SimCentral.NET Forums - Blogs - Japanese-American Perspectives by Gwynar http://forums.simcentral.net/blog.php?u=646 en Mon, 13 Jul 2009 07:59:16 GMT vBulletin 60 http://forums.simcentral.net/images/sc30/misc/rss.jpg SimCentral.NET Forums - Blogs - Japanese-American Perspectives by Gwynar http://forums.simcentral.net/blog.php?u=646 <![CDATA[Nippon Ham Fighters' "Konkatsu (婚活) Seats" a Hit, Part 2]]> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Japanese-AmericanPerspectives/~3/hRXPjg3sGg0/blog.php Mon, 13 Jul 2009 01:21:51 GMT Saturday's event drew 300 men and women. By game's end, 28 couples emerged.

On Sunday, 300 more men and women attended the event. And this time, 34 couples came together.

2 days. 300 men. 300 women. 62 couples.

And since the Kokatsu Seats event was so popular, the team is now considering holding more of these in the future.

"Nothing is set in stone yet," said a club rep. "Even though future events might end up being a little smaller, we are thinking about the viability of using a section of seats in the balcony area."
]]> Gwynar http://forums.simcentral.net/blog.php?b=1415 http://forums.simcentral.net/blog.php?b=1415 Around the NPB Horn: Yudai Kawai still undefeated, runs records to 9-0 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Japanese-AmericanPerspectives/~3/QDkWTSxSUTw/blog.php Mon, 13 Jul 2009 01:11:07 GMT *CHIBA LOTTE MARINES* ...The Marines lost to the Nippon Ham Fighters on Sunday. *Tomohiro Nioka* recorded the game winning hit on a slider outside. After the game, *Bobby Valentine* told the press that the pitcher and catcher could have attacked the inside portion of the plate more since Nioka... CHIBA LOTTE MARINES
...The Marines lost to the Nippon Ham Fighters on Sunday. Tomohiro Nioka recorded the game winning hit on a slider outside. After the game, Bobby Valentine told the press that the pitcher and catcher could have attacked the inside portion of the plate more since Nioka tends to struggle with those pitches. When word about Valentine's advice got to Tomoya Satozaki, looking a bit annoyed, he had this to say:

"Prior to that pitch, we threw 3 pitches inside to him. It's easy to say things after the game."
CHUNICHI DRAGONS
...After beating the Hiroshima Carp 4-0 on Sunday, Yudai Kawai is still undefeated from the start of the season and has a 9-0 record.
HANSHIN TIGERS
...Akinobu Mayumi celebrated his 56th birthday yesterday. His cake?


...For the first time in 2 years, Tsuyoshi Shimoyanagi is on a 4-game losing streak.
ORIX BUFFALOES
...Yoshihisa Hirano has now lost 5 of his last 6 Sunday starts. The one game he didn't lose, he ended up taking a no decision on (the team did lose though).
YAKULT SWALLOWS
...The Crown Prince and his family were on hand to watch the Swallows play host to the Yokohama Bay Stars on Sunday.

Seiichi Uchikawa (and Norichika Aoki) had a chance to meet the family prior to the game to exchange greetings. The family is apparently a big fan of Uchikawa's and has even spent time reading his blog.
YOMIURI GIANTS
...Yoshiyuki Kamei started at first base for the first time in his career on Sunday.
OTHER
...6,500 fans packed the stadium to watch Yusei Kikuchi pitch on Sunday. That's more than triple the usual attendance at this time of year.

...The SAVAS Cup 43rd Annual Little League Tournament ended with the Chiba Prefecture League team taking top honors on Saturday.
]]> Gwynar http://forums.simcentral.net/blog.php?b=1414 http://forums.simcentral.net/blog.php?b=1414 <![CDATA[HS Player Profile: Yusei Kikuchi (菊池雄星)]]> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Japanese-AmericanPerspectives/~3/qGTLiUaAanA/blog.php Mon, 13 Jul 2009 00:18:05 GMT Yusei Kikuchi (菊池雄星)

School: Hanamaki Higashi High School
Born: 6/17/1991
Home Town: Iwate Prefecture
Height: 184cm / Weight: 82kg
Throws: Left / Bats: Left
Pitches: fastball, slider, curve, cutter, change, fork

Max: 152km/h

This is a pitcher that's drawing a lot of attention in baseball circles in Japan right now. I think every team in the NPB is interested in him. A number of MLB scounts are also high on him.

Sports Hochi quoted Met's scout Inao Ohjimi as saying, "It would be a waste of time for him to play in the NPB if he really wanted to play in the Majors."

"本人にメジャー志向があるならば、日本でプレーするのは、もったいないほどです"

His stats from this year:
40 IP, 25 H, 41 K, 11 BB, 3 ER, 0.68 ERA

Sanspo mentions that 5 scouts from the US and 5 scouts from the NPB were in attendance at his game on Sunday, where he tossed 4 shut-out inning while giving up a hit and struck out 6.

Scouts from teams including the Rakuten Eagles, Yokohama Bay Stars, Yakult Swallows, Chicago Cubs, NY Mets, and Minnesota Twins were apparently at the game.


]]> Gwynar http://forums.simcentral.net/blog.php?b=1413 http://forums.simcentral.net/blog.php?b=1413 <![CDATA[NPB Around the Horn: Igarashi and Lim's streaks come to an end]]> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Japanese-AmericanPerspectives/~3/dRh-Sxv2KtU/blog.php Sun, 12 Jul 2009 15:14:25 GMT HANSHIN TIGERS
...Minoru Iwata was removed from the active roster on Sunday with stiffness in his buttocks. According to the coaches, he suffered the injury while pitching against the Giants on the 10th.

...Tigers' manager Akinobu Mayumi celebrated his 56th birthday on Sunday.
ORIX BUFFALOES
...The Buffaloes are the first team in the NPB to give up 400 runs this season.
RAKUTEN EAGLES
...Hisashi Iwakuma gave up 4 home runs against the Softbank Hawks on Sunday and has now given up 7 on the year. Iwakuma gave up 3 all of last season.
SEIBU LIONS
...Takeya Nakamura hit his league leading 30th home run against the Orix Buffaloes on Sunday. He's now on pace to finish the season with 55 home runs.

Incidentally, Takeshi Yamasaki (RAK) is currently second in the PL with 16 home runs. Over in the CL, Tony Blanco (CHU) leads with 25. Two others are tied for second with 19.
YAKULT SWALLOWS
...Ryota Igarashi's consecutive scoreless appearance streak came to an end when he surrendered a run in his outing against the Yokohama Bay Stars on Sunday. The Bay Stars also ended Chang-Yong Lim's consecutive appearance without an earned run streak, when they scored the game-winning run off him in the top of the 9th.
YOMIURI GIANTS
...The media is already talking about how the Giants' magic number is 55.
OTHER
...The Kobe 9 Cruise beat the Akashi Red Soldiers, 6-1 on Sunday. In doing so, they leave open the possibility of being the Champions for the first half of the season. That is, if the Akashi Red Soldiers can beat the Osaka Gold Villicanes.
]]> Gwynar http://forums.simcentral.net/blog.php?b=1411 http://forums.simcentral.net/blog.php?b=1411 NPB: Game Summaries for July 12th, 2009 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Japanese-AmericanPerspectives/~3/QKY78F6Ozws/blog.php Sun, 12 Jul 2009 15:09:50 GMT *Yokohama Bay Stars 2 - Yakult Swallows 1* W: Atsushi Kizuka (2-0; 1 IP, 0 H, K, 0 BB, 0 R, 0 ER) Sv: Shun Yamaguchi (10) L: Chang-Yong Lim (3-1; 1 IP, H, 0 K, 0 BB, R, ER) The Swallows took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 2nd when Kenzo Kawashima (2-for-3, RBI) drove in Shinya Miyamoto... Yokohama Bay Stars 2 - Yakult Swallows 1
W: Atsushi Kizuka (2-0; 1 IP, 0 H, K, 0 BB, 0 R, 0 ER)
Sv: Shun Yamaguchi (10)
L: Chang-Yong Lim (3-1; 1 IP, H, 0 K, 0 BB, R, ER)

The Swallows took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 2nd when Kenzo Kawashima (2-for-3, RBI) drove in Shinya Miyamoto (2-for-4, 2B, R) from third on a single off Koji Yoshimi (7 IP, 8 H, 3 K, 0 BB, R, ER). Yoshimi then settled down scattered 4 hits over the next 4 innings, until he was lifted in favor of Atsushi Kizuka.

In the meantime, Masanori Ishikawa (7 IP, 2 H, 2 K, 3 BB, HBP, 0 R) did a great job shutting down the Bay Stars offense. The only trouble he had was in the top of the 3rd when he gave up a lead-off single to Kentaro Ishikawa (2-for-3, R) and hit Takeshi Hosoyamada (0-for-2, HBP) to put runners on first and second with no out. Yoshimi did his job, laying down a bunt to move the runners up to second and third. But neither Yuki Yoshimura (0-for-3, 2 BB, R), nor Toshihisa Nishi (0-for-3) could come up with the big hit.

With a 1-0 lead, the Swallows brought in Ryota Igarashi to bridge the gap to Chang-Yong Lim. Unfortunately for the Swallows, Igarashi didn't have his usual stuff. He struck out the first batter he faced, but then walked Yoshimura. He got pinch-hitter Dan Johnson to ground out to short, but he then surrendered another walk to Seiichi Uchikawa (1-for-3, 2B, BB). With runners on first and second, Shuichi Murata (1-for-3, BB, 2B, RBI) hit a double to left, tying the game at 1. Another walk loaded the bases, but Igarashi bore down and got Tatsuhiko Kinjo (0-for-4) to fly out to left.

The Swallows went down in order in the bottom of the 8th and in the top of the 9th, the Swallows brought in Lim to hold down the lead. But he allowed the lead-off hitter, Ishikawa, to reach base on a single. The next batter then attempted to bunt on the first pitch from Lim, but missed. With the runner taking off from first, Ryoji Aikawa fired the ball to second, but the ball got away from Kawashima and Ishikawa was safe at second. Hosokawa would ultimately get the bunt down, moving Ishikawa to third with only 1 out. Kazuya Fujita (0-for-0, RBI) then hit a sac fly to drive in what would ultimately become the game-winning run.

Shun Yamaguchi tossed a perfect 9th for his 10th save of the year.

Game Notes
The Swallows outhit the Bay Stars, 8-4. ... The Crown Prince and his family were on hand at the game. ... The Bay Stars not only stopped Igarashi's scoreless appearance streak, but they also scored an earned run of Lim, the first of the season.

Bay Stars: 8 LOB, 1 DP
Swallows: 6 LOB, 1 DP

Jingu
Attendance: 22,341
Time: 3h 4m

Chunichi Dragons 4 - Hiroshima Carp 0
W: Yudai Kawai (9-0; 9 IP, 8 H, 2 K, 2 BB, 0 R, 0 ER)
L: Takeshi Komatsu (2-1; 8 IP, 5 H, 3 K, 3 BB, 3 R, 3 ER)

Despite giving up 8 hits and 2 walks, Yudai Kawai did a great job of keeping the Carp from scoring any runs. He even loaded the bases in the top of the 7th with no out but then wiggle out of the inning by getting Yoshikazu Kura (1-for-3) to ground into a double play and then struck out pinch-hitter Shigenobu Shima to end the inning. The Carp also had the start of something going in the 2nd inning, but Scott McClain (0-for-2, 2 BB) tried to score from second on a single by Kura, but was thrown out at home.

The Dragons had an easier time scoring off the Carp, putting 3 runs on the board in the bottom of the 4th of Takeshi Komatsu. And it all started with a lead-off single by Masahiro Araki (1-for-4, R), a stolen base, and a walk to Masahiko Morino (0-for-3, R) to put runners on first and second. Komatsu managed to get Tony Blanco (1-for-3, BB, RBI) out on a fly ball to right, but Kazuhiro Wada (2-for-4, 3B, R, 2 RBI) followed with a 2-run triple. The next batter, Atsushi Fujii (1-for-4, 2B, RBI), then drove Wada home on a double to left, putting the Dragons up by 3. Komatsu bore down and struck out Issei Nakamura (1-for-3) for the second out of the inning, intentionally walked Motonobu Tanishige (0-for-2), and struck out Kawaii (0-for-3) to end the inning.

Another run in the top of the 5th gave the Dragons a 4-0 lead.

Game Notes
Both teams collected 8 hits. ... The Carp were swept by the Dragons and outscored, 9-1.

Carp: 7 LOB, 2 DP
Dragons: 5 LOB, 2 DP

Nagoya Dome
Attendance: 35,587
Time: 2h 57m

Yomiuri Giants 2 - Hanshin Tigers 1
W: Tetsuya Utsumi (4-6; 9 IP, 7 H, 5 K, 0 BB, R, ER)
L: Tsuyoshi Shimoyanagi (5-6; 6 IP, 4 H, 2 K, BB, 2 R, 2 ER)

Both starters did a great job over the first 5 innings of the game. Tsuyoshi Shimoyanagi held the Giants to just a hit and a walk, retiring 11 straight at one point. And while Tetsuya Utsumi didn't give up a run until the 8th inning, his first 5 innings were perhaps his strongest.

In the end, it came down the top of the 6th when the Giants managed to string together 3 hits to score 2 runs: 2 singles by Hayato Sakamoto (1-for-4, R) and Takahiro Suzuki (1-for-4, R), followed by a huge, 2-run double by Michihiro Ogasawara (1-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI). The Tigers bullpen then bore down and held the Giants to one hit over the final 3.2 innings of the game.

The Tigers scored their lone run in the bottom of the 8th when Keisuke Kano (2-for-4) led off the inning with a double. He almost ruined things when he was thrown out trying to go to third on a grounder by pinch-hitter Mitsunobu Takahashi, but he stayed caught up in a run down long enough for Takahashi to get to second. Yamato then came in to pinch-run for Takahashi and would later score on a 2-out, infield single by Kentaro Sekimoto (1-for-4, RBI). The Tigers got another hit after that to put runners on first and second, but Utsumi got Tomoaki Kanemoto (0-for-4) to ground out to second to end the inning.

Game Notes
The Tigers outhit the Giants, 7-5.

Giants: 4 LOB, 0 DP
Tigers: 7 LOB, 0 DP

Koshien
Attendance: 46,851
Time: 2h 30m

----

Nippon Ham Fighters 7 - Chiba Lotte Marines 6
W: Naoki Miyanishi (4-0; 2 IP, H, 5 K, 0 BB, 0 R, 0 ER)
L: Yoshihiro Ito (2-2; .2 IP, 3 H, 0 K, 0 BB, R, ER)

The Fighters took a 1-0 lead off Shingo Ono (4 IP, 8 H, 2 K, 2 BB, 5 R, 5 ER) in the bottom of the 3rd on Makoto Kaneko's (5-for-6, 2 HR, 2 R, 2 RBI) 9th home run of the season. The Marines answered back with 2 runs off Brian Sweeney (5 IP, 6 H, K, 4 BB, 3 R, 3 ER) in the top of the 4th on back-to-back RBI doubles by Tomoya Satozaki (2-for-5, BB, 2B, R, 2 RBI) and Tasuku Hashimoto (1-for-5, 2B, RBI).

But the Fighters weren't ready to relinquish the lead for very long, grabbing a 5-2 lead in the bottom half of the inning on a grand slam by Shota Ohno (1-for-4, HR, R, 4 RBI). The Marines made sure the Fighters wouldn't let up their guard by scoring a run in the top of the 5th on a sac fly by Shoitsu Ohmatsu (2-for-4, BB, R, RBI).

The Fighters extended their lead in the bottom of the 8th on Kaneko's second home run of the game. But that didn't stop the Marines from staging a rally in the top of the 9th.

Hisashi Takeda entered the game in the top of the 9th, but instead of recording his 17th save, he gave up three consecutive singles to start the inning, and allowed a run to score on a ground out by Tadahito Iguchi (2-for-5, 2 2B, RBI). Takeda struck out Omatsu for the second out of the inning and for a moment, it appeared as though he might be able to get out of the inning. But Saboru (1-for-6, RBI) and Satozaki followed with RBI singles to tie the game at 6 and push the game into extra innings.

It wasn't until the bottom of the 12th that a winner was finally decided. The Marines sent Yoshihiro Ito to the mound to try and shut the Fighters down for an inning, and almost got out of the inning by stranding runners on second and third, but pinch-hitter Tomohiro Nioka managed to drive a 2-out single to right, scoring the game-winning run from third.

Game Notes
The Fighters outhit the Marines, 17-14. ... Kaneko collected 5 hits for the first time in his 16 year career. It was also the first time in 12 years that he hit 2 home runs in a game. ... The Fighters swept the series and outscored the Marines, 17-11.

Marines: 12 LOB, 1 DP
Fighters: 14 LOB, 1 DP

Sapporo Dome
Attendance: 34,764
Time: 4h 59m

Seibu Lions 3 - Orix Buffaloes 2
W: Kazuyuki Hoashi (4-3; 7 IP, 5 H, 8 K, 3 BB, 2 R, 2 ER)
Sv: Chikara Onodera (11)
L: Yoshihisa Hirano (2-6; 7 IP, 7 H, 4 K, 4 BB, 3 R, 3 ER)

Jose Fernandez (3-for-4, HR, R, 2 RBI) got things started with a solo home run off Kazuyuki Hoashi in the top of the 1st. The Lions returned the run in the bottom of the 2nd on Takeya Nakamura's (1-for-3, BB, HR, R, RBI) 30th home run of the season.

G.G. Sato's (1-for-3, RBI) run-scoring single in the bottom of the 4th off Yoshihisa Hirano put the Lions in front, 2-1. But an RBI single by Fernandez in the top of the 6th re-tied the game at 2. But that would be short-lived as Yoshihito Ishii (2-for-3, RBI) followed with a 1-out RBI single in the bottom half of the inning to give the Lions a 3-2 lead. A GIDP by G.G. Sato with runners on first and second, kept the Lions from scoring any more runs in the inning.

With the help of a GIDP, Chikara Onodera closed out the 9th for his 11th save of the season.

Game Notes
Both teams collected 8 hits a piece. ... The Buffaloes grounded into 2 double play over the final 2 innings of the game. ... The last time Hoashi won a game was back on June 13.

Buffaloes: 8 LOB, 2 DP
Lions: 4 LOB, 4 DP

Seibu Dome
Attendance: 21,334
Time: 2h 54m

Softbank Hawks 8 - Rakuten Eagles 0
W: D.J. Houlton (7-3; 7 IP, 7 H, 6 K, 0 BB, 0 R, 0 ER)
L: Hisashi Iwakuma (6-5; 5 IP, 9 H, 3 K, BB, HBP, 7 R, 7 ER)

Perhaps it was the rust from not starting an Ichi-gun since June 14th. Whatever the reason, Hisashi Iwakuma struggled with his command and failed to keep the ball on the ground.

In the bottom of the 4th, Iwakuma gave up a lead-off solo home run to Nobuhiko Matsunaka (3-for-4, HR, 2 R, RBI); a single later, a 2-run homer to Hitoshi Tamura (2-for-3, HR, R, 2 RBI); and 2 outs later, another solo home run to Hidenori Tanoue (1-for-3, HR, R, RBI). Then, in the bottom of the 5th, after getting the first batter of the inning to fly out to left, Iwakuma walked Jose Ortiz (0-for-2, 2 BB, R) and gave up a single to Matsunaka, before serving up a big, 3-run home run by Hiroki Kokubo (3-for-3, HR, 2 R, 4 RBI).

The Hawks scored their 8th and final run in the bottom of the 7th off Akira Matsumoto.

On the other side of the mound, D.J. Houlton tossed 7 solid innings to pick up his 7th win of the season. Houlton did run into some trouble in the 6th (runners on first and third with 2 out) and 7th (runners on first and second with 1 out) innings, but he managed to get out of both unscathed.

The Eagles managed to put together another threat in the 9th with Akio Mizuda on the mound, but Masato Nakamura (0-for-5) grounded out to second to end the inning (and the game) with runners on second and third.

Game Notes
The Hawks outhit the Eagles, 11-9. ... Iwakuma gave up 4 home runs for the first time in his career.

Eagles: 10 LOB, 0 DP
Hawks: 5 LOB, 1 DP

Yahoo Dome
Attendance: 35,717
Time: 3h 19m
]]> Gwynar http://forums.simcentral.net/blog.php?b=1412 http://forums.simcentral.net/blog.php?b=1412 Game 1: 37th Annual USA vs. Japan Collegiate Championship Series http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Japanese-AmericanPerspectives/~3/AnkMvhjkpdE/blog.php Sun, 12 Jul 2009 10:05:54 GMT Date: July 12, 2008 Venue: Botchan Stadium (Matsuyama) Start: 12:00 / End: 14:20 Attendance: 8,000 Code: --------- *1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E* USA 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 3 10 0 Date: July 12, 2008
Venue: Botchan Stadium (Matsuyama)
Start: 12:00 / End: 14:20
Attendance: 8,000

Code:
        1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9   R   H   E
USA     0  0  0  2  0  0  0  0  1   3   10  0
JAPAN   0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0   0   3   1
Team USA
Code:
Player                AB  R  H  RBI  2B  3B  HR  BB  SO  SB  CS  SH  SF  HBP  IBB  FO GO  GDP  LOB
===================================================================================================
Tyler Holt, CF         3  1  2   0    0   0   0   1   0   0   0   0   0   0    0    1  0   0    0
  Kolten Wong, 2B/RF   4  0  0   0    0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0    0    3  1   0    3
Casey McGrew, LF       0  0  0   0    0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0    0    0  0   0    0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Christian Colon, SS    4  1  1   1    0   1   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0    0    1  2   1    0
Matt Newman, LF/RF     4  1  2   1    0   0   0   0   2   0   1   0   0   0    0    0  0   0    0
Bryce Brentz, RF       3  0  0   0    0   0   0   0   2   0   0   0   0   0    0    0  1   1    0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Brad Miller, 2B      0  0  0   0    0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0    0    0  0   0    0
Andy Wilkins, 1B       4  0  1   1    0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0    0    2  1   0    0
Michael Choice, DH     3  0  1   0    0   0   0   1   0   0   0   0   0   0    0    1  0   0    0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rick Hague, 3B         4  0  2   0    0   0   0   0   1   0   0   0   0   0    0    0  1   0    0
Yasmani Grandal, C     4  0  1   0    0   0   0   0   1   0   0   0   0   0    0    1  1   0    3
===================================================================================================
Totals                33  3  10  3    0   1   0   2   6   0   1   1   0   0    0    9  8   2    6
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Player                AB  R  H  RBI  2B  3B  HR  BB  SO  SB  CS  SH  SF  HBP  IBB  FO GO  GDP  LOB
===================================================================================================


Pitcher              IP   H  R  ER  BB  SO  WP  HBP  BK  SH  SF  2B  3B  HR  AB  BF  FO  GO
==============================================================================================
Gerrit Cole W        7.0  2  0   0   1   9   0   2    0   1   0   0   1   0  21  25   3   8
Sonny Gray           1.0  1  0   0   0   0   0   0    0   0   0   0   0   0   3   3   0   2
Chad Bettis S        1.0  0  0   0   0   1   0   0    0   0   0   0   0   0   3   3   1   1
Team Japan
Code:
Player                AB  R  H  RBI  2B  3B  HR  BB  SO  SB  CS  SH  SF  HBP  IBB  FO GO  GDP  LOB
===================================================================================================
Shingo Kamegai, CF     3  0  0   0    0   0   0   0   1   0   0   0   0   1    0    0  2   0    0
Shota Ishimine, LF     3  0  0   0    0   0   0   0   1   0   0   1   0   0    0    0  3   0    0
Takahiro Araki, SS     3  0  0   0    0   0   0   0   1   0   0   0   0   1    0    1  1   0    0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ryoji Nakata, 1B       4  0  0   0    0   0   0   0   2   0   0   0   0   0    0    1  1   0    0
Keiji Nakahara, RF     3  0  1   0    0   1   0   0   1   0   0   0   0   0    0    0  1   0    2
Masayoshi Kato, 3B     3  0  1   0    0   0   0   0   0   0   1   0   0   0    0    0  2   0    0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shuhei Kojima, DH      3  0  0   0    0   0   0   0   3   0   0   0   0   0    0    0  0   0    1
Shota Koike, C         2  0  1   0    0   0   0   1   0   1   0   0   0   0    0    1  0   0    0
Ryo Hayashizaki, 2B    3  0  0   0    0   0   0   0   1   0   0   0   0   0    0    1  1   1    1
===================================================================================================
Totals                27  0  3   0    0   1   0   1  10   1   1   1   0   2    0    4 11   1    4
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Player                AB  R  H  RBI  2B  3B  HR  BB  SO  SB  CS  SH  SF  HBP  IBB  FO GO  GDP  LOB
===================================================================================================


Pitcher              IP   H  R  ER  BB  SO  WP  HBP  BK  SH  SF  2B  3B  HR  AB  BF  FO  GO
==============================================================================================
Kazuhito Futagami L  5.0  6  2   2   1   3   0   0    0   0   0   0   1   0  19  20   4   5
Yusuke Nomura        2.0  2  0   0   0   2   0   0    0   0   0   0   0   0   7   7   2   1
Yuhei Nakaushiro     1.0  0  0   0   0   0   0   0    0   0   0   0   0   0   3   3   3   0
Nao Higashihama      1.0  2  1   1   1   1   0   0    0   1   0   0   0   0   4   6   0   2
UPDATE: Sanspo mentions that Cole hit 156km/h (~97mph) on the radar gun 3 times during his start.
]]> Gwynar http://forums.simcentral.net/blog.php?b=1410 http://forums.simcentral.net/blog.php?b=1410 Around the NPB Horn: Hanshin Tigers updates http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Japanese-AmericanPerspectives/~3/A-0L64I0YYo/blog.php Sun, 12 Jul 2009 06:03:32 GMT HANSHIN TIGERS
...Prior to yesterday's game, the last time Kyuji Fujikawa appeared in a game in relief in the middle of the 8th, was back on July 6th, 2008 when the Yakult Swallows were in town.

...Keisuke Mizuta will likely start in Ni-gun before getting a chance to help the parent club.

"Mizuta can also play the outfield," said Shoji Numasawa, club president. "He's got petty decent legs and a decent arm. He can also hit for some power. He didn't get much of a chance [with Seibu], but he'll be able to help us out."

...Tomoyuki Kubota tossed situational BP on Saturday and faced 12 batters while throwing 54 pitches. The Tigers are hoping that he'll be ok to re-join the parent club in time to make a start against the Chunichi Dragons, at Koshien, on the 16th.

...Norihiro Akahoshi took 128 cuts in the batting cage on Saturday.

"Practice is coming along just fine, but when I think about how my body is feeling...," said Akahoshi. "I have planned my work-outs with the assumption that I'll be ready to return in the shortest amount of time (7/15)."
SEIBU LIONS
...The Lions held a press conference to introduce their newest addition: Taiyo Fujita. He will be wearing the number 46.
OTHER
...The Kansai Independent League announced that they will likely be getting some support from the Japan Professional Baseball Players Association. An official decision will be made when the JPBPA gets together for a general meeting on the 24th. No further information is known in terms of what kind of support the JPBPA might provide.
]]> Gwynar http://forums.simcentral.net/blog.php?b=1409 http://forums.simcentral.net/blog.php?b=1409 NPB: Roster Changes for 7/12/2009 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Japanese-AmericanPerspectives/~3/yMDal2afcd0/blog.php Sun, 12 Jul 2009 05:12:20 GMT *Central League Roster Updates* * Added to the Active Roster **Yokohama Bay Stars * * Noriharu Yamazaki INF *Removed from the Active Roster**Y**okohama Bay Stars* * Shigenori Kuremoto INF Central League Roster Updates

Added to the Active Roster
Yokohama Bay Stars
  • Noriharu Yamazaki INF
Removed from the Active Roster
Yokohama Bay Stars
  • Shigenori Kuremoto INF

Pacific League Roster Updates

Added to the Active Roster
Seibu Lions
  • Kazuyuki Hoashi P
Rakuten Eagles
  • Hisashi Iwakuma P
Removed from the Active Roster
Seibu Lions
  • Keisuke Mizuta INF
Rakuten Eagles
  • Takashi Kawai P
]]> Gwynar http://forums.simcentral.net/blog.php?b=1408 http://forums.simcentral.net/blog.php?b=1408 US Roster for 37th Annual USA vs. Japan Collegiate Championship Series http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Japanese-AmericanPerspectives/~3/SV-Y_cuXrIQ/blog.php Sun, 12 Jul 2009 03:04:44 GMT A little late in posting, but here is the complete roster for the US Collegiate team that will be playing a 5-game series against Japan, starting today.

From what I've been reading, it'll be Kazuhito Futagami vs. Gerrit Cole in Game 1 of the tournament. Yankee fans will probably recognize Gerritt Cole from the 2008 player draft -- Cole opted for the college and left the Yanks standing at the altar.

Code:
#   Name                  POS     B/T  HT   WT   Birthplace            Yr   School
====================================================================================================
34  Bauer, Trevor         RHP     R/R  6-1  175  N. Hollywood, Calif.  Fr.  UCLA
35  Bettis, Chad          RHP     R/R  6-0  193  Lubbock, Texas        So.  Texas Tech
 7  Brentz, Bryce         RHP/OF  R/R  6-0  180  Crossville, Tenn.     So.  Middle Tennessee State
14  Choice, Michael       OF      R/R  6-0  215  Fort Worth, Texas     So.  UT-Arlington
====================================================================================================
29  Cole, Gerrit          RHP     R/R  6-4  215  Santa Ana, Calif.     Fr.  UCLA
 4  Colon, Christian      IF      R/R  6-0  185  Capey, Puerto Rico    So.  Cal State Fullerton
27  Forsythe, Blake       C       R/R  6-2  220  Memphis, Tenn.        So.  Tennessee
24  Grandal, Yasmani      C       S/R  6-2  210  Havana, Cuba          So.  Miami
====================================================================================================
 2  Gray, Sonny           RHP     R/R  5-11 180  Nashville, Tenn.      Fr.  Vanderbilt
 6  Hague, Rick           IF      R/R  6-2  190  Spring, Texas         So.  Rice
15  Holt, Tyler           OF      R/R  6-0  190  Marion, Ind.          So.  Florida State
17  McGrew, Casey         OF      L/R  6-0  175  Delaware, Ohio        Jr.  Wright State
====================================================================================================
23  Miller, Brad          IF      R/R  6-0  175  Orlando, Fla.         Fr.  Clemson
11  Newman, Matt          OF/LHP  L/L  5-10 170  Phoenix, Ariz.        So.  Arizona State
19  Pepitone, Nick        RHP     R/R  6-6  230  Houston, Texas        So.  Tulane
40  Pomeranz, Drew        LHP     L/L  6-5  231  Memphis, Tenn.        So.  Mississippi
====================================================================================================
37  Walz, T.J.            RHP     R/R  6-0  175  Omaha, Neb.           So.  Kansas
 5  Wheeler, Cody         LHP     L/L  5-11 160  Fredericksburg, Va.   So.  Coastal Carolina
 9  Wilkins, Andy         IF      L/R  6-2  225  Broken Arrow, Okla.   So.  Arkansas
30  Wojciechowski, Asher  RHP     R/R  6-4  205  Pensacola, Fla.       So.  The Citadel
====================================================================================================
44  Wong, Kolten          OF/C    L/R  5-9  180  Hilo, Hawaii          Fr.  Hawaii
21  Zych, Tony            RHP     R/R  6-3  180  Hazelcrest, Ill.      Fr.  Louisville
====================================================================================================
36  Schaffer*, Jeremy     C       R/R  6-1  205  Houston, Texas        Fr.  Tulane
18  Segedin*, Rob         IF/RHP  R/R  6-3  220  Teaneck, N.J.         So.  Tulane
====================================================================================================
#   Name                  POS     B/T  HT   WT   Birthplace            Yr   School

* denotes alternates
Source: The College Baseball Blog
]]> Gwynar http://forums.simcentral.net/blog.php?b=1407 http://forums.simcentral.net/blog.php?b=1407 NY Times: Bobby Valentine vs Marty Brown http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Japanese-AmericanPerspectives/~3/9f0bx6QAPkU/blog.php Sun, 12 Jul 2009 02:29:20 GMT The Times is running an interesting piece on Bobby Valentine and Marty Brown (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/12/sports/baseball/12manager.html). The article basically compares the two managers and their styles and, without saying so directly, seems to approve of the way Brown is handling his... The Times is running an interesting piece on Bobby Valentine and Marty Brown. The article basically compares the two managers and their styles and, without saying so directly, seems to approve of the way Brown is handling his managerial career with the Carp.
That experience set him apart from other foreign managers when he returned to Japan to manage the Carp in 2006, two years after Baseball America named him minor league manager of the year with the Class AAA Buffalo Bisons. Like other foreigners before him, Brown initially tried to trim some of the long pregame throwing sessions, the practices on off-days and the parade of meetings. But he backed off when he realized that he was hired not to upend the routine, only to nudge the team forward.
The experience the article refers to is the 3 years Brown spent with the Carp between 1992 and 1994. He didn't exactly knock the cover off the ball (3 Years, 257 G, .256, 235 H, 50 HR, 165 RBI), but he did go through all the motions as a player.
He was known for a gutsy style of play that endeared him to the team's long-suffering fans. He also lived through the brutal regimen of practices and meetings that are legendary in Japan, particularly in Hiroshima.
On the other hand, you have Bobby.
...the volatile Valentine, who is known for shaking up the status quo, to the more subtle Brown, who is willing to work within Japanese traditions.

Unlike Valentine, 59, who has basked in the limelight he helped create by turning the Marines into winners...
The article also includes a little sniper action from Hiroshima fans.
"It's not like Bobby, who is held on high," said Yu Murota, 29, a Carp fan who lives in Chiba, standing below the left-field bleachers at Chiba Marine Stadium. "Brown is in it together with us."
Whether or not Belson has anything against Bobby, I have no idea, but the article itself is well worth a read.
]]> Gwynar http://forums.simcentral.net/blog.php?b=1406 http://forums.simcentral.net/blog.php?b=1406 Around the NPB Horn: Iwakuma to be called up and start on Sunday http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Japanese-AmericanPerspectives/~3/BrDLn2Bf6xk/blog.php Sat, 11 Jul 2009 18:10:31 GMT *HANSHIN TIGERS* ...*Akihiro Yano* started in a game against Ni-gun Hiroshima (http://www.sanspo.com/baseball/news/090711/bsb0907111925016-n1.htm) on Saturday and went 1-for-2 with a walk. He stayed in the game until the 5th. His last rehab start came on June 30th against Ni-gun Softbank, but... HANSHIN TIGERS
...Akihiro Yano started in a game against Ni-gun Hiroshima on Saturday and went 1-for-2 with a walk. He stayed in the game until the 5th. His last rehab start came on June 30th against Ni-gun Softbank, but after feeling some pain in his right elbow after the game, they shut him down for a few days and held off on letting him appear in any games.
RAKUTEN EAGLES
...Hisashi Iwakuma will likely be called up to start Sunday's game against the Softbank Hawks.
SOFTBANK HAWKS
...Tsuyoshi Wada tossed a 1-2-3 inning in a practice game against a group of players out of the Shikoku - Kyushu Island League. He was originally scheduled to toss 2 innings, but was taken out early (he was also hit in the left hand by a come-backer to the mound). Wada maxed out at 139km/h on the radar gun.

Assuming he's feeling fine, his next start will likely come against a Ni-gun team and over a longer stretch of innings.
OTHER
...Yuki Saito and Kazuhito Futagami made final preparations for the upcoming 37th Annual USA vs. Japan Collegiate Championships. The final practice session lasted roughly 2 hours. Futagami tossed 40 pitches in a bullpen session and Saito focused primarily on running laps.
]]> Gwynar http://forums.simcentral.net/blog.php?b=1405 http://forums.simcentral.net/blog.php?b=1405 NPB: Game Summaries for July 11th, 2009 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Japanese-AmericanPerspectives/~3/SA9CDOwluCU/blog.php Sat, 11 Jul 2009 15:39:41 GMT *Yokohama Bay Stars 4 - Yakult Swallows 2* W: Tom Mastny (1-3; 5 IP, 7 H, 3 K, 0 BB, HBP, R, ER) Sv: Shun Yamaguchi (9) L: Yoshinori Sato (5-5; 7 IP, 8 H, 4 K, 2 BB, 3 R, 3 ER) With 2 outs in the top of the 3rd, Yoshinori Sato walked Yuki Yoshimura (0-for-4, BB), gave up a single to Kazuya... Yokohama Bay Stars 4 - Yakult Swallows 2
W: Tom Mastny (1-3; 5 IP, 7 H, 3 K, 0 BB, HBP, R, ER)
Sv: Shun Yamaguchi (9)
L: Yoshinori Sato (5-5; 7 IP, 8 H, 4 K, 2 BB, 3 R, 3 ER)

With 2 outs in the top of the 3rd, Yoshinori Sato walked Yuki Yoshimura (0-for-4, BB), gave up a single to Kazuya Fujita (2-for-4, R), and then surrendered an RBI single to Seiichi Uchikawa (3-for-4, R, RBI). The Bay Stars scored 2 more runs off Sato in the top of the 5th on an RBI single by Shuichi Murata (1-for-4, RBI) and a run-scoring ground out by Dan Johnson (1-for-4, HR, R, 2 RBI).

The Swallows finally managed to return a run in the bottom of the 5th as they got a rally going after 2 quick outs and scored a run on a single by Kazuki Fukuchi (3-for-4, RBI). But the inning promptly ended when Jamie D'Antona (1-for-4, HR, R, RBI) flew out to left with runners on first and third.

The score remained 3-1 until the top of the 8th when Johnson nailed his 11th home run of the season. The Swallows answered with a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning: a D'Antona's 14th homer of the season.

Shun Yamaguchi gave up a lead-off walk in the 9th, but then retired the next 3 batters in a row to pick up a save.

Game Notes
The Bay Stars outhit the Swallows, 10-9. ... The Swallows had a great chance in the 4th when they loaded the bases with only 1 out, but the inning ended on a strike out by Shinya Miyamoto and a fly out by Ryoji Aikawa. ... Matsny finally won his first game in 10 starts.

Bay Stars: 6 LOB, 2 DP
Swallows: 7 LOB, 1 DP

Jingu
Attendance: 21,541
Time: 3h 4m

Chunichi Dragons 2 - Hiroshima Carp 1
W: Kazuki Yoshimi (9-3; 7 IP, 4 H, 6 K, BB, 1 R, 0 ER)
Sv: Hitoki Iwase (24)
L: Kenta Maeda (5-8; 8 IP, 7 H, 4 K, 2 BB, 2 R, 2 ER)

Kenta Maeda pitched well enough for the win, but unfortunately his opponent did better.

Maeda started off strong, retiring the first 10 Dragons in order. And the first hit he surrendered in the 4th was quickly erased on a double play.

Kazuki Yoshimi didn't have quite the start that Maeda did, giving up singles in both the 1st and 2nd innings. An error in the 3rd led to the Carp scoring a run on an RBI single by Kenta Kurihara (2-for-4, RBI). But after giving up a lead-off hit in the 4th, Yoshimi retired the next 12 batters in a row before giving way to the bullpen.

The Dragons ended up tying the game in the bottom of the 5th when Tony Blanco (1-for-4, HR, R, RBI) led off the inning with 25th home run of the season. The Dragons would then take the lead in the bottom of the 6th on 3 consecutive hits to start the inning: a double by Hirokazu Ibata (1-for-4, 2B, R), a single by Masahiro Araki (2-for-4), and an tie-breaking single by Masahiko Morino (1-for-4, RBI).

Hitoki Iwase faced 4 batters in the 9th to pick up his league leading 24th save of the season.

Game Notes
Both teams collected 7 hits a piece. ... Maeda has now lost 3 games in a row. ... The Carp have lost 7 straight against the Dragons.

Carp: 7 LOB, 0 DP
Dragons: 5 LOB, 2 DP

Nagoya Dome
Attendance: 37,265
Time: 2h 40m

Yomiuri Giants 2 - Hanshin Tigers 2
W: --
L: --

Seth Greisinger (8 IP, 6 H, 2 K, 2 BB, 2 R, 0 ER) tossed a solid game for the Giants, giving up only 2 unearned runs in the top of the 5th when Yuya Ando (0-for-1) laid down a bunt with runners on first and second with 1 out. Greisinger fielded the ball and threw over to first, but a bad throw meant the bases were loaded with still only 1 out. When Keiichi Hirano (3-for-5, 2B) flew out for the second out of the inning, it appeared as though Greisinger might make his way out of the inning, but batter, Kentaro Sekimoto (1-for-3, 2 RBI), nailed a 2-run single to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead.

Yuya Ando (7 IP, 7 H, 3 K, 2 BB, HBP, 0 R) started for the Tigers and kept the Giants and managed to get himself into and out of trouble. Of special note should be the 2nd inning where a double play erased a lead-off single that was then followed by a walk, a double, and an intentional walk to load the bases. Greisinger was up next and grounded out to end the inning.

When the Giants finally managed to put a run up on the board, it was against Scott Atchison in the 8th on an RBI single by Yoshiyuki Kamei (2-for-6, 2B, RBI). And with the Giants trailing by a run in the top of the 9th Tetsuya Matsumoto (3-for-5, R, RBI) came through with a big hit off Kuji Fujikawa to tie the game at 2.

Extra innings didn't go well for either club.

The Giants left runners on first and second with 2 out with Takahiro Suzuki (1-for-2, R) up to bat in the 10th; runners on second and third with 2 out and Alex Ramirez (1-for-6) up to bat in the 11th; and the bases loaded with Hayato Sakamoto (1-for-7) up to bat in the 12th.

The Tigers left runners on first and second with 1 out, but neither Atsushi Fujimoto (0-for-1) nor Takahiro Arai (0-for-4, BB) could get a run home; runners on first and second with pinch-hitter Mitsunobu Takahashi up to bat in the 11th; and pinch-hitter Takashi Shimizu grounded into a double play to end the game.

Game Notes
The Giants outhit the Tigers, 14-8. ... The Tigers are now 3-5-1 in the month of July. They are also 1-5-1 against the Giants.

Giants: 17 LOB, 3 DP
Tigers: 12 LOB, 1 DP

Koshien
Attendance: 46,854
Time: 4h 35m

----

Nippon Ham Fighters 6 - Chiba Lotte Marines 5
W: Shintaro Ejiri (1-0; 2 IP, H, 2 K, BB, R, ER)
Sv: Hisashi Takeda (16)
L: Yusuke Kawasaki (1-1; 2 IP, H, 2 K, 0 BB, R, ER)

The Lotte Marines took a 1-0 lead in the 3rd when Fighters' starter Tomoya Yagi (5 IP, 3 H, 3 K, 4 BB, 4 R, 4 ER) surrendered a solo home run to Benny Agbayani (2-for-4, 2B, HR, R, RBI). But that lead wouldn't last very long as the Fighters scored 4 runs in the bottom half of the inning off Marines' starter, Yuki Karakawa (4.1 IP, 7 H, 2 K, BB, HBP, 5 R, 5 ER).

The Fighters ended up sending 8 batters to the plate in the bottom of the 3rd, five of which collected hits: a 1-out double by Kensuke Tanaka (1-for-3, R), a run-scoring single by Eiichi Koyano (2-for-4, R, 2 RBI), a single by Atsunori Inaba (2-for-4, HR, 2 R, RBI), an infield single by Shinji Takahashi (2-for-3, BB, R, RBI) that scored the go-ahead run, and a 2-run triple by Yoshio Itoi (1-for-4, 3B, 2 RBI).

But just as quickly as the Fighters put together a 4-1 lead, the Marines took it back in the top of the 4th when Yagi walked two batters before giving up a game-tying 3-run homer to Tomoya Satozaki (2-for-4, HR, R, 4 RBI).

The Fighters regained the lead in the bottom of the 5th on Inaba's 6th home run of the season, only to have the Marines score a run in the top of the 7th to tie the game at 5. The Fighters would try one more time with a run in the bottom of the 7th. The Fighters then turned to Yoshinori Tateyama to pitch the 8th; he almost surrendered another game-tying run when he surrendered two singles after getting the first out of the inning. But with the help of a great leaping catch in center by Itoi for the second out of the inning, Tateyama managed to wiggle out of the inning without surrendering a run.

Hisashi Takeda entered the game in the 9th and picked up his 16th save.

Game Notes
The Fighters outhit the Marines, 10-7. ... This was Eijiri's first victory in 2 years.

Marines: LOB 6, 1 DP
Fighters: LOB 6, 1 DP

Sapporo Dome
Attendance: 37,116
Time: 3h 9m

Seibu Lions 5 - Orix Buffaloes 4
W: Koji Ohnuma (2-3; 1 IP, 0 H, 2 K, 2 BB, 0 R)
L: Daisuke Kato (3-1; 1.2 IP, H, K, BB, R, ER)

The Lions to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 1st when Yasuyuki Kataoka (2-for-5, IBB, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI) scored on a ground out by Hiroyuki Nakajima (1-for-5, 2 RBI). They extended the lead in the bottom of the 2nd when G.G. Sato (1-for-5, HR, R, RBI) nailed a solo home run off Buffaloes' starter Mamoru Kishida (6.2 IP, 6 H, 4, 2 BB, 4 R, 4 ER).

The Buffaloes finally managed to score a couple of runs off Lions' starter John Wasdin (6.1 IP, 8 H, K, BB, 4 R, 4 ER) in the top of the 4th when Greg LaRocca (1-for-4, R) led off the inning with an infield single and Alex Cabrera (1-for-4, BB, 2B, R) followed with a double. With runners on second and third and no out, Hirotoshi Kitagawa (2-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI) then nailed a big 2-run double to left to tie the score at 2. The inning should have netted more runs, but Shinji Shimoyama (0-for-3, BB) couldn't lay down a bunt and Koji Yamasaki (1-for-5, R) ended up hitting into a double play to end the inning.

The Buffaloes took the lead in the top of the 5th on Keiji Ohbiki's (3-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI) RBI double, and then extended it when Ohbiki hit an RBI single off Jun Yamamoto in the 7th.

With Kishida still on the mound for the Buffaloes, the Lions connected for 2 consecutive singles to start the bottom of the 7th. A sac bunt then set the stage for a run to score on Kataoka's grounder to short. 1 batter and 2 pitching changes later, Nakajima nailed a game-tying hit off Masanobu Ohkubo.

The game would remain tied until the bottom of the 11th. Daisuke Kato was working on his second inning and was one out away from sending the game into the 12th when Kataoka nailed a walk-off home run to give the Lions a 5-4 victory.

Game Notes
The Buffaloes outhit the Lions, 10-9. ... This was Keisuke Mizuta's last game in a Lions' uniforms (he's on his way to the Tigers). As such, the team wanted to "win this for Mizuta." They even entered him into the game as a pinch-hitter in the 9th, but that was short-lived as he was doubled up off third on a line-out by Nakajima.

Buffaloes: 9 LOB, 2 DP
Lions: 9 LOB, 1 DP

Seibu Dome
Attendance: 22,516
Time: 4h 30m

Rakuten Eagles 8 - Softbank Hawks 2
W: Satoshi Nagai (6-4; 8 IP, 7 H, 10 K, 3 BB, 2 R, 2 ER)
L: Yasushi Kamiuchi (2-2; 4.1 IP, 6 H, 3 K, 2 BB, 3 R, 3 ER)

The top of the first inning could have turned horribly for the Hawks, but thanks to a double-play immediately following Daisuke Kusano's (1-for-4, BB) lead-off single, Teppei's (2-for-5, HR, R, RBI) home run only ended up being a solo shot and Norihiro Nakamura's (2-for-4, BB, HR, R, 2 RBI) single, following a single and walk after Kusano's HR, only ended up driving in a run.

The Hawks quickly tied the game in the bottom of the second on a solo homer by Jose Ortiz (1-for-3, HR, R, RBI) and an RBI single by Hitoshi Tamura (2-for-4, RBI).

The score remained tied at 2 until the top of the 5th when the Eagles took the lead when relief pitcher Makoto Sato threw a wild pitch with runners on first and third. The Eagles tacked on 3 more runs in the top of the 6th on a solo home run by Nakamura and a 2-run homer by Jin Nakatani (1-for-3, HR, R, 2 RBI). 2 more runs in the 7th gave the Eagles a commanding 8-2 lead, which they would hold onto.

While the Hawks never really managed to put together a real threat after the first, they did also ground into 3 double plays over the last 4 innings of the game, ruining any possible chances they may have been able to build off of.

Game Notes
The Eagles outhit the Hawks, 15-8. ... Every starter in the Eagles' line-up had at least 1 hit.

Eagles: 9 LOB, 2 DP
Hawks: 5 LOB, 4 DP

Yahoo Dome
Attendance: 35,458
Time: 3h 10m
]]> Gwynar http://forums.simcentral.net/blog.php?b=1404 http://forums.simcentral.net/blog.php?b=1404 The 80th Intercity Baseball Tournament (Japan) http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Japanese-AmericanPerspectives/~3/iblgfEZjOCI/blog.php Sat, 11 Jul 2009 15:17:19 GMT The 80th Intercity Baseball Tournament (http://www.jaba.or.jp/taikai/2009/toshitaikou/team.html) will begin on August 21st and will run for 12 days. All games will be played at the Tokyo Dome and will be in single-elimination format. The following 36 teams will be competing in the tournament: ... The 80th Intercity Baseball Tournament will begin on August 21st and will run for 12 days. All games will be played at the Tokyo Dome and will be in single-elimination format.

The following 36 teams will be competing in the tournament:

Code:
Hokkaido Region
Sapporo            JR Kita Hokkaido

Tohoku Region
Sendai             JR Higashi Nihon Tohoku
Sendai             Shichi-ju-shichi Ginko

Hokushinetsu Region
Nagano             NTT Shinetsu Yakyu Club

Kita Kanto Region
Ota                Fuji Heavy Industries
Hitachi            Hitachi

Minami Kanto Region
Sayama             Honda
Saitama            Nippon Express

Tokyo Region
Tokyo              Saginomiya
Tokyo              NTT Higashi Nihon
Tokyo              Sega Sammy
Tokyo              Tokyo Gas

Kanagawa Region
Yokohama           Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Yokohama
Yokohama           ENEOS
Yokosuka           Nissan
Kawasaki           Toshiba

Tokai Region
Toyota             Toyota
Nagoya             Toho Gas
Hamamatsu          Yamaha
Okazaki            Mitsubishi Motors Okazaki
Toyokawa           Tokai Rika
Suzuki             Honda Suzuka
Kasugai            Oji Paper

Kyoto, Shiga, Nara Region
Kyoto              Nippon Shinyaku

Osaka, Wakayama Region
Kadoma             Panasonic
Osaka              NTT Nishi Nihon
Osaka              Nippon Life Insurance
Osaka              Osaka Gas

Hyogo Region
Kobe               Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Kobe

Chugoku Region
Higashi Hiroshima  Hakuwa
Hiroshima          Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Hiroshima

Shikoku Region
Kochi              Shikoku Ginko

Kyushu Region
Urasoe             Okinawa Electric Power Company
Ozu                Honda Kumamoto
Nagasaki           Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Nagasaki
]]> Gwynar http://forums.simcentral.net/blog.php?b=1403 http://forums.simcentral.net/blog.php?b=1403 <![CDATA[Nippon Ham Fighters' "Konkatsu (婚活) Seats" a Hit]]> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Japanese-AmericanPerspectives/~3/wWWjGi6DWxo/blog.php Sat, 11 Jul 2009 10:57:42 GMT The Konkatsu Seats (婚活シート) I mentioned back in May appear to have been something of a hit.

According to Sports Hochi, the Nippon Ham Fighters received 1,430 (470 for men and 960 for women) applications to the event taking place this weekend. And because the Fighters weren't sure how popular the event would be, they asked that each application include 2 people of the same sex.

The Fighters originally set aside 100 seats for each game during the weekend, but decided to increase that to 300 in order to account for the demand.

The age of the applicants ranged from people in their teens to their 50's, although according to one team official, people in their mid-30's numbered the largest.

And the news from today's game?

28 couples emerged from Day 1 of the Konkatsu Seats event.

If any of these 28 couples gets married, they will be allowed to throw out the ceremonial first pitch to a future Fighters' game.
]]> Gwynar http://forums.simcentral.net/blog.php?b=1400 http://forums.simcentral.net/blog.php?b=1400 Around the NPB Horn: Ryota Igarashi now at 25 consecutive appearances without a run http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Japanese-AmericanPerspectives/~3/TNjIZaa4fH0/blog.php Sat, 11 Jul 2009 08:48:22 GMT *CHUNICHI DRAGONS*...*Tony Blanco* hit his first NPB walk-off home run (http://www.sanspo.com/baseball/news/090711/bsc0907110504000-n1.htm) last night against the Hiroshima Carp. It also happened to be the first walk-off home run, with the score tied at 0-0, for the Dragons since May 31, 1955 when... CHUNICHI DRAGONS
...Tony Blanco hit his first NPB walk-off home run last night against the Hiroshima Carp. It also happened to be the first walk-off home run, with the score tied at 0-0, for the Dragons since May 31, 1955 when Satoshi Sugiyama's walk-off homer beat the the Giants.
HANSHIN TIGERS
...Jeff Williams tossed 30 pitches in a bullpen session on Friday. He mixed in off-speed pitches with the catcher in the squat position. When asked how he felt afterward, he said "Good!" and walked off toward the weight room.

...Norihiro Akahoshi spent 45 minutes swinging the bat in an indoor training room at the Naruohama training facilities on Friday.
NIPPON HAM FIGHTERS
...Kazuhito Tadano was just one out away from tossing a no-hitter last night against the Chiba Lotte Marines. Had he accomplished the feat, it would have been the first no-hitter in the PL since Narciso Elvira (Kintetsu Buffaloes) did it in 2000 against the Seibu Lions. (Masa Yamamoto tossed the last Central League no-hitter on September 16, 2006.)

As it stands, Tadano is the 21st pitcher (10th in the Pacific League) in the NPB to come within 1 out of a no-hitter.

...Sho Nakata went 2-for-5 with a walk and 5 RBIs against Ni-gun Seibu on Friday. The 5 RBIs came on a solo home run in the 1st and a grand slam in the 5th.
RAKUTEN EAGLES
...Masahiro Tanaka was caught leaving the apartment of a "Japanese tarento" 4 years his senior prior to his start yesterday. That doesn't really have much of anything to do with baseball, but it's become something of a big deal, so I figured I'd mention it.
SEIBU LIONS
...Toru Hosokawa appeared in his first rehab game on Friday against Ni-gun Nippon Ham. He was the starting catcher and batted in the 8 hole. Hosokawa had one at bat and was in the the game until the 4th. It was his first game in 2 months.
SOFTBANK HAWKS
...The Hawks now have 7 walk-off wins this season.
YAKULT SWALLOWS
...Hei Chun Lee was hit in the left hand by a come-backer to the mound in the 6th and was taken out of the game as a precaution (he faced just one batter).

...Ryota Igarashi has not given up a run in 25 straight appearances, good for third most in the NPB history.
YOMIURI GIANTS
...When the Giants beat the Hanshin Tigers in extra innings last night, they did it for the first time since June 21, 2008 when they beat the Softbank Hawks. Prior to the win, they were 0-2-6 in extra innings this season.
OTHER
...Ouch! Johoku High School beat up on Shonai Nogyo High School (Yamagata Regionals), 36-0. Johoku collected 23 hits on their way to the rout. The game was called after 5.
]]> Gwynar http://forums.simcentral.net/blog.php?b=1399 http://forums.simcentral.net/blog.php?b=1399