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Toshiaki Imae (coming back from lower back pain) got permission from the team trainer to return to general workouts on Thursday.

Source: Sanspo 2/6/2013

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Tsutomu Ito worked with Shoitsu Omatsu on his hitting today.

Source: Sanspo 2/6/2013

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Katsuya Kakunaka could become a bat off the bench for Samurai Japan.

Source: Sports Hochi 2/6/2013

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The team had the day off today.

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Shunichi Nemoto, Kei Hosoya, 3rd round draft pick Daichi Suzuki worked out on their day off today.  Their workouts included batting and fielding practices.  All three players are said to be competing for the starting shortstop job.

Suzuki is scheduled to be one of the starting shortstops for an intra-squad game tomorrow.

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1st round draft pick Takahiro Fujioka spent about two hours working out on his day off today.  His workouts included running and playing catch.

====== UPDATE 2/11 @ 2:00am

Ikuhiro Kiyota has been using with a 1.5kg training bat during soft-toss BP.  The bat was given to him by Hisayoshi Chono (YOM).  Kiyota has also been using softballs during soft-toss.

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Thursday was Norihiro Komada's last day as a special instructor.  He told reporters he was satisfied with the progress Shoitsu Omatsu made with his work at first base and that he should be ok.

3rd round draft pick Daichi Suzuki appears to be gaining some ground as a possible short stop candidate.

"Shunichi Nemoto and Kei Hosoya are equal candidates at short, but Suzuki looks good on defense and offense and he is an interesting player.  I want to see how he does in games," said INF/base-running coach Kenichi Sato.

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Pitching coach Takashi Nishimoto helped 2nd round draft pick Yuhei Nakaushiro with his slide step after general pitcher workouts today.

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Toshiaki Imae switched over to using a bat with a thicker bat handle, but broke it.  He already ordered additional bats, but their delivery date was pushed back due to the snow.

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1st round draft pick Takahiro Fujioka tossed his bullpen session on Wednesday at about 60-70%.

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Special fielding instructor Norihiro Komada spent time working with Shoitsu Omatsu on gloving/scooping one-hoppers on Wednesday.

This post will be updated throughout the day.

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The Marines Ni-gun roster has the day off today.

===== 2/6 @ 1:48am

Five pitchers, including Kazunori Yamamoto and Kodai Matsumoto,  made appearances as BP pitchers today.

Matsumoto threw about 89 pitches and faced Naotaka Takehara, Hisao Heiuchi, Omatsu, and Kiyota.

===== 2/5 @ 11:33pm

Shunsuke Watanabe threw 122 pitches in the bullpen today (TV, neo Sports).

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Shoitsu Omatsu took 26 swings during BP today.  For his last 6 swings, Omatsu swung at full power and hit 4 over the fence.

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Ikuhiro Kiyota took 32 swings and collected 12 could-be hits during BP today -- he also worked on hitting the ball to he opposite field.

===== 2/5 @ 7:03pm

Yuta Omine felt tightness in his right ring finger and didn't do any throwing today.  Omine's scheduled appearance as a BP pitcher was also scratched today.

Said Omine, "I could probably throw if I wanted to, but I won't today.  I think I'll be ok tomorrow."

Yasuhiko Yabuta hopes to win a hold title next season.  Earlier today Yabuta worked with weights and threw into a net at Chiba Marine Stadium.

Said Yabuta, "I had an ERA in the 3's this year and would like to try and keep it in the 2 or 1 range.  I'd like another hold title."

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Shoitsu Omatsu also worked out Chiba Marine Stadium today.  Omatsu worked with weights and did some running as part of his rehab (right hamstring).

Said Omatsu, "There were many things I wasn't happy about this season.  I'd like to stay in the middle of the order the entire season next year.  I'd also like to try batting clean-up."

Shoitsu Omatsu was at Nagoya Dome during practice earlier today.  Omatsu didn't take any batting practice but instead walked the outfield area with the trainer to check on his legs.

Norifumi Nishimura told reporters that while Omatsu was showing improvement, he didn't want to force Omatsu back too soon.  The team will continue to monitor Omatsu on a daily basis to see if he's capable of playing (off the bench).

Shoitsu Omatsu spent the day at the hospital yesterday getting treatment on his right hamstring.  As of yesterday, the Marines stance on Omatsu was that they would have to wait until today to see how he was feeling before they could decide on whether he was available for game 3.

Shoitsu Omatsu had his right hamstring checked out again today and was diagnosed with a minor hamstring strain.  Omatsu was not available to play tonight and spent his time at the stadium receiving treatment for his injury.  It seems there's a chance he still might be able to come back before the end of the series, but for the time being, he is essentially considered day-to-day.

11:42pm JST

Omatsu is currently listed as day-to-day.  And it seems he was taken to the hospital partway through the game.

9:50pm JST

Shoitsu Omatsu (LOT) suffered a right hamstring injury while running out a double in the 2nd inning.

Said Omauts, "I just wanted to keep the momentum going.  While rounding first, I felt something in my [in my right hamstring].  I'm disappointed that this happened in the first game, and I also want to apologize to my teammates."

Omatsu was taken out after the play and had the area iced.  He did not go to the hospital.

Shoitsu Omatsu (LOT) recorded the Chiba Lotte Marines' 7,000th franchise homer earlier today in a game between the Marines and the Softbank Hawks.  The home run came in the top of the 5th with runners on first and third, 2 out, and Toshiya Sugiuchi (SOF) on the mound.