Tag Archives: C.C. Mercedes

NPB news: April 6, 2022

The SoftBank Hawks’ season-opening win streak came to a whimpering end on Wednesday when one run scored thanks to a mishandled ball in the outfield and two more came in thanks to Japan’s favorite go-to play, bringing the outfield in with two outs and a big run on second.

Japanese fans began salivating at the idea of former Lion Shogo Akiyama beating a hasty return to Japan to play for THEIR team after he his release by the Cincinnati Reds only for one team’s skipper to throw water on that idea.

Ready? Let’s go.

Eagles not interested in Akiyama

Kazuhisa Ishii made history on Wednesday, the Rakuten Eagles skipper and general manager becoming the first in team history to admit the club was not coveting an available former Seibu Lions star, Sankei Sports reported.

Continue reading NPB news: April 6, 2022

Camp fires March 3, 2021

There were four preseason exhibition games, known in Japan as “open games,” on Thursday. This told us precious little about what to expect when Nippon Professional Baseball’s major leagues open their season on March 25, except that there will be a season, which given the bullshit being spread around by MLB owners, is encouraging.

A day after looking as over-matched at the plate as they did much of the 2021 season, the Chunichi Dragons bounced back to beat the SoftBank Hawks 5-3. The Dragons’ second-round pick, outfielder Kosuke Wakai, bounced back from a two-strikeout game on Wednesday with a double, a homer two runs and two RBIs.

Continue reading Camp fires March 3, 2021