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Nikkan Sports reports that Kenshin Kawakami (36) married a US citizen last year.  Sports Hochi Osaka adds that her name is Mina Patterson (29) and that she is half Japanese (mother is Japanese).

Kawakami is slated to toss batting practice on February 10.

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Takeshi Yamasaki spent some time giving Naomichi Donoue and Ryoji Nakata pointers on hitting on Tuesday.  Masahiko Morino and Hirokazu Ibata have also looked to Yamasaki for some advice as well.

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Morimichi Takagi threw 205 pitches during batting practice on Tuesday (his first outing as a BP pitcher since the start of spring camp) -- he threw eighty-eight pitches to N. Donoue and 117 pitches to Daiki Yoshikawa.

Before practices on Tuesday, Takagi handed out over 100 autographs.  After practices, he spent about an hour signing autographs.

====== UPDATE 2/9 @ 1:52am

Former head coach turned Sponichi baseball analyst, Shigekazu Mori, visited spring camp in Chatan on Tuesday.

The Dragons working out in Guam, including Takuya Asao, Kenichi Nakata, and Junki Ito, returned to Japan today after spending about ten days working out in Guam.

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Maximo Nelson arrived at Chubu International Airport today from the Dominican Republic.  Nelson started started running and playing catch in early January.  He is scheduled to participate in the player's joint training session in Okinawa that begins on January 26.

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Takeshi Yamasaki participated in a talk session in Aichi today and promised to do his best to take down the Yomiuri Giants.

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The 2011 draft class took vision assessment tests at Nagoya Stadium on Saturday

1st round draft pick Shuhei Takahashi recorded solid numbers across the board, but of the ten tests he took, he did particularly well on depth perception and instantaneous field of view tests.

6th round draft pick Sang-Hoon Son did extremely well with the movement tracking test -- hypothetically, he should be able to hit 160km/h fastballs.

Masahiro Yamamoto threw about 30 pitches in the bullpen at Nagoya Stadium today (half-bent catcher).

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Takeshi Yamasaki returned from his workouts in Hawaii today and told reporters that he did not take a single day off and did things like run 30 kilometers a day.

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Masahiko Morino has not felt any discomfort in his right shoulder and recently said to reporters, "It has been a while since I have been able to swing the bat at this time of year without any problems."

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Takuya Asao tossed 75 pitches to Atsushi Fujii, Keiji Oyama, and Kei Nomoto during BP on Thursday.

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Daiki Yoshikawa worked out side-by-side with 1st round draft pick Shuhei Takahashi at Nagoya Stadium today.  The two also stayed back after practices in order to take BP in the cages.

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Morimichi Takagi plans to take a close look at his players during the first block of spring camp and will then shuttle players between Ichi-gun and Ni-gun camps, depending on their performances, beginning in the second block of spring camp.  Takagi also hopes to narrow players at Ichi-gun camp down to about 30 by late February (from 41).

The Dragons held a staff meeting on Thursday that lasted about three and a half hours -- they went over schedules and player assignments for spring camp (41 players will attend Ichi-gun camp).

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The team is planning to add beach training (running) to their workouts during spring camp this year in order to improve stamina and lower body strength.

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1st round draft pick Shuhei Takahashi spent about 30 minutes in the batting cages during his day off (and his birthday) on Wednesday.

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Takeshi Yamasaki played four holes of golf with pro golfer Ryo Ishikawa in Hawaii on Wednesday (Japan time) -- it was for a TV show.

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The Former Dragons' Players Group (Dragons OB) held a meeting on Wednesday and named the group's vice chairman Tatsuhiko Kimata to chairman after Morimichi Takagi turned down the position since he will be managing the Dragons this year.

Kimata later told reporters he planned to give hitting advice during spring camp using a rubber baseball bat.  "If you do not make good contact with this bat, the ball will not fly.  I will discuss this with the batting coach," said Kimata.

Nikkan Sports has posted the following comments that were taken from Takeshi Yamasaki's (43) press conference on Thursday:

You are returning to Chunichi after ten years.

I never thought I would be able to wear the Chunichi uniform again.  It is like a dream.  It feels like I am playing for a brand new baseball team.  I will do my best to contribute.  I want to work hard again, together with the fans.

Your impression of Chunichi.

I was checking their progress during the season.  They have been winning a lot of their games with pitching the last few years.  Their offense may have weakened a bit.  I want to do what I can to help as a batter.

You will be wearing the number 7.

I received a really great number.  Old fans might remember me with the number 22, but since this is a restart I am happy with the number.

This will be the second time you have played under Takagi kantoku.

He becomes very strict the moment he puts on a uniform.  He does not tolerate weakness.  I plan on dropping him a line.

Is there anything you would like to say to the fans?

I think it is no longer good enough just to play baseball.  I would like to discuss doing some things for the fans with the player's group.

Veteran players

At 48 years and 10 months, Shinji Hamazaki hold the NPB record for oldest player to play in a game (11/5/1950).

At 45 years and 5 months, Yoshiyuki Iwamoto holds the NPB record for oldest player to hit a home run (8/18/1957).

At 44 years and 5 months, Hiromitsu Ochiai holds the NPB record for older player to collect 3 or more hits in a game (5/16/1998).

The Chunichi Dragons have agreed to terms with 43-year-old Takeshi Yamasaki.  According to Nikkan Sports, Yamasaki signed a one-year deal worth 30M yen plus incentives.  He was also assigned the number 7.

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2011 Season

Nikkan Sports has posted an article with some interesting comments from Takeshi Yamasaki (taken on Monday).

Regarding the Chunichi Dragons...

There is nothing that would make me happier than wearing the Chunichi uniform.  I will compete with [Tony] Blanco and win the first base job.  I will not be a pinch-hitter, I will win a starting position.  Because of the position I play, I am constantly competing against foreign players.  [Blanco] has won a home run title, loves Japan, and loves baseball, so this obstacle will be difficult to overcome.  But I need to take on this battle.

Regarding his career home run total...

I want to pass [Shigeo Nagashima's total of 444].  Then I can show off to my grandchildren.  If I can get to 2,000 hits, I should also be able to hit 444 home runs.  (Yamasaki is 219 short of 2,000 and 42 short of 444.)

Regarding what kind of contract he wants...

If I do not put up results, I will have to retire.  I do not care about the money.  I just want to show everyone my last stand.

Additional questions:

You will be meeting with the Dragons on 12/8...

It is a good feeling to go from being jobless to wearing a uniform.  It would be a disservice to everyone in Sendai if my feelings were broken and I was planning to retire.

What has changed since you left Chunichi ten years ago?

During the 16 years I was with Chunichi, I played baseball the way I wanted to play it.  I did not learn about the basics until Katsuya Nomura came along.  I learned a lot about teamwork.

What are you looking for in a contract?

I am not going into this as a regular FA player would.  I was making quite a bit with Rakuten too.  I just want to show Rakuten that I still have a lot left in me.  Money does not really matter.

Taking the field is something you will need to do in the Central League.

The uneasiness I had when I first played for Chunichi is now gone.  I think my defense may have improved by not taking the field and watching.  I also practiced when I was with Rakuten.  I will work harder on my defense than on my hitting during spring camp.

Where will you stand [when you join the Dragons]?

I need to make sure [Motonobu] Tanishige, [Kazuhiro Wada], and [Hirokazu] Ibata are comfortable.  I can not become a reason they feel uncomfortable.  I also have to work on remembering names because there are a lot of young players I do not know.  I have already experienced enough internal conflicts.

The media learned on Sunday that the Chunichi Dragons are looking to sign Takeshi Yamasaki (43) and that an announcement could be made as early as 12/8.

(To clarify, the Dragons will be sitting down to negotiate with Yamasaki on 12/8 and if things go well, could make an announcement the same day.)

UPDATE @ 8:56pm - The Dragons see Yamasaki as a right-handed bat off the bench and a DH during inter-league play.  They may also offer him a one-year deal worth 50M yen plus incentives.

Tanita (well-known of its digital scales) presented 43-year-old Takeshi Yamasaki with the Tanita Health Award on Monday.

Regarding his plans moving forward, Yamasaki said, "The first tryouts take place on 11/24 and after that teams can begin negotiations.  I'll just follow the rules and think about where I'll be playing [next year].  I'd like to practice a little more, but I also want to figure out where I'll be playing in order to keep myself motivated."

The Chunichi Dragons are expected to pursue Yamasaki.

Sports Hochi announced today that Takeshi Yamasaki was selected as the winner of the 2011 Golden Spirit Award.

Yamasaki has been visiting children at various institutions since his years with Chunichi and Orix.  In 2007 he set up a home run fund.  He also donated 2.6M yen to relief efforts after the 2008 Iwate-Miyagi Nairiku earthquake and has been a contributor to various relief efforts after the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.  His donations to Miyagi over the years has also surpassed the 15M yen mark.

See also:

2011 Golden Spirit Award Nominees