Katsuki Akagawa threw seventy-two pitches during batting practice and allowed seven could-be hits, including two over the fence.  He also struggled with his control.

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Junji Ogawa was not happy about the outfielders making bad throws in the outfield during situational BP (with base-runners) today.

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The Swallows' new pitching machine (est 2.5M yen) broke on the first day of use (before anyone had a chance to hit against it).

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Special instructor Tsutomu Wakamatsu gave Masayoshi Miwa, Ryosuke Morioka, Yuhei Takai, and Tsuyoshi Ueda tips on how to bunt after general practices on Tuesday.

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Tsubakuro visited spring camp in Urasoe on Tuesday in connection with a segment for a TV program.

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

Yoshinori Sato is working on keeping his gloved hand down during his delivery.

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Special instructor Tsutomu Wakamatsu worked with players on their bunts after general practices today.

On Monday, Wakamatsu spent about an hour coaching 3rd round draft pick Wataru Hiyane during extra soft-toss BP.

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Tatsuro Hirooka visited the Swallows in Urasoe on Monday and worked with Hiroyasu Tanaka after general practices.  He also spent some time with Tatsuyoshi Masubuchi.

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Kimiyasu Kudo visited Swallows' camp in Urasoe on Monday for TV Asahi.  Katsuki Akagawa met Kudo and asked him for pointers on how to throw the curve.

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Orlando Roman is currently slated to pitch in a practice game against LG on February 19.

====== UPDATE 2/8 @ 2:29am

2nd round draft pick Ryohei Kiya, 4th round draft pick Yuya Ota, and 6th round draft pick Masato Furuno are each expected to pitch two innings in relief during a practice game against LG on February 16.

The Yakult Swallows announced today that Atsushi Fujimoto will miss three weeks after he was diagnosed with a left calf strain.

Fujimoto suffered the injury during fielding practice on Monday.

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The Swallows started handing surgical masks out to people visiting the team on Sunday.

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Junji Ogawa spent about an hour hitting baseballs to Kazuhiro Hatakeyama during extra fielding practice on Monday.

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Special instructor Tsutumo Wakamatsu worked with Tsuyoshi Ueda, Yuhei, and 3rd round draft pick Wataru Hiyane on Sunday.

Wakamatsu will be assisting the Swallows as a special instructor through to February 17.

The Swallows also increased the number of batting cages from two to three on Sunday.  The center cage will be reserved for bunt practices with Wakamatsu.

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Katsuki Akagawa is unofficially on tap to start a practice game against Samsung on February 13.

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Hiroyasu Tanaka is thinking about giving synchronized training a try.  He thinks it might help improve timing plays for middle infielders.

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INF/base-running coach Noriyuki Shiroishi worked with Tetsuto Yamada on his footwork and throwing form at short during practices on his day off on Saturday.

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Special instructor Tsutomu Wakamatsu began working as a special instructor today.

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Masanori Ishikawa told reporters today that he does not plan on throwing another 150+ pitch bullpen session during spring camp.

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The Swallows decided to send Hitoshi Yamamoto to Ni-gun camp after he was diagnosed with right elbow inflammation.  Tatsuo Kinoshita will be called up in his place.

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3rd round draft pick Wataru Hiyane can star in a Blue Seal Ice Cream TV/radio commercial if he can win a stolen base title.

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The Swallows have received five cheer-leading uniforms from students at Bunka Fashion College and will have fans determine which one is used in 2012.  Fans will be able to vote for their favorite designs between February 6 and February 13 at the official team site.  The new uniforms will be unveiled on March 22.

The cheer-leading team will also be bigger this season, from seven members to twelve.

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The team had the day off today.

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Four members of the 2011 draft class, including 2nd round draft pick Ryohei Kiya, 3rd round draft pick Wataru Hiyane and 4th round draft pick Yuya Ota, went sightseeing today.

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A number of players, including Yoshinori Sato, Kyohei Muranaka, Kazuhiro Hatakeyama, Shinichi Takeuchi, Yasushi Iihara, Yuhei, Tsuyoshi Ueda, and Tetsuto Yamada worked out at the indoor training facilities at Urasoe Stadium today.

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Yoshinori is hoping to toss a bullpen session some time during the second block of spring camp (begins tomorrow).

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If the Swallows can win a championship this year, the city of Urasoe might be willing to change their stadium name to Urasoe Yakult Stadium.  They could also throw the team a parade.

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Ryo Hidaka was told by pitching coach Daisuke Araki to prepare himself as a starter since it is always easier going from starter to reliever.

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Team owner Tsuyoshi Kinugasa wants his players to drink three Yakults a day to help ward off the flu.

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

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The Swallows were presented with local products, like five kilograms of Agu pork, five kilograms of shrimp, Orion beer, and Blue Seal Ice Cream, from the Naha City before the start of practice today.

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3rd round draft pick Wataru Hiyane stayed back after general practice for extra fielding practice with OF/base-running coach Tetsuya Iida today.

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Masayoshi Miwa stayed back for extra fielding practice on Thursday.

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Lastings Milledge's nickname will apparently be SPAM, as in the canned precooked meat product.

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Catchers Ryoji Aikawa, Yuhei Nakamura, Genki Nitta, and Yuki Mizuno worked on their throws to second during situational fielding practice on Thursday.

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Kyohei Muranaka, Tatsuyoshi Masubuchi, Yoshinori Sato, and Katsuki Akagawa made the following two wagers: the player with the fewest numbers of victories at the end of the season will have to sell Yakult products in the Jingu area after the 2012 season; and if the four pitchers do not win at least 40 games, they will have to show up at fan appreciation day dressed up in AKB48 uniforms.

Before tossing a bullpen session on Wednesday, Shohei Tateyama played catch with a baseball slightly heavier(~180 grams) than the NPB regulation ball (~145 grams).

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Orlando Roman selected 浪漫－ＲＯＭＡＮ－ for his intro music after a friend in Taiwan sent it to him.

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The Swallows announced additional details for their new pair seats on the first and third base side (Ponta Pair Seats).

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Additional Updates (2/3 @ 1:04am)

3rd round draft pick Wataru Hiyane only took four bats to spring camp.  In comparison, Shinya Miyamoto took ten to twelve bats and recalled taking 20 bats during his first year.  Hiyane was advised to order more bats since he might find it difficult to ask other players to borrow their bats.

Yakult Swallows

Head / pitching coach Daisuke Araki is thinking about three lefties (Masanori Ishikawa, Kyohei Muranaka, and Katsuki Akagawa) during their opening series against the Yomiuri Giants.

Yomiuri Giants

Toshiya Sugiuchi did not intend to throw 70 pitches in the bullpen on Wednesday but apparently did because Tetsuya Utsumi threw 80 pitches.

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Shuichi Murata on his hitting: "First I focus on driving the ball the other way and once I get a hang of that, I turn to hitting the big ones. .. My style will be the same anywhere I go."

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Pitchers could have a chance to begin tossing BP as early as February 4.

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Bullpen sessions:

Wednesday

Ryosuke Miyaguni threw 54 pitches and struggled with his control.

Hiroshima Carp

Kenta Maeda twisted his left ankle during early training camp in Okinawa on January 27.  Even though the injury was not serious, Maeda kept his workouts light through to January 30 as a precaution.

Yokohama Bay Stars

Alex Ramirez took BP on the first day of spring camp, something he has not done over the last few years.

Junji Ogawa, the coaching staff, and the players attended a welcoming ceremony at the Urasoe City Offices before practices this morning.  About 200 fans showed up for the event.

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Yoshinori Sato cut his left pinky toe before arriving in Okinawa.  The cut led to an infection that caused foot swelling and a fever.  Because of this, Yoshinori worked out separately from the rest of the group today -- his workouts including playing catch and some light running.

"It is not serious.  We will see how he is does today and tomorrow before deciding what to do next," said chief trainer Kobayashi.

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Ryoji Aikawa is the first official team captain since Shinya Miyamoto in 2008.

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Kenichi Matsuoka was named captain of the pitching staff on Tuesday.

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Bullpen sessions:

Wednesday

Shohei Tateyama threw 102 pitches (including change-ups) to a squatting catcher at about 40%.