Japan baseball chiefs admit lying over ball change

Kunio Shimoda…I hear the Trost - Levine regime is hiring.

After months of denial and an inexplicably huge surge in home runs, Japan’s baseball chiefs have admitted they secretly switched the design of the ball to make the game more exciting.

Players and fans had repeatedly quizzed Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) bosses after seeing a 40 percent rise in the number of balls that were slugged out of the park so far this season.

In April NPB said the specifications of their ball—each of which bears the signature of its commissioner Ryozo Kato—“have not been changed”, a statement that was repeated several times since.

But on Tuesday NPB came clean, saying they had asked manufacturer Mizuno to “adjust” the ball to give it greater bounce off the bat and demanded the company keep quiet about the switch.

“Our understanding was that it would be a matter of fine-tuning,” NPB secretary general Kunio Shimoda said.

“We thought it would cause confusion if we let it be known.”

...Mizuno initially said the increase was due to foreign batters hitting so many home runs and was also related to the higher number of games being played in domed stadiums, where wind is not a factor, Kyodo News reported. 

But union chairman Motohiro Shima said it was important the organisation was honest because it affected statistics.

“The numbers of home runs and .300 hitters (considered a high batting average) has apparently increased. The earned runs average of pitchers has worsened,” he said.

“It has affected players who signed deals on the results of performances in the years when the uniform ball was introduced.”

Japanese media on Wednesday lashed out at the NPB commissioner, accusing him of lying to the baseball-crazy nation.

“The commissioner’s words and deeds, which lacked probity, raise questions over whether he should resign,” the influential daily Asahi Shimbun said.

Japanese Team Expressed Interest In A-Rod During Offseason

A-Rodzilla?

Apparently there was a team interested in acquiring Alex Rodriguez during the offseason, prior to the Yankees disclosing his hip injury and long before the Biogenesis scandal.

Japan’s Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks contacted the Yankees “through an intermediary” in November to express an “interest in obtaining” A-Rod, according to the New York Times.

New York chose not to return serve due to Rodriguez’s injury, which likely would have ended talks right then and there, the Times reported. The Yankees announced on Dec. 3 that A-Rod required surgery to repair a torn labrum in his hip and would miss at least half of the 2013 season.

The team also “knew there was no chance” A-Rod would go along with a move to Japan, the Times reported.

Ex-Yankee Hideki Matsui Receives Japan People’s Honor Award

I thought only industry insiders voted for The Reuben Sturman Award.

Hideki Matsui, Most Valuable Player in the 2009 World Series, and his former manager Shigeo Nagashima received Japan’s People’s Honor awards at a ceremony today in Tokyo, public broadcaster NHK reported.

Matsui set a record for Japanese players with 175 home runs in 10 Major League Baseball seasons, seven with the New York Yankees, after smashing 332 homers in 10 seasons with the Yomiuri Giants in Japan. Nagashima, who managed the Giants for much of Matsui’s tenure, was the team’s third-baseman from 1958 to 1974.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe presented the awards at Tokyo Dome, home field of the Giants, NHK reported on its website. Today’s date was chosen to honor Matsui’s longtime uniform number 55, NHK said.

“We are honored and humbled to receive this award,” NHK quoted Matsui as saying. “I’m going to do what I can to keep supporting people in Japan who love baseball.”

Japanese high school pitcher throws 232-pitch complete game, returns on three days rest

According to Baseball America’s Ben Badler, Japanese high school pitcher Tomohiro Anraku has taken on a workload this week that might make Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo pass out or consider checking into an institution.

In just five days, the 16-year-old Anraku has been asked to throw an astounding 22 innings and 391 total pitches during tournament play in his home country.

Then ran 3 miles to school uphill in the snow.

The Japan Times: Graczyk: Speeding up long, slow games should be a priority

We’re not in Sarkhan anymore!

The March 7 decision by Japanese baseball’s executive committee to drop the 3½-hour time limit on extra-inning games came as welcome news. We have observed the second anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011, the subsequent tsunami and nuclear power plant problems that led to a period of setsuden (power-conservation measures).

In spite of the passing of the two-year mark, however, normalcy has not returned in some places. For example, in my city of Musashino west of Tokyo, the time-and-temperature board in front of Japan Railways Kichijoji Station remains blank.

Also, at a branch of our city office, an escalator leading from the first to second floor of the building is still shut down. Most likely, it has just not occurred to the city officials to turn on the digital board and restart the escalator.

Also, many of the fluorescent lights in the JR train carriages have never been put back.

However, noting the fact 11 of the 12 Central and Pacific League teams played double-figure numbers of tie games last season, and the average length for games is still well over three hours, NPB is making the wise move to scrap the time limit. The 12-inning restriction remains in place.

...Another strange happening often seen in Japanese games but one I have not seen very much in the majors occurs when a guy gets hurt and goes into the clubhouse for examination and treatment.

Of course all care should be given when a man is injured, but all too often it seems his leaving the field is unnecessary. Sometimes the player goes off the diamond, acting as if he is at death’s door, and the plate umpire signals to the P.A. announcer to ask the fans to wait a few minutes while the injured party gets checked out.

Everyone waits 10 or 15 minutes, after which the player comes running out, having apparently made a miraculous recovery. I am not sure what can be done about it, but this is also one of the reasons games are often held up.

Aikawa’s clutch eighth-inning homer gives Japan comeback win over Australia

Two-time defending World Baseball Classic champion Japan endured a scare on Saturday one week before the start of the 2013 tournament, but backup catcher Ryoji Aikawa rescued his team with a three-run, eighth-inning homer in a 3-2 victory over Australia.

Koji Yamamoto’s Samurai Japan prevailed in the first of its two exhibition games as the teams prepare for the start of the WBC on March 2. Japan will open the defense of the titles won in 2006 and 2009 in Fukuoka in Pool A, while Australia is grouped in Pool B in Taichung, Taiwan.

Given the fact that earlier they were beaten 7-0 by the Hiroshima Carp, Samurai Japan 2013 isn’t off to the best of starts.

Carp crush Samurai Japan hopefuls in warmup

It would have gone even worse if they were facing the Gyarados.

Koji Yamamoto’s hopefuls for Samurai Japan in the upcoming World Baseball Classic got off to a lackluster start Sunday, falling 7-0 in a warmup game against the Hiroshima Carp.

Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles right-hander Masahiro Tanaka allowed two runs on three consecutive hits in the first inning at Sunmarine Stadium.

“I was a little off from what I had imagined,” said Tanaka, who went 10-4 with a 1.87 ERA for the Eagles last season. “I didn’t have good balance with my mind and body. I couldn’t pitch at my own pace. It all depends on my thinking. I’ll have to pitch while using my body in a full effort.”

Daisuke Yamai of the Chunichi Dragons, the third pitcher up, also struggled with control issues and yielded two runs in the fifth, while Yomiuri Giants lefty Tetsya Utsumi surrendered a three-run homer to substitute Masamitsu Suzuki in the ninth.

Just two weeks away from the start of the WBC, which Japan is bidding to win for the third time in a row, Yamamoto did not appear concerned about Tanaka’s rough start. “He is still in a situation where he’s just getting used to things,” Yamamoto said.

Samurai Japan hopefuls set to report to WBC training camp

With the third World Baseball Classic less than three weeks away, the 33 invitees to manager Koji Yamamoto’s Samurai Japan training camp will gather Thursday in Miyazaki and begin training the following day.

For comparison, most of the western teams don’t gather for national team camps until early March, when the Asian brackets will already be playing games.

Deadspin/YouTube: The Art of the Japanese Bat Flip

Explains why one of the better MLB bat-flips I’ve seen came from, of all people, Dodgers LHP Hong-Chih Kuo after he took John Maine yard in 2007.

It’s interesting that this is acceptable in Japan, where scores of Western movies have taught me that they’re big on honor and subtlety. In MLB, these bat flips would be considered showing up the pitcher and would lead to brushbacks the next time up. Oh ####: Vicente Padilla just signed with a Japanese team. This could get bloody.

Nyjer Morgan going to Japan; Shaun Marcum signs with Mets

Tony “Takitani” Plush?

A pair of players who played for the Brewers the past two seasons have found new homes for the 2013 season.

Outfielder Nyjer Morgan has agreed to a $1.6 million contract with the Yokohoma BayStars of Japan’s Central League, and right-hander Shaun Marcum reportedly has signed a one-year deal with the New York Mets.

Morgan, 32, had a big year for the Brewers in 2011, batting .304 over 119 games. Morgan also delivered one of the biggest hits in franchise history when he delivered a game-winning single in the 10th inning of Game 5 of the NLDS against Arizona, putting the Brewers in the NLCS against St. Louis. But he fell off badly in 2012, batting only .239 over 122 games and eventually losing playing time to Carlos Gomez in center field…

Marcum missed two months of the 2012 season with an ailing elbow and was limited to 21 starts, going 7-4 with a 3.70 ERA. The Brewers were concerned about his health going forward and opted not to offer him a contract for 2013, allowing him to go on the free agent market.

Marcum’s deal with the Mets is contingent upon passing a physical and was first reported by CBS Sports.com and FOX Sports.com.

Kuwata rejects corporal punishment in sports

Former major league pitcher Masumi Kuwata has spoken out against corporal punishment in sports following the suicide of a Japanese high school student who endured repeated beatings by his basketball coach.

Good for Kuwata.

Veteran outfielder Fukudome eager for new opportunity with Hanshin Tigers

Kosuke Fukudome was re-introduced to the media on Saturday as the Central League’s Hanshin Tigers unveiled their biggest offseason signing.

The 35-year-old outfielder met the media after signing a three-year deal that will pay him ¥150 million next year with additional performance-based incentives. Second-year Tigers skipper Yutaka Wada also attended the press conference that attracted roughly 100 members of the media.

“My feelings are split 50-50. On the one hand my mind is clear. I think I’m going to be OK, but there’s a little anxiety,” he said. “Just seeing the number of reporters makes me think this team is something special, that this is a place where worthwhile things are done.”

Fukudome is not only returning to Japan after five years in the big leagues but also coming home to his baseball roots in the Kansai region, where he played high school and corporate league ball.

What is the track record of players returning to where they played corporate league ball?

Planning underway for Darvish museum

Ichiro has a museum too. And Hideki Matsui. What US baseball players have museums besides Babe Ruth? Don’t Bob Feller and Yogi Berra have museums?

Jim Kaat: Will we finally get The Real Deal?

Kaat Said: Orientalism.

A couple of short stories about Asian pitchers and Irabu: I was announcing Yankee games in the mid-90s when I said over the air, “I wonder if we’ll ever see an Oriental position player in the Major Leagues?” Dion James was playing for the Yankees at the time, and told me about an exciting 19-year old named Ichiro Suzuki who had a chance to be the first. We all know that story. Big fan of Bernie Williams from watching Yankee games in Japan. Wears number 51 because of that.

So, I get a letter about a week later from an Asian baseball fan. Not a malicious letter but scolding me gently for referring to Asian players as “Oriental.” He said, “Noodles and rugs are Oriental, not people. We are Asians.” Fortunately for me, he put his phone number in the letter, so I called him.

We had a pleasant conversation and I told him I certainly didn’t intentionally say “Oriental’ as a slur or condescending remark. It was said innocently out of ignorance. He understood. I asked him if he would be watching the next game we televised. He said he would. He was a huge baseball fan and was complimentary of our telecasts on the MSG Network. I asked if he would please watch and listen in the top of the 4th inning. He said he would.  I took the opportunity to clear up the Oriental/Asian situation.

...So, I’lll be keeping a close eye on Yu Darvish and see if he is finally the one to be able to challenge and dominate our bigger, more powerful big league hitters. For his and the Rangers’ sake, I hope he does. It will be good for the game and the Rangers profit and loss statement!

Fox: Morosi: Darvish, Texas agree to six-year deal

Apparently there’s an opt-out for Darvish after the fifth season.  All seems fair enough.

The Texas Rangers and Japanese pitching star Yu Darvish have agreed on a six-year contract, the team announced Wednesday.

The deal is worth close to $60 million, one major-league source confirmed to FOXSports.com. It does not include deferred money.

Brewers sign Japanese slugger Norichika Aok

This “slugger” hit four home runs and slugged .360 in 643 PAs. In Japan.

The Milwaukee Brewers have signed three-time year contract with a club option for 2014.

The Brewers won the negotiating rights to Aoki on December 19.
The 30-year-old Aoki has played his entire eight-year professional career with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, batting .329 with 84 HR, 385 RBI and 164 stolen bases in 985 games.

The Central League batting champion in 2005 (.344), 2007 (.346) and 2010 (.358), Aoki won the CL Rookie of the Year award in 2005. He is also a six- time Golden Glove Award winner.

Oakland manager Melvin excited about Japan series

The Athletics and Seattle Mariners open the regular season with a two-game series at Tokyo Dome on March 28-29. Many hoped the series would feature a showdown between Matsui and countryman Ichiro Suzuki, but Melvin said the A’s likely wont be re-signing the 37-year-old free agent Matsui.

“Matsui was a great fit for us last year and we all loved having him on our team,’’ Melvin said at a press conference on Monday to promote the series. “But this year it doesn’t look like a fit for us based on the personnel we have going forward.’‘

...Suzuki also had a down season in 2011. For the first time in his career, He failed to reach 200 hits - finishing with 184 - and hit a career-worst .272. Other numbers were lower too, including on-base percentage, infield hits and home runs, while he struck out a career-high 69 times.

Former Seattle star Ken Griffey Jr., who now serves as a special consultant to the Mariners, said he expects Suzuki to bounce back this season.

“Ichiro is going to be fine, you can ask these two guys (Melvin, Wedge) if a guy had 184 hits they wouldn’t be complaining,’’ Griffey said. “But you are looking at a guy who is a special athlete. He had one hiccup in his career and come this time next year we won’t even be talking about this. He is going to come into this season determined and with a little fire.’‘

Hiccup?...That was a freakin’ Dave McNally tally if ever!

Nakajima, Yankees unable to reach deal

The Yankees announced on Thursday that they were unable to sign infielder Hiroyuki Nakajima, who will instead continue to play for the Seibu Lions of Japan’s Pacific League.

“We unfortunately could not come to an agreement with Hiroyuki,” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said in a statement. “We wish him the best of luck during the upcoming 2012 season.”

The Yankees acquired the rights to negotiate with the 29-year-old Nakajima through the posting process on Dec. 7, offering a reported $2.5 million bid that gave them 30 days to speak freely with Seibu’s shortstop and team captain.

Sayonara!

Yahoo: Passan: Rangers win bidding for Yu Darvish

The Texas Rangers won the rights to negotiate with star Japanese right-hander Yu Darvish by placing a record $51.7 million bid in a posting auction, sources told Yahoo! Sports.

Darvish’s team in Japan, the Nippon Ham Fighters, will accept the bid, which means the Rangers have 30 days to negotiate a contract with Darvish. If they cannot work out a deal, Darvish would return to Japan for the 2012 season and the Rangers would be refunded the posting fee.

Nationals do not bid on Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish

The identity of the team that won the right to negotiate with Yu Darvish has yet to be revealed, but it was not the Nationals. Washington did not submit a posting bid, according to multiple people with knowledge of the situation, opting to stay on the sideline of a sweepstakes that will cost whomever lands the Japanese superstar upward of $100?million.

Damn it.

By the way, there’s another wonderful WaPo headline for Andy. Time to go back to grammar school.

Brew Crew reportedly wins negotiating rights for Aoki

Hardly seems fair that large market teams like the Brewers can just replace their MVP left-fielder with a three-time batting champ.

The Brewers reportedly submitted a winning $2.5 million bid to negotiate with Japanese outfielder Norichika Aoki, a three-time Central League batting champion with the Yakult Swallows.

According to a tweet by Yasuko Yanagita of Hochi Shimbun, the Swallows announced that they accepted the Brewers’ bid for Aoki. The Brewers now have negotiating rights for Aoki for the next 30 days….

The 5-foot-10, 170-pound left-handed hitter slipped to a .292 average and four homers in 2011, after going for career highs of a .358 average and 209 hits in 2010. He was the 2005 Central League Rookie of the Year, batting .344 in his first full season.

Aoki will turn 30 on Jan. 5, and could join a Brewers outfield that includes Ryan Bruan, Corey Hart, Nyjer Morgan and Carlos Gomez.

Japan Times: Asao, Uchikawa win league MVP awards

This news is actually a couple of weeks old, but I’m posting it mainly because I thought people might be interested to know that a set-up man, Chunichi Dragons reliever Takuya Asao, won the MVP Award in Japan’s Central League. After the controversy about Verlander’s MVP win, and some writers questioning whether pitchers should be eligible for the MVP at all, it’s interesting to look overseas and see not a starting pitcher, not a closer, but a set-up man walk away with the hardware…

“I can’t believe it,” Asao said at a news conference.

...

Asao played a vital role out of the bullpen for the pennant-winning Dragons, making 79 appearances and recording 45 holds. He finished the season with 10 saves, 100 strikeouts, a 0.41 ERA and didn’t allow a single home run in 87? innings on the mound.

“I was determined to do my best the entire year,” Asao said. “I didn’t believe I would ever be named MVP. I’m really surprised.”

Orioles sign Japanese lefty

Wada relief.

Yahoo Sports: Passan: Darvish bidding process is a cloak and dagger affair

The deadline for bids on Darvish is today at 5 pm (eastern time).  Passan makes the whole process sound like executives have spent several years in Australia bulding up an immunity to iocane powder just for this moment.

The Texas Rangers, for example, have told rivals they’re cash-poor this offseason. A TV deal that will net them $80 million annually doesn’t kick in until 2015. The purchase price of the team for the ownership group – jacked up in an auction by Mark Cuban – wound up tens of millions of dollars higher than expected and sucked up the $90 million signing bonus Fox Sports delivered. And the TV contract itself wasn’t nearly as lucrative as Chuck Greenberg, the club’s deposed CEO, purported it to be.

To which one GM said: “Yeah, right.”

And another executive said: “They’re sandbagging.”

Bill Conlin: Rollins in the Cards

I once had a fleshy Conlinesque druncle who’d freak out whenever I’d flick juice-less, hence disposable, boogers his way at the dinner table. Strange man.

When I’m King of the World . . .

Manager Mike Scioscia likes to run. He has a lineup filled with rabbits, including Erick Aybar and two of the game’s fastest players in outfielders Peter Bourjos and Millville’s Mike Trout, 19.

With that kind of speed in front of him, if Trout is ready to lead off or bat No. 2, Pujols might drive in 150 runs.

Ah, but what has the Pujols signing done for a Rollins re-signing that seemed close to dotted-line time until the Angels surfaced as the “Mystery Team” that had been lurking in the shadows while the Cardinals and Marlins tried to wrap him up? No doubt it will get him a fourth year and a better price from the Phillies. Or, horror of horrors, the Cardinals, who just saved themselves $250 million, go all in and decide to upgrade their shortstop situation with the best infielder out there? Could happen. Be very afraid.

When I’m King of the World . . .

Phils will dive into the deep end of the International talent pool just to see what it’s like . . .I’m talking a big, expensive, defecting Cuban five-tooler like Yoenis Cespedes, who is said to be the centerfield equivalent of 106 mph power arm Aroldis Chapman. They say the 26-year-old has the opposite-field power of Vlad Guerrero and the size and running speed of No. 1 prospect Trout. And all he wants is $30 million, a bargain considering you don’t have to pay a “posting” bounty to Fidel Castro, the way suitors for Japanese phenom Yu Darvish must pay the Nippon Ham Fighters just for the right to negotiate with their gas-pumping righthander.