I’d like to wish you a better 2023 than 2022. There wasn’t a lot going on this weekend, and though I’d hoped to receive a large pile of data sets of pitches from 2009 to 2021, my database guru is still working on them and who am I to add to an already cumbersome task.
When its ready will know a lot more if some teams are getting more than their just desserts on umpire strike calls, but until then it’s just hurry up and wait.
Another Japanese star has reportedly committed to bringing the World Baseball Classic trophy back to Japan for the first time since 2009. Since I’ve more or less been putting player moves on the back burner, I’ll start throwing some in today.
Yoshida to play for Samurai Japan
New Boston Red Sox outfielder Masataka Yoshida, who shattered typical player conventions before being posted, shattered another one by implying he would play for Japan in the WBC during his first MLB preseason, Sanspo reported Saturday, citing a source.
The story quoted Japan manager Hideki Kuriyama’s comments in which he rejected Japan’s tradition of – at least superficially – prioritizing the needs of one’s group ahed of one’s own ambitions.
“One must treat his own dreams with the utmost importance. With that in mind, it is possible (that he will play). It’s no good hindering an individual’s dreams or shattering them,” Kuriyama said.
Former Hawks ace Kodai Senga, who has just signed with the New York Mets, and who was named to the 2017 all-tournament team, has also expressed some interest in joining what is shaping up to be an NPB dream team.
Kuriyama already has Shohei Ohtani, Yu Darvish and Seiya Suzuki on board, making this the Samurai Japan with the second-best representation from MLB after Ichiro, Kenji Jojima, Kosuke Fukudome, Daisuke Matsuzaka and Akinori Iwamura signed on in 2009.
It’s not like Japan couldn’t field one of the tourney’s top four teams just with domestically based talent. Those were the guys who did the bulk of the heavy lifting in 2006 and 2009, but having a core of guys who’ve competed regularly against MLB opposition makes the team deeper and takes some of the pressure off the others to be the big guys on the big stage.
Recent moves
I am working on a comprehensive list of player movement since last season, and had another list of earlier signings that is now evading my efforts to find it.
Seibu Lions
OF Mark Payton, 31, slashed .296/.370/.515 in 1,853 career Triple-A PAs. Struck out 76 times in 539 Pas last season, played most of his 2022 games in CF. Story in Sportsmockery.
Lotte Marines
Gregory Polanco, 31, left the Yomiuri Giants, for whom he had a decent 2022 season, and has resurfaced with Lotte.
Chunichi Dragons
Re-signed setup man Yariel Rodríguez, right-handed developmental pitcher Frank Abel Álvarez, first baseman Pedro Pablo Revilla, who played all his 2022 games in left field, and outfielder Guillermo García, while closer Raidel Martinez remains under contract. Catcher-outfielder Ariel Martinez has been signed by the Nippon Ham Fighters.
Orix Buffaloes
Acquired 24-year-old first baseman-outfielder Leandro Cedeno, and has reportedly been negotiating to sign former Cub first baseman Frank Schwindel according to Bleacher Nation.
SoftBank Hawks
Acquired the amazing 31-year-old Willians “La Tortuga” Astudillo, former Chicago White Sox first-round pick Courtney Hawkins, an outfielder who played independent league ball last season, and unrepentant domestic abuser Roberto Osuna.
Yomiuri Giants
Are negotiating a deal with 30-year-old right-handed former Mets reliever Yoan Lopez according to MLB Trade Rumors.
More to follow after a thorough search…
