Yomiuri Giants

With Yoshinobu Takahashi and John Bowker hurt, Michihiro Ogasawara could return to the active roster as a DH or bat off the bench some time during Inter-league play.

Source: Sanspo 5/17/2013

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Tetsuya Utsumi, Toshiya Sugiuchi, and 1st round draft pick Tomoyuki Sugano will be nominated for the All-Star ballot.

Sugano threw fifty-eight pitches in the bullpen on Thursday in preparation for his start against Seibu on Saturday.

Source: Nikkan Sports 5/17/2013

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Pitching coach Kazuhisa Kawaguchi is planning to do what he can to keep Sugano pitching on a regular schedule of six days of rest in between each of his starts.

Source: Daily Sports 5/17/2013

Chunichi Dragons

The Dragons will start Yudai Ono and Brad Bergesen against Rakuten (May 17-18).  For their two game series against Softbank, the first game could go to either Kenta Asakura or Shinji Iwata.  The second game will most likely go to Daniel Cabrera.

Source: Nikkan Sports 5/17/2013

Yakult Swallows

Shinya Miyamoto is two hits away from tying the team record for most hits by a right-handed hitter (2,097), currently held by Atsuya Furuta.  The team record for most hits by any hitter (2,173) is held by Tsutomu Wakamatsu.

Source: Sanspo 5/17/2013

Yokohama Bay Stars

Team president Jun Ikeda does not want Kiyoshi Nakahata ejected from another game this season and would like all coaches to be prepared to step in the moment he jumps onto the field to argue a play.

"[Nakahata] is an emotional manager.  The next time he jumps out [of the dugout], I want the coaches to get in between [him and the umpire].  Their job to stop him is also important," said Ikeda to reporters on Thursday.

Nakahata was ejected for the second time this season on Wednesday.  The commissioner's office doubled their fine and could come down harder on him if he gets ejected a third time so early in the season.

Source: Nikkan Sports 5/17/2013

Nippon Ham Fighters vs Yokohama Bay Stars @ Yokohama Stadium - 18:00
Starters: Kagiya, Yohei (HAM) 1-1, 2.00 - Kosugi, Yota (YOK) 1-2, 3.90

Attendance: 17890 | Time: 4h11m | Nippon Ham leads series, 1-0-0

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Yomiuri Giants

Ryosuke Miyaguni started a Ni-gun game against Yokohama today.  He gave up ten runs on thirteen hits over 3.1 innings of work.  The game was called early due to rain.

Source: Nikkan Sports 5/16/2013, Sanspo 5/16/2013

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Hisayoshi Chono became the first right fielder in franchise history to throw out a runner at first on Wednesday since Ming-Soo Ro in 1988.

With the bases loaded and two out in the 2nd inning against Lotte, Seth Greisinger hit a single to right, Chono charged and quickly fired the ball to first for the out.  Before the play, Chono told Jose Lopez to expect a throw on a hit to right.  The two also started talking about a possible play at first about two weeks ago.

Source: Sponichi 5/16/2013

Chunichi Dragons

At forty-seven years and nine months, Masahiro Yamamoto became the oldest pitcher to record an Inter-league game on Wednesday.  The previous record, set by Kimiyasu Kudo in 2009, was forty-six years and zero months.

Source: Nikkan Sports 5/16/2013

Yamamoto has won thirty-six games since turning forty and is now two shy of tying Kudo's record for most victories after turning forty.  He is currently in a second place tie with Tadashi Wakabayashi.

Source: Sponichi 5/16/2013

Yakult Swallows

Takeaki Tokuyama gave up a lead-off home run to Seibu Lion Hideto Asamura on Wednesday and became the sixty-third pitcher in NPB history to give up a home run to the first batter they faced.  Three players in franchise history -- Midori Nakagawa (1950), Hiroshi Kamizuru (1976), and Yataro Sakamoto (2002) -- have also given up home runs to the first batters they faced, but Tokuyama is the first to surrender a lead-off home run in the 1st inning.

Source: Sponichi 5/16/2013

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2nd round draft pick Yasuhiro Ogawa turned twenty-three today.

Source: Nikkan Sports 5/16/2013

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Asuka Kuramochi (AKB48 member) is scheduled to throw out the ceremonial first pitch on the 18th (vs Lotte at Jingu).

Source: Daily SPorts 5/16/2013

Hiroshima Carp

Kenjiro Nomura watched today's Ni-gun game against Chunichi today and checked on players like Nick Stavinoha and Kenta Kurihara.  Stavinoha collected three hits in the game, including a home run, and could be a candidate to make the active roster as a DH for PL games.

Source: Nikkan Sports 5/16/2013

Hanshin Tigers

The Tigers are reportedly looking for a power-pitching, right-handed reliever on the foreign market.

Source: Nikkan Sports 5/16/2013

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Daiki Enokida's next start will likely come on the 22nd against Lotte.

Source: Daily Sports 5/16/2013

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1st round draft pick Shintaro Fujinami's threw twenty pitches in the bullpen today.  It was his first session since he was removed from the active roster on the 11th.

Source: Sponichi 5/16/2013

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GM Katsuhiro Nakamura on Brooks Conrad's status with the team: "I do not think the team will have a need for [Conrad] unless he can get big hits with runners in scoring position or can show some major progress."

Through Wednesday: 14 G, 12-for-49, 13 SO, 8 BB, .245/.373/.306

Source: Sanspo 5/16/2013

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The Entertainment and Communications division at Hankyu Hanshin Holdings, which includes the Hanshin Tigers, recorded about 108.6B yen in operating revenue (up 6.29B over last year) and 12.58B yen in operating profit (up 2.44B over last year).

Source: Sanspo 5/16/2013, Sports Hochi 5/16/2013

Yokohama Bay Stars

The commissioner's office issued Kiyoshi Nakahata a stern warning and a 400,000 yen fine for his ejection from Wednesday's game against Rakuten.

Source: Daily Sports 5/16/2013

Nakahata lost his brother to colon cancer on Wednesday.  He may have let his emotions get the best of him when he argued the safe call at third base in the 6th inning.

Source: Daily Sports 5/16/2013, Sports Hochi 5/16/2013

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Mobage will be releasing a high school baseball simulator titled Eikan-e no Kiseki (栄冠へのキセキ).  Early sign-ups are eligible to earn a special player modeled after Hideki Matsui.

Source: Daily Sports 5/16/2013

Chunichi Dragons

Motonobu Tanishige 2,000-hit memorabilia (bat, batting gloves, ball, commemorative sign) will be on display at the Dragons Museum in Nagoya Dome between May 15 and August 25.

Source: Nikkan Sports 5/15/2013

Yakult Swallows

Ryoji Aikawa played in a Ni-gun rehab game against the Futures on Wednesday.  He was the starting catcher and batted fifth.  He went 0-for-1: G6, BB.  Aikawa is making his way back from a dislocated left shoulder.

Source: Nikkan Sports 5/15/2013

Yokohama Bay Stars

Kiyoshi Nakahata's brother, Eizo Nakahata, passed away on Wednesday at the age of sixty-four.

Source: Mainichi 5/15/2013

Norihiro Nakamura earned his third FA option today (2002 with Kintetsu, 2008 with Chunichi).  When asked about it, he replied, "I am not thinking about it.  It is not in my mind at this current time."

Source: Sports Hochi 5/15/2013

Rakuten Eagles vs Yokohama Bay Stars @ Yokohama Stadium - 18:00
Starters: Duckworth, Brandon (RAK) 2-3, 4.04 - Kobayashi, Hiroshi (YOK) 0-0, 0.00

Attendance: 14583 | Time: 3h48m | Rakuten leads series, 2-0-0

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Yomiuri Giants

Shinnosuke Abe focused on getting treatments (electrotherapy, ice) for his right ankle on Monday -- he fouled a pitch off of it during Sunday's game against Yokohama.

Source: Sanspo 5/14/2013

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John Bowker (right pinky fracture) and Yoshinobu Takahashi (left calf strain) could return to the active roster some time before the end of the month.

Source: Sponichi 5/14/2013

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Toshiya Sugiuchi has twenty-two Inter-league victories and is tied with Tsuyoshi Wada for first on the All-time list.

Source: Sanspo 5/14/2013

Chunichi Dragons

Kazuki Yoshimi was examined at a hospital in Yokohama on Monday.  The Dragons could make an announcement on his status some time later today.

Source: Sponichi 5/14/2013

Hanshin Tigers

Kazuhito Futagami, Tatsuya Kojima, Hirokazu Shiranita, and Masanori Fujihara are candidates for a start against Softbank at Koshien on the 18th.

Source: Sponichi 5/14/2013

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1st round draft pick Shintaro Fujinami is slated to toss a bullpen session on the 16th.  After that, he will prepare for his next start, likely on the 26th against Nippon Ham, as he normally does -- rest on Tuesday, bullpen sessions on Thursday and Saturday, a start on Sunday.

Source: Nikkan Sports 5/14/2013

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Brooks Conrad may only have until the end of Inter-league play to prove that he deserves a spot on the Ichi-gun roster -- he will most likely be given opportunities as a DH (PL games) and pinch-hitter.

Source: Sports Hochi 5/14/2013

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The Tigers will play a Ni-gun game (10:20am vs Orix) and an Ichi-gun game (6:00pm vs Orix) at Koshien today for the first time since May 19, 2005 (Ni-gun vs Chunichi; Ichi-gun vs Seibu).

Source: Sanspo 5/14/2013

Yokohama Bay Stars

Seven newly remade commemorative 2,000-hit signs were installed along the fence beyond the bleacher seats in right.  Previous signs were much thinner and not quite as sturdy.

Source: Daily Sports 5/14/2013

Rakuten Eagles vs Yokohama Bay Stars @ Yokohama Stadium - 18:00
Starters: Tanaka, Masahiro (RAK) 5-0, 1.84 - Miura, Daisuke (YOK) 2-2, 3.86

Attendance: 17050 | Time: 3h18m | Rakuten leads series, 1-0-0

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Yomiuri Giants

Tetsuya Utsumi has been the starting and winning pitcher in two back-to-back 1-0 games.  The last Yomiuri pitcher to accomplish that was Suguru Egawa in 1982 (July 21 and August 6).

Utsumi has not allowed a run over his last twenty-three innings of work.  That ties the personal high he set between August and September 2006.  He is also one victory away from 100.

Source: Nikkan Sports 5/13/2013

Chunichi Dragons

Soma Yamauchi was taken off the active roster today with pain in the left side of his back.  It is not considered a serious injury.

Source: Sports Hochi 5/13/2013, Nikkan Sports 5/13/2013

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The Dragons are expected to add Takeshi Yamasaki to the active roster on Tuesday.  He joined the Ichi-gun team for practice today.

Source: Nikkan Sports 5/13/2013, Sports Hochi 5/13/2013

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Motonobu Tanishige and Kazuhiro Wada became the second pair of players in their forties in NPB history to hit home runs in the same game on Sunday.  The other pair: Tomoaki Kanemoto and Shinjiro Hiyama on August 25, 2010.

Source: Nikkan Sports 5/13/2013

Yakult Swallows

The Swallows added Ikusei pitcher Takeaki Tokuyama to their seventy-man roster today.  His uniform number will change from 115 to 62.  His salary for the current season will be 4.8 million yen.

Source: offiicial announcement, Sports Hochi 5/13/2013

Hiroshima Carp

The Carp recorded two grand slams on Sunday against the Chunichi Dragons.  It marked the twenty-second time in NPB history (first since Nippon Ham on June 29, 2010) one knocked out two grand slams in one game.  The Carp have actually accomplished the feat on two other previous occasions: Jim Lyttle and Adrian Garrett on April 20, 1978 (vs Chunichi at Nagoya Dome) and Tomonori Maeda and Greg LaRocca on August 10, 2005 (vs Yakult at Jingu Stadium).

Two different players were responsible for the grand slams on Sunday: Yoshihiro Maru in the 4th inning and Ryosuke Kikuchi in the 6th inning.  Both players had never hit a grand slam before in their pro careers.  Three other teams have recorded two grand slams by two different players that had never before hit a grand slam: Hideyuki Suzuki and Takaso Katsuragi on September 23, 1956; Isao Ito and Shozo Shigematsu on March 22, 1964; and Kohei Shimamoto and Shigeru Ishiwata on April 17, 1977.

Maru recorded the team's eighteenth pinch-hit grand slam (first since Takahiro Arai on May 21, 2005).

Source: Nikkan Sports 5/13/2013, Sponichi 5/13/2013, Sponichi 5/13/2013

Hanshin Tigers

Kentaro Sekimoto tweaked his leg after hitting a single to center in the 9th inning.  He was immediately replaced by a pinch-runner.  He is considered day-to-day.

Source: Sanspo 5/13/2013

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Kosuke Fukudome started pool therapy on Sunday -- he did various exercises in a pool for about twenty minutes.  He got the day off today.

Source: Sanspo 5/13/2013

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1st round draft pick Shintaro Fujinami's next game could come on the 25th against Nippon Ham at Koshien.  That would allow Jason Standridge and Randy Messenger to pitch on five days of rest and Atsushi Nomi and Daiki Enokida to pitch on six days of rest.

Source: Sponichi 5/13/2013

Yokohama Bay Stars

The Bay Stars will start Inter-league play in third place.  Since the start of Inter-league play, the best they ever managed was fourth place (2005, 2007, 2010).

Source: Sanspo 5/13/2013

Yomiuri Giants vs Yokohama Bay Stars @ HARD OFF ECO Stadium Niigata - 14:00
Starters: Utsumi, Tetsuya (YOM) 3-0, 1.79 - Mishima, Kazuki (YOK) 0-0, 6.10

Attendance: 23310 | Time: 3h9m | Yomiuri leads series, 7-1-0

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