|
"Korean Kings."
After swept
through the 2008 Olympics which got themselves
an Olympic Gold Medal, South Korea will look forward to repeat
their success at the 2009 World Baseball Classic, back in 2006, the
team reached the final four before being eliminated by Japan.
(11/17)
Korea hopes to build on success
"Future NPBer?"
Check in
at only 5'5"/114 lbs, Eri Yoshida will become the
first female professional baseball in Japan. Yoshida was
drafted by Kobe 9 Cruise a pro team in a new independent
Japanese League set to begin its inaugural season next April.
(11/17)
Japan league drafts 16-year-old girl
"Lions' Den, Pt. 3."
Seibu
versus Uni-President 7-Eleven redux indeed proved
to be another great game. The home team Lions (Seibu/NPB)
defeated the away team Lions (Uni-President 7-Eleven/CPBL)
once again by only one run with the score 1 - 0, this time with
a sayonara single from outfielder Tomoaki Satoh with 2 outs on
bottom of the 9th inning. Congratulations to Saitama Seibu Lions,
their victory made sure that the champion from Japan have won
every Asia Series, following the steps of Chiba Lotte Marines
(2005),
Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters (2006), and Chunichi Dragons (2007).
(11/16)
2008 Asia Series
2008 Asia
Series (Wikipedia)
"K.K. to K.C.?"
Although
having a lousy first season with their investment on
Yasuhiko Yabuta, the Kansas City Royals is currently pursuing
Kenshin Kawakami, who could be the team's #3 starter in 2009.
(11/16)
KC's interest in Kawakami is uncertain
"Lions' Den, Pt. 2."
Seibu Lions
based in Saitama, Japan will take on Tainan, Taiwan's
Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions in the Championship game of the
2008 Asia Series. Seibu beat Uni-President 7-Eleven in a close game
of 2 - 1 in their previous match therefore I expect another good
one.
SK Wyverns also won two games while losing one, but will have to
settle for 3rd place since tie-breaker was not in their favor.
China's
Tianjin Lions lost a close game in their first match on the bottom
of
the 9th, but got absolutely pulverized during their next two games.
(11/15)
2008 Asia Series
2008 Asia
Series (Wikipedia)
"AL Cy Young Report."
Daisuke
Matsuzaka picked a wrong year to be so successful, after
going 18 - 3 with ERA of only 2.90, he finished 4th in the AL Cy
Young
voting after Francisco Rodriguez, Roy Halladay, and the winner
Cliff Lee, who all also had a career year themselves as well.
(11/13)
Dice-K fourth in AL Cy Young race
"Lions' Den."
Shame on
the Samsung Lions, had they been able to win
the KBO Championship, then the 2008 Asia Series would
have feature all four teams with mascots as Lions. Instead,
Tianjin Lions (China), Seibu Lions (Japan), SK Wyverns
(South Korea) , and Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions (Taiwan)
will face one another from November 13-16 at Tokyo Dome.
The only website that I can find of this event is in Japanese.
(11/9)
2008 Asia Series
2008 Asia
Series (Wikipedia)
"Target Tazawa, Cont."
Junichi
Tazawa is trying to be the 3rd Japanese player to play
in the MLB before a NPB career after Mac Suzuki and Kaz Tadano,
so far only the Atlanta Braves offered him a formal contract.
(11/8)
Tazawa unlikely to alter Asian market
"Ichiroish Halloween."
Last
weekend I decided to go with my
Ichiro's 2001 All-Star Game
jersey with a Seattle Mariners hat,
Rawlings' OMLB,
mizuno wristbands,
and
Akadema glove that I had as
my Halloween costume, since I was
required to participate at my work's Halloween costume competition.
This
is the original picture
After
some photoshop, I created an album which contained
40 more pictures range from appearing in NYC, newspaper,
museum, $100 bill, even political protest, and vogue magazine.
Out of all my
co-workers' costume, here are some of the notables.
The Best/Mummy
Most Creative/TV
The Dynamic
Duos
   
Princess Jasmine/Aladdin
Tiffany/Chucky
(11/7)
"Getting Lo."
Chia-Jen Lo
passed his physical and is now officially a member
of Houston Astros. Lo will likely need around two to three
years to polishing his skills in the Minor League before making
contributions at the Major League level, he signed for $250,000.
(11/7)
Astros sign Taiwanese closer Lo
"Ichiro's Glove."
Once again,
Ichiro has landed another AL Gold Glove, his 8th
straight since coming to MLB and now is only two shy of the
franchise-record set by Ken Griffey Jr. from 1990 to 1999.
(11/6)
Ichiro snags eighth straight Gold Glove
"Leaving Versus Coming."
So
Taguchi's option was not picked up by Philadelphia Phillies, an
expected move since he only batted .220 in 91 at-bats over 88
games this past season. While Taguchi is likely heading back to
play in the NPB, service of Junichi Tazawa has just began to heat
up.
(11/5)
Phillies part ways with Taguchi
Japanese hurler interests Mariners
"Classic Team Japan."
Ichiro is
playing the 2009 World Baseball Classic while Hideki Matsui
will not, rest of the Japanese Major Leaguers will get at least an
invitation to be on the team in Japan's quest of another WBC title.
(11/5)
Japan seeking repeat in Classic
"Target Tazawa."
While there
are about half dozen teams that is interested in
Junichi Tazawa, Atlanta Braves is the first team to step up the
plate and offered the Japanese hurler a contract. Terms of the
offer are unknown and Frank Wren, General Manager of the
Braves had absolutely no comment when being asked about it.
(11/4)
Braves targeting righty Tazawa
"Low Five."
Po-Yu Lin
recently was released by Chicago White Sox, where
he played two seasons of Minor League ball in their system.
Lin's release makes total of five Taiwanese players getting
released in 2008. The other four are Chi-Hung Cheng,
Po-Hsuan Keng, Chin-Hui Tsao, and Chih-Hsiang Wen.
(11/4)
Minor League Transactions (October 25 - October 31)
"Park's Point."
Unlikely to be in the rotation, Chan Ho Park filed for free agency
and intentioned to be a starter again next season elsewhere
after serving as a long reliever this past season in his return to
Los Angeles Dodgers. Park will also not going to participate in
2009 World Baseball Classic so he can focus on his MLB career.
(11/1)
Park files for free agency from Dodgers
"Two Timers."
Philadelphia Phillies took care of business by winning Game 5 of
the 2008 World Series, which means Tadahito Iguchi and So Taguchi
will both add another World Series ring in their achievement
collection.
Congratulation to both Iguchi and Taguchi, where both players' MLB
career might have come to an end. Neither contributed much to the
Phillies this season and they both are likely heading back to the
NPB.
(10/30)
Clutch catch eludes Iwamura
"Pirate's Treasure."
SI recently
had my alma mater, East Carolina's senior cheerleader
Cassie Adcock as cheerleader of the week. Finally something positive
in the sports program, after the football team's top receiver was
suspended indefinitely for a violation of team policy, and the
top
running back also
suspended after having two incidents this month,
and total of three this year alone, which are likely making his
return
representing the school on the football field down to slim to none.
NBA Hall of Famer
Sir Charles Barkley also stopped by the school.
(10/25)
Cheerleader of the Week: East Carolina's Cassie Adcock
Cassie Adcock | East Carolina University
"Ichiro's Itch."
Not saying
that Ichiro is not enjoying his career with the
Seattle Mariners, but with this year's team struggled to their
worst season in 25 years and only 1 winning season the last
5 years, he announced that he would like to play in the 2009
World Baseball Classic and help his native Japan win it again.
(10/20)
Ichiro to play in World Baseball Classic
"Other Way Around."
Last season
as a rookie, Hideki Okajima had a fine regular
season until started being fatigued down the road in September
and the postseason. This season, Okajima was hit hard early
but ended his season as one of the most clutch reliever in the AL.
(10/19)
Okajima finding his groove
"Koshien Kid."
Back in
1998, Daisuke Matsuzaka became a national hero
and won the admiration of the Japanese people by helping
Yokohama High School winning the Koshien Tournament when
he made a relief appearance after throwing 250 pitches a day
earlier. Ten years later, Matsuzaka let Boston Red Sox know that
he can pitch out of the bullpen in Game 7 of ALCS if he is needed.
(10/18)
Dice-K available out of bullpen |
