The team had the day off today.

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Kazuhisa Makita took a 3.6km walk around the player hotel earlier today.  Makita was diagnosed with the flu on Friday and was given permission to go outdoors after his fever dropped.  He should be able to start working out again tomorrow.

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1st round draft pick Ken Togame and 2nd round draft pick Hirotaka Koishi went sightseeing on their day off today.  Their day included a tuna cut and clean demonstration and picking dekopons (citrus fruit) and kumquats.

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Fumikazu Kimura faced two batters during batting practice on Friday and allowed three could-be hits on 46 pitches.

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Tatsuya Oishi and Yusei Kikuchi will be starters for an intra-squad game on February 12.

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

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The Lions received 150 food items, like lunch boxes, rice balls, and bread, from Minami Kyushu Family Mart before practice today.

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The media presented Takeya Nakamura, Shogo Akiyama, and Takumi Kuriyama with a giant 50cm long eho-maki that weighed seven kilograms.

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Hiroyuki Nakajima and Takeya Nakamura took extra fielding practice with fielding/base-running coach Hiroshi Narahara today.

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Tatsuya Oishi, Yusei Kikuchi, and Fumikazu Kimura tossed batting practice today:

Oishi threw thirty-nine pitches and faced Yuji Onizaki and Mitsugu Ishikawa and gave up three could-be hits.

Kikuchi threw 41 pitches and faced Shogo Akiyama and Ryo Hayashizaki and gave up three could-be hits.

Kimura broke two of Hideto Asamura's bats.

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Hisanobu Watanabe was surprised at how big Kikuchi's lower body (particularly the thighs and buttocks) got during the off-season.  Kikuchi has also modified his delivery and is throwing over the top, instead of at around three-quarters.

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Nakajima and Nakamura also took fielding practice under a net about one meter off the ground during their extra session with fielding/base-running coach Narahara.

Hisanobu Watanabe tossed early morning batting practice today -- 100+ pitches over about a twenty minute span.

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Watanabe told reporters on Wednesday that he could call on Takeyama Nakamura to drop down a bunt during the season.  When told of the possibility, Nakamura replied, "I will do it.  I am actually pretty good [at bunting]."

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"Team Batting" was added to the training schedule -- setting counts during BP and having batters work on "advancing" imaginary runners.

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Softbank Hawks

Koji Akiyama does not want to go near the bullpen early on during spring camp because he does not want pitchers to push themselves too hard by trying to impress him.

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Special hitting instructor Futoshi Nakanishi was hired to help Ni-gun players but Ni-gun manager Kazuo Ogawa told reporters on Tuesday that he could also end up working with Wily Mo Pena.

Nippon Ham Fighters

Sho Nakata does not plan on taking any breaks during spring camp, even on days when the team has the day off.

"I plan to do a little work even on my days off.  When no one else is practicing, that is when I can begin closing the gap," said Nakata.

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The Fighters had an influenza "mini outbreak" back in 2009.  Shota Ono was diagnosed with it on 8/16.  Two days later, Naoki Miyanishi, Terrmel Sledge, and coach Junichi Fukura also had the flu.  On the following day, Tomoya Yagi, Kazumasa Kikuchi, Shinya Tsuruoka, Tomohiro Nioka, Eiichi Koyano, and Yoshio Itoi all showed symptoms.  Against the Rakuten Eagles on 8/20, the Fighters played with just nineteen players (seven pitchers, twelve position players).  Players slowly started coming back after that, but the Fighters lost six in a row between 8/18 and 8/25.

Seibu Lions

The Lions attended a tuna cutting performance on Tuesday at their team hotel -- a 50kg yellowfin tuna was cut and cleaned in front of the team and handed out to the players.

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Enrique Gonzalez wants a shot at starting.

Orix Buffaloes

Akinobu Okada thought Dae-Ho Lee lost 15kg from 130kg when it was actually from 142kg.  That was why he was concerned about Lee losing too much weight.

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Washlets were installed in the bathrooms at Miyakojima Stadium, but there were no electrical outlets in the individual stalls to power them.  Outlets were added in time for the start of spring camp.

Rakuten Eagles

There are about 25 volunteers assisting the Eagles at Kumejima.  Because of early morning practices and some players missing their breakfast meals, a handful have been assigned to deliver meals from the player hotel to the stadium.

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Bullpen sessions:

Wednesday

Tsuyoshi Shimoyanagi (trying out for team) threw about 40 pitches (standing catcher) under the watchful eye of Senichi Hoshino.  Hoshino later said to reporters, "He looked good out there.  But one day is not enough."

The first day of camp began at 9am with an welcoming ceremony at Nango Stadium.

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Fumiya Nishiguchi had to borrow Hideaki Wakui's uniform after forgetting that he was scheduled to toss a bullpen session.

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Kazuhisa Makita has the flu and missed the first day of spring camp.  Makita was not feeling well on Tuesday and was examined at a hospital.  He was diagnosed with the influenza A virus.

Makita has been isolated away from the rest of the players and will most likely miss a few days of practice.

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Hisanobu Watanabe is excited about both Yusei Kikuchi and Tatsuya Oishi, which could be especially significant for the two young pitchers since no one has a guaranteed spot in the starting rotation right now.

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Bullpen sessions:

Wednesday

Oishi threw 113 pitches while receiving advice from pitching coach Tadashi Sugimoto.

Softbank Hawks

The Hawks participated in a night parade in Miyazaki on Tuesday and celebrated their Nippon Series Championship.  About 42,000 fans showed up to watch the parade.

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The Hawks announced that Alex Cabrera will be arriving in Japan on February 2 and will join the team in Miyazaki on February 3.

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Pitching coach Ikuo Takayama thinks Takahiro Mahara might end up missing a good chunk of time because of right shoulder.

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The Hawks are thinking about taking out an insurance policy to cover any damages that Wily Mo Pena might cause if/when he hits the big screen.  Incidentally, if Pena can hit the Yodobashi Camera ad out in left, he will be rewarded with 10M points from Yodobashi Camera.  No one has managed to hit the sign.

Seibu Lions

The Lions arrived in Miyazaki on Tuesday and attended a welcoming ceremony at Miyazaki Airport.

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The Lions held a press conference for Enrique Gonzalez at Nango Prince Hotel on Tuesday.

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Hideto Asamura will play anywhere if it means he gets more playing time.  Last season, Asamura played five different positions: 1B, 2B, 3B, LF, and RF.  He could end up playing at seven different positions this season (addition of SS and CF).

FYI: Hisanobu Watanabe does not plan on giving Asamura one set position and will instead make changes based on what the team needs.

Asamura worked on his lower body this off-season and increased his weight to 87kg (up 5kg from last year).

Orix Buffaloes

Dae-Ho Lee arrived in Miyakojima, Okinawa on Tuesday and made it to the general team meeting.  He later told reporters that he was at about 60-70%.

Lee had a chance encounter with Ichiro Suzuki when he dropped by Hotto Motto Kobe on Monday for photos.

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Akinobu Okada told reporters on Monday that Chihiro Kaneko will be the opening day starter (though he has not yet informed him).

Okada visited Miyakojima Stadium on Monday and was pleased with the improvements they made since last spring -- the city spent about 30M yen on renovations.

Chiba Lotte Marines

Norifumi Nishimura named Toshiaki Imae team captain.

Tsuyoshi Nishioka was the team captain in 2010.  The Marines did not have a team captain last year.

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1st round draft pick Takahiro Fujioka would like to toss a bullpen session (squatting catcher) on the first day of spring camp.  Fujioka currently weighs 88kg and is hoping to tone his body and drop about 3kg during spring camp.

Nippon Ham Fighters

Training camp for the 2011 draft class ends on Monday.

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The Fighters announced on Sunday that Kensuke Tanaka (30) filed marriage papers with TV reporter Chiho Nishimori (26).

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The 2011 draft class may only have two chances to show what they are capable of: intrasquad games on February 7 and 9.

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Yuki Saito had a chance to meet Hideki Matsui during a wedding party on Saturday.

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Team owner Hiroji Okoso would like to see 7th round draft pick Takumi Oshima develop into a player that can star in Nippon Ham commercials.

Past players that have appeared in Nippon Ham commercials: Itsuki Shoda and Tsuyoshi Shinjo.

Seibu Lions

Training camp for the 2011 draft class ended on Sunday.

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Enrique Gonzalez and a number of other foreign players worked out at Seibu 2 Stadium on Sunday.  Gonzalez closed while playing winter ball in Venezuela and could be a candidate to close for the Lions.

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Yusei Kikuchi is thinking about tossing his first spring camp bullpen session on the second day of spring camp -- he wants to avoid pushing himself too hard from the first day of camp.

Orix Buffaloes

Akinobu Okada checked into the team hotel in Miyakojima on Sunday.

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Dae-Ho Lee arrived in Japan on Sunday.

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Okada would like to see Shunta become a hitter like Munenori Kawasaki or Yuichi Honda (SOF) -- get on base and get into scoring position.

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Hayato Terahara wants to avoid the second-year jinx he suffered the year after he was traded from the Softbank Hawks to the Yokohama Bay Stars.

2007 - first year with Yokohama, 12-12
2008 - second year with Yokohama, 3-9
2011 - first year with Orix, 12-10
2012 - second year with Orix, ?-?

Chiba Lotte Marines

Norifumi Nishimura told reporters on Saturday that he would like to see Yuki Karakawa win 15 games this season.  He also said that Karakawa had a chance to win the opening day start.

The Lions had their send-off celebration today.  About 3,560 fans attended the event.

The players will head to Miyazaki on January 31.

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The Lions held a press conference for Chris Carter, Esteban German, Randy Williams, and Micheal Nakamura today.

Williams is a candidate to close for the team.

Carter's educational background (like Nikkan Sports and Sanspo) is making some waves in the media: graduated from  Stanford University in three years; has a father, brother, and uncle that are all doctors and a second brother that is a pilot.

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The Lions will begin accepting designs for a uniform they will wear during a number of home games in August on February 1.  Children up through Junior High are eligible.  The deadline for submissions is February 20.

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Former Seibu Lions Kimiyasu Kudo (48) reportedly made his debut on TV Asahi's Hodo Station tonight with an interview with Masahiro Tanaka (RAK).

Seibu Lions

Esteban German and Chris Carter arrived at Narita Airport on Thursday.

The Lions will be holding a press conference for German and Carter on Friday.

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The Lions announced that Lions Academy will be opening in April.

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Takeya Nakamura is thinking about starting up some sort of a fund as a way to give back to society.

Orix Buffaloes

Players left for early training camp in Miyakojima, Okinawa on Thursday.  Camp begins on Friday.

Chiba Lotte Marines

Tadahito Iguchi signed a one-year deal worth 180M yen (no change).  Iguchi is coming off a three-year deal.

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The Marines have not retired the number seven, Tsuyoshi Nishioka's old number.  They just have it earmarked for the next star shortstop, whomever it may be.

Nippon Ham Fighters

Yuki Saito tossed a 35-pitch bullpen session (mostly fastballs, standing catcher) at Kamagaya on Wednesday.

Seibu Lions

Takeya Nakamura visited Donald McDonald House Todai on Wednesday and spent some time with sick kids and their families.  He also handed out bats and uniforms.

Chiba Lotte Marines

Seems the Marines invited Norihiro Komada to be a special instructor during spring camp so that he can work with players on their defense at first base (particularly with Shoitsu Omatsu's conversion from outfield to first).