The Hawks announced today that their team slogan for 2012 will be "VV."

The two V's stand for:

- the players and fans coming together as one to win
- two Pacific League championships (2010 and 2011)
- the hope for two straight Nippon Series rings (2011 and 2012)

They also announced that "otosan" dog will continue on as the team's oen leader.  The dog has been leader since 2009.

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Nikkan Sports reports that Sadaharu Oh wants Angel Castro to learn on how to throw a change-up.  Sports Hochi has posted a slightly different report that has Oh calling for Castro to learn how to throw a curve

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Yuichi Honda returned from his training session in Saipan today.

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Hiroki Kokubo returned from his training session in Arizona today.  He also told reporters his rehab was going well (necks surgery in December) and that he started taking soft-toss BP on January 18.

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Nobuhiko Matsunaka is scheduled to return to Japan from his training in Guam on January 28.  According to a Nikkan Sports interview, he is prepared to call it quits whenever he feels he is no longer able to play well.  He also does have an interest in reaching the 2,000-hit mark (he is 269 hits away).

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1st round draft pick Shota Takeda threw 29 pitches (including off-speed pitches) in the bullpen (standing catcher) after practices on Thursday.  Takeda also threw 30 pitches in the bullpen the night before -- Ikusei 1st round draft pick Go Kamamoto "caught" him.

Yuya Hasegawa did some running in the morning with the 2011 draft class today.  In the afternoon, he did his own thing and spent some time taking BP (in the cages and soft-toss).

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Hiroki Yamada has been taking in 6,000 kilocalories per dinner since his training camp in Miyazaki began on 1/6.  Over that span he has managed to add 3kg to his frame and now weighs 95kg.

One-day intake example: all you can eat buffet for breakfast; two lunch boxes, one with a variety of vegetables and the other with three rice balls for lunch; three grilled chicken pieces about the size of a hand, a bowlful of spinach, and a plateful of meat and potatoes for dinner.

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Kenji Akashi, Keisuke Kaneko, Kenta Imamiya, Shuhei Fukuda, and 3rd round draft pick Masayoshi Tsukada could be amongst the players competing for the starting job at short (Munenori Kawasaki's old position).

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The media learned on Wednesday that Yuichi Honda will be a spokesperson (Kansai Region) for Asahi Beer.  A commercial featuring Honda will be shot some time later this month. Ads will pop up pretty much everywhere, including TV, radio, the big screen at Yahoo Dome, various big screens throughout Kansai, posters, and fliers, beginning in March.

Yuichi Honda took off for Saipan out of Fukuoka Airport today.  While in Saipan, Honda will focus on swinging the bat.  He is scheduled to return on 1/27.

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3rd round draft pick Masayoshi Tsukada has managed to gain five kilograms since moving into the player dorm and currently weighs 79kg.  Said Tsukada, "I have never hit 80kg in my life.  I would like to get up to 83-84kg."

5th round draft pick Shinya Kayama tossed 35 pitches in the bullpen on Sunday.

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Kenji Otonari wants to make his mark as a starter this year.  He is also working on a two-seamer.

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Softbank released a list of personnel changes today.

1st round draft pick Shota Takeda and 2nd round draft pick Shoji Yoshimoto want to gain weight -- they are both 187cm tall and currently weigh 87kg and 82kg respectively.

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Soichiro Tateoka, currently working out with Yuichi Honda, told reporters on Tuesday that he was thinking about giving the outfield a try in order to increase his chances for playing time.  It seems he is also approaching this season as his last chance to make it as a professional player.

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Honda wants to give something back to Ureshino, Saga and is thinking about a number of options, including a donation of some sort.  Honda also paid for (or is thinking about paying for) training equipment that will be used in a facility inside the Ureshino General Sports Park (Miyuki) Baseball Stadium.

Yuichi Honda worked out with Soichiro Tateoka at Miyuki Stadium in Ureshino on Tuesday.  Workouts included running, playing catch, fielding practice, and BP.

Honda will continue his workouts in Ureshino through to the 14th and then head to Saipan on the 16th.

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Sadaharu Oh told reporters on Monday he would be more than happy to help Wily Mo Pena make the adjustment to Japanese baseball (if he needs it).  He also figures Pena is good for about 40 homers out of the clean-up spot.

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1st round draft pick Shota Takeda is apparently very flexible and can throw the ball without placing a lot of strain on his shoulder.

After three hour practices on Monday, Takeda spent an additional hour and a half taking fielding practice.

Hisayoshi Chono (YOM) knocked out a pinch-hit walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the 9th against the Yokohama Bay Stars.  Not only was it the first pinch-hit walk-off grand slam since Isao Hirono in 1971, it was also the Central League's 1,000th grand slam -- a Satoshi Sugiyama recorded the first CL grand slam on 4/9/2005; the PL is currently on 1,006; including the 82 grand slams during the one-league format, a total 2,088 grand slams have been hit in pro yakyu history.

Hirokazu Sawamura (YOM) became the first rookie pitcher in the CL to record 200 innings since Yutaka Enatsu tossed 230.1 innings in 1967.  Sawamura missed out on being the first rookie to record an ERA under 2 since Tsuneo Horiuchi registered a 1.39 ERA in 1966.

Shuichi Murata (YOK) became the 57th player in NPB history to reach the 250 homer milestone -- the homer came in the top of the 2nd off Sawamura (YOM).  Murata hit a second homer in his second at bat of the game for 20 on the year.

Shinji Ohara (YOK) appeared in his 71st game of the year and set a new record for appearances by a rookie (since the two league format began in 1950).

The Yokohama Bay Stars finished their 4th straight season with a winning percentage under .400.  The last team to do that: Kintetsu between 1057 and 1961.

Seiichi Uchikawa (SOF) became just the second player in NPB history win batting titles in both the CL and PL.

The Hawks became the first team in NPB history (since the two league format began in 1950) to have three players that played in every inning of every game: Munenori Kawasaki, Yuichi Honda, and Nobuhiro Matsuda.

Soichi Fujita (SOF) became the 36th player in NPB history to appear in 600 games over his career.

This post will be updated throughout the day.

===== 2/13 @ 9:32pm

In preparation for intra-squad game appearances on the 21st, both Toshiya Sugiuchi and Tsuyoshi Wada threw bullpen sessions today -- Sugiuchi threw 150 pitches and Wada threw 110 pitches.

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Yuichi Honda skipped out of afternoon practice today due to tightness in his lower body.  According to the club, it's nothing serious (doesn't warrant a hospital visit).

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Alex Cabrera ramped up his workouts a little today -- he played some catch and spent time working on his hitting (soft-toss, cages, live arms).  He also told reporters that his back was feeling better ever day and that the tightness was going away.

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Former welterweight kickboxer Masato visited the Hawks' spring camp facilities today for a TV sports program today.

===== 2/13 @ 1:16pm

It seems there a good chance that Tsuyoshi Wada won't be able to use his new glove during official games this year.  The reason: the umpiring crew claims that the "W" stitched into the glove was considered an illegal modification.  The issue will be brought up during an equipment meeting that will be taking place soon.  Chances are high that they will confirm that the modification is illegal.

"Having something stamped is permissible.  However, cutting something in order to put words on an item is not allowed on items used during official games.  There a good chance Wada's glove will fall into this category," said an unnamed umpire.

That would mean a portion of the glove was cut so that the "W" could be stitched into the glove.

Said Wada, "And I just started getting used to it.  Why are they saying now?  My only choice is to get this glove fixed."

Wada also complained of some tightness in his left shoulder on the 10th, but was able to do long distance throws yesterday.  As of yesterday, he was also scheduled to toss a bullpen session today.

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Both Hiroki Kokubo and Alex Cabrera told reporters yesterday that they plan on being in the starting line-up for the team's first exhibition game on the 26th.  As of now, it appears there's a good chance Kokubo will start at first with Cabrera as the DH.  Part of this likely has to do with the fact that Cabrera already missed three days of fielding practice due to tightness in his lower back.  And assuming his back is feeling fine, should be ok to start taking BP in the indoor cages today.  And then there's Kokubo -- he has already taken part in situational fielding practice and various infield drills and has been fairly vocal on the field.

Acting owner Kazuhiko Kasai called together a special meeting on Wednesday to talk about Toshiya Sugiuchi's contract situation.  The team is currently scheduled to meet with Sugiuchi on the 25th.

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Munenori Kawasaki worked out at the Hawks' Ni-gun facilities in Saitoazaki, Fukuoka on Wednesday.  Kawasaki is in the process of making his way back from surgery on his right elbow in November.

Kawasaki is looking to surpass the career high 190-hit total he set this season by swinging the bat at pretty much anything he can reach.

On Wednesday, after spending some time with weights, he played some long toss (about 70m) and then worked on his hitting (50 pitches of soft toss and over 100 pitches during regular BP).

Said Kawasaki, "Everything is going well.  I'm making good progress.  I'm not worried about it at all.  It feels about the same as last year."

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Ryuma Kidokoro also worked out at the Hawks' Ni-gun facilities on Wednesday.  Kidokoro did some running and got his right shoulder rubbed down.  Kidokoro has yet to play catch and plans to do so in the new year.  And while he's  itching to throw the ball again, he understands he needs to stick to the plan outlined by the trainers.

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Yuichi Honda goal for the 2011 season is to score at least 100 runs.  Honda ended the current season with a career high 88 runs.  The last Hawk to score 100 runs in one season was Nobuhiko Matsunaka (109) in 2005.  The all-time club high of 118 was also set by Matsunaka, in 2004.

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Hiroki Kokubo was presented with Nishijinshotengai's 2010 MIP award today.

Ryuma Kidokoro apparently wants to win the starting center field job and wants to bat out of the 9 spot.

Said Kidokoro, "I [want to bat 9th] and get on base and steal second.  That would give [Munenori] Kawasaki a shot to drive in some runs.  And even if I were to end the inning on a ground out, at least the next inning would begin with Kawasaki, which wouldn't be bad for us.  If I can win the 9-spot, I think it would help open things up."

Kidokoro will be working out with Tsuyoshi Nishioka in January again.  He's hoping to pick up a few things from Nishioka that will help him win the starting job.

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Even though the Softbank Hawks returned to Japan in the evening on the 19th (Sun), most players were back at practice on Monday.  Yuichi Honda checked in at Yahoo Dome around 10am and spent about two hours working out (running).  Other players like Satoru Morimoto and Katsuki Yamazaki also showed up to Yahoo Dome in the morning for practice.

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Honda was presented with the 2010 Yanase Fukuoka Softbank Hawks MVP Award today.  He was also given the keys to a Mercedes Benz E250CGI.

Yuichi Honda recently told reporters that he wants to try and steal 70 bases next season (he stole a career high 59 bases this year and was also caught a career high 21 times).  But that could change depending on how his conversation with Seiichi Uchikawa goes.

Said Honda, "My stolen base rate improved partway through the season.  If I was able to do a better job earlier on, I may have ended the season with more stolen bases.  I think 70 is possible. ... But I also want to talk to Uchikawa.  Hitting is the priority after all.  Being on the same page as him is important. ... Stealing is just about yourself.  You need to consider the circumstances.  And forget 70, or ever 59, if the circumstances aren't right.  Regardless, I do want to increase my success rate to at least 90%."

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Sadaharu Oh plans on spending more than 10 days (perhaps 2 weeks) watching the team during spring camp next year.  In addition to taking a good look at a Uchikawa (and figuring out where he really fits), Oh will also check on the progress of the Ikusei players.