New sheriff in town: Texas Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish shows off his new uniform between manager Ron Washington (left) and general manager Jon Daniels at a news conference on Friday in Arlington, Texas. KYODO"Excited, that's all I feel right now," Darvish said through a translator. "Just excited going forward."Japan's best pitcher is now officially a member of the two-time defending American League champions, with his formal introduction Friday night in Texas coming two days after the right-hander agreed to a six-year contract that guarantees him $56 million.The 25-year-old Darvish, who exceled in the Pacific League the past seven seasons, said he wasn't prepared to go into specifics about the several different reasons why he decided to make the move to United States now.But he said he felt no pressure and planned to keep an open mind and be relaxed — with his new team and in a new country."I have no worries," he said. "What I'm looking forward to is a different environment, a different league and different hitters. I'm looking forward to it full of excitement."There is a lot of excitement in Texas, where fans are hoping Darvish is the missing piece that will help lift the Rangers to their first World Series title.The Rangers spent more than two years scouting Darvish and getting to know him personally before committing more than $107 million to get him. On top of his contract, they have to pay a record $51,703,411 posting bid to the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters.The Darvish news conference was held in a much bigger room that is part of the team's Hall of Fame area at Rangers Ballpark, instead of the usual interview room down the hall from the clubhouse.Among those sitting in the front row were Ray Davis and Bob Simpson, the oil-and-gas billionaires who are co-chairmen of the Rangers ownership group, and slugger Josh Hamilton. Simpson smiled when he walked in and saw the room full of international media."We've had a lot of big moments on the field the last couple of years, in October and the things we've accomplished," general manager Jon Daniels said while introducing Darvish. "There haven't been many bigger off-the-field moments than what brings us here."After the news conference, the 196-cm Darvish donned his new jersey and went on the field, where he stood on the mound and tossed a couple of balls toward the plate.Highlights of Darvish's career in Japan were being shown on the huge video board high above right field. The electronic ribbon boards around the stadium were lit up with Darvish's image with his number and name, switching back and forth between English and Japanese.Darvish's contract is worth up to $60 million including bonuses and incentives, but there was one thing he apparently didn't get in his deal after standing on the mound and looking out to the right-center field fence in his only other visit to Rangers Ballpark two weeks ago."It seemed a little close, I asked my GM if they could back that up a little bit, not sure where they are on that," he said.When asked about that, Daniels laughed and motioned toward Hamilton."I don't think Josh wants us to move them back," Daniels said. "We'll let them arm wrestle and figure it out."Darvish arrived about three hours earlier at Dallas-Fort Worth Airport, where he was greeted by a large group of media cameras and a handful of Rangers fans.There was a bit of a stir created by the photos of the arrival, when Darvish wore a T-shirt with the phrase "I Will Survive" surrounding the image of a Japanese maple leaf, which looks similar to a marijuana leaf."In Japan, anything that's like a T-shirt with English words on it," he said. "We just tend to wear it, we don't really actually know what it means."SANTO DOMINGO — The Cleveland Indians pitcher known as Fausto Carmona issued a tearful apology Friday as he was released following his arrest for allegedly using a false identity to play baseball in the United States."I ask for the forgiveness of my fans, the government of the United States and the Cleveland Indians for this situation," he said upon leaving the court, where a judge released him on bail of about $13,000.Police arrested him Thursday outside the U.S. consulate in his native Dominican Republic when he arrived to get his visa renewed. Spokesman Maximo Baez Aybar said the athlete's real name is Roberto Hernandez Heredia and that he is 31, three years older than he had claimed.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Rangers introduce Darvish
ARLINGTON, Texas — Yu Darvish leaned over and looked at his name and the No. 11 on the back of his Texas Rangers jersey. Then he looked up and smiled.New sheriff in town: Texas Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish shows off his new uniform between manager Ron Washington (left) and general manager Jon Daniels at a news conference on Friday in Arlington, Texas. KYODO"Excited, that's all I feel right now," Darvish said through a translator. "Just excited going forward."Japan's best pitcher is now officially a member of the two-time defending American League champions, with his formal introduction Friday night in Texas coming two days after the right-hander agreed to a six-year contract that guarantees him $56 million.The 25-year-old Darvish, who exceled in the Pacific League the past seven seasons, said he wasn't prepared to go into specifics about the several different reasons why he decided to make the move to United States now.But he said he felt no pressure and planned to keep an open mind and be relaxed — with his new team and in a new country."I have no worries," he said. "What I'm looking forward to is a different environment, a different league and different hitters. I'm looking forward to it full of excitement."There is a lot of excitement in Texas, where fans are hoping Darvish is the missing piece that will help lift the Rangers to their first World Series title.The Rangers spent more than two years scouting Darvish and getting to know him personally before committing more than $107 million to get him. On top of his contract, they have to pay a record $51,703,411 posting bid to the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters.The Darvish news conference was held in a much bigger room that is part of the team's Hall of Fame area at Rangers Ballpark, instead of the usual interview room down the hall from the clubhouse.Among those sitting in the front row were Ray Davis and Bob Simpson, the oil-and-gas billionaires who are co-chairmen of the Rangers ownership group, and slugger Josh Hamilton. Simpson smiled when he walked in and saw the room full of international media."We've had a lot of big moments on the field the last couple of years, in October and the things we've accomplished," general manager Jon Daniels said while introducing Darvish. "There haven't been many bigger off-the-field moments than what brings us here."After the news conference, the 196-cm Darvish donned his new jersey and went on the field, where he stood on the mound and tossed a couple of balls toward the plate.Highlights of Darvish's career in Japan were being shown on the huge video board high above right field. The electronic ribbon boards around the stadium were lit up with Darvish's image with his number and name, switching back and forth between English and Japanese.Darvish's contract is worth up to $60 million including bonuses and incentives, but there was one thing he apparently didn't get in his deal after standing on the mound and looking out to the right-center field fence in his only other visit to Rangers Ballpark two weeks ago."It seemed a little close, I asked my GM if they could back that up a little bit, not sure where they are on that," he said.When asked about that, Daniels laughed and motioned toward Hamilton."I don't think Josh wants us to move them back," Daniels said. "We'll let them arm wrestle and figure it out."Darvish arrived about three hours earlier at Dallas-Fort Worth Airport, where he was greeted by a large group of media cameras and a handful of Rangers fans.There was a bit of a stir created by the photos of the arrival, when Darvish wore a T-shirt with the phrase "I Will Survive" surrounding the image of a Japanese maple leaf, which looks similar to a marijuana leaf."In Japan, anything that's like a T-shirt with English words on it," he said. "We just tend to wear it, we don't really actually know what it means."SANTO DOMINGO — The Cleveland Indians pitcher known as Fausto Carmona issued a tearful apology Friday as he was released following his arrest for allegedly using a false identity to play baseball in the United States."I ask for the forgiveness of my fans, the government of the United States and the Cleveland Indians for this situation," he said upon leaving the court, where a judge released him on bail of about $13,000.Police arrested him Thursday outside the U.S. consulate in his native Dominican Republic when he arrived to get his visa renewed. Spokesman Maximo Baez Aybar said the athlete's real name is Roberto Hernandez Heredia and that he is 31, three years older than he had claimed.
New sheriff in town: Texas Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish shows off his new uniform between manager Ron Washington (left) and general manager Jon Daniels at a news conference on Friday in Arlington, Texas. KYODO"Excited, that's all I feel right now," Darvish said through a translator. "Just excited going forward."Japan's best pitcher is now officially a member of the two-time defending American League champions, with his formal introduction Friday night in Texas coming two days after the right-hander agreed to a six-year contract that guarantees him $56 million.The 25-year-old Darvish, who exceled in the Pacific League the past seven seasons, said he wasn't prepared to go into specifics about the several different reasons why he decided to make the move to United States now.But he said he felt no pressure and planned to keep an open mind and be relaxed — with his new team and in a new country."I have no worries," he said. "What I'm looking forward to is a different environment, a different league and different hitters. I'm looking forward to it full of excitement."There is a lot of excitement in Texas, where fans are hoping Darvish is the missing piece that will help lift the Rangers to their first World Series title.The Rangers spent more than two years scouting Darvish and getting to know him personally before committing more than $107 million to get him. On top of his contract, they have to pay a record $51,703,411 posting bid to the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters.The Darvish news conference was held in a much bigger room that is part of the team's Hall of Fame area at Rangers Ballpark, instead of the usual interview room down the hall from the clubhouse.Among those sitting in the front row were Ray Davis and Bob Simpson, the oil-and-gas billionaires who are co-chairmen of the Rangers ownership group, and slugger Josh Hamilton. Simpson smiled when he walked in and saw the room full of international media."We've had a lot of big moments on the field the last couple of years, in October and the things we've accomplished," general manager Jon Daniels said while introducing Darvish. "There haven't been many bigger off-the-field moments than what brings us here."After the news conference, the 196-cm Darvish donned his new jersey and went on the field, where he stood on the mound and tossed a couple of balls toward the plate.Highlights of Darvish's career in Japan were being shown on the huge video board high above right field. The electronic ribbon boards around the stadium were lit up with Darvish's image with his number and name, switching back and forth between English and Japanese.Darvish's contract is worth up to $60 million including bonuses and incentives, but there was one thing he apparently didn't get in his deal after standing on the mound and looking out to the right-center field fence in his only other visit to Rangers Ballpark two weeks ago."It seemed a little close, I asked my GM if they could back that up a little bit, not sure where they are on that," he said.When asked about that, Daniels laughed and motioned toward Hamilton."I don't think Josh wants us to move them back," Daniels said. "We'll let them arm wrestle and figure it out."Darvish arrived about three hours earlier at Dallas-Fort Worth Airport, where he was greeted by a large group of media cameras and a handful of Rangers fans.There was a bit of a stir created by the photos of the arrival, when Darvish wore a T-shirt with the phrase "I Will Survive" surrounding the image of a Japanese maple leaf, which looks similar to a marijuana leaf."In Japan, anything that's like a T-shirt with English words on it," he said. "We just tend to wear it, we don't really actually know what it means."SANTO DOMINGO — The Cleveland Indians pitcher known as Fausto Carmona issued a tearful apology Friday as he was released following his arrest for allegedly using a false identity to play baseball in the United States."I ask for the forgiveness of my fans, the government of the United States and the Cleveland Indians for this situation," he said upon leaving the court, where a judge released him on bail of about $13,000.Police arrested him Thursday outside the U.S. consulate in his native Dominican Republic when he arrived to get his visa renewed. Spokesman Maximo Baez Aybar said the athlete's real name is Roberto Hernandez Heredia and that he is 31, three years older than he had claimed.
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