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Thursday, July 17, 2008

AFP: Japanese pitcher Hideo Nomo retires

MLB’s first Japanese sensation says “no mas” after the Royals let him go.

The 39-year-old Nomo, who pitched two no-hitters in the US Major Leagues, announced his decision on his website, saying only: “Retiring. July 17, 2008. I announced my retirement from my playing career.”

He told Japanese media that while he wanted to keep playing, he could no longer pitch competitively.

“I want to continue, but I don’t think I can deliver a professional-level performance anymore. I believe many clubs think the same way,” Nomo told Kyodo News.

“I knew I had to make some kind of decision. I knew I had to let my fans know,” he said.

Greg Franklin Posted: July 17, 2008 at 12:49 PM | 39 comment(s)
Related News: General, Boston, Kansas City, LA Dodgers, NY Mets, Japan

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1. RB in NYC (Now with Christmas Spirit!) Posted: July 17, 2008 at 01:06 PM (#2862263)

5.27 ERA in his first 3 starts. If he'd kept that up, I wonder if it would've set back Japanese players coming over. Of course, the 2.33 in his next 26 games--with more than 11 K/9--made that a pretty moot question.

2. Shooty: Now rated AAA by Moody's and S&P! Posted: July 17, 2008 at 01:06 PM (#2862265)

“I want to continue, but I don’t think I can deliver a professional-level performance anymore. I believe many clubs think the same way,” Nomo told Kyodo News.

Japanese players give great quote. Or at least their translators do. Excellent career. If he had spent his entire career in MLB, I wonder what shape his careeer would have had? Kevin Brown-ish?

3. kevin Posted: July 17, 2008 at 01:11 PM (#2862268)

Yeah, Shooty. Refreshing honesty and candor.

It's funny. Despite the obvious difference in mechanics, what he brought to the table is a lot like Dice-K.

4. Harold Reynolds: An Erotic Life (AG#1F) Posted: July 17, 2008 at 01:16 PM (#2862276)

He was a pioneer and a treat to watch in his prime. Baseball was better because of him.

5. scareduck Posted: July 17, 2008 at 01:18 PM (#2862282)

Sayonara, Nomo-san. I wasn't paying attention to baseball in his first season, but I did after Dan Evans re-signed him. His 2003 was his last great year. A wonderful talent and a great ambassador, for both baseball and Japan.

6. bibigon Posted: July 17, 2008 at 01:23 PM (#2862289)

Japanese players give great quote. Or at least their translators do. Excellent career. If he had spent his entire career in MLB, I wonder what shape his careeer would have had? Kevin Brown-ish?

Jason Schmidt.

7. Joe Bivens, Ditch Digger Posted: July 17, 2008 at 01:26 PM (#2862295)

Nomo: Ichi Ban!!!

8. The Politics of Torre: How the HOF Really Works Posted: July 17, 2008 at 01:45 PM (#2862317)

I think that I still have a tape of the last half inning of his Red Sox no-hitter.

9. Baseballing powerhouse Crispix Attacks Posted: July 17, 2008 at 01:55 PM (#2862327)

Farewell, Nomo.

Having started following baseball seriously about halfway through the 1998 season, and 1999 being the first spring training I paid attention to, Nomo will always be associated half with the Mets and half with the Iowa Cubs in my eyes. I suppose I'm the only person on earth for whom that's true.

10. flournoy Posted: July 17, 2008 at 02:26 PM (#2862365)

Yes. I associate Nomo 100% with the Dodgers, and imagine that most others do as well.

11. Harold Reynolds: An Erotic Life (AG#1F) Posted: July 17, 2008 at 02:30 PM (#2862369)

Yes. I associate Nomo 100% with the Dodgers, and imagine that most others do as well.

I imagine quite a few people associate him with the Kintetsu Buffaloes.

12. Baseballing powerhouse Crispix Attacks Posted: July 17, 2008 at 02:31 PM (#2862370)

I also remember him being with the Brewers and Tigers for a little while. And with the Red Sox, but only because of the no-hitter.

13. Dock Ellis on Acid Posted: July 17, 2008 at 02:32 PM (#2862371)

Yes. I associate Nomo 100% with the Dodgers, and imagine that most others do as well.

Well, y'know, except for the millions of Japanese who associate him with the Kintetsu Buffaloes.

14. flournoy Posted: July 17, 2008 at 02:35 PM (#2862374)

Okay, well most American baseball fans, then.

15. Van Lingle Mungo Jerry Posted: July 17, 2008 at 02:53 PM (#2862400)

Yeah, but what about all the many people who associate him with the Kintetsu Buffaloes?

16. kevin Posted: July 17, 2008 at 02:56 PM (#2862406)

That's who I associate him with, the Kintetsu buffaloes.

17. Shooty: Now rated AAA by Moody's and S&P! Posted: July 17, 2008 at 02:58 PM (#2862412)

Kintetsu Buffaloes are the Nomo I most often associate with Hideo.

18. too fat and ugly to play third Posted: July 17, 2008 at 02:59 PM (#2862414)

But Hideo, why now? Why not three years ago?

19. Barry`s_Lazy_Boy Posted: July 17, 2008 at 03:02 PM (#2862418)

I bet a lot of people associate him with the Kintetsu Buffaloes.

20. vortex of dissipation Posted: July 17, 2008 at 03:03 PM (#2862420)

One of my favorite players of the recent past. He was a true pioneer, the first Japanese player to voluntarily come to MLB, and his success paved the way for all of the Japanese players now in the majors. And at his peak, he was one heck of a pitcher...

21. Shooty: Now rated AAA by Moody's and S&P! Posted: July 17, 2008 at 03:05 PM (#2862422)

Я держал пари что много люди связывают его с буйволами Kintetsu.

22. There's a chill wind blowing in Misirlou's soul Posted: July 17, 2008 at 03:08 PM (#2862426)

I bet a lot of people associate him with the Kintetsu Buffaloes.

Is that even legal?

23. There's a chill wind blowing in Misirlou's soul Posted: July 17, 2008 at 03:09 PM (#2862427)

That's who I associate him with, the Kintetsu buffaloes.

So's your Mom.

24. tribefan Posted: July 17, 2008 at 03:11 PM (#2862431)

The former player list of the Kinetsu Buffaloes is interesting: Charlie Manuel, Ben Ogilvie, Don Money, of course Tuffy Rhodes, and Jim Traber who I didn't know anything about but Wikipedia had this interesting quote:

His time in Japan is perhaps most memorable for an incident in which Traber rushed the mound subsequent to being hit by a pitch, chasing the retreating pitcher into the outfield. After charging the pitcher a second time, he tripped while running and was kicked in the face on the way down. Grainy footage of this incident is still widely distributed on the Internet.

also:

Traber was named as one of the all time worst players in Orioles history, in an article titled, "The Zeros of Birdland".

25. Barry`s_Lazy_Boy Posted: July 17, 2008 at 03:21 PM (#2862443)

Jim Traber Kick Doo video.

26. Barry`s_Lazy_Boy Posted: July 17, 2008 at 03:23 PM (#2862445)

Even better Jim Traber with Benny Hill music

27. Walt Davis Posted: July 17, 2008 at 03:31 PM (#2862460)

Not the way anyone wants to go out:

Nomo 2008: 4.3 IP, 10 H, 9 ER, 3 HR, 4 BB, 3 K, 1 WP

Yikes.

28. Dock Ellis on Acid Posted: July 17, 2008 at 03:35 PM (#2862465)

I just noticed I owe Alex a coke.

29. Harold Reynolds: An Erotic Life (AG#1F) Posted: July 17, 2008 at 03:43 PM (#2862482)

In Russia, Hideo Nomo associates you!

30. Shooty: Now rated AAA by Moody's and S&P! Posted: July 17, 2008 at 03:46 PM (#2862489)

I just noticed I owe Alex a coke.

Give it to the buffalo. He's had a long day.

31. KingKaufman Posted: July 17, 2008 at 06:21 PM (#2862658)

Not the way anyone wants to go out:

Nomo 2008: 4.3 IP, 10 H, 9 ER, 3 HR, 4 BB, 3 K, 1 WP

That's how I'd want to go out.

Yup. Nothing left. OK, bye.

Of course, if I could put up those numbers in MLB, it would be the outstanding achievement of my lifetime, but I mean if I were good at baseball.

32. Colin Posted: July 17, 2008 at 09:40 PM (#2863082)

He was a nemesis of my Braves early in his career, beating out Chipper for the Rookie of the Year and just dominating them for his first 3 or 4 years. Entertaining to watch, though.

33. retro-shiite Posted: July 17, 2008 at 09:55 PM (#2863129)

OK, you've all inspired me.

34. Pops Freshenmeyer Posted: July 17, 2008 at 09:57 PM (#2863135)

I associate him with the Rockies.

35. retro-shiite Posted: July 17, 2008 at 09:57 PM (#2863137)

Nomo's bb-ref page says he's 6'2". He doesn't look anywhere near that tall.

36. CFiJ Posted: July 17, 2008 at 10:07 PM (#2863174)

The ironic thing is, I think most Japanese people associate Nomo with the Dodgers. In the Japanese reporting of the story, the Kintetsu era clips seemed almost obligatory, and the vast majority were Dodgers, Dodgers, Boston no-hitter, Dodgers, Dodgers, and a last poignant shot in his Royals uniform.

37. Shock Posted: July 17, 2008 at 10:20 PM (#2863222)

Wow, I didn't even realize he pitched in MLB this year. When I saw the numbers in 27 I just assumed they were in Japan or something.

38. Justin Zeth Posted: July 17, 2008 at 10:21 PM (#2863225)

What Nomo actually said: "I was lucky I was in ####### baseball, for christ's sake. I was released by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, I was released by the ####### goddamned Kansas City Royals... holy ####, it's time to retire."

What the translator said: "I want to continue, but I don’t think I can deliver a professional-level performance anymore. I believe many clubs think the same way."

39. Mets Fan Posted: July 19, 2008 at 12:12 PM (#2864782)

I'm a Mets fan (don't you know) and I have no recollection of ever seeing him pitch in a Mets uniform.

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AFP: Japanese pitcher Hideo Nomo retires

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