The next challenge two-time defending champion Japan faces may come when it's time to actually fill out the roster.The timing of the WBC, in early March, during MLB spring training, could prove problematic for a few of Japan's top players.The main target for Samurai Japan's team-builders will be Texas Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish. The elephant in the room, however, could be Daisuke Matsuzaka's hip circa 2009.Matsuzaka was the MVP of the 2009 WBC — an honor teammate Hisashi Iwakuma deserved more, but that's a different story — then suffered through an injury-riddled season for the Boston Red Sox, making just 12 starts and finishing 4-6 with a 5.76 ERA in 59? innings.Matsuzaka later revealed he'd initially injured himself during training for the WBC and pitched with the injury during the tournament, all without the knowledge of the Red Sox medical staff.The Red Sox were still in the midst of an investment of over $100 million in Matsuzaka and popular sentiment in Boston was that the team got damaged goods in 2009 because of Matsuzaka's exertions in the WBC.Which brings us to Darvish.Darvish is enduring the rigors of an MLB schedule for the first time, and the Rangers may not be particularly anxious to see him pitching for Japan in the spring.Remember, Matsuzaka in 2009 already had two major league seasons (and seven postseason starts) under his belt, and even then there seemed to be a tacit level of uncertainty in New England about his participation.And that was before the era of Stephen Strasburg and the increased attention paid to how many innings young pitchers, with hefty price tags, throw. Darvish has tossed 169? innings so far this year and probably has one or two more regular-season starts before the postseason begins. Unless he's injured, Texas can't bar Darvish from competing, but after spending over $110 to acquire him, the team would probably prefer the innings logged on his arm come in a Rangers uniform.Darvish was mum on the subject last week when it was announced Japan would compete.Similarly, prospective free agents such as Hiroyuki Nakajima will have a choice to make.Nakajima, currently the Seibu Lions' shortstop, is expected to pursue a job with a MLB club over the winter, but would he, or a player in a similar situation, be willing to cut his first-ever spring training in the States short to help Japan retain its title?Matsuzaka and Mariners pitcher Iwakuma might also be on the hunt for new contracts and may deem it in their best interests to save their arms for MLB competition.Major League teams in the past have expressed hesitance about having their star players risk injury prior to the season, and though Derek Jeter and many other All-Stars competed in both the 2006 and 2009 editions of the WBC, many have also passed.There's also the question of what to do with Ichiro Suzuki. The 38-year-old Yankees outfielder is inarguably on the decline, though still a skilled player, and Japan's next manager will have to decide if he still warrants a starting job, or if the team is stronger with a younger player patrolling the outfield, with Ichiro's legendary status only making the choice that much harder.Japan cleared perhaps the biggest hurdle toward a third straight title by getting the JPBPA on board, but for a team that doesn't even have a manager yet the fun has just begun.
Showing posts with label others. Show all posts
Showing posts with label others. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Darvish, others have decisions to make ahead of next WBC
The big news last week was that the Japanese Professional Baseball Players Association decided to compete in next year's World Baseball Classic.The next challenge two-time defending champion Japan faces may come when it's time to actually fill out the roster.The timing of the WBC, in early March, during MLB spring training, could prove problematic for a few of Japan's top players.The main target for Samurai Japan's team-builders will be Texas Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish. The elephant in the room, however, could be Daisuke Matsuzaka's hip circa 2009.Matsuzaka was the MVP of the 2009 WBC — an honor teammate Hisashi Iwakuma deserved more, but that's a different story — then suffered through an injury-riddled season for the Boston Red Sox, making just 12 starts and finishing 4-6 with a 5.76 ERA in 59? innings.Matsuzaka later revealed he'd initially injured himself during training for the WBC and pitched with the injury during the tournament, all without the knowledge of the Red Sox medical staff.The Red Sox were still in the midst of an investment of over $100 million in Matsuzaka and popular sentiment in Boston was that the team got damaged goods in 2009 because of Matsuzaka's exertions in the WBC.Which brings us to Darvish.Darvish is enduring the rigors of an MLB schedule for the first time, and the Rangers may not be particularly anxious to see him pitching for Japan in the spring.Remember, Matsuzaka in 2009 already had two major league seasons (and seven postseason starts) under his belt, and even then there seemed to be a tacit level of uncertainty in New England about his participation.And that was before the era of Stephen Strasburg and the increased attention paid to how many innings young pitchers, with hefty price tags, throw. Darvish has tossed 169? innings so far this year and probably has one or two more regular-season starts before the postseason begins. Unless he's injured, Texas can't bar Darvish from competing, but after spending over $110 to acquire him, the team would probably prefer the innings logged on his arm come in a Rangers uniform.Darvish was mum on the subject last week when it was announced Japan would compete.Similarly, prospective free agents such as Hiroyuki Nakajima will have a choice to make.Nakajima, currently the Seibu Lions' shortstop, is expected to pursue a job with a MLB club over the winter, but would he, or a player in a similar situation, be willing to cut his first-ever spring training in the States short to help Japan retain its title?Matsuzaka and Mariners pitcher Iwakuma might also be on the hunt for new contracts and may deem it in their best interests to save their arms for MLB competition.Major League teams in the past have expressed hesitance about having their star players risk injury prior to the season, and though Derek Jeter and many other All-Stars competed in both the 2006 and 2009 editions of the WBC, many have also passed.There's also the question of what to do with Ichiro Suzuki. The 38-year-old Yankees outfielder is inarguably on the decline, though still a skilled player, and Japan's next manager will have to decide if he still warrants a starting job, or if the team is stronger with a younger player patrolling the outfield, with Ichiro's legendary status only making the choice that much harder.Japan cleared perhaps the biggest hurdle toward a third straight title by getting the JPBPA on board, but for a team that doesn't even have a manager yet the fun has just begun.
The next challenge two-time defending champion Japan faces may come when it's time to actually fill out the roster.The timing of the WBC, in early March, during MLB spring training, could prove problematic for a few of Japan's top players.The main target for Samurai Japan's team-builders will be Texas Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish. The elephant in the room, however, could be Daisuke Matsuzaka's hip circa 2009.Matsuzaka was the MVP of the 2009 WBC — an honor teammate Hisashi Iwakuma deserved more, but that's a different story — then suffered through an injury-riddled season for the Boston Red Sox, making just 12 starts and finishing 4-6 with a 5.76 ERA in 59? innings.Matsuzaka later revealed he'd initially injured himself during training for the WBC and pitched with the injury during the tournament, all without the knowledge of the Red Sox medical staff.The Red Sox were still in the midst of an investment of over $100 million in Matsuzaka and popular sentiment in Boston was that the team got damaged goods in 2009 because of Matsuzaka's exertions in the WBC.Which brings us to Darvish.Darvish is enduring the rigors of an MLB schedule for the first time, and the Rangers may not be particularly anxious to see him pitching for Japan in the spring.Remember, Matsuzaka in 2009 already had two major league seasons (and seven postseason starts) under his belt, and even then there seemed to be a tacit level of uncertainty in New England about his participation.And that was before the era of Stephen Strasburg and the increased attention paid to how many innings young pitchers, with hefty price tags, throw. Darvish has tossed 169? innings so far this year and probably has one or two more regular-season starts before the postseason begins. Unless he's injured, Texas can't bar Darvish from competing, but after spending over $110 to acquire him, the team would probably prefer the innings logged on his arm come in a Rangers uniform.Darvish was mum on the subject last week when it was announced Japan would compete.Similarly, prospective free agents such as Hiroyuki Nakajima will have a choice to make.Nakajima, currently the Seibu Lions' shortstop, is expected to pursue a job with a MLB club over the winter, but would he, or a player in a similar situation, be willing to cut his first-ever spring training in the States short to help Japan retain its title?Matsuzaka and Mariners pitcher Iwakuma might also be on the hunt for new contracts and may deem it in their best interests to save their arms for MLB competition.Major League teams in the past have expressed hesitance about having their star players risk injury prior to the season, and though Derek Jeter and many other All-Stars competed in both the 2006 and 2009 editions of the WBC, many have also passed.There's also the question of what to do with Ichiro Suzuki. The 38-year-old Yankees outfielder is inarguably on the decline, though still a skilled player, and Japan's next manager will have to decide if he still warrants a starting job, or if the team is stronger with a younger player patrolling the outfield, with Ichiro's legendary status only making the choice that much harder.Japan cleared perhaps the biggest hurdle toward a third straight title by getting the JPBPA on board, but for a team that doesn't even have a manager yet the fun has just begun.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Kindness to others defined Killebrew
PEORIA, Arizona — Harmon Killebrew's Hall of Fame career as one of the most powerful sluggers baseball has known was merely a subplot to his story as family and friends gathered to say goodbye.
Paying respects: Rod Carew and wife Rhonda arrive for the funeral of former Minnesota Twins great Harmon Killebrew in Peoria, Ariz., on Friday. AP PHOTOWhat they recalled most was Killebrew the gentle, caring man who treated all those he encountered with respect.Several hundred mourners, including past and present members of the Minnesota Twins, attended Killebrew's funeral service at a suburban north Phoenix church on a gorgeous sunny Friday morning.Killebrew, who hit 573 home runs in his long major league career, died Tuesday at his home in Scottsdale, Ariz., of esophageal cancer at 74.Former teammate and fellow Hall of Famer Bert Blyleven had those in attendance stand and cheer Killebrew for an imagined home run No. 574 near the end of the service, and the crowd responded with a rousing effort.But it was Killebrew the man who was celebrated far more than Killebrew the baseball player.The nickname "Killer" didn't seem to fit a man so kind, his grandson Eric Queathem said."In his modest and caring way, he always tried to make people feel good about themselves," Queathem said.Son Cam spoke of the outpouring of support his father had received in recent months as he fought the deadly disease."I don't think he really realized how much he was loved," he said. "That's the kind of man he was. He was so humble. He got a lot of things but I'm not sure he really got that, and it was just beautiful."A private burial is planned Monday in Killebrew's hometown of Payette, Idaho. A memorial service is scheduled next Thursday night at Target Field in Minneapolis.The Twins, in a twist of fate, were in Arizona to begin a three-game interleague series against the Diamondbacks on Friday night, so the entire squad was on hand.Current Twins Joe Nathan, Michael Cuddyer and Justin Morneau, as well as manager Ron Gardenhire, were pall bearers, along with ex-Twin Paul Molitor and Killebrew's former teammates Rod Carew, Tony Oliva and Frank Quilici. Hall of Famers Robin Yount and Frank Robinson also attended the service, which was open to the public.Afterward, Cuddyer said it is his goal to "strive to be Harmon Killebrew.""Strive to treat people the way he treated people," he said, "and make everybody feel comfortable, make everybody feel like they're special. For one of the biggest names in a sport to be able to make every single person he came into contact with feel special, that's a pretty big achievement."A lone bagpiper played "Amazing Grace" as the casket was rolled into the giant auditorium, followed by the members of Killebrew's large family.Country great Charley Pride sang "Precious Lord Take My Hand," "I'll Fly Away" and a Killebrew favorite, "Mountain of Love."Lifelong friend Ray Looney spoke of Killebrew's $30,000 bonus to sign with the Washington Senators and the joys of a golfing trip to Scotland.
Paying respects: Rod Carew and wife Rhonda arrive for the funeral of former Minnesota Twins great Harmon Killebrew in Peoria, Ariz., on Friday. AP PHOTOWhat they recalled most was Killebrew the gentle, caring man who treated all those he encountered with respect.Several hundred mourners, including past and present members of the Minnesota Twins, attended Killebrew's funeral service at a suburban north Phoenix church on a gorgeous sunny Friday morning.Killebrew, who hit 573 home runs in his long major league career, died Tuesday at his home in Scottsdale, Ariz., of esophageal cancer at 74.Former teammate and fellow Hall of Famer Bert Blyleven had those in attendance stand and cheer Killebrew for an imagined home run No. 574 near the end of the service, and the crowd responded with a rousing effort.But it was Killebrew the man who was celebrated far more than Killebrew the baseball player.The nickname "Killer" didn't seem to fit a man so kind, his grandson Eric Queathem said."In his modest and caring way, he always tried to make people feel good about themselves," Queathem said.Son Cam spoke of the outpouring of support his father had received in recent months as he fought the deadly disease."I don't think he really realized how much he was loved," he said. "That's the kind of man he was. He was so humble. He got a lot of things but I'm not sure he really got that, and it was just beautiful."A private burial is planned Monday in Killebrew's hometown of Payette, Idaho. A memorial service is scheduled next Thursday night at Target Field in Minneapolis.The Twins, in a twist of fate, were in Arizona to begin a three-game interleague series against the Diamondbacks on Friday night, so the entire squad was on hand.Current Twins Joe Nathan, Michael Cuddyer and Justin Morneau, as well as manager Ron Gardenhire, were pall bearers, along with ex-Twin Paul Molitor and Killebrew's former teammates Rod Carew, Tony Oliva and Frank Quilici. Hall of Famers Robin Yount and Frank Robinson also attended the service, which was open to the public.Afterward, Cuddyer said it is his goal to "strive to be Harmon Killebrew.""Strive to treat people the way he treated people," he said, "and make everybody feel comfortable, make everybody feel like they're special. For one of the biggest names in a sport to be able to make every single person he came into contact with feel special, that's a pretty big achievement."A lone bagpiper played "Amazing Grace" as the casket was rolled into the giant auditorium, followed by the members of Killebrew's large family.Country great Charley Pride sang "Precious Lord Take My Hand," "I'll Fly Away" and a Killebrew favorite, "Mountain of Love."Lifelong friend Ray Looney spoke of Killebrew's $30,000 bonus to sign with the Washington Senators and the joys of a golfing trip to Scotland.
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