Kenta Matsuzaka or Hisashi Takayama?

I have read Jim Allen's Hot Corner, one of my favorite columns, today. http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/sports/20080327TDY20301.htm
The one thing I like about his column is he writes what people should know about Japanese Pro Baseball. I mean he writes about a lot of Pacific League as well as Central League. Many Japanese media writes aobut CL more than PL; but, he covers both leagues fairly.

Anyhow, he writes about Seibu Lions this week. Lions have used Kenta Matsuzaka as their starting Left Fielder instead of Hisashi Takayama. He writes about why Lions choose Matsuzaka over Takayama. He tries to figure out how Lions' coaches see both outfielders.

As of now, I prefer Takayama over Matsuzaka. The only reason I prefer Takayama because I've seen his good play many times before. I only saw Matsuzaka 3 times. I didn't even know his name until this year because he had not been given play time much. So, I cannot have fair evaluation on him. I am not fair to him.

Although he hasn't hit any, Matsuzaka should be used as a starting left filder for a while. Even though Lions' coaches saw something in him to be a star outfielder, it may take a lot of time to prove that. I believe Takayama has proved himself as a good out fielder. It's fun to watch how he will take the starting job from Matsuzaka, although it's really tough work for him now. Takayama must work really hard in the Eastern League for next few weeks, or even a month.

DAILY　YOMIURIのジム・アレンのコラムで、埼玉西武の松坂健太と高山久のレギュラー争いについての記事を読みました。現在の段階では、松坂にレギュラーが与えられていますが、ライオンズは他にも良い外野手が多いので、レギュラー争いは熾烈ですね。アレンのコラムは、日本語の媒体では読めない秀逸な記事が多いのが特徴です。許可がもらえれば、今度日本語に翻訳してみたいですね。

Now Darvish!!?

Yu Darvish at Jingu Stadium on March 12, 2008

When I was trying to find an article about Joe Nathan's new contract with Minnesota Twins on Yahoo! sports, I found a scary article for me. Jeff Passan, who covers MLB for Yahoo!, writes about Yu Darvish http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=ArVxNAnDFnqHveOZcylzg5kRvLYF?slug=jp-japandarvish032308&prov=yhoo&type=lgns. Daisuke Matsuzaka left Saitama for MLB last year. Now what? MLB wants Darvish too?? Of course, they do.

I really hate to see great Japanese ballplayers leave NPB for MLB. Since Ichiro Suzuki and Hideki Matsui left NPB for MLB, Japanese pro baseball went to South. I mean NPB has become like AAA for MLB. We should blame Japanese teams, its fans, or poor facilities in Japan, not MLB, for this miserable situation in Japanese pro baseball. Most of Ballparks in Japan have been terrible for both players and fans. NPB teams have(had) disrespected its players and fans for so many years. Japanese ballparks have had horrible Astro Turf on the ground for years. Japanese ballparks have(had) had awful facilities for fans; such as, bathrooms are (were) too dirty(old). Japanese teams even give away too many free tickets to its fans; so, it seems fans do not want to pay for the game. It seems Japanese fans do not want to support NPB temas with their wallet. In 2007, Tokyo Yakult Swallows gave away 20,000 free general admission tickets to people for a Sunday game against Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles at Jingu Stadium. Can you guess how many people showed up for that game? About 20,000 fans. I was there. I paid 1,000yen ($10) for that game. About 1/3 of fans in that game were in reserved seats. So, many people did not even use those free tickets.

Thngs have been changed these days. NPB teams try to make fans to pay for the game. Even though it has been small step; but, NPB teams are making progress for the fans and its players. For example, Seibu Dome put new turf on the ground and new clean bathrooms this year. They are not enough yet; but, it's better than nothing.

I hate those scouts, who work for MLB, come to ballparks in Japan and try to evaluate Japanese players with their stopwatch. I really hate to see them. They're annoying. They shouldn't belong here. I hope they will not come over here unless they just enjoy Japanese baseball as fans.

Some comments Passan makes in his column really annoys me little; but, I don't wanna discuss it here now. I hope Darvish will pitch in the NPB for all of his baseball career; however, I understand NPB needs to be more attractive than MLB to acheive that goal. NPB needs to be way more attractive to its players and fans ever before. I believe money is the key issue here. NPB teams also need to respect its players and fans like MLB teams do.

In today's game between Hawks and Marines at Fukuoka, Naoyuki Shimizu will be the starting pitcher for the Marines. His wife died two months ago. I don't know what to say for what he has been through something like this; but, I hope he will win today.

ついに、MLBがダルビッシュに目をつけたようです。アメリカのYahoo!にダルの特集記事が出てました。ダルもいなくなったら、日本の野球のレベルはますます下がってしまいます。アメリカのAAA以下になるかも・・・。
今日、マリーンズの清水がホークス戦に先発します。悲しみを乗り越えて、がんばって欲しいです。

Let's Go to Pre-Season Baseball Games in Japan

Hello.
Thanks for reading my blog. This blog is mainly about Japanese baseball.
2008 season will start soon！ There are pre-season games going on around Japan now. In Jingu Stadium, there will be a game between Swallows and Lions at the Meiji Jingu Stadium on Sunday, March 9th(13:00). Former Dodger, Kaz Ishii will pitch at Jingu for the first time since he left the Tokyo Yakult for Saitama. Rookie phenom, Mikinori Katoh will pitch for the Swallows. This is going to be a fun game for both Swallows and Lions funs!! I am not sure that those great concession stands will be opened that day. Most of concessions were closed during most of pre-season games at Jingu in 2007, although they sold beer. If you are Swallows fun-club member, you can see this game for free!!!
Jingu Stadium at Shinjuku Ward in Tokyo (This picture's taken on 03/09/2008)
2008年のプロ野球もやっと開幕です！今度の日曜日１３：００に神宮で行われるスワローズ対ライオンズ戦では、加藤と石井一久の先発が予想されています。今から楽しみです！！けど、売店がやってないかもしれないと思うと、ちょっと悲しいです。去年の神宮でのほとんどのオープン戦では、大半の売店が営業してなかった記憶があります。ウィンナーが食べたいなー。