesday, at forty-years and nine months, Atsunori Inaba joined Yasunori Oshima as the only players in franchise history over forty to hit a grand slam.  Oshima accomplished the feat twice: at forty years and eleven months on September 18, 1991 and forty-three years and six months on May 4, 1994 (NPB record for oldest player to hit a grand slam).

Inaba with the bases loaded when he played for Yakult: 18-for-66, 2 HR, 58 RBI.  With Nippon Ham: 36-for-90, 3 HR, 85 RBI.

Source: Sponichi 5/23/2013

Seibu Lions

Kazuhisa Makita still had some swelling in his right knee on Thursday.  He spent the day getting treatment and did not participate in team practices.

Source: Nikkan Sports 5/23/2013

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The Lions will give Dennis Sarfate a look as the closer.  Tatsuya Oishi will pitch in a regular relief role.

Source: Sponichi 5/22/2013

Softbank Hawks

Takehito Kanazawa's wife gave birth to the couple's second child, a boy weighing 3,840 grams, on Wednesday at 11:56am.

Source: Nikkan Sports 5/22/2013

Rakuten Eagles

Ryo Hijirisawa has not committed an error since September 22, 2010 (vs Nippon Ham).  On Thursday, he tied Tatsuya Ozeki's PL record for outfielders with 658 consecutive chances without an error.  The CL record of 817 was set by Eiji Fujii.

Source: Sports Hochi 5/23/2013

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Shinichiro Koyama got a Mohawk-style on Thursday morning.

Source: Nikkan Sports 5/23/2013

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Masahiro Tanaka is the fourth pitcher in PL history to start two separate seasons with a seven-game or more winning streak.

Choji Murata (eleven-game winning streaks in 1981 and 1985), Tai-Yuan Kuo (a ten-game winning streak in 1988 and a nine-game winning streak in 1994), Takayuki Shinohara (a fourteen-game winning streak in 1999 and an eight-game winning streak in 2000), and Tanaka (seven-game winning streaks in 2009 and 2012).

In eleven starts against pitchers born in 1988, Tanaka is now 10-0.

Source: Nikkan Sports 5/23/2013

Momoiro Clover Z's overture was played when Tanaka took the mound in the 1st inning on Wednesday.  Funky Monkey Babys' Atohitotsu was played when he took the mound in the 9th.

Source: Sanspo 5/23/2013

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The Eagles recorded the first Kleenex Stadium sellout of the year on Wednesday -- they sold all the tickets partway through the game at around 8:00pm.

Source: Sponichi 5/23/2013

Chiba Lotte Marines

1st round draft pick Takahiro Matsunaga was not available to pitch on Thursday because of tonsilitis and a fever.

Source: Sponichi 5/23/2013

Yakult Swallows vs Nippon Ham Fighters @ Sapporo Dome - 18:00
Starters: Ishikawa, Masanori (YAK) 2-4, 4.02 - Otani, Shohei (HAM)

Attendance: 36608 | Time: 4h35m | Nippon Ham leads series, 1-0-1

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Former Nippon Ham Fighter Koji Namba (43) was arrested by Kobe Nishi police on the 21st for allegedly exposing himself at a bus stop in 2010.

According to the arrest report, Namba allegedly exposed himself (lower body) to a thirty-six-year-old woman at a Kobe Nishi bus stop at around 7:00am on August 16, 2010.  Namba is quoted as saying, "I have no recollection since it was over two years ago."

Namba was originally on trial for a trespassing case that took place in Hyogo Prefecture in October 2012.  The connection was made when DNA tests that were conducted as part of the investigation were matched against a sample that was left at the bus stop in 2010.

Namba was selected in the 5th round of the 1989 draft.  He spent four years in the Nippon Ham organization but never made the Ichi-gun roster.

Source: Daily Sports 5/22/2013, Sponichi 5/22/2013

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Authorities involved in an ongoing investigation of welfare fraud in Nakama, Fukuoka arrested former Yomiuri Giant Yasuhiko Fujisaki (44) on the 19th on suspicions of fraud.  Fujisaki was a welfare caseworker.  He was the third Nakama employee, seventh including welfare recipients, to be arrested.

According to the reports, between 2010 and 2011, three Nakama welfare caseworkers allegedly paid out a total 560,000 yen in benefits to at least two people that were not eligible for the support.  Fujisaki admitted to the charges and was quoted as saying, "I did not conduct the necessary checks and a false report was made."

Fujisaki was drafted by the Giants in the 3rd round in 1990 and  spent two years in the organization before retiring.  He never played in any Ichi-gun games.  He got a job with the Nakama government offices in 1994.

Source: Sponichi 5/20/2013, Daily Sports 5/22/2013

Nippon Ham Fighters

1st round draft pick Shohei Otani could make his debut as a pitcher/hitter either against Yomiuri at Tokyo Dome (June 5, 6) or Yakult at Jingu (June 8, 9).  If/when he does, he will most likely bat seventh in the line-up.

Source: Sports Hochi 5/22/2013

Otani threw twenty-four pitches in the bullpen today at Sapporo Dome.

Source: Sports Hochi 5/22/2013

Seibu Lions

According to Sponichi, the San Diego Padres may have an interest in Kazuhisa Makita.  Makita has said in the past that if given the opportunity, would like a shot to pitch in the Majors at some point in the future.

Source: Sponichi 5/22/2013

Softbank Hawks

Shota Takeda was taken off the active roster today to get extra work at Ni-gun.  Vicente Padilla will most likely get his start on the 26th against Yakult at Jingu.

Source: Nikkan Sports 5/22/2013, Nikkan Sports 5/22/2013

Rakuten Eagles

In ten starts against pitchers born in 1988 (his birth year), Masahiro Tanaka is 9-0.

Source: Sanspo 5/22/2013

Orix Buffaloes

If 1st round draft pick Takahiro Matsuba continues to pitch well, the Buffaloes may release some merchandise with his name on it.

Source: Sanspo 5/22/2013

Yakult Swallows vs Nippon Ham Fighters @ Sapporo Dome - 18:00
Starters: Tokuyama, Takeaki (YAK) 0-1, 9.00 - Yoshikawa, Mitsuo (HAM) 3-4, 3.83

Attendance: 25874 | Time: 3h14m | Nippon Ham leads series, 1-0-0

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Nippon Ham Fighters

Brian Wolfe threw thirty-five pitches in the bullpen on Tuesday.  He told reporters he was back to about eighty percent and would work on the remaining twenty percent by taking things day-by-day.

Source: Daily Sports 5/21/2013

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1st round draft pick Shohei Otani threw thirty-two pitches off the mound at Sapporo Dome on Monday before moving to the bullpen to throw another fifty-six pitches.  He is slated to make the first start of his Ichi-gun career on the 23rd against Yakult at Sapporo Dome.

Otani has not played in any Ichi-gun games since he started a Ni-gun game against Seibu on the 16th.

Source: Sanspo 5/21/2013

Sponichi adds that Otani threw twelve pitches to a standing catcher and twenty pitches to a squatting catcher when testing the mound at Sapporo Dome on Monday.

Source: Sponichi 5/21/2013

The media learned on Monday that the Fighters will not nominate Otani for the Fresh All-Star Game because they consider him an Ichi-gun player and as such, feel he should only focus on the Ichi-gun All-Star Game.

Source: Sponichi 5/21/2013

Seibu Lions

Ryoma Nogami threw thirty pitches in the bullpen on Tuesday (about ten fewer than usual).  He is scheduled to start a game against Hiroshima on the 23rd.

Source: Nikkan Sports 5/21/2013

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At about forty pitches, Yusei Kikuchi threw about ten more pitches than usual during his pre-game bullpen session on Monday.

Source: Sanspo 5/21/2013

Softbank Hawks

The Hawks recorded ten or more runs in two consecutive games -- twelve runs on May 19 and ten runs on the 20.  The last time they managed a similar feat was in 2010 when they scored fourteen runs on July 31 and twelve runs on August 1.

Source: Sponichi 5/21/2013

Rakuten Eagles

Scouts from the New York Yankees and Texas Rangers are expected to attend Wednesday's game against Yomiuri at Kleenex Stadium.

Masahiro Tanaka is scheduled to start for the Eagles, Hirokazu Sawamura for the Giants.

Source: Daily Sports 5/21/2013

Chiba Lotte Marines

Seth Greisinger was taken off the active roster on Tuesday with tightness in his right shoulder.  Kazunari Abe is scheduled to take Greisinger's next start on Wednesday against Hanshin.

Source: Nikkan Sports 5/21/2013

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Yuji Nishino struck out twelve batters in 8.1 innings of work on Monday and became the first pitcher taken during the Ikusei draft to record ten or more strikeouts in a game.

Source: Sponichi 5/21/2013

The Hanshin Tigers and Nippon Ham Fighters have joined forces to create special limited Shintaro Fujinami and Shohei Otani merchandise that will only be available at Koshien Stadium (May 25-26), Sapporo Dome June (12-13), and individual official team stores (May 25 until supplies for online stores run out).  Each item will feature both players prominently -- Fujinami pitching and Otani hitting.

• T-Shirt - 2,940 yen
• Key Chain - 500 yen
• Stickers - 350 yen
• Clear File - 350 yen
• Face Towel - 1,050 yen

Fans that spend 3,000 yen or more on the above merchandise through either team's official online store will also have a chance to win one of five Fujinami/Otani autographed t-shirts.

Source: official announcement (Nippon Ham), online store (Nippon Ham), official announcement (Hanshin), online store (Hanshin)

Nippon Ham Fighters

Hiroshi Kisanuki won his start against the Yomiuri Giants on Monday and became the twelfth pitcher in NPB history to record victories against twelve NPB teams.

Victories against thirteen NPB teams (Kintetsu, Rakuten): Kimiyasu Kudo, Toshiya Sugiuchi.

Victories against twelve NPB teams (before Inter-league play): Osamu Nomura, Masaaki Koga, Kazuhiro Takeda.

Victories against twelve NPB teams (after Inter-league play): Ken Kadokura, Masato Yoshii, Yasutomo Kubo, Shugo Fujii, Kazuhisa Ishii, Seth Greisinger, Kisanuki.

Source: Daily Sports 5/20/2013, Daily Sports 5/20/2013

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1st round draft pick Shohei Otani threw twenty pitches off the mound at Sapporo Dome on Monday.  He then moved to the bullpen and threw another fifty-six pitches.

Source: Sanspo 5/20/2013

Softbank Hawks

The Hawks played Monday's game with the roof open at YafuOku Dome (for the first time this season).  The roof will be opened again during a game against Yakult on June 13.

Source: Nikkan Sports 5/20/2013

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Team chairman Sadaharu Oh turned seventy-three on Monday.

Nippon Ham Fighters

Dai-Kang Yoh became the seventh player in NPB history since the start of the two-league format to record multiple hits in nine straight games.  Yoh has also recorded multiple hit in eleven games this month.  The CL high of sixteen in one game was set by four players, most recently by Hisayoshi Chono in August 2012.  The PL high of fifteen was set six times by five players.

Source: Sponichi 5/20/2013

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1st round draft pick Shohei Otani is scheduled to toss a bullpen session today.

Source: Sanspo 5/20/2013

Hokkaido Bunka Hoso (UHB) plans to have two TV cameras assigned to Otani for his debut start as pitcher on the 23rd against Yakult.

Source: Sponichi 5/20/2013

Seibu Lions

Hideaki Wakui lost his spot in the starting rotation after another poor outing on Sunday.  He spoke to reporters after the game and seemed to be a little lost.

"I am not sure what I need to do.  I do not know when I will pitch next, but I will think about it today and tomorrow," said Wakui on Sunday.

Source: Sponichi 5/20/2013

Chiba Lotte Marines

Katsuya Kakunaka was taken off the active roster on the 11th with pain in his left hamstring.  While he is eligible to return to the active roster on Tuesday, he only recently started taking soft-toss batting practice and will likely require more time.

Source: Sanspo 5/20/2013

Orix Buffaloes

The Buffaloes made a mistake on Sunday when they announced that umpire Tatsuya Yamamura was working his 1,500th game.  After the game, team officials apologized for Yamamura for the error.  Sunday's game was Yamamura's 1,499th game.

Source: Sanspo 5/20/2013

Yomiuri Giants vs Nippon Ham Fighters @ Sapporo Dome - 18:00
Starters: Sugiuchi, Toshiya (YOM) 3-1, 2.68 - Kisanuki, Hiroshi (HAM) 3-2, 3.92

Attendance: 27231 | Time: 2h41m | Nippon Ham leads series, 2-0-0

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