It’s Monday and time to play Japan baseball catchup. Tsuyoshi Shinjo said some more stuff, while one of the former BIGBOSS’ bosses is stepping down over the Fighters’ ballpark issue, Japan sets its WBC roster, and two NPB players have been picked to play for Cuba, which is going to make the Asian side of the draw extremely interesting.
I also wrote something about the really stupid plan to replace Jingu Stadium.
Let’s get to it.
Continue reading NPB news: Jan. 30, 2023Samurai Japan played its first game against Australia on Wednesday, when Masahiro Tanaka decided not to exercise his right to file for free agency in order to remain at least one more season with the Rakuten Eagles, which tells you a little about the quirks of Japanese free agency.
In Sapporo with the national team, Fighters on-base machine Kensuke Kondo announced he would file for free agency, while Hanshin pitcher Yuki Nishi declined to do so.
When the game started, Shota Imanaga, who threw a no-hitter in the same ballpark this year, was the star, but Munetaka Murakami would not be denied his share of the spotlight.
Japan 8, Australia 1: At Sapporo Dome, Imanaga’s fastball and the slicker WBC ball were a match made in heaven. The BayStars’ ace’s heater was electric, rising and running, as he struck out 10 over four innings, allowing an unearned first-inning run on three singles and an error.
Continue reading NPB news: Nov. 9, 2022