Scout Diary: Jan. 24, 2020
Friday is homework assignment day, so I'll finish my look at the best pro infield tools with the top shortstops from Nippon Professional Baseball's Central League. Having now having glanced…
Tuffy Rhodes has yet to really connect with Hall of Fame voters.
Tuffy Rhodes: On being himself
On Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2019, one of Japanese baseball's all-time greats, Tuffy Rhodes, remained gathering dust in the middle of the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame players division voting results,…
Cheating, Japanese style
Now that two MLB managers and one GM have lost their jobs over a sign-stealing scheme, I thought I'd relay this conversation I had with former Chunichi Dragons cleanup hitter…
NPB under the table
The timing couldn't have been worse -- unless one ascribes to the idea that there's no such thing as bad publicity. The Lotte Marines' home interleague series with the Yomiuri…
Best 10 of the 2010s
I know one's supposed to do these things before 2020, but Ione of the things about New Year's Eve in Tokyo is that the trains run all night, and I…
Yamaguchi concludes Blue Jays deal
Right-hander Shun Yamaguchi has concluded his two-year deal with the Toronto Blue Jays, Kyodo News has reported, citing an official source. Yamaguchi, who joined the Yomiuri Giants of Japan's Central…
New Hanshin Tiger Jon Edwards
The kotatsu league: Tigers acquire reliever Edwards
The Hanshin Tigers of Japan's Central League announced Saturday that former Indians Padres and Rangers reliever Jon Edwards has been acquired on a one-year contract estimated at $800,000 according to…
The kotatsu league: Yamaguchi poised to sign with Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays hit pay dirt on with what appears to be a cost-effective two-year contract for right-hander Shun Yamaguchi. The deal, as reported by Sankei Sports Wednesday morning…
Alex Ramirez back in the day before he was a two-time MVP and the first foreight-registered player with 2,000 hits in NPB>
The kotatsu league: Tigers sign minor league righty Gunkel
A day after they concluded a contract for 2020 with lefty Onelki Garcia, the Hanshin Tigers announced they have added Miami Marlins minor league right-hander Joe Gunkel. The 27-year-old comes…
The kotatsu league: Tigers conclude Bour hunt, Giants rearm
The Hanshin Tigers on Saturday announced they have acquired 31-year-old slugging infielder Justin Bour on a one-year deal reported at $2.5 million according to Kyodo News (in Japanese). One interesting…
