JPHiP Forum

General => Sports => Topic started by: daigong on October 28, 2005, 09:02:50 AM

Title: Official Nippon Pro Baseball Thread
Post by: daigong on October 28, 2005, 09:02:50 AM
Rika's Hanshin Tigers lose Japan Series!!

(http://img466.imageshack.us/img466/7248/r4559779856an.jpg)

Rika's Hanshin Tigers clinched the penant (http://www.miumu.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=1985&mforum=jpmx), went on to the Japan Series but got swept! by the Chiba Lotte Marines (http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getsp.pl5?sb20051027j1.htm). Led by ex-New York Mets Benny Agbayani and manager Bobby Valentine who said:

"Let's do battle in a real World Series." (http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200510270121.html)
(http://img466.imageshack.us/img466/2941/capttok80110262340japanseriest.jpg)
(I like that they wear goggles before being doused with booze)

Some sites for reference:
http://www.npb.or.jp/
http://www.geocities.com/s_borisov/jb2006/index.html
Title: Official Nippon Pro Baseball Thread
Post by: TheQuickening on October 28, 2005, 08:33:14 PM
Damn...oh well. There's always next season.
Title: Official Nippon Pro Baseball Thread
Post by: Saburo on October 29, 2005, 10:28:22 PM
Bobby Valentine is an egomaniac and an overrated manager.  I'll bet the press in Japan is giving him WAY too much credit for the Marines' championship and that he's eating up the attention like so much cake.  These statements about "a real world series" shouldn't be taken seriously by anyone except those who have ingested too much champagne.

I think there were forces in MLB that wanted him as far away as possible and that they hope he'll stay in Chiba-ken as long as possible.  He made a decent analyst on ESPN but I wouldn't hire him as a manager if I were a GM.


[edit: spelling]
Title: Official Nippon Pro Baseball Thread
Post by: daigong on October 30, 2005, 06:42:21 AM
He's begging like hell to come back to the MLB...let's get MLB rejects and AAA Superstars, like Ex-MLBer Jamie Brown

(http://img457.imageshack.us/img457/9567/jamiebrown352143vk.jpg)
Title: Official Nippon Pro Baseball Thread
Post by: TheQuickening on October 30, 2005, 06:43:54 PM
It's doubtful (at best) that he'll get back to MLB anytime soon.  After all, although he's been lucky and was able to get the Marines to win this season in the J-League, look at how many seasons he was managing MLB teams and couldn't do SHIT with them.  Part of it could be the talent (or lack thereof) that he had to work with, I agree, but still, the team(s) that he's managed over on this side of the Pacific have never really done that well.
Title: Official Nippon Pro Baseball Thread
Post by: Saburo on October 30, 2005, 07:52:23 PM
Any Dodger fans out there?

Tommy Lasorda, a consultant to owner Frank McCourt, wants to bring Bobby Valentine to Dodgertown.  

I dunno, it just may happen.  If so, it may further the chaos that was ignited by the firing of GM Paul DePodesta, who was given two years to do...  what, win a World Series?
Title: Official Nippon Pro Baseball Thread
Post by: daigong on November 05, 2006, 05:31:33 AM
*bump*

Congrats to the Nippon Ham Fighters on winning the 2006 Japan Series Crown cover the Chunichi Dragons 4-1!
http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061026&content_id=1724176&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

It also marked the end of the career for veteran outfielder and RIKA'S FAVE PLAYER Tsuyoshi Shinjo!! (http://www.japaneseballplayers.com/en/player.php?id=shinjo) :w00t:

(http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/2967/japanseriesbaseballtok8zc3.jpg)
(http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/8115/shinjo6342vg3.jpg)(http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/4310/japanseriesbaseballtok804py2.jpg)
(I know these pics aren't too flattering but it's the most recent I could find)

Next up!!! MLB MEAT SWEEPSTAKES!! Who's going to the Yankees! ERRR the highest bidder!? Daisuke Matsuzaka:

(http://img240.imageshack.us/img240/374/baseballmatsuzakadd2.jpg)

Peep his stats: http://www.japaneseballplayers.com/en/player.php?id=matsuzaka
Title: Official Nippon Pro Baseball Thread
Post by: jkpark78 on November 22, 2006, 12:53:31 AM
shinjo will be sorely missed..
wow.. nipponham finally won one..
i hope matsuzaka does well in the states.. his run in koshien was legendary..
Title: Official Nippon Pro Baseball Thread
Post by: Mugen on November 22, 2006, 02:11:54 AM
he played in mlb??!! hes retiring right?

how much do the players in japan get piad
Title: Official Nippon Pro Baseball Thread
Post by: daigong on November 29, 2006, 07:09:42 AM
I dunno, but quite a bit. They get pay cuts just to play in the majors and the Yanks picked up another in Igawa.
Title: Official Nippon Pro Baseball Thread
Post by: ohbahsan on November 29, 2006, 08:44:47 AM
Some Korean dude just signed the most lucrative contract in Japanese pro baseball history, around $30 million US for 4 years.  By comparison, A-Rod's salary for 2007 is $27 million.
Title: Official Nippon Pro Baseball Thread
Post by: Mugen on November 30, 2006, 01:15:52 AM
japanese baseball are sad...they need to move their seats closer, make the ball bigger, screw the honor system (as in sliding to disrupt a double out play dont know if they still do it though), get rid of the goofy umpire vest, and no more sponsors team names.
Title: Official Nippon Pro Baseball Thread
Post by: Saburo on November 30, 2006, 07:32:53 AM
It's cool that I actually saw BOTH the Pacific and Central League MVPs play in the World Baseball Classic this year.
Title: Official Nippon Pro Baseball Thread
Post by: Shibo on December 01, 2006, 07:08:30 AM
Hmm, does nippon pro baseball have a deal like MLB.tv?
I think it'd be fun to follow a team for a season. We could even adopt one here, haha.
Title: Official Nippon Pro Baseball Thread
Post by: daigong on December 29, 2006, 09:14:18 AM
Kei Igawa gets his $20 million, five-year contract huh!?! He looks like my cousin, and that's not a compliment XD

(http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/2282/yankeesigawabaseballny1cw9.jpg)

Let the Male Daisu HYPE begin!!
(http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/7734/g061275lwr0.jpg)
http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/video_gallery/showbizzy_interview/g061275.html

[CM] 松坂大輔 レッドソックスのユニホーム姿を初披露
2006年12月27日 更新
[ 2分25秒 動画 56k | 300k ] (Windows Media Player 単位:bps)
アサヒビール「アサヒスーパードライ」の新CMにメジャーリーグのボストンレッドソックスへ移籍が決まった松坂大輔投手が登場する。この撮影でレッドソックスのユニホームに初めて袖を通した松坂投手は、新たな「背番号18」の姿で本番さながらのピッチングを披露した。来年1月下旬放送開始予定
出席者:松坂大輔投手
Title: Official Nippon Pro Baseball Thread
Post by: Saburo on December 31, 2006, 08:57:22 PM
I just checked the regular season standings for the Pacific League: http://www.geocities.com/s_borisov/jb2006/plstandings.html

Yikes, another deflating season for the Eagles.

But y'know, I threw the entire "Pucchi Best 7" album on the iPod and have concluded:

1) there were more good songs by H!P in 2006 than I realized, and

2) "Let's Go Rakuten Eagles" IS one of them, Rika help me!


以上です。
Title: Official Nippon Pro Baseball Thread
Post by: Since1983 on January 10, 2007, 05:53:26 AM
Anyone know who's going to be the next big japanese player to come to the US?
Title: Official Nippon Pro Baseball Thread
Post by: Saburo on January 11, 2007, 11:29:18 PM
Quote from: Since1983;279275
Anyone know who's going to be the next big japanese player to come to the US?


Good question.  I don't really follow NPB but I've been looking at Kei Igawa's numbers and he might be a sleeper star for the damn Yankees.  His raw stats aren't that much different from Matsuzaka's (whose first name, thanks to PHONICS, all of North American can now pronounce).  The only thing I'm not sure is park effects.

His attitude seems solid so he won't be a slacker, that's for sure.
Title: Official Nippon Pro Baseball Thread
Post by: Since1983 on January 13, 2007, 11:09:12 AM
Quote from: Saburo;280632
Good question.  I don't really follow NPB but I've been looking at Kei Igawa's numbers and he might be a sleeper star for the damn Yankees.  His raw stats aren't that much different from Matsuzaka's (whose first name, thanks to PHONICS, all of North American can now pronounce).  The only thing I'm not sure is park effects.

His attitude seems solid so he won't be a slacker, that's for sure.


Yea, they better be good especially with all this hype over those two right now especially for Matsuzaka. In Boston and NY, where the environment is pretty intense, I think both of these pitchers need to make an impact right away. Or else, they gonna hear it from the fans. Just look at how NY fans treated Arod. But we shall see..
Title: Re: Official Nippon Pro Baseball Thread
Post by: daigong on November 15, 2007, 08:33:39 AM
Congrats to the Chunichi Dragons!

(http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/9604/japanseriesbaseballttx1dv1.jpg)

Daisuke Yamai and Hitoki Iwase combined for the first perfect game in Japan Series history Thursday as the Dragons defeated Trey Hillman's Nippon Ham Fighters 1-0 to win the team's first title in 53 years. (http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5j0C6SZ7n-wdwjUlzF947g_iXtUFQ)

They also beat the South Korean team SK Wyverns - to win the Asia Series.

Title: Re: Official Nippon Pro Baseball Thread
Post by: Saburo on June 28, 2008, 04:57:51 PM
Interesting story at Yahoo Sports about interleague play in Japan (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AoSO2dkZ3lzatQL4_f9dcqupu7YF?slug=ap-cjsjapanesejourney&prov=ap&type=lgns&print=1).

The team with the best record in interleague play gets big money!  Former big-leaguer C.J. Nitkowski, now playing for Fukuoka Softbank, wrote about his role in the money chase.
Title: Re: Official Nippon Pro Baseball Thread
Post by: daigong on August 31, 2009, 12:10:52 AM
GOD loves BASEBALL

(http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/5948/godlovesbaseball.jpg)

 :otomerika: :bow:
Title: Re: Official Nippon Pro Baseball Thread
Post by: Mugen on August 31, 2009, 12:34:19 AM
lol rika  :heart:
Title: Re: Official Nippon Pro Baseball Thread SPIDER-MAN PART DEUX
Post by: daigong on August 25, 2010, 09:49:58 AM
SPIDER-MAN PART TWO

Same ballpark, same teams, same pitcher on the mound. Hiroshima Toyo Carp robbing the Yokohama BayStars of a home run. This time, it's center fielder Amaya Soichiro skying the outfield wall. Wonder what shoes these guys are wearing.

天谷ホームランキャッチ特集 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQXX5LzOSss#)

last time with Masato Akamatsu (赤松 真人)

AMAZING Japanese Baseball Catch by Masato "Spiderman" Akamatsu! [HD] (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYdpBNonxA4#)
Title: Re: Official Nippon Pro Baseball Thread
Post by: daigong on November 03, 2010, 11:52:19 AM

Lotte wins Game 3 to take 2-1 Japan Series lead over the Chunichi Dragons!!
'10/11/02 日本S #3 千葉ロッテ 7-1 中日 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mkriojbkbac#ws)
Title: Re: Official Nippon Pro Baseball Thread
Post by: jackal2000 on January 14, 2011, 06:30:47 AM
Baseball is way better in Japan. They have songs for each player!
Title: Wally Yonamine: 1925-2011
Post by: Saburo on March 01, 2011, 11:36:40 PM
Maui boy and NPB pioneer Wally Yonamine died on Monday at 85 (http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/117157948.html).

Big news in Japan (http://www.sanspo.com/baseball/news/110301/bsr1103012044008-n1.htm), of course.  He played with Oh and Nagashima, being a part of probably the greatest sports dynasty Japan will ever have.  I think this story is way under the radar here in Hawaii.  And that's a damn shame.
Title: Re: Official Nippon Pro Baseball Thread
Post by: Saburo on April 12, 2011, 12:50:05 AM
The incomparable Robert Whiting on the return of pro ball in Japan: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/more/04/11/return.japanese.baseball/index.html (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/more/04/11/return.japanese.baseball/index.html)
Title: Re: Official Nippon Pro Baseball Thread
Post by: Saburo on April 21, 2011, 07:09:29 AM
Watching Chunichi vs Yakult.  LIVE right now: http://www.justin.tv/ijimehantai_ijime1971#/w/1108519680 (http://www.justin.tv/ijimehantai_ijime1971#/w/1108519680)
Title: Re: Official Nippon Pro Baseball Thread
Post by: daigong on August 20, 2011, 11:17:42 AM
SKYWALKER!!!

1984年日本シリーズ第5戦 阪急ブレーブスvs広島東洋カープ 4回裏 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zG-TVx56l0Y#)

 :rofl:
(http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/288/830127.jpg)
Title: Re: Official Nippon Pro Baseball Thread
Post by: daigong on October 26, 2011, 07:03:45 AM
Here's Rika with Yomiuri Giants Legendary pitcher Hiromi Makihara

(http://picroda.jphip.com/hp/jphip24842.jpg)

via youjok @ The Rika Thread: http://forum.jphip.com/index.php?topic=88.msg961655#msg961655 (http://forum.jphip.com/index.php?topic=88.msg961655#msg961655)
2011.10.23 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMY5MzqYhKc#ws)
Title: Re: Official Nippon Pro Baseball Thread
Post by: daigong on November 01, 2011, 08:12:50 AM
hmm, Nippon Leage ended too eh?? What happened to SPIDER-MAN!! lol keep seeing these pix in the 2ch thread
(http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/5273/ruru1302778942571.jpg)

Title: Re: Official Nippon Pro Baseball Thread
Post by: daigong on November 08, 2011, 09:25:13 AM
hey congrats to the Softbank Hawks going to the 2011 Nippon League Series vs the Dragons!
CS突破特番〜小久保、長谷川、森福〜(2011.11.5) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NF_M-RERFFI#ws)

Title: Re: Official Nippon Pro Baseball Thread
Post by: daigong on February 26, 2012, 10:48:26 AM
sick game! http://www.konami.jp/prospi/2012/ (http://www.konami.jp/prospi/2012/)

(http://picroda.jphip.com/manlove/jphip00948.png)
プロ野球スピリッツ2012 スペシャルムービー (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4vVH1sB8_0#ws)

i love the post game / pre game reporter option

Title: Re: Official Nippon Pro Baseball Thread
Post by: Assman on March 25, 2012, 10:10:16 AM
Things I need to do in Japan, go to a baseball game.

(http://i.imgbox.com/aakQs6j2.jpg)

snacks sure look...tasty..
Title: Re: Official Nippon Pro Baseball Thread
Post by: kuro808 on March 25, 2012, 11:19:46 AM
^ it would be a treat to go to one just for the camaraderie and blowing balloons that looks like phallus :jphip: :jphip:
Title: Re: Official Nippon Pro Baseball Thread
Post by: Assman on March 25, 2012, 11:58:12 PM
hey look who else was making history at Tokyo Dome
Ichiro Suzuki's 's batting (イチローのバッティング)_2012032504 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHCpltMiS1c#ws)

playing the Hanshin Tigers
(http://i.imgbox.com/aaicKixP.jpg)

Ichiro Suzuki appeared in the field. (イチローの登場シーン)_2012032501 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WedxdOvZAY#ws)

man Ichiro why so pimp XD
(http://i.imgbox.com/aalmQ12Q.jpg)(http://i.imgbox.com/aafHiuZA.jpg)

Wonder if he'll retire in Japan?
(http://i.imgbox.com/aaeDDZu2.jpg)
Title: Re: Official Nippon Pro Baseball Thread
Post by: kuro808 on March 26, 2012, 12:04:10 AM
^ well the first series is couple days away :)
Title: Re: Official Nippon Pro Baseball Thread
Post by: Saburo on March 26, 2012, 03:09:01 AM
Apparently these MLB-NPB matchups aren't available live anywhere in the states. WTF?!!
Title: Re: Official Nippon Pro Baseball Thread
Post by: kuro808 on March 26, 2012, 03:18:55 AM
Apparently these MLB-NPB matchups aren't available live anywhere in the states. WTF?!!

kinda wish they were :3  although the Hawaii connection soooooooooo obvious between the A's and the Mariners :lol:
Title: Re: Official Nippon Pro Baseball Man-at-arms
Post by: daigong on April 01, 2012, 09:30:32 AM
First Row, SPORTS!!  Love that ichiro went back and was ROCK STAR. 4 hits whoa.

oh man, great plastic bag wall XD via Japanese Rika Bros.
(http://i.imgbox.com/aawUv4uJ.jpg)
Title: Re: Official Nippon Pro Baseball Thread
Post by: daigong on April 10, 2012, 08:05:02 AM
saw this in the rika  thread. DAMN! Concussed bro Japanese baseball
阪神×巨人 120408 亀井、顔面にデッドボール (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8PUbL4fOUI#ws)
Title: Re: Official Nippon Pro Baseball Thread
Post by: Saburo on August 30, 2013, 11:25:35 PM
Utterly fascinating: http://www.baseballnation.com/hot-corner/2013/8/30/4677198/japanese-baseball-stats-baseball-reference-published-hallelujah (http://www.baseballnation.com/hot-corner/2013/8/30/4677198/japanese-baseball-stats-baseball-reference-published-hallelujah)

COMPLETE NPB stats online, freebie!


Ain't technology grand!
Title: Re: Official Nippon Pro Baseball Thread
Post by: JFC on November 04, 2013, 12:58:22 AM
LET'S GO RAKUTEN II-II-GURUZU!!! LET'S GO IIGURUZU! :cow:

Quote
Eagles blank Giants in Game 7, capture first Japan Series title
by Jason Coskrey - Staff Writer

(http://picroda.jphip.com/misc/t/jphip06763.jpg) (http://picroda.jphip.com/misc/jphip06763.jpg) (http://picroda.jphip.com/misc/t/jphip06764.jpg) (http://picroda.jphip.com/misc/jphip06764.jpg) (http://picroda.jphip.com/misc/t/jphip06765.jpg) (http://picroda.jphip.com/misc/jphip06765.jpg)

SENDAI – More than 25,000 roared in unison as a light rain suddenly got a little bit harder. They were now one out away from their first Japan Series title, and had their ace, Japan’s ace, on the mound to do the honors.

The ninth inning of Game 7 belonged to Masahiro Tanaka. The moment belonged to all of Tohoku.

One day after throwing 160 pitches in a complete-game loss, Tanaka recorded the final three outs of the Japan Series, and Tohoku finally got a chance to celebrate as their Eagles held off the defending champion Yomiuri Giants 3-0 in Game 7 on Sunday in Kleenex Stadium.

“I was not able to pitch at my best yesterday, so I was careful in my preparation tonight and wanted to be sure I was ready to get three outs in the ninth,” Tanaka said.

The Eagles brought home the title in their first trip to the Japan Series since beginning play as an expansion team in 2005.

“We’ve won the title in the club’s ninth year,” Rakuten manager Senichi Hoshino said. “This is all because of the players. They responded well to my harsh leadership.”

The Eagles rushed onto the field after the final out, and tossed Hoshino into the air nine times during the traditional doage.

“We’re really excited to be able to toss him here in front of all the fans here,” Tanaka said.

As he did in the ninth inning of the Eagles’ Pacific League pennant and PL Climax Series Final Stage-clinching victories, Hoshino sent Tanaka out to get the final outs. The Rakuten ace had gone down swinging in Game 6, allowing four runs in the aforementioned complete game effort that went down as his first loss since Aug. 19, 2012.

“No matter what we said, Tanaka wanted to go in there,” Hoshino said. “We’ve come all this way because of him, so we thought he deserved it.”

The Sawamura Award winner gave up a pair of hits, but he got the job done and fittingly struck out the final batter, pinch hitter Kenji Yano, with a splitter, the pitch he’s become known for and that Baseball America’s Ben Badler called him the best in the world at throwing.

“I was saying thanks to my teammates and all of the fans when I went to the mound,” Tanaka said.

It was a more than fitting end should the right-hander head to the majors next year as expected. His final tally on the season, including the playoffs, is a 26-1 record, three saves, 213 strikeouts, and a 1.31 ERA in 241 innings.

Cheers likely rang out across the Tohoku region, which encompasses Akita, Aomori, Fukushima, Iwate, Miyagi and Yamagata prefectures, after the final out.

The region was devastated by the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami in March 2011, and the effects of the twin disasters continue to be felt throughout the area.

The Eagles have been among the many to lend aid, both physical and monetary, to relief efforts and the area has rallied around the team, turning out in droves for all four games at Kleenex Stadium.

Starting on the heels of Tanaka’s first loss in over a year, Manabu Mima cut the Giants down to size with six strong innings of one-hit ball. He struck out five and walked three.

Toiling in the considerable shadow cast by Tanaka and rookie Takahiro Norimoto, Mima was stellar during the postseason. The third-year pro threw 20 2/3 scoreless innings — with 17 strikeouts — during three victories.

“I can’t believe I was able to pitch these games (Japan Series Games 3 and 7) against the Giants without giving up a run,” Mima said.

Norimoto took over for Mima in the seventh and threw two scoreless innings, and Tanaka earned a save with a scoreless ninth. Yomiuri starter Toshiya Sugiuchi was charged with the loss.

Mima was named the series MVP.

“I was very nervous in the beginning, but I knew Norimoto and Tanaka were there to back me up,” Mima said. “So I just wanted to pitch as well as I could for as long as I could, and felt better and better as the game went along.”

A run-scoring error by Giants shortstop Hayato Sakamoto gave Mima the lead in the first, and Rakuten added to that with Takero Okajima’s RBI double in the second and a home run by Akihisa Makida, one of the original Rakuten players, in the fourth.

“I swung hard and was just trying to make contact any way I could,” Makida said of his solo shot off reliever Hirokazu Sawamura.

The title represents the first triumph for Hoshino, who had brought teams to this point on three occasions — the Chunichi Dragons in 1988 and ’99 and the Hanshin Tigers in 2003 — but couldn’t quite make it to the finish line.

“There are no words I can say about how happy I am to win my first Japan Series,” Hoshino said. “We gave it all we had until the end and we beat a great Giants team. It’s a big thrill.

“I’m so proud of our players who persevered and, even when things were not going so well, they never gave up.”

Former major leaguers Andruw Jones and Kazuo Matsui are also champions for the first time. Jones lost in both his trips to the World Series, while Matsui was on the losing side of one World Series and three Japan Series.

The Giants came up short in a Game 7 again, having also lost the Series finale to the Seibu Lions in 2008. Yomiuri was bidding to repeat as champions for the first time in 40 years.

The offensive woes that hindered the Kyojin during most of the series finally did them in during the last game of the year.

“Our power was not there, and we couldn’t get our starting pitcher past the second inning,” Giants manager Tatsunori Hara said. “That’s all I can say. I’m disappointed, but I want to congratulate Hoshino-kantoku and the Rakuten players and their fans on the Eagles becoming Japan Series champions.”

The Giants were limited to five singles in the loss.

The Eagles did a victory lap after all the pictures were taken and the awards handed out, as one final gesture to the fans who have supported them for so long.

“This is the third time this year for me to tell our fans how happy I am to bring them a championship,” Hoshino said. “Now we are No. 1 in all of Japan.

“I want to thank our fans for all they have been through after the Great East Japan Earthquake and the tsunami. Thanks so much.”

Staff Writer Kaz Nagatsuka contributed to this report.
FULL ARTICLE LINK - http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/11/03/baseball/eagles-blank-giants-in-game-7-capture-first-japan-series-title (http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/11/03/baseball/eagles-blank-giants-in-game-7-capture-first-japan-series-title)
Title: Re: Official Nippon Pro Baseball Thread
Post by: JFC on November 05, 2013, 05:55:55 AM
Quote
Rakuten ace Tanaka to hold talks on U.S. move
Sports Nov. 05, 2013 - 06:20AM JST

Rakuten ace Masahiro Tanaka is to hold talks with club bosses over his plan to move to the U.S. major leagues, reports said Monday—a switch likely to make him the most expensive Japanese player in history.

The 25-year-old right-hander pitched on Sunday, helping the Rakuten Eagles—based in the tsunami-hit northeast of Japan—to their first national title.

Tanaka exacted revenge against the Tokyo-based Yomiuri Giants the day after he was the losing pitcher in a 4-2 defeat, snapping his 30-game winning streak since last August.

The player is expected to meet with club president Yozo Tachibana over his plan to play in the United States next season, the Nikkan Sports daily reported.

“First, we want to confirm his intention, which is the starting point,” Tachibana told reporters after the team beat the Giants 3-0 at home in the final game of the best-of-seven Japan Series.

“I will listen to his thoughts, although the team still needs him,” Tachibana said.

Tanaka has already informed Rakuten of his desire to move to the United States and they are unlikely to stand in his way, Nikkan Sports said.

Reports said the cost of the rights to negotiate with Tanaka could top $100 million, easily surpassing a record $51.7 million paid out in the case of Yu Darvish, who signed for the Texas Rangers nearly two years ago.

U.S. clubs, including the New York Yankees, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Boston Red Sox and Rangers, have sent scouts to Japan to look at Tanaka, they said.

Born in Hyogo, Tanaka joined Rakuten in 2007 and has since won 99 regular season games against 35 defeats with an earned run average over 2.30.
FULL ARTICLE LINK - http://www.japantoday.com/category/sports/view/rakuten-ace-tanaka-to-hold-talks-on-u-s-move (http://www.japantoday.com/category/sports/view/rakuten-ace-tanaka-to-hold-talks-on-u-s-move)


Holy shit, $100 million for just the negotiating rights?  :shocked:
Title: Re: Official Nippon Pro Baseball Thread
Post by: daigong on August 22, 2016, 03:35:16 AM
They'll bring back baseball for the 2020 Olympics GET READY! http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2016/08/04/baseball/japanese-baseball/npb-wants-best-athletes-to-compete-in-2020-olympic-baseball-tournament/


Quote
Nippon Professional Baseball wasted no time on Thursday in stating its vision after baseball, along with softball, was approved as an additional sport for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

“We aspire to have our best team,” NPB commissioner Katsuhiko Kumazaki told an early morning news conference in Tokyo. “Our first priority is assembling a team that can win.”

NPB will shut down its season for the duration of the 2020 Games, and World Baseball Softball Confederation president Riccardo Fraccari said Taiwan’s Chinese Professional Baseball League, and South Korea’s Korean Baseball Organization had also committed to sending their best players.

But whether Major League Baseball will deliver its stars or not remains to be seen. One reason baseball was dropped from the core Olympic program after the 2008 Beijing Games was MLB’s refusal to release players during the heart of its season.
Title: Re: Official Nippon Pro Baseball Thread
Post by: kuro808 on August 22, 2016, 03:49:15 AM
Imagine if NPB goes ahead with that plan, the other nations will only feel the wrath of everything although a good way for MLB to bring up the minor leaguers to train at the show, MLB is the biggest thing, it doesn't have to stop because of the Olympics.

2020 Tokyo Olympics JPH!P World Tour :hip smile:
Title: Re: Official Nippon Pro Baseball Thread
Post by: JFC on March 30, 2021, 03:09:14 AM
CROSS-POSTING!!!

AramaJapan.com - (https://aramajapan.com/news/tanaka-reported-to-return-to-japan-over-hate-crime-fears-i-left-to-protect-my-family/112643/) [Baseball pitcher Masahiro] Tanaka Reported to Return to Japan Over Hate Crime Fears: “I Left to Protect My Family” (https://aramajapan.com/news/tanaka-reported-to-return-to-japan-over-hate-crime-fears-i-left-to-protect-my-family/112643/)
- https://aramajapan.com/news/tanaka-reported-to-return-to-japan-over-hate-crime-fears-i-left-to-protect-my-family/112643/
- https://jisin.jp/sport/1964647/